Rate My Professor Stuart Bell

Stuart R. Bell served as the 12th Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas from 2002 to 2012, where he also held the position of professor of mechanical engineering. During his decade-long tenure as dean and chief academic and administrative officer, Bell oversaw significant expansion in facilities, research activities, student recruitment, retention efforts, ethnic diversity initiatives, and fundraising. He successfully led the School of Engineering's response to a state legislative request to grow engineering programs, resulting in a 2011 commitment of $105 million in state investment for engineering education at KU and other Kansas institutions. Bell cultivated major philanthropic gifts, including a $32 million unrestricted estate gift from Charles and Mary Jane Spahr and a $20 million gift from Madison “Al” and Lila Self to establish and expand the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program. He advanced the development of key research centers, including the NSF Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, the Bioengineering Research Center, and the KU Transportation Research Institute. Bell earned a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering in 1979, a Master of Science in mechanical engineering in 1981, and a Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering in 1986, all from Texas A&M University. Prior to his KU appointment, he served on the faculty at the University of Alabama, including as chair of the mechanical engineering department. In recognition of his contributions at KU, he received the 2012 DESA award.