“Higher-Education Academics is the most powerful tool for transforming the lives of Students to positively impact the world and the generations to come”

– Magesh T. Rajan

Academic Affairs

I have an ongoing legacy of leading and supporting academic affairs, infrastructure and innovative programs that lead to success for faculty and students. My successful leadership in the academic affairs area including overseeing academic programs, curriculum initiatives, faculty hiring and promotion, faculty research and teaching, supporting student learning and experiences, program initiatives, and faculty support, professional development resources for faculty, develop and implements policies and procedures.

My commitment includes:

  • Providing stewardship for more than $70M academic projects budgets, supporting and enhancing various academic disciplines from engineering, science, and mathematics, to agriculture, business, education, arts and humanities, and nursing.
  • New academic programs development, execution and excellence.
  • Curricular innovation, improvements and teaching and learning innovations.
  • Academic leadership through program assessment, accreditation and reaffirmation activities.
  • Increasing program retention rates through enhanced academic competencies.

New Programs Development, Curriculum Innovation & Improvement

A well experienced university Program Evaluator certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) with excellent knowledge in accreditation commissions. In addition, I also have extensive experience in leading program accreditations, and completed multiple accreditations successfully.

  • A new Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering program

  • A new Electrical Engineering B.S. Minor program

  • A new Electronics Engineering & Technology B.S. Minor program

  • A new Systems Engineering B.S. Minor program

  • Led the planning of a fully-online M.S. Electrical Engineering program.

  • Extensive experience in curriculum review and improvement to be in standards with industry needs and par with national trends in higher education.

  • Transformed BS in Electrical Engineering undergraduate program with a student-centered industry-oriented design-build-test spine by introducing novel courses into the curriculum.

  • Revamped MS in Electrical Engineering graduate program.

  • Improved freshmen classes and freshmen experience with broad industrial and hands-on experiences

  • Introduced experiential learning credits to gain experience in research and industrial setting.

  • Led the development and implementation of a new BS in Electrical Engineering degree program.

  • Chaired numerous curriculum development and improvement committees to be in alignment with state boards, national accreditation agencies in engineering, engineering technology, and science.

Program Assessment & Accreditation

I have developed new academic programs through entrepreneurial approach for identifying opportunities, creating interests, building coalition and partnerships. Well experienced in designing, developing, and implementing successful UG and graduate degree programs.

  • Successful full-accreditation (6 years) for B.S. in Electrical Engineering with no deficiencies or weaknesses identified.

  • Successful full-accreditation (6 years) for B.S. in Computer Engineering with no deficiencies or weaknesses identified.

  • Successfully completed external program review for the MS graduate program with no deficiencies or weaknesses identified and approved by the Board of Regents.

  • Directly involved in the institutional Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation process.

  • Successful accreditation of the programs with full accreditation approval. Including, BS. Mechanical Engineering Technology, BS. Mechanical Engineering, and BS. Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology programs.

  • Assessment process for the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges. 

Teaching & Learning Innovation

A transformative leader in teaching and learning and advocate for Student-Centered Learning pedagogies in higher education to meet the diverse student needs and demographics.

  • Increased faculty adaptation to technical assistance in classes and creating online courses.

  • Provided support for faculty developing online classes with tablets, software, and course-release, etc.
  • Have taught over 80-course offerings and presented several invited talks on learning innovation. 
  • Experienced in innovative instructional modalities such as:
    1. Face to Face Instruction
    2. Flipped Classroom
    3. Blended/Hybrid/Fully-Online Instruction
    4. Challenge Based and Project Based Instruction
    5. Guided Inquiry-Based, and Competency-Based Education.

STUDENT AFFAIRS

STUDENT AFFAIRS & SUCCESS

Student Success is firmly rooted a top priority of my leadership practice. As a higher education leader, the student success is not only focused on academic performance and progress toward graduation but a holistic sense of fulfillment. Educators give students the purpose, prepare them for success as citizens of our world, and inspire in them a drive to do well and succeed in profession and life. The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and educators are that critical point that makes students ready for their future.

Enrollment Growth & National Ranking

  • Demonstrated significant enrollment growth while increasing the program’s national recognition. Demonstrated leadership in creative and effective student recruitment practices through various vehicles to reach diverse students, including educational, experiential, geographic, and cultural backgrounds.
    1. Demonstrated a 433% enrollment growth of graduate students in engineering graduate program.
    2. Demonstrated a 400% enrollment growth of accelerated master’s students from the campus BS program.
    3. Achieved a national rank of Top 24th graduate program in the nation by CollegeChoice© through leading the quality and visibility initiative for the graduate programs in the department.
    4. Led an extensive international graduate student recruitment program and implemented changes to the graduate student admission process and stage-by-stage monitoring and communication processes.
    5. Established partnership with community district area high school teacher’s organization and conducted teacher training about engineering programs and organized laboratory tours.

  • Created and executed Summer Camps targeted for junior and senior high school students

  • Created a partnership with STEM teachers in the region through pipeline courses, AP credit courses, freshmen courses, Research Experience for Teachers (RET), tours for STEM teachers, Summer Institute for Teachers (SIT), design fairs, etc.

  • An integral part of a 533% growth in student enrollment for a new BS Engineering program which began with 75 students in 2009 and grew to over-400 students by 2014 through directing several regional outreach programs, and high school competitions, establishing MOU’s with community colleges and raising program visibilities.

  • Served as an international ambassador and the graduate student applications increased by 300% in one year and elected to serve in the International education committee.

  • Served as the university representative and an advisory member for the NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium promoting STEM activities among students.

  • Directed several regional outreach competitions targeted to middle school and high school students.

  • Served in an advisory board for community colleges and built a pipeline for student transfer from a 2-year program into 4-year university degree programs.

Student Success: Experiential Learning, Retention, Graduation & Placement

  • Supported with over $1,000,000 in funding to revive and sustain the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR).

  • Doubled UG Research funding, which led to a 105% increase in UG research scholars & faculty mentors.

  • Supported 300+ undergraduate research scholars for diverse research and innovation experiences.

  • Supported over 100 graduate student’s tuition and/or salaries through a new VPRI – GRA Program

  • Created a faculty-led Internship/Co-op program and achieved a 98% placement record consistently.

  • Developed and implemented a structured and closed-loop academic advising process using the Starfish system. Created a survey to assess and improve the quality of academic advising.

  • Created a Student Success Seminar Series for students to learn college survival skills, study skills, and develop leadership skills through expert speaker series.

  • Created a Freshmen Social Program and Freshmen Practicum program to build bonding among freshmen students and to engage more with departmental laboratories and hands-on projects.

  • Created an innovation-Lab for students to engage in outside classroom learning and engagement.

  • Mentored and coached students to present in conferences, symposiums, and competitions, and offered events that promoted student participation and engagement.