The University of Kansas

School of Engineering names associate dean

Associate professor Robert Sorem has been named the new associate dean of the School of Engineering.

“It’s a challenge that I approach with a little apprehension and much enthusiasm,” Sorem said. “I can’t wait to begin working with Dean Locke, the School of Engineering staff and all the departments. I believe in KU engineering and believe that we can continue to produce exceptional graduates in all disciplines of engineering.”

Sorem will work with Tom Mulinazzi, the current associate dean, to develop an understanding of the duties, responsibilities and intricacies of the position. They expect to complete the transition sometime this summer.

“Tom Mulinazzi set a standard that will be difficult to exceed, let alone maintain,” Sorem said. But it is a challenge Sorem relishes.

“Working with students is the main reason that I returned to KU seven years ago,” Sorem said. “It can be frustrating at times, but seeing the excitement in students’ faces when they finally grasp a concept or complete that all-consuming senior design project is worth every bit of it. Instead of working with a couple hundred students, I now get to work with a couple thousand.”

Sorem joined the School of Engineering in 1994 as an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, but he was no stranger to the campus. Originally from Jetmore, Sorem earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at KU in 1986, his master’s in 1988 and doctorate in 1991.

As a member of the faculty, Sorem has been keenly involved with students. He has served as project adviser for a number of student design projects that mechanical engineering students participate in on a national level. Among the projects are the Society of Automotive Engineers Formula Car competition involving 20 to 30 students each year, the Ethanol Vehicle Challenge and more recently the Clean Snowmobile Challenge.

Sorem has been honored many times for his teaching ability. In 1998, he was voted the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Professor by seniors and the KU Center for Teaching Excellence honored him for “Excellence in Teaching.” In 1999, Sorem received the KU School of Engineering Miller Award.

Currently, the associate dean’s position is responsible for a number of student related issues including overall responsibility for students’ academic standing in the school, recruitment for the undergraduate programs and admission of freshmen, transfer students and graduate students to the school.

Dismuke named Wichita dean
S. Edwards Dismuke, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor of public health, has been named dean of the KU School of Medicine-Wichita effective July 1. Dismuke replaces Joseph C. Meek, who retires June 29 after 10 years as dean.

Dismuke has 23 years of experience as a medical school faculty member in both internal medicine and preventive medicine. He joined the Wichita campus faculty in 1991, after three years at the Kansas City campus. Dismuke was previously on faculty at the University of Tennessee Medical School.

He currently is chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine on both the Wichita and Kansas City campuses. Dismuke was instrumental in the development of the nationally ranked master’s of public health program, which grants degrees jointly from the University of Kansas and Wichita State University.

Dismuke will be responsible for heading the 27 Wichita campus departments with 95 full- and part-time faculty and 130 administrators and support staff. The medical school boasts more than 700 volunteer physicians with affiliation to Via Christi Regional Medical Center’s St. Francis and St. Joseph campuses, Wesley Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Henry and Paige Butler accept positions with Chapman University in California
Henry N. Butler, Koch distinguished professor of law and economics and director of the Law and Organizational Economics Center, has accepted the deanship of the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.

Paige Butler, associate director of the Law and Organizational Economics Center, has accepted the position of director for the new Chapman Law and Organizational Economics Center, which will continue to offer the Economics Institutes for State Judges.

“While I really hate to leave Lawrence and KU, this is a tremendous opportunity for Paige and me,” Henry Butler said. “To the many friends and colleagues who have helped make my time at KU enjoyable and productive, thank you. It’s been a good run, but the time has come to move on.”