Dean Webster has been named chair of the department of coatings and polymeric materials at NDSU, effective Jan. 15. He previously worked as a professor in that department.
As department chair, Webster will be responsible for overseeing department budgets and resource allocation; handling hiring, annual reviews and other personnel tasks; collaborating with department members to establish goals and promoting the department locally, nationally, and internationally.
“Dr. Webster’s experience in business and more recently in academia make him uniquely qualified to take on this role for a department that works closely and successfully with industry,” said Kevin McCaul, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “I’m delighted that he is willing to add this responsibility to all of the other things that he does so well.”
Webster succeeds Stuart Croll who served in the role for more than five years. Croll will return to the position of full-time professor in the department. “Dr. Croll was very successful during this time as chair, overseeing the department as it handled literally millions of dollars in innovative research expenditures,” McCaul said. “Dr. Croll helped keep the department on the national and international map.”
Webster earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and his doctorate in materials engineering science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. He then worked as a scientist in polymer research and development at Sherwin-Williams Company, Chicago, Ill. He also worked as a research associate in the coatings and resins research lab at Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tenn., before joining the department of coatings and polymeric materials at NDSU in August 2001.