Robert Brennan to spearhead Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Dr. Robert (Bob) Brennan has been appointed head of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MME). He will start in his new role on January 1, 2015 for a 5-year term and comes to the position after serving as Associate Dean (Academic and Planning) for the Schulich School of Engineering.

“I am very honoured to be selected as Head of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering , ” said Brennan. “During my time as a faculty member and as director of the MME programs in the department, and as associate dean for the Schulich School of Engineering, I have had the pleasure of working closely with my colleagues in the department and the broader university community. I look forward to strengthening these connections and working to build the community of scholars within the department.” 

Brennan joined the MME department in 1996 and has played a very active role in the department and the faculty. He has been involved in the design of courses, development of laboratories, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. Brennan served as Director of the Manufacturing Engineering program and Director of the Mechanical Engineering program from 2001 to 2006.

He has held the administrative appointment of Associate Dean (Academic and Planning) since 2007 and demonstrated his leadership skills in projects to improve the teaching and learning environment, engaging with all levels of faculty and students.

Brennan has been instrumental with leading Schulich’s major accreditation activities as well as many other strategic projects and initiatives to foster engagement and promote engineering. He was awarded the Engineers Canada Fellowship in 2011 and is an active research er with funding from NSERC, AUTO21 and private companies.

Brennan says this is a very exciting time for MME. “The s chool’s expansion and renovation project and the additional enrolment funding in the Government of Alberta budget will provide some great opportunities for our students, staff and faculty. I am looking forward to engaging with everyone in the department in the year s to come on a shared commitment to excellence in engineering education and research.”

Brennan will commence a 6-month administrative leave starting July 1, 2014, and for the period of July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 an interim department head will be appointed.