Robert Altenkirch
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Altenkirch is the President of University of Alabama in Huntsville
. He has yet to be inaugurated.
. He was formerly vice president for research at Mississippi State University
(MSU) and the seventh president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology
(NJIT). During his tenure as MSU vice president for research, science and engineering, expenditures as reported to National Science Foundation
(NSF) increased dramatically—75 percent from 1997 to 2001.
Prior to his appointment as vice president at MSU, Altenkirch served as professor of mechanical and materials engineering and dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University
. From 1988 to 1995, he was professor of mechanical engineering and dean of the College of Engineering at MSU. He also served as professor and chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky
.
In addition to the research program, his responsibilities encompassed congressional relations, intellectual property management and economic development. While dean of engineering at MSU, he led the effort to secure National Science Foundation
funding for the establishment of the MSU NSF Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation in 1990. Additionally, the Center was instrumental in helping the State of Mississippi attract a $1 billion Nissan manufacturing plant now under construction.
Altenkirch holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University
, an M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley
, and a B.S.M.E. from Purdue, all in mechanical engineering. He is the author of over 50 publications and nearly 100 presentations in combustion and heat transfer and served as principal investigator for ten Space Shuttle experiments investigating the spread of fire in reduced gravity. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
.
On September 21, 2011, Dr. Altenkirch was named the new president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville
.
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
. He has yet to be inaugurated.
Life
Robert A. Altenkirch, is the current president of the University of Alabama in HuntsvilleUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
. He was formerly vice president for research at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
(MSU) and the seventh president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
(NJIT). During his tenure as MSU vice president for research, science and engineering, expenditures as reported to National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF) increased dramatically—75 percent from 1997 to 2001.
Prior to his appointment as vice president at MSU, Altenkirch served as professor of mechanical and materials engineering and dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. From 1988 to 1995, he was professor of mechanical engineering and dean of the College of Engineering at MSU. He also served as professor and chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
In addition to the research program, his responsibilities encompassed congressional relations, intellectual property management and economic development. While dean of engineering at MSU, he led the effort to secure National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
funding for the establishment of the MSU NSF Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation in 1990. Additionally, the Center was instrumental in helping the State of Mississippi attract a $1 billion Nissan manufacturing plant now under construction.
Altenkirch holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, an M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and a B.S.M.E. from Purdue, all in mechanical engineering. He is the author of over 50 publications and nearly 100 presentations in combustion and heat transfer and served as principal investigator for ten Space Shuttle experiments investigating the spread of fire in reduced gravity. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
.
On September 21, 2011, Dr. Altenkirch was named the new president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
.