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New Alfred University engineering dean hopes to encourage more women to become engineers

Gabrielle Gaustad
/
Alfred university

Alfred University has named a new Dean for its Inamori School of Engineering.  And the person filling that role has ties to Alfred and the Rochester area.

Gabrielle Gaustad is a former undergrad at Alfred who graduated in 2004 with a degree in ceramic engineering.

For the last 10 years she was at RIT, where she was an associate professor and Master of Science program coordinator at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability.

Gaustad says one goal of hers throughout her career has been to be a mentor for women in engineering and STEM-related fields.

“I’m going to be looking at the numbers that Alfred has had and really trying to think creatively with the administrative teams and the faculty on ways we can improve that pipeline as well, and I hope to also serve as an inspiration and an example for female engineers.”

As Dean of the Engineering school at Alfred, Gaustad  intends to lead a major effort to increase research dollars coming into the school, noting that she had a strong background in developing sponsored research at RIT.

“I’m really (hoping) to bring some of that with me, and continue leading some larger center research-type funding but also mentoring the faculty that’s there in order to grow the sponsored research program at Alfred.”

She begins her new role at Alfred next January. Gaustad is replacing Doreen Edwards, who left Alfred two years ago to become Dean of Engineering at RIT.  Alastair Cormack has been interim dean at Alfred since Edwards left.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.