Leadership changes in the Voiland College

The Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture has announced leadership changes for the upcoming school year.

Steve Saunders will serve as the associate dean for Student Success in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, starting July 1. Saunders brings a well-recognized record of excellence in teaching, research, and student mentorship. He is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, one of the most prestigious honors for early-career faculty. He is also recipient of Voiland College's Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award and several outstanding instructor awards in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. With WSU since 2013, Saunders is known for creating engaging learning environments, supporting students across diverse backgrounds, and building strong connections that help students thrive. Saunders holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Auburn University and a BS in chemical and petroleum engineering from University of Pittsburgh.

Prashanta Dutta has been appointed director of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, starting July 1.Dutta has been a dedicated member of the WSU faculty since 2001, contributing more than two decades of leadership in research, education, and service. He serves as the Richard Schneider Jr. Professor in Mechanical and Materials Engineering and directs the NSF-sponsored NRT-LEAD program, as well as the GAANN-STAR fellowship program focused on smart technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics. An accomplished scholar and internationally recognized leader in micro, nano, and biofluidics, he has built a highly active research program supported by more than $10 million in external funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Education. He has also advanced engineering education through innovative pedagogy and hands-on learning initiatives and has provided leadership in the profession through roles with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Physical Society. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences. He is recipient of a Fulbright Award, the ASME Donald N. Zwiep Innovation in Education Award, and a recent WSU Office of Research Award. He holds a PhD from Texas A&M, a master's degree from University of South Carolina, a master's and bachelor's degrees from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Su Ha has been reappointed as director of the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. With WSU since 2005 and serving as school director since 2022, he has published more than 100 papers in the areas of energy conversion and generation from alternative and renewable fuels. His group has focused on generating hydrogen gas via thermochemical and electrochemical processes, carbon capture and utilization, and fuel cells. He serves as the lead principal investigator on a major ARPA-E project focused on developing solutions for off-grid EV charging. Ha was named a 2014 Highly Cited Researcher Award from Thomson Reuters and received the Anjan Bose Outstanding Researcher Award in 2025. His research has been cited more than 6,000 times. He is also a two-time recipient of the Voiland School Outstanding Teaching Award. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University and a master's degree and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.