Old Dominion University is excited to announce that Jeffrey Fergus will be joining as the new dean of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, starting on August 10. The Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Austin Agho, expressed excitement about Fergus joining the leadership team. Agho highlighted Fergus’s background in engineering research and his efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which align with ODU’s values of fostering a sense of belonging among faculty, staff, and students.
Currently serving as the associate dean for undergraduate studies and program assessment at Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Fergus brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He will be taking over from Kenneth Fridley, who has been serving as the interim dean since last August and was recently appointed as the vice president for research. Fridley expressed confidence in Fergus’s ability to lead the college to further success, building on the foundation he has laid during his time as interim dean.
Fergus holds an undergraduate degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He also has experience as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Sensor Materials at the University of Notre Dame. Fergus has contributed significantly to the field of engineering with over 180 publications that have been cited over 14,000 times by other researchers. His research projects have focused on materials for gas turbine engines, batteries, fuel cells, and chemical sensors.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, Fergus has taken on leadership roles in industry organizations such as the Electrochemical Society and The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. He has also been involved with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), serving as Chair of its Engineering Accreditation Commission from 2019 to 2020. The University community looks forward to welcoming Dr. Fergus and benefiting from his expertise
