Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The former diversity coordinator for Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering now is the academic unit's assistant dean for diversity and student development.
Tommy Stevenson's promotion is designed to strengthen the college's diversity programs and increase minority student participation, said Dean Kirk Schulz.
"Dr. Stevenson has done an excellent job in his role as coordinator of diversity programs," said Schulz. "I have no doubt he will provide the leadership needed to help us achieve our goal of being one of the top five producers nationally of African-American engineers."
As diversity coordinator the past three years, Stevenson coordinated the college's Summer Bridge Program for incoming minority freshmen. He also served as faculty adviser for the National Society of Black Engineers and directed the Increasing Minority Access to Graduate Education program.
Schulz said those programs have helped Bagley place in the top 15 percent among national institutions graduating African-American engineers, and achieve a competitive position with other engineering schools in minority participation.
"This change in title reflects the Bagley College's commitment to increasing diversity within the college at all levels--undergraduate, graduate and faculty," said Donna Reese, associate dean of academics and administration for the college.
Stevenson holds a bachelor's degree in industrial technology and a master's in education administration, both from Mississippi State, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Julie Lemons at (662) 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.