Dr. Robert Keynton Named Dean-Elect of Lee College of Engineering
UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden has announced that Dr. Robert Keynton is the new dean-elect of The William States Lee College of Engineering. Dr. Keynton will succeed Dr. Bob Johnson, who is stepping down in June after more than 20 years as dean.
Dr. Keynton comes to UNC Charlotte from the University of Louisville, where he is Interim Executive Vice President for Research & Innovation and professor and Lutz Endowed Chair of Biomechanical Devices in the Department of Bioengineering at the Speed School of Engineering. He led the creation of the bioengineering department and its associated curriculum and was successful in realizing the vision to achieve national recognition of the bioengineering program by being named a Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Translational Partner.
“UNC Charlotte has sought an experienced administrator, researcher and mentor who is innovative in cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional endeavors to lead our well-regarded college of engineering,” Provost Lorden said. “We believe Robert Keynton is that leader and we welcome him warmly as UNC Charlotte enters its next chapter as Charlotte’s urban research university.”
Dr. Keynton’s area of expertise is development of biomedical micro-electromechanical systems (BioMEMS) and cardiovascular mechanics, the development of micro Total Analysis Systems (uTAS), experimental and computational microfluidics, acoustic transducer design and fabrication, and experimental fluid mechanics. He is an elected fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He received his B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Akron.
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the new Dean of The William States Lee College of Engineering,” Dr. Keynton said. “I am excited to partner with the university’s leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors in leading the College of Engineering to national prominence. I consider it a privilege to be continuing the amazing work of Dean Bob Johnson, who has led the college of engineering to new heights of academic and research achievement. I am eagerly looking forward to joining the UNC Charlotte community this August.”