Dean of Engineering leaving MU for USF

[mu03eng]

Here is the text of the email that was sent to engineering alumni

Good Afternoon,

I'm writing to share the news that on Monday, July 14, Dr. Robert Bishop, Opus Dean of the College of Engineering, resigned from his position at Marquette. He will become dean of the University of South Florida's College of Engineering.

I have been asked to serve as interim dean, effective immediately. As an alumna of the College of Engineering and a faculty member for the past 24 years, including serving as chair of the Biomedical Engineering Department and most recently as executive associate dean, I am committed to working with university leadership as they appoint a search committee to find a new dean in the coming weeks. With Dr. Michael Lovell on board as new university president, and with his extensive background in engineering, I'm confident our search will secure the best possible leader for our college.

I know that our important work in the college - developing excellent engineers and conducting research that will solve global challenges facing our world - will be uninterrupted during this transition. I am proud and energized by the college's efforts with many new initiatives, including the recent opening of the state-of-the-art Visualization Lab and our students' upcoming participation in the global artificial intelligence competition, RoboCup, later this week in Brazil.

Marquette University greatly appreciates Dean Bishop's leadership and vision over the past four years in the College of Engineering, and we wish him well in his future. I look forward to serving the college and working with each of you as we continue building on the strong foundation that has served the College of Engineering for more than 100 years.

Warm regards,

Dr. Kris Ropella
Interim Dean, College of Engineering

For those keeping track at home:

University president - only recently hired
Provost - interim
AD - interim
B school dean - interim
Engineering school dean - interim

Anyone I miss?  That has got to be the critical mass of revenue stream and leadership at MU, the only thing left out is Dental and Nursing.  Buckle up kids because for better or worse MU will be a different place in 5 years.

[MU82]

Great. We're becoming the next SLU in basketball, and we're not even the next  USF in engineering!

[Freeport Warrior]

This was set in motion for a long time. It was clear almost immediately that Bishop was not going to cut it. Burned bridges with alums, faculty morale was low, fundraising dried up. That was a big reason the second phase on the engineering building expansion never happened. They wanted Ropella when the last dean retired but she turned it down. Glad to see she is back in charge and hope she is up to running the college in the long-term. I've heard nothing but good things about her for the last two decades.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

This was set in motion for a long time. It was clear almost immediately that Bishop was not going to cut it. Burned bridges with alums, faculty morale was low, fundraising dried up. That was a big reason the second phase on the engineering building expansion never happened. They wanted Ropella when the last dean retired but she turned it down. Glad to see she is back in charge and hope she is up to running the college in the long-term. I've heard nothing but good things about her for the last two decades.

She was a "new" professor when I was a student.

[warriorchick]

She was a "new" professor when I was a student.

She was a student when I was a sstudent,  and a fellow GDL. BTW she completely disproved the theory that there were no cute girls at MU. I'd go as far as saying that she is likely the most attractive sittin dean of a college of engineering in the country.

Oh yeah,  and she is wicked smart.

[keefe]

  she completely disproved the theory that there were no cute girls at MU.

Pics?

[Spotcheck Billy]

Pics?

she likes red

[🏀]

Ropella's work is too important for her to be a Dean, but Bishop has been out for awhile now. No surprise here.

I'll be making a recommendation that they take a long, serious look at Dr. Foley.

[River rat]

I think i might of banged her!

[warriorchick]

I think i might of banged her!

Doubtful.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think i might of banged her!

Way to keep it classy

[Freeport Warrior]

Ropella's work is too important for her to be a Dean, but Bishop has been out for awhile now. No surprise here.

I'll be making a recommendation that they take a long, serious look at Dr. Foley.

Chris Foley is a great guy for sure.

[Coleman]

Chris Foley is a great guy for sure.

I think he meant Matt Foley

[mu03eng]

Loved Dr. Foley when I had him as a prof.  Good guy, see to get what students needed to succeed without worshipping at the alter of almighty academia.  Very social guy, I think he'd do just fine at the social/glad hand circuit....if he wanted to do it though is the question.

Not one to generally advocate this route, but MU needs to go internal on this one.  Bishop didn't really get it IMHO

[keefe]

she likes red

Well, she is older than from when Chick knew her. High foreheads are a sign of intelligence, though.

[warriorchick]

Well, she is older than from when Chick knew her. High foreheads are a sign of intelligence, though.

I have pictures of her as a student,  but I am not doing your work for you.  All the yearbooks are online.

[PJDunn]

I knew chris pretty well during our days at MU.  If I could dig those photos up from the statehouse or greentree his candidacy would be derailed for sure. 

[pbiflyer]

  She was a student when I was a sstudent,  and a fellow GDL. BTW she completely disproved the theory that there were no cute girls at MU. I'd go as far as saying that she is likely the most attractive sittin dean of a college of engineering in the country.

Oh yeah,  and she is wicked smart.

I credit all of her success to her brilliant GDL when she was a wide eyed freshman........

[keefe]

I credit all of her success to her brilliant GDL when she was a wide eyed freshman........

The best part of Orientation was the Block Party. Why the hell did they stop that?

[jsglow]

The best part of Orientation was the Block Party. Why the hell did they stop that?

Block Party wasn't part of Orientation but took place later in September.  While I had already graduated,  I believe but am not certain that the last was in either '84 or '85.

[77ncaachamps]

GDL?!

[keefe]

Block Party wasn't part of Orientation but took place later in September.  While I had already graduated,  I believe but am not certain that the last was in either '84 or '85.

You are correct. As to its demise I would venture a guess that it was a Jim Scott - Quentin Quade Politburo Rule by Fiat decision.

Another stellar event was camping for tickets. We lived on the lawn between Lalumiere and the Union for a couple weeks. Not a lot of studying got done but there was some mind altering and fornicating happening. Another great Marquette tradition done in by the Admin Nazis. 

[Dawson Rental]

GDL?!

I've been racking my mind to remember what the initials stand for, but can't.  Basically, they were upperclassmen who were given a break on room and board to babysit a floor of students for campus life (?)

Scratch that.  GDL, Group Discussion Leader, students who ease the transition of a group of new students during orientation by holding small group meetings, answering questions, and getting them to the correct places.

[warriorchick]

Block Party wasn't part of Orientation but took place later in September.  While I had already graduated,  I believe but am not certain that the last was in either '84 or '85.

I would bet that the raising of the drinking age played ar part in it.

[tower912]

I would bet that the raising of the drinking age played ar part in it.

Correct.   The autumn, 1984 block party was the first time they charged for alcohol.   By 1985, half of the campus was underage.   The university could no longer sponsor a drunk-fest with a large percentage of its students being too young to partake.    Jigglesfest more or less replaced it in the spring of 88.   But that was not university sponsored.