[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Wilkinson_David.jpg” caption=”David Wilkinson has been appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.”]McMaster University has named David Wilkinson as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. His appointment takes effect April 1.

“David has shown great leadership in Engineering since he arrived here in 1979,” said McMaster President Peter George. “His appointment comes during exciting times for the Faculty as it marks its 50th anniversary, and prepares for the opening in 2009 of a new building that will house the Walter Booth School of Engineering Practice and other programs.”

Wilkinson is one of the world's foremost experts in the mechanical behaviour of materials, and is director of the GM Canada Centre for Automotive Materials and Corrosion, and director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute. He helped develop the Faculty's first course in engineering computation in 1981, and in 2004, he introduced a first-year course on materials that is taught to almost 1,000 students annually.

“I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to lead the Faculty of Engineering,” said Wilkinson. “We live in a world full of challenges to which engineers can and must make key contributions, from the threats and opportunities afforded by globalization to the development of sustainable engineering processes and products and the ideas needed to advance the biomedical field. McMaster's Faculty of Engineering is well positioned to lead in these and other areas. My role as Dean will be to provide my colleagues with the tools and resources they need to be successful.”

Wilkinson's appointment comes during an exciting period within the Faculty, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, said Ilene Busch-Vishniac, the University's Provost. The Faculty is expanding its education and research in the areas of automotive materials and manufacturing, alternative energies and sustainability, biomedical engineering, and information technologies, in addition to continued emphasis on traditional areas of engineering. A new engineering building is also under construction and expected to open in Spring 2009.

In congratulating Wilkinson, Busch-Vishniac praised Peter Smith, who served as Acting Dean while a search was underway for the position.

“I want to personally recognize and thank Peter Smith, who has done an outstanding job as Acting Dean these last several months,” said Busch-Vishniac. “Peter's exceptional leadership, strong stewardship and important contributions to the Faculty and University are greatly appreciated. His many achievements as Acting Dean form a strong foundation for David as he assumes his new role.”

Wilkinson succeeds Mo Elbestawi, who became the University's vice-president, Research & International Affairs last fall.