The new dean of the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology brings more than 21 years of experience guiding and promoting Weber State University.
Brian Rague has served as associate dean of EAST since 2018 and, before that, was chair of the Department of Computer Science.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have interacted with quite a few folks across the university,” Rague said. “And everyone is invested in student success, across the board, so I’m excited to leverage that existing camaraderie.”
As dean, Rague will oversee seven academic programs, 100 faculty members, 30 staff members and about 3,200 student majors.
“The vision of the college going forward should be just as big and just as encompassing as the size of the college,” Rague said.
Some of his goals include continuing to attract new majors, maintaining retention and ensuring programs appeal to students of all backgrounds.
“We’ve created so many avenues for interested students to access education,” Rague said, noting options like stackable credentials, which give students usable knowledge they can accumulate and count toward certifications or a degree. He’s also exploring other possibilities, like more apprenticeships, so students can earn an income while they’re learning.
Rague said he hopes to show all students — whether they’re fresh out of high school, haven’t been in school for years, or already have a degree — that EAST has an onramp to their educational and career goals.
“I’d like to emphasize all the different ways we can train our workforce, train our students and provide individuals with fulfilling careers,” he said.
During his time at WSU, Rague secured more than $10.3 million in grant funding to improve learning opportunities and career pathways. He played a key role in establishing WSU’s School of Computing and led the charge to create a variety of other successful centers and programs, including EAST’s first graduate degree program.
He also brings industry experience and connections from working on various NASA projects, including satellite missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Rague’s research interests include data science, algorithm design, formal analysis, parallel computing, programming languages, and opportunities for creative software engineering in the fields of education, biomedicine and physics.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah.
He will begin serving as EAST’s dean on July 1, taking over from David Ferro, who led the college for more than 13 years.
Author:
Rachel Badali, news coordinator 801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu
Contact:
Rachel Badali, news coordinator 801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu
Weber State University is renowned for student-focused teaching, personalized educational experiences and its transformative impacts in Utah and beyond. Weber State is the foremost provider of health professionals in Utah, and a strong academic partner for the aerospace and defense industries supporting Hill Air Force Base. WSU serves 30,000 students from all walks of life and offers 225+ certificate and degree programs, from associate to doctorate. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more.