Motevalli named vice chancellor for academic affairs at Penn State Harrisburg

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Vahid Motevalli has been named vice chancellor for academic affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, effective Jan. 1. He has served as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at the college since July 2023.

"I am honored to continue serving Penn State Harrisburg in this role and to work alongside our faculty colleagues, staff and chancellor to advance academic excellence, student success and impactful research," Motevalli said. "This campus has tremendous growth potential and momentum, and I look forward to building on our strengths to support successful student outcomes, inclusive learning, innovative interdisciplinary programs, and collaborative partnerships within and outside of Penn State Harrisburg."

Motevalli has demonstrated proven leadership skills, overseeing academic initiatives that position Penn State Harrisburg as a regional leader. He has more than 40 years of teaching, research and administrative experience in academia, government and industry. He joined Penn State Harrisburg in 2021 as director of the college's School of Science, Engineering, and Technology. He also served as interim associate vice chancellor for research at the college.

"The vice chancellor for academic affairs plays a critical role in the academic success of Penn State Harrisburg," said college Chancellor David Callejo Pérez. "With his depth of experience, collaborative leadership style, and long-standing commitment to research and student-centered education, Dr. Motevalli has demonstrated the vision and expertise needed to lead the college's academic mission."

Motevalli has conducted interdisciplinary research and education throughout his career. Serving as principal investigator or co-principal investigator, his externally funded research activities to date exceed $19 million. He has authored more than 100 technical publications in addition to reports, presentations and invited talks, and has directed more than 36 graduate students at the master's and doctoral levels. His professional experience includes serving as a congressional fellow on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and working with numerous government and international agencies, national laboratories and consulting organizations.

Motevalli also has served on several review panels for the U.S. National Science Foundation and other government agencies, as well as for the National Academies. He has served as a reviewer for multiple journals and conferences and on technical organizing committees. In January 2021, he began a four-year term as a Fulbright Specialist. A member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Engineering Deans Institute, he served on the organization's 2023 Annual Meeting Planning Committee and has been an elected member of ASEE's Engineering Research Council Board from 2018 until 2023, serving as secretary and treasurer for the last two years.

At Penn State Harrisburg, Motevalli has guided the launch of the new doctoral program in engineering systems, the hiring of 10 new faculty members in the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology, and the establishment and enhancement of multiple laboratories. During his interim appointment, he oversaw recruitment of numerous tenure-line and non-tenure-line faculty, two new school directors and selection of several key staff positions, as well as re-organizations within schools and academic units.

Prior to joining Penn State Harrisburg, Motevalli was a tenured professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean for research and innovation at Tennessee Tech's College of Engineering from 2013 to 2021. He concurrently served as interim director of the Center of Excellence for Manufacturing Research at Tennessee Tech from 2014 to 2018. Before that, he served at Purdue University as founding director of the Center for Technology Development, project director and faculty adviser for the Purdue EcoCar2, and head of the mechanical engineering technology department.

Motevalli holds a bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and a registered professional engineer in Maryland.