Malone named vice chancellor for Research and Engagement

Michael F. Malone, dean of the College of Engineering and the Ronnie and Eugene M. Isenberg Distinguished Professor of Engineering, has been named vice chancellor for Research and Engagement by Chancellor Robert C. Holub.

Malone, whose appointment is effective Aug. 17, has served as dean of the College of Engineering since 2004. In 2003, Malone was named to the Isenberg Professorship, which was created to enhance interdisciplinary teaching and research between the fields of management, engineering and science.

“A respected scholar and researcher, Mike Malone brings an impressive level of experience to his new role as vice chancellor for Research and Engagement,” said Holub. “His insight and understanding of UMass Amherst’s research community will be invaluable as we work together to bring our research efforts to the next level.”

“I am honored and excited to have this unique chance to help the faculty, students and staff to grow research on campus and to further our mutually beneficial engagement in partnerships with the community,” said Malone. “Despite our economic challenges, we have some great opportunities to build on the breadth and depth of our outstanding faculty, and the enthusiasm and vision of the campus leadership.”

Malone’s appointment follows a three-month, on-campus search chaired by Steve Goodwin, dean of the new College of Natural Sciences. Last October, Holub elevated the post of vice provost for Research to vice chancellor for Research and Engagement as part of an administrative reorganization. Paul Kostecki, vice provost for Research since 2003, was named interim vice chancellor. Holub thanked Kostecki for his service in both posts. “His work on behalf of the research community and the entire campus established an important foundation for our future growth and development,” he said.

Malone earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University in 1974 and his Ph.D. in 1979 from the College of Engineering, joining the Chemical Engineering faculty the following year. He served as director of the campus’ Process Design and Control Center from 1989-97, and again in 2002-03. From 1997 to 2002, he was head of the chemical engineering department. He has also served on the Faculty Senate Research Council, including a term as chair, and on the five-campus University Research Council.

Malone was a visiting scientist at the DuPont Company in 1984 and 1993-94.

His research interests are in process design and innovation. He is the author of numerous technical articles as well as the textbook “Conceptual Design of Distillation Systems” with M. F. Doherty.

In 2004, Malone was named a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He won “Best Paper” awards from Computers and Chemical Engineering in 2001 and 1993. In 1996, he won the Computing in Chemical Engineering Award from the Computing and Systems Technology (CAST) division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. From 1993-96, Malone was chair of the systems and process design area in CAST, and chaired the CAST programming board from 1998 to 2006.

On campus, his honors include the Distinguished Teaching Award, the campus’ highest honor for classroom instruction; the Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship, and the Outstanding Senior Faculty Award and the General Electric Outstanding Teaching Award, both given by the College of Engineering.

He is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society and currently serves on the board of directors of the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. From 1997 to 2004, Malone was on the board of directors of the National Environmental Technology Institute. He is currently on the board of directors on the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance.

July 2, 2009.