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VP candidate Litynski discusses role of research

Nov. 16, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Dr. Daniel M. Litynski, who has held such positions as interim Western Michigan University president and engineering dean, is a candidate for the position of vice president for research at the University and will make a campuswide presentation Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Faculty, staff, students and members of the public are invited to hear his views on WMU's research mission during a session set for 3 to 5 p.m. in the Brown and Gold Room on the second floor of the Bernhard Center. Litynski will give a short presentation regarding his goals and direction for research at WMU. The presentation will be followed by questions and an open discussion. The session is sponsored by the Faculty Senate's Research Policies Council.

Litynski, professor of electrical and computer engineering, formerly served as dean of WMU's engineering college from 1999 to 2002, before being tapped to serve as the University's provost. His tenure in that role was interrupted by six months of service as WMU's interim president. He stepped down from the provost position in June 2004 and, after an administrative leave of absence, accepted a visiting position with the National Science Foundation as program director for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. He later was appointed acting division director of the NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education in the Directorate of Education and Human Resources.

Litynski returned to Kalamazoo from Washington, D.C., early in 2008 and planned to resume teaching duties at WMU that fall. Instead, he was tapped to serve the engineering college again as dean for a year, during the search for that college's current leader, Dr. Anthony J. Vizzini, who took the reins of the college July 1.

Litynski's background includes 23 years of service at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, ending his tenure there as professor and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He retired from the U.S. Army as a brigadier general shortly before starting his work at WMU.

He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1965, a master's degree in optics from the University of Rochester in 1971 and a doctoral degree in physics from Rensselaer in 1978.

Litynski has been active in research and teaching in electrical engineering, optics, and physics for more than 25 years, and he has taught 20 different courses, including two he initiated in laser physics and photonics engineering. Active also in laser and electro-optic research, he is the author or co-author of many international conference presentations, technical papers and book chapters. He has served in numerous technical and advisory capacities, has been appointed to six honor societies and is a member of seven professional societies. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and past president of the IEEE Education Society.

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Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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