The choice to come lead the Kansas University School of Engineering wasnt a tough one, Michael Branicky said Thursday. And he should know.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Kansas University has named Michael Branicky as the new dean of the School of Engineering. Branicky, who teaches and chairs the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, will officially take over as dean on July 1. Branicky was touring the KU campus and meeting with faculty Thursday, May 9, 2013.

In my field, theres things called decision trees that enable you to figure out exactly whats the best thing to do at any time. In this case, it was a very easy decision, said Branicky, a specialist in robotics and control systems who will become KUs new engineering dean July 1.

Branicky, a professor and department chairman at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, on Thursday made his first appearance at KU since he was announced as the next engineering dean in February. He spoke briefly at an annual School of Engineering banquet to honor distinguished alumni, where he received a great big Kansas welcome from the 150 or so alumni, current and retired faculty and others present at the direction of interim Dean Stan Rolfe.

Branicky told them his choice to come to KU was a no-brainer, considering the state of the school, which is expanding rapidly in the areas of facilities, faculty and students.

Our program here is not just growing, Branicky said. It is thriving. He showed hes already learned a way to enliven a room at KU with a Rock Chalk Jayhawk call and response though he wont officially take over for about two more months.

Thats when Rolfe, a faculty member in the school for 43 years, will step back down after a year overseeing the school. Rolfe had actually begun a phased retirement before he was approached to lead the school as KU searched to replace Stuart Bell, who left to become provost at Louisiana State University.

It wasnt what I figured on in retirement, Rolfe said with a laugh earlier this week.

And this wasnt just any year for the engineering school. Rolfe has overseen the opening of a new $23.6 million research building, the groundbreaking for another $80 million education building, 16 faculty position searches and a once-every-six-years national accreditation review, all as the school grows its enrollment and faculty with orders from the state to produce more engineers.

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Incoming dean praises KU engineering school