Colorado School of Mines has appointed a dean of graduate studies, who will lead efforts to strengthen research-based graduate programs, increase the university's international student population and promote professional master's and certificate programs.
Wendy Zhou, associate professor of geology and geological engineering, begins her new role at the start of the fall 2017 semester.
“I want to keep our uniqueness, but we need to do something different,” Zhou said. “I believe I have creative ideas that can keep Mines’ uniqueness but can change much needed areas of the graduate education here.”
Zhou’s initiatives will include working to promote professional master’s and certificate programs, increase international graduate student enrollment as well as undertaking a graduate student climate survey that will help Mines develop and implement programs and initiatives that enhance co-curricular support of the research-based residential graduate population.
“I want to feel the heartbeat of the students as a whole,” Zhou said. “The climate survey is part of the way to do that.”
Zhou also wants to hold town hall meetings and graduate student seminars to add opportunities for networking and socializing. In collaboration with Roel Snieder, the newly appointed W.M. Keck Distinguished Professor of Professional Development Education, she will create programs to help students develop professional portfolios.
“I see graduate student quality control as a pipeline,” Zhou said. “We will have quality control from admission to graduation, which will better prepare students for success after graduation.”
Zhou joined the Mines faculty in 2008. She received her PhD in geological engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. She has a research group of seven graduate students. Her research is focused on the use of geographic information systems and remote sensing for environmental studies and to assess geohazards such as landslides and ground subsidence.
“I chose Wendy for the dean position because she is passionate about advancing a set of well-defined and institutionally important initiatives,” Interim Provost Tom Boyd said. “We hope to develop and create institution-wide initiatives aimed at providing our graduate students—and the programs in which they reside—the opportunity to further develop their professional skill sets.”
CONTACT
Joe DelNero, Digital Media and Communications Manager, Communications and Marketing | 303-273-3326 | jdelnero@mines.edu
Mark Ramirez, Managing Editor, Communications and Marketing | 303-273-3088 | ramirez@mines.edu
