Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2006

Contact: Eric Gerber
713.743.8189 (office)
713.617.7130(pager)
egerber@uh.edu

HOUSTON, November 30, 2006 – Raymond W. Flumerfelt, who has served as the Elizabeth D. Rockwell dean of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston since 1998, will retire from that position effective Fall 2007.

“This has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience,” Flumerfelt said, “but my plan was to stay in this position five to seven years. And I’m now finishing up my ninth year. It’s time for someone else to lead our college to its next level of excellence.”

Flumerfelt plans to remain with the college as a faculty member. He will focus on enhancing the biomedical and energy programs within the college and will continue to play a role in the college’s fund-raising campaign for the construction of a new engineering complex.

Flumerfelt came to Houston from the University of Alabama, where he served as engineering dean from 1996 to 1998. Prior to that, he served as head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University for seven years and deputy vice chancellor and associate dean of engineering for three years. Previously, he was a UH faculty member for 17 years. He also has served on the faculties at the University of Notre Dame and at the University of Tulsa.

“Dean Flumerfelt has provided excellent leadership for the Cullen College of Engineering throughout these nine years, and the faculty, students, staff, and alumni of the college and the University of Houston appreciate his many contributions,” said Donald J. Foss, UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “In terms of the future, we are committed to finding a leader who can capitalize on these successes and move the college into the ranks of the very best engineering colleges in the country. We will conduct a national search to identify the best and brightest candidates, and hope to have a new dean named and on board in time for the fall semester next year,” he said.

Flumerfelt has published extensively in chemical engineering literature and has received a number of best paper, best teaching, and similar awards. He also has been recognized by a number of engineering and chemical engineering honor societies. Additionally, he has been a Visiting National Science Foundation Scholar in Japan.

In his tenure as UH dean, the engineering faculty and student bodies have been significantly enhanced as well as the research programs and funding. He has fostered unique leadership, entrepreneurship, and industrial scholar intern programs, plus new biomedical and petroleum engineering programs. He has also provided leadership in the development of the Texas Energy Center in Fort Bend as well the Greater Houston Partnership’s Energy Collaborative. His work with NASA was recognized with a NASA Public Service Honor Award Medal.

Flumerfelt earned his bachelor's degree from Lamar University and received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

About the Cullen College of Engineering
UH Cullen College of Engineering has produced five U.S. astronauts, 10 members of the National Academy of Engineering, and degree programs that have ranked in the Top 10 nationally. With more than 2,600 students, the college offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical, chemical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, industrial, and mechanical engineering. It also offers specialized programs in aerospace, materials, petroleum engineering and telecommunications. Web site: http://www.egr.uh.edu/

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.