Forrest Masters, Ph.D., P.E., Interim Dean and Professor of Civil and Coastal Engineering in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment
As interim dean, it is a great honor to lead the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering into a new and exciting chapter of its remarkable 110-plus-year history. I would like to begin by recognizing my predecessor, Dr. Cammy Abernathy, for the visionary leadership and tireless energy that left such an indelible mark on the College.
During her tenure, we experienced the greatest growth and impact ever by every significant metric: Our emerging footprint now includes the opening of the state-of-the-art Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology later this year; our increasing, eminent faculty are the most diverse of any engineering college among the public AAUs; our ever-expanding portfolio of strategic collaborations with academia, industry, government and corporations is leveraging Gator Engineering expertise in every conceivable sector of society; and we boast a burgeoning talent pipeline that distinguishes our college and UF with groundbreaking discoveries and accomplishments in their professional fields.
In all aspects, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is well-positioned for an ambitious trajectory going forward as we leverage our world-class technological and intellectual capital to take on even greater challenges — ones that distinguish us as a preeminent leader in engineering education and research.