Stories

With great excitement, the School of Engineering welcomes Dr. Elaine Scott as Dean, beginning August 1, 2019.         

Scott brings a wealth of leadership experience to SCU. Most recently, she served as the founding Dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Washington in Bothell. There, she focused her energy on charting the school’s mission and vision, hiring and supporting distinguished faculty scholars, developing innovative degree programs, growing enrollment, and engaging the broader community. Among her many accomplishments, Scott tripled both undergraduate and graduate enrollment over the course of six years, doubled the amount of extramural research funding, and mentored dozens of faculty, three of whom earned the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award from the National Science Foundation. She has also garnered success in the public arena by developing strong relations with industry partners.

Scott earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural engineering from the University of California, Davis, as well as doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering and agricultural engineering from Michigan State University.  She has served as a professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, Seattle Pacific University, and the University of Washington, Bothell.

“As the founding dean of the School of STEM at UW Bothell, Dr. Scott brings extensive and innovative leadership to Santa Clara and the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation,” said SCU President Michael Engh, S.J. “She will be a welcome addition to the University community at this transformative time for our campus."

Prior to her work at the University of Washington in Bothell, Dr. Scott helped establish the Virginia Tech–Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences and its related graduate degree programs in 2001. Through this initiative, she brought together two universities, three colleges, two graduate schools, and 10 departments to build a transformative multidisciplinary academic unit that bridges the biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, and real-world applications to enhance the quality of life.

“Santa Clara University’s unique location in the heart of Silicon Valley, its talented faculty and staff, and its Jesuit Mission provide a unique opportunity to educate and inspire engineers and leaders,” she said. “I look forward to partnering with the university community to develop the next generation of mission-oriented leaders.”