Grove City College on Thursday, May 9 announced the appointment of Dr. Richard N. Savage, an accomplished scientist, educator, executive and administrator, to serve as the new dean of the Hopeman School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Savage joins the College from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he currently serves as dean of graduate education. He has also chaired the departments of materials engineering and biomedical engineering at the university.
Additionally, Savage served in private industry – from senior scientist to director of product development to president – with technology companies in California and the Northeast, founding and operating SC Technology from 1984 to 1995.
“We are blessed to have attracted a leader and innovator in Dr. Savage,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. “His interdisciplinary expertise and industry acumen will be instrumental in moving the rapidly growing Hopeman School forward during an exciting time in its history. We are laser-focused in our efforts to train tomorrow’s leaders to serve society against the backdrop of some of our nation’s most pressing problems. Dr. Savage’s vision aligns perfectly with our strategic goals and objectives for STEM,” McNulty said.
With an emphasis on academic quality, faculty teaching and learning and student success, Savage will oversee eight academic departments from Mechanical Engineering to Exercise Science. More than half of Grove City College’s 2,400 students are enrolled in the Hopeman School.
Savage earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Juniata College Huntingdon, Pa. He has published dozens of scientific papers, conducted research in myriad areas and holds a number of patents.
Since its founding in 1876, the College has made STEM education an institutional priority. It maintains ABET-accredited programs in mechanical and electrical engineering and computer science and its undergraduate engineering program has been included as a Top 100 in U.S. News. The chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society and the exercise science program is COAES-accredited.
The first science building erected was Rockwell Hall of Science (1931) and the newest is STEM Hall (2013), a classroom and laboratory facility that utilizes the latest technology and design to advance the study of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics. Student success in the STEM fields at Grove City College is well-documented through research, graduate school placement, employment and earnings data.