Assanis inaugurated as UD’s 28th president

Photo by Fred Bourdon

NEWARK — In front of a packed theatre that included Vice President Joe Biden, the University of Delaware celebrated the inauguration of its 28th President, Dennis Assanis on Wednesday.

Since 2011, Assanis has served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Stony Brook University and as vice president for Brookhaven National Laboratory Affairs, according to UD website UDaily. At Stony Brook, he has spearheaded the development of a strategic plan for academic affairs and launched a number of initiatives strengthening the faculty, programs for undergraduate and graduate students, research and scholarly activities, and global engagement.

He joined the University of Delaware in July.

Before his career at Stony Brook University, Dr. Assanis worked at the University of Michigan for 17 years. He started his academic career as an assistant and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Assanis has been at the leading edge in the field of internal combustion engines, fuels and energy for more than 25 years. He was inducted as a member of the National Academy of Engineers in 2008 for his scientific contributions to improving fuel economy and reducing emissions of internal combustion engines, and for promoting automotive engineering education. He holds five patents and has directed more than $100 million in research grants and contracts.

Assanis earned an honors bachelor of science degree with distinction in marine engineering from Newcastle University in England in 1980 and four degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: a master of science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and a master of science in mechanical engineering, both in 1982; a master of science in management from the Sloan School of Management in 1986; and a doctorate in power and propulsion in 1985.

The Board of Trustees appointed a 15-member committee to conduct a national search for the University’s next president after Patrick T. Harker announced his resignation in March 2015 to become president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Also in attendance were Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Association of American Universities, Gov. Jack Markell,  University of Delaware alumni, faculty and students and delegates from other colleges and universities.