MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Stella Quiñones, Ph.D., stepped down as chair of the Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, effective Oct. 31, 2026, concluding a leadership appointment that began in 2018. She will continue to serve as an associate professor in the department.
Brian Schuster, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department, has been named acting chair through Nov. 30, 2026.
During her tenure, Quiñones helped advance initiatives connecting the department’s longstanding strengths in metallurgy and materials engineering with new opportunities for education and research. Her contributions included remodeling the department’s foundry and supporting efforts to reestablish UTEP’s mining engineering program.
The foundry renovation renewed an important setting for hands-on learning, where students connect materials science with the processes used to melt, mold and cast metals. The facility links the department’s academic programs with manufacturing practices and the university’s mining and metallurgy heritage.
Quiñones also contributed to the collaborative work behind the return of mining engineering, helping connect the department’s expertise with colleagues across the university. The program is expected to welcome its first students in fall 2027, creating another pathway for students to pursue careers involving essential minerals, resource development and environmental stewardship.
We thank Stella for her service as chair, especially for the leadership and vision she has provided to the department,” said Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering. “Her contributions in moving the department forward and the mining engineering restart connect our university’s history with opportunities for future students. We look forward to her continued contributions as a faculty member and appreciate Brian’s willingness to support the department as acting chair.”
Alongside her administrative responsibilities, Quiñones participated in research collaborations involving advanced manufacturing and engineering education.
Her research collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, through TechSource, contributed to the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering's work in advanced manufacturing and materials engineering. The project focused on developing additive manufacturing methods for refractory-based materials designed to withstand high temperatures, supporting research in materials for extreme environments.
Her work also supported efforts to improve student learning and retention in engineering education through a National Science Foundation-supported collaboration with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering that began in 2018. The project focused on step-based tutoring software for circuit analysis, with UTEP serving as a test site to evaluate its effectiveness. These efforts reflected her continued involvement in both technical research and engineering education during her tenure as chair.
Schuster brings experience in materials research, advanced manufacturing and collaboration with national laboratories to the acting appointment. His research includes the mechanical behavior of materials and their response to demanding conditions, as well as the advanced molding materials project conducted with Quiñones.
During the transition, Schuster will provide departmental leadership in support of its teaching, research and student activities.
Learn more about the Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering.