Longtime Princeton faculty member William B. Russel has been named to succeed John Wilson as dean of the Graduate School , effective Aug. 1. Wilson, who has served as dean since 1994, announced his retirement last October.
Russel, the Arthur W. Marks '19 Professor, has been a member of the faculty in chemical engineering since 1974. He has a long history of service to the University, as chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1987 to 1996 and as a member of the Committee on Appointments and Advancements, the University Research Board, the Committee on the Sixth College and search committees for the provost, athletic director and dean of the faculty.
He also has participated actively in the Princeton Materials Institute as a member of the executive committee from 1995 to 2000, the institute's director from 1996 to 1998 and now a joint faculty member. Within the Princeton Center for Complex Materials , he helped formulate the research program and served as director from 1996 to 1999. He also was on the executive committee of the Princeton Environmental Institute from 1996 to 2000.
"Bill Russel is a world-class scholar who brings great distinction to his new role as dean of the Graduate School," said President Shirley M. Tilghman. "Through his work in the classroom and the laboratory as well as his leadership on campus, he has strengthened Princeton in a variety of ways and contributed greatly to the experiences of undergraduates, graduate students and other members of the University community."
Russel's research in colloids -- fine particles dispersed in a fluid -- ranges from applications such as paints and adhesives to fundamental studies performed on board the space shuttle for NASA. Many have involved collaborations with colleagues in chemical engineering, physics and electrical engineering. He is the author or co-author of two books and the adviser of 30 Ph.D. students now in academia or industrial research.
Elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Russel has been recognized for his contributions with the Bingham Award from the Society of Rheology in 1999 and with the William H. Walker Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1992. He is currently the president of the Society of Rheology and chair or member of two advisory committees for NASA.
He earned his B.A. and M.ChE. degrees from Rice University and his Ph.D. from Stanford University.
"It is an honor to succeed John Wilson as dean," Russel said. "John leaves behind a fine staff and considerable improvement in many aspects of the school and the lives of graduate students. I look forward to working with the students, my colleagues on the faculty and in the administration, and the trustees to further advance graduate education at Princeton."
Princeton's Graduate School, which celebrated its centennial in 2000, enrolls about 1,900 students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in 37 departments and programs.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601
