Two VCU Engineering faculty appointed department chairs alongside five faculty promotions
The VCU College of Engineering has appointed Inez Caudill Distinguished Professor, Rebecca Heise, Ph.D., and Robert Klenke, Ph.D. chairs of their respective departments.
Heise was elevated to full professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering this year, after joining VCU in 2010. As the undergraduate program director for biomedical engineering since 2019, she led students through the unpredictable pandemic learning environment while streamlining the undergraduate curriculum and increasing student retention rates.
In her lab, Heise has maintained federal funding for her research into lung injury, drug delivery and repair, focusing on the use of naturally-derived extracellular matrix as a biomaterial for cell and drug delivery to the lung.
Heise directs a lab focused on lung injury, drug delivery, and repair. Her research, funded by the federal government, investigates the use of naturally-derived extracellular matrix as a biomaterial for delivering cells and drugs to the lung. She also serves as co-PI for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site – Mechanobiology at VCU.
“I’m excited to build on our research momentum and increase collaborations across the university,” Heise said. “I plan to grow our student body across our bachelors, masters and Ph.D. programs as well. The biomedical engineering department at VCU has an excellent foundation of talented faculty, staff and students, and I am thrilled to be leading us into our next chapter.”
After serving as the interim chair since 2022, Klenke has been elevated to chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Klenke earned his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 1993 and joined VCU in 1998, with a research focus in unmanned aerial systems and cyber physical systems security.
In 2014, Klenke founded the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program at VCU, serving as the director until 2022. His VIP team, Collaborative Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), researches flight control and data payload systems for UAVs. He is also the faculty advisor for Ram Rocketry, a student organization that researches, designs and builds competition rockets.
“With over 20 years of experience at VCU Engineering, I’ve seen the college evolve and grow dramatically over the years,” Klenke said. “I look forward to continue working with our talented faculty to provide students with cutting-edge research and educational opportunities.”
In addition to these chair promotions, we want to recognize our VCU Engineering faculty who have received promotions and tenure this year!
Join us celebrating:
Michael Cabral, Ph.D.
Promoted to full professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Nibir Dhar, Ph.D.
Tenured at the rank of professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Braden Goddard, Ph.D.
Promoted to associate professor with tenure
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Carrie Peterson, Ph.D.
Promoted to associate professor with tenure
Biomedical Engineering
Jennifer Puetzer, Ph.D.
Promoted to associate professor with tenure
Biomedical Engineering
The VCU College of Engineering offers innovative undergraduate and graduate degree programs tailored to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving engineering field. As part of a premier research university, students are given the opportunity to perform real-world research in our state-of-the-art facilities as soon as they enroll. Browse videos and recent news to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Biomedical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Faculty Awards, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering