Interim Dean Appointed for the College of Engineering

Dear students and colleagues,

I am pleased to share that Dr. Kimberly L. Ogden has been named interim dean for the position of Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering, effective July 1, 2026.

On June 16, I announced that David W. Hahn would be leaving the U of A as of June 30, and invited nominations to fill the interim dean role. Thank you to the many colleagues who stepped forward to serve, and to the advisory committee that helped inform this decision.
Kimberly Ogden
Dr. Ogden holds a doctorate in Chemical Engineering and has been a faculty member in the department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering since 1992, where she has maintained a robustly funded research program in bioreactor design to produce alternative fuels from algae and bioproducts from guayule.

As department chair of Chemical and Environmental Engineering since 2020 – and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Department Head Award – she has led the department through a period of growth and achievement with a clear focus on student success. Her leadership style emphasizes mentoring faculty, fostering collaborative environments, and strengthening programs that support retention, graduation, and post-graduate outcomes. She has supported the college’s accreditation processes through the ABET and has extensive experience with the engineering accrediting body, which is particularly important as the college prepares for its next accreditation review in fall 2028.

In 2019, Dr. Ogden served as interim vice president for Research and helped grow the university’s research enterprise, leading the strategic planning process and building strong relationships across campus. Throughout her career, she has secured multi-million-dollar grants and led major interdisciplinary and multi-institutional programs, including the USDA-funded Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions Center (SBAR), which translates fundamental discovery into real-world solutions in areas such as water, energy, agriculture, and sustainability. Her work has been defined by meaningful partnerships with industry, government, Tribal Nations, and local communities.

Dr. Ogden is uniquely qualified to lead the college during this transition. She brings a deep understanding of how engineering disciplines are central to educating the next generation of problem-solvers, advancing our strategic research initiatives and partnering with communities and industries to create economic opportunity and societal impact.

I am confident that her leadership will provide the steadiness and momentum the college needs to sustain its positive trajectory in research, student success, faculty development, industry engagement and philanthropy.

When we begin a national search for the permanent dean this fall, I will share more information about the search and opportunities to engage in the process.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ogden on this appointment as she continues to carry forward our shared commitment to the university’s land-grant mission.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Prelock
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

This email was sent to sent to all students, faculty, staff and designated campus colleagues in the College of Engineering; university senior leaders and Provost Integrated Leadership Team.