Rice University has reappointed Luay Nakhleh as dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, effective July 1. Under his leadership since 2021, the school has experienced significant growth in faculty, research impact and academic programs, aligning with Rice’s strategic priorities in teaching, research and innovation.
“Luay’s leadership has been instrumental in driving the school’s success and furthering Rice’s commitment to research excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “His ability to connect faculty, students and external partners has strengthened our academic programs and positioned Rice as a leader in engineering and computing education.”
During his first term as dean, Nakhleh expanded faculty recruitment, adding 59 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including members of the National Academy of Engineering. He also strategically aligned faculty hiring with five key research priorities — health and well-being, energy and sustainability, resilient and adaptive communities, advanced materials and future computing — driving interdisciplinary collaboration across the university. Engineering and computing faculty also lead six of Rice’s interdisciplinary research institutes and are active across most of them. The impact of these efforts is reflected in a 45% rise in research expenditures, reaching $102 million in fiscal year 2024.
The school has also launched new academic programs, including an undergraduate major in operations research and master’s programs in data science and engineering management and leadership, the latter featuring Rice’s first stackable credit system for professional certifications. Student enrollment in the school has grown 28% since 2020.
Nakhleh and Rice leadership have also strengthened international partnerships, establishing academic collaborations in Argentina, Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates. The Mehta Rice Engineering Scholars Program, for example, brings graduate students from India to Rice faculty labs, enhancing the university’s global visibility and attracting top talent to its graduate programs.
Beyond his administrative role, Nakhleh has continued to contribute as a researcher and educator, mentoring graduate students, securing nearly $4.5 million in research funding and publishing in leading journals and conference proceedings. He was also elected a fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology in 2023 and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2024.
“I am honored to continue leading the School of Engineering and Computing at such an exciting time,” Nakhleh said. “Rice’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary research and global engagement makes this a remarkable place to push the boundaries of engineering and computing. I look forward to building on our momentum in the years ahead.”