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Dr. César O. Malavé, professor and holder of the Sugar and Mike Barnes Department Head Chair in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been named the new dean and chief operating officer (COO) at Texas A&M University at Qatar is. Malavé’s appointment is effective July 1.

Dr -malave -websiteThe Texas A&M University System Board of Regents and Chancellor John Sharp formally approved Malavé’s selection upon the recommendation of Texas A&M President Michael K. Young and Provost and Executive Vice President Karan Watson.

“The Texas A&M University at Qatar program is very important to Texas A&M University and the State of Qatar and I am honored to have been selected to serve in this capacity,” said Malavé. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff as they continue to educate world-class engineers and conduct impactful research.”

He will succeed Dr. Mark H. Weichold, who stepped down as dean and CEO to become executive director for the Halliburton Global Engineering Program in Texas A&M’s College of Engineering. Dr. Ann L. Kenimer has served as interim dean since Dr. Weichold’s term ended. 

Malavé will be responsible for the administration and management of the academic, research and public service programs of the institution, as well as for providing vision and direction for the engineering-oriented branch campus in Qatar.  It offers Bachelor of Science degrees in petroleum, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering, and a Master of Science and a Master of Engineering degree in chemical engineering.

“Dr. Malavé brings extensive administrative and academic experience to the position,” President Young said, “and that will serve him and the university well in working with the faculty and students at our Qatar campus, as well as with his counterparts at the other American institutions there and with Qatar Foundation officials.”

Internationally recognized for his contributions to engineering education, Malavé brings more than 30 years of service to Texas A&M University to his new role. Under his leadership the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has recruited new faculty at both the junior and senior level, developed a new advanced manufacturing initiative, and launched major initiatives to revitalize the undergraduate curriculum and graduate program. In addition, as lead principal investigator for Texas A&M’s participation in a 10-year National Science Foundation funded Foundation Coalition Grant to revamp engineering education, Malavé coordinated all activities related to curricula development, implementation, and outcomes assessment across partner institutions, and disseminated the resulting educational model through workshops in the USA and abroad.

“I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Malavé for over 30 years, he is internationally recognized for his contributions to manufacture engineering and engineering education, has a passion for his students and our unique Aggie spirit,” said Watson. “I can think of no better choice for this position as we continue our commitment to a full Texas A&M University experience for our students in Qatar.”

Before his appointment as department head, Malavé served in a variety of administrative positions in the College of Engineering. These included assistant dean for international programs, assistant and associate director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and associate dean for recruitment and international programs. In this latter role he was responsible for all international collaborations and undergraduate recruitment programs. 

He is a registered professional engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineering, earning his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and his Master of Science in operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of South Florida.