College of Engineering Appoints New Dean

Written by Ed Welch

The Anderson University College of Engineering has a new leader.

Dr. Lisa Zidek, recently named dean of the College, comes to Anderson University with extensive experience in engineering education, most recently at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU.) There, she served as associate dean since 2013. She has also served as academic program director and associate professor of Bioengineering. Previously she served as a consultant for various companies and government agencies.

Dr. Zidek earned a B.S in industrial engineering and an M.S. in mechanical engineering at Marquette University and an M.S. in industrial engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering with a specialization in health systems management, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“We are delighted that Dr. Zidek is joining our academic leadership team and faculty,” said Anderson University Provost Dr. Ryan Neal. “Her experience, credentials, background and expertise are exactly what the College of Engineering needs.”

“I am honored to join the AU community as the next dean of engineering. Engineers have a duty to develop solutions to societal challenges while holding paramount the welfare of humanity,” Dr. Zidek said. “I believe AU’s guiding principles encourage the student to take these challenges a step further to seek divine guidance in the use and application of science and technology. I am looking forward to expanding the engineering program with thoughtful alignment with respect to the needs of the greater Anderson community and region.”

Dr. Zidek’s awards and recognitions include being nominated Engineer of the Year Under 40 by the Milwaukee Senior Chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Making a Difference for Women at MSOE award from the Milwaukee School of Engineering Women’s Connections program.

Dr. Zidek’s teaching experience at FGCU focused on Engineering Service Learning, Engineering Entrepreneurship and Health Care Engineering, where she coordinated the “Introduction to the Engineering Profession” course and was involved in many outreach programs at area K-12 schools.

Dr. Zidek is a program evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which is the specialized accrediting body of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. She has also served as a senior vice president of the Institute of Industrial Engineering (IIE) in the area of student development and is a past member of the IIE’s Board of Trustees. Additionally, she has been a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and Engineers Without Borders.

In addition, Dr. Zidek has served on the Florida Gulf Coast University College of Education Ed Tech Advisory Board; was affiliate director for Project Lead the Way; was a member of the Lee County STEM at Work Foundation Board; Collier County National Academy Foundation Advisory Board and was co-director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship. She has received grant funding for several engineering education and entrepreneurship programs, including the funding for Bootcamp for Engineering and Mathematics (BEaM).

Dr. Zidek has published several articles in scholarly journals about engineering education and has contributed chapters to the books Women in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Learning in the Computer and Information Sciences: Practical Applications in Engineering Education. She has also presented at conferences across the United States and in Spain. She has also conducted workshops and poster sessions.

Dr. Zidek began June 1 and has been focused on working with the College of Engineering faculty to provide direction and guidance for dedicated engineering classrooms and equipping new engineering labs.