UTEP Welcomes New Dean of Engineering
KIMBERLY MILLER | JULY 13, 2007
Dr. Richard T. Schoephoerster, formerly chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Florida International University, has been named Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso after a national search. He began work at UTEP on July 1.
“Richard Schoephoerster’s experience in creating new programs and building relationships with industry will be critically important for the College of Engineering,” Provost Richard Jarvis said.
Over a 17-year career at FIU, Schoephoerster built a strong reputation for developing educational programs. He led the efforts to establish B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. programs in biomedical engineering. He also was Principal Investigator for a grant from the Whitaker Foundation that established FIU’s Biomedical Engineering Institute, with Schoephoerster as director.
Schoephoerster also led efforts to create partnerships with industry. In 2001, he helped establish the FIU Biomedical Engineering Partnership Program, a joint effort by FIU, health care providers and biomedical companies.
Schoephoerster has significant research experience in biofluid mechanics and cardiovascular devices, with a major focus on cardiac applications. He has more than 80 journal publications and presentations at regional, national and international conferences. As a Principal Investigator and co-Principal Investigator, he has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the National Research Council and the biomedical industry.
“I am excited about the opportunities that the UTEP College of Engineering presents. UTEP has the potential to make significant contributions to the economic vitality of the El Paso bi-national region, and to make in impact nationally, through workforce and technology development,” said Schoephoerster. “I look forward to working with the very talented faculty to continue to build on their long history of accomplishments in engineering.”
