April 9, 2015
SVSU hires Frank Hall as Dean of Science, Engineering, Technology
Saginaw Valley State University has hired Frank R. Hall to serve as dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. He will play a leading role in advancing STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math) at SVSU and in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
“Frank is passionate about STEM education and has demonstrated a strong dedication to students and their success. These attributes really came through during his interviews and helped him emerge from a very deep candidate pool,” said Deb Huntley, SVSU provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“He is eager to enhance research opportunities for students and faculty, and through his experience working on STEM initiatives in Massachusetts, I am confident in his ability to effectively build relationships with external constituencies. He is the natural choice for our institution at this time.”
Hall comes to SVSU from Worcester State University in Massachusetts, where he has been a professor since 2012, including a one-year term as dean. He also has been a visiting scholar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Hall replaces Huntley, who was promoted to SVSU’s provost last year. Andrew Chubb, SVSU professor of chemistry, has been serving as interim dean.
Prior to this, Hall held a variety of academic, government and public policy appointments. After eight years on the faculty at the University of New Orleans, he joined the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C. in 2006. That was followed by stints with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Center for Environment, Commerce and Energy.
“I was attracted to SVSU and its vision of the future, and during my visit, I was impressed by the outstanding faculty, and the university's commitment and dedication to quality education for its students,” Hall said. “The positive attitudes of everyone I met demonstrated that SVSU embraces diversity and the well-being of all students, while supporting faculty research initiatives and outreach to the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
In the past two years, SVSU has received major gifts from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, and the Dow Corning Foundation to improve students’ performance in STEM disciplines at the middle school, high school and University levels.
“With my diverse background to advance STEM research, education, and policy,” Hall said, “I am confident the faculty and I will further enhance the vision, mission, and goals of an already strong college. I am excited to join SVSU in June.”
Respected in his field, Hall currently serves the United Nations Oceans Assessment Program as a consulting expert. He also has been serving on Massachusetts’ STEM Advisory Council. For his professional activities, Hall was nominated as an Outstanding African-American in STEM for the Black Engineers of the Year Awards in 2014.
Hall completed a Ph.D. in geological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. He also holds a master’s degree from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree from Kean University.
Hall will begin his duties at SVSU on June 1.