Ronald J. Vetter, Ph.D., has been named the founding dean of the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the university announced today.
Dr. Vetter is a professor in the Department of Computer Science at UNCW and enters the role of founding dean with more than two decades of administrative and leadership experience. He previously served at UNCW as the associate provost for research and dean of the graduate school from 2013 to 2018.
UNCW named Dr. Vetter as founding dean for CSE after a nationwide search. The university announced in April that two new colleges would emerge from the College of Arts and Sciences on July 1: CSE and the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA).
“As a faculty member of 28 years, Dr. Vetter is no stranger to UNCW. We are excited to welcome him into the role as Founding Dean for our new College of Science and Engineering,” said Provost James J. Winebrake. “He brings a robust set of experiences, including a wealth of administrative experience and a unique perspective on the regional and state needs for what our distinguished faculty, staff and students have to offer. I look forward to seeing his collaboration with the CSE community as this new college moves forward.”
Dr. Vetter has worked on numerous projects at UNCW and in the Wilmington community, including serving as co-principal investigator on a Collaborative Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program (CCAP) grant between UNCW and Cape Fear Community College, and as a co-principal investigator for the National Drug Court Resource Center with the U.S. Department of Justice. He is the 2023 recipient of the Richard E. Merwin Award for Distinguished Service, the highest-level volunteer service award from the IEEE Computer Society. He is also a member of UNCW’s Million Dollar Club for earning more than $5 million in external grant funding.
“I am humbled and delighted to have been chosen as founding dean of the College of Science and Engineering,” said Dr. Vetter. “This is a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with administration, faculty, staff and students to position the new college for growth and success. One of the first tasks will be to create a shared vision and identity for the new college, and one that supports the goals of the pending UNCW Strategic Plan. I look forward to leading the CSE as it will play a key role in helping the university build upon its R2 status, advance new research areas, grow external partnerships, expand international relationships and develop new interdisciplinary degree programs.”
Dr. Vetter has worked at UNCW in various capacities since 1993, when he started as an assistant professor in the former mathematical sciences department. He achieved a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from North Dakota State University.
UNCW’s College of Science and Engineering will open July 1 as a college focused on expanding its cutting-edge programs and research. The college will be home to nine departments and units. Dedicated leadership will support faculty and staff in creating and enhancing dynamic, engaging student opportunities.
Dr. Vetter will lead in his capacity as founding dean as the university transitions into an expansion of its academic core with a five-college structure. He will lead the CSE community in achieving UNCW’s goals of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and service. Dr. Vetter will assume his new role on July 1, 2023.
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