After serving as the associate dean of the School of Engineering at Rutgers for 22 years, Dunn has turned toward graduate education. “Graduate education is something considered vital to the school,” Dunn said. “It’s something I’ve always been really passionate about.”

As the dean of graduate education, Dunn will oversee RPI’s doctoral and master’s degree programs, coordinate reviews of both existing and new graduate programs, and provide administrative oversight to graduate education programs and policies.

Dunn has a broad educational background. After graduating from Drexel University with two bachelor’s degrees—one in electrical engineering, and one in computer science—Dunn moved on to receive a master’s degree and doctorate in computer science from the University of Maryland. After receiving one Ph.D., Dunn received yet another doctoral degree in imaging science from the Free University of Amsterdam.

Dunn stated that this background prepares him well and makes him eager to work on interdisciplinary programs, so that “students don’t have to go through what I did to get such a broad education.”

Dunn has several plans to implement in the graduate department at RPI, the first of which is to speed up the recruiting process and work with the Office of Admissions to get more students attracted and applying to RPI. “We have a great reputation as an undergraduate school; however, one of RPI’s best-kept secrets is its graduate program,” he said.

Dunn also stated that he hopes to highlight the Institute’s interdisciplinary opportunities and the quality of the education within the graduate programs. He wants to make sure RPI undergrads consider returning for graduate school and that the Office of Graduate Education is also available to undergraduates for advice, even if they aren’t necessarily leaning toward the Institute.

In addition, Dunn wishes to work with the faculty on new programs, primarily one aimed at teaching students survival skills during their graduate experience and beyond. He also hopes to build upon the graduate program’s existing strength and to train graduate students to become the “next generation of faculty.” Dunn stated, “We want to help prepare them in all aspects of their career choices, and offer the opportunity to prepare them for teaching.”

Another one of Dunn’s goals is to bring post-doctoral associates out from under the woodwork, and recognize what they contribute. “We want for them to have a complete academic experience as well.”

Ultimately, the goal that Dunn has for the graduate program at RPI is to make certain the program is appreciated. “The graduate students are at the focus of everything we do at RPI,” he said. “We owe it to ourselves to help nurture our students.”

Dunn emphasized the idea of a “community of scholars” at RPI and cooperation between departments. He hopes to make students aware of alternate career paths, and not limit them to the one path they have chosen.

“Having the opportunity to work at a school like Rensselaer is almost unimaginable,” Dunn said. “The advantage of a smaller school is that things can happen fast. It’s extremely exciting.”