Glass Named Head of Master's in Engineering Management Program at Duke

< P>DURHAM, N.C. -- Jeffrey T. Glass has joined Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering as director of its Master's in Engineering Management (MEM) program and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In announcing the appointment Wednesday, Pratt Dean Kristina Johnson said Glass will expand an already successful professional program that provides advanced training in engineering project management, finance and marketing so its graduates "can hit the ground running" in industry upon graduation.

"Jeff brings outstanding scholarship and leadership to the school, particularly in building engineering management programs," Johnson said. "He developed a wonderful program at Case Western Reserve University, which we will use as a model to expand our program at Duke."

Glass comes to Duke from Case Western Reserve, where he was the Joseph F. Toot Jr. endowed chair in the Case School of Engineering and the co-director of The Institute for the Integration of Management and Engineering.

"In today's competitive environment, engineers must integrate closely with their company's business functions and must understand the business ramifications of their decisions," Glass said. "Duke's MEM program gives Duke graduates a jump-start on this knowledge and enables them to more effectively transition to leadership roles."

Glass said his vision for the MEM program includes meeting the increasing needs of engineers already in industry who are taking on more management responsibility.

"In addition, the program will provide engineers with the knowledge and skills that help companies improve their innovation processes and become more entrepreneurial, thereby addressing ever-changing market needs and increasing their financial strength," he said.

Professor April Brown, chair of Duke's electrical and computer engineering department, said that in addition to leading the MEM program, Glass will be actively engaged in materials and devices research.

"He has made significant and fundamental contributions in the fields of wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices," she said. "Jeff brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the department."

Prior to his appointment at Case Western Reserve, Glass served as vice president of research and development for Kobe Steel USA Inc. He also has been a tenured faculty member in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University and continues to hold an adjunct appointment with that department. He also holds an adjunct appointment at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

Glass earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Virginia. He received an MBA from Duke's Global Executive (GEMBA) program.

His technical research has focused on the growth and characterization of thin films for electronics, primarily diamond, zinc oxide and silicon carbide.