Alka Harriger, professor of computer and information technology, and Kari Clase, associate professor of technology leadership & innovation, have been named the inaugural Dean Fellows for the College of Technology. Each will begin their fellowship projects in Spring 2012. Harriger will work on strategic diversity initiatives and Kari Clase will investigate the demand and feasibility of adding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biotechnology to the college’s degree programs. “The main goal is to work with female and minority faculty to better understand the unique issues and challenges they face,” Harriger said. “Then I can develop, with their input, appropriate solutions to address them. I’ll be on more of a knowledge gathering activity.” She hopes her focused work will lay groundwork for improving the diversity profile of the college. While the information she gathers will serve to retain women and minority faculty, the same information can also be used for overall faculty retention. Throughout the calendar year, Harriger will work with departments on their diversity plans, coordinate marketing efforts with the Office of Communications, create and meet with women and minority faculty groups, and explore a faculty sabbatical exchange agreement with an institution with a high percentage of underrepresented minority faculty. Clase plans to use the extra time to benchmark best and current practices of American and international institutions that offer degree programs in biotechnology. Because the industry has become global, she is especially interested in what others around the world are doing. For example, a Swiss program combines engineering and technology courses while an Australian program integrates innovation and commercialization into its curriculum. Clase also hopes to explore student exchange opportunities. She’ll also take time to investigate other programs, analyze the internal market, conduct industry research, map existing curriculum and identify new curriculum needs. “There are a lot of pieces in CoT within the life sciences,” she said. “We don’t want to abandon the strengths we already have. This has also to be developed with existing strengths across Purdue.” Clase plans to complete her project by August of 2012.