The University of Memphis Board of Trustees approved the appointment of David J. Russomanno as the UofM’s next Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost in a special called meeting on Monday.
Russomanno, a former UofM faculty member, will begin the position on July 1. He has served as dean of the Purdue School of Eng-ineering and Technology at Indiana University — Purdue University Indian-apolis (IUPUI) since 2010. In that role, his responsibilities included overseeing four research centers of excellence and seven academic departments with 21 undergraduate and 13 graduate degree programs.
“I am very excited to welcome David Russomanno back to the University of Memphis as our Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost,” UofM President Bill Hardgrave said. “He brings an exceptional track record and reputation as a leader in higher education. His expertise and institutional knowledge from the many years he spent as a faculty member on our campus will serve our University well as he assumes this position.”
During his time as dean, Russomanno has also served as a professor in many capacities. He is a tenured professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at IUPUI, a graduate faculty professor in the Purdue University Graduate School and an adjunct professor in the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineer-ing.
Russomanno led the development of two five-year strategic plans for the School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, establishing it as one of America’s premier urban schools of engineering and technology. The U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school in the top 100 nationally in its Best Graduate Schools and Best Undergraduate Schools rankings.
Russomanno previously held several administrative and faculty positions at the UofM. He was department chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Herff College of Engineering (2004-10), interim director of the Center for Advanced Robotics at the FedEx Institute of Technology (2007-08) and Computer Engineering program coordinator in the Herff College of Engineering (1999-04).
As a professor at the UofM, he was a full graduate faculty member in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2010-20), adjunct graduate faculty in Biomedical Engineering (2010-16) and a professor with tenure in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2005-10). He joined the UofM as a tenure-track assistant professor in 1993 after working for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Michelin Tire and Intergraph Corporation as an engineer.
“I am honored to return to the UofM as Provost at this exciting time in its history,” Russomanno said. “President Hardgrave has an inspiring vision for the UofM. I look forward to working with him and the entire UofM community to implement the new strategic plan. Having spent my entire academic career at urban research universities, I am dedicated to removing barriers to student success and establishing partnerships to advance the well-being of all.”
Russomanno’s honors include the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal, awarded in 2019 for broadening the reach of IU around the state, nation and world. At the UofM, he held the R. Eugene Smith Professorship, received the Herff College Outstanding Faculty Research Award and Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award and was a Founding Fellow of the FedEx Institute of Technology.
Russomanno has a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering and Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
