Mike Kelley, professor of electrical engineering at Cornell University, has been named to the new position of associate dean for professional development in the College of Engineering. He will begin the half-time appointment Jan. 25, 1999.

In his new role, Kelley will guide the development of new initiatives to improve the climate for work and study in the engineering college. These initiatives, including the appointment of an associate dean, were developed over the summer by a college task force, based on the results of a recent study commissioned by Hopcroft to look at issues affecting the college community.

In making the appointment, John Hopcroft, dean of the college, called Kelley "a person of both vision and enthusiasm for the work of creating and improving a supportive environment in the College of Engineering." He noted that Kelley assumes the position with the support of the faculty, graduate students and other associate deans. "As I have already told him, I will do everything in my power to make him successful," he said.

Commenting on his new assignment, Kelley said: "I am excited about the assignment and proud of the confidence the broadly based search committee expressed in their recommendation. My first task will be to listen and learn as much as I can about the college and the people who make it up. This is a great opportunity to lead the way in the university and the country toward redefining certain aspects of the research university."

Hunter Rawlings, Cornell's president, said: "I am delighted that Professor Kelley has agreed to assume the position of associate dean for professional development in engineering. He is an exceptional researcher and teacher, as well as an innovative mentor to students. He will bring substantial energy and expertise to the college's efforts in professional development."

Hopcroft commissioned an assessment of issues affecting faculty and graduate students of the engineering college in the fall of 1997, with particular emphasis on those issues affecting women and minorities. The Charles River Consulting Group of Cambridge, Mass., conducted the assessment. Their final report, completed in April 1998, contained discussions of the existing climate and recommendations for improvements. A college task force of faculty and graduate students met over the summer to assess the recommendations and to develop detailed implementation plans. Among their recommendations was the appointment of an associate dean to manage the new initiatives and provide leadership in climate-improvement strategies.

Kelley will work with a broad spectrum of the college community to develop recommendations for clear, definitive statements concerning appropriate workplace values and behavior in the engineering college. He will also work to develop and implement an orientation program for new faculty to ensure that they are welcomed and integrated into the fabric of the college community, and he will facilitate the development of the graduate student community and oversee the faculty leadership program.

Kelley has been involved in experiments in near Earth space since 1966 and has played an important role in supplying electronics and analyzing results for 70 NASA rocket flights, four satellite missions and numerous balloon flights. Since his arrival at Cornell in 1975 as an assistant professor of engineering, he has become involved in remote sensing of space processes most notably using radar techniques. Since 1991 he has been the special adviser to and now the adjunct director for atmospheric science at Arecibo Observatory, operated by Cornell under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

He was named a full Cornell professor in 1982. In 1979 he won the James B. Macelwane award from the American Geophysical Union, and in 1987 the School of Electrical Engineering presented him with the Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching. The next year he won the Tau Beta Pi/Cornell Society of Engineers Excellence in Teaching Award. He also has won several deans' prizes for excellence and innovation in teaching and advising, including the Robert '55 and Vanne '57 Cowie Award for Excellence in Teaching. This fall he was awarded a university-wide Weiss fellowship for his work with cooperative learning styles and their application in freshman math and physics courses.