Welcome Dean Ragu

National search nets leader of a top-ranked engineering program at Purdue

By Robert L. Smith

The new dean of the Case School of Engineering brings an international perspective, three Stanford degrees and an outgoing personality to the Case campus this fall.

Venkataramanan “Ragu” Balakrishnan, previously the head of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, will chart the future course of science and engineering on Case Quad beginning September 1. He emerged as the top choice after a national search that drew a large pool of outstanding candidates, according to Case Western Reserve University President Barbara Snyder and Provost and Executive Vice President William “Bud” Baeslack III.

“He’s a great scholar, researcher and teacher,” Baeslack said, adding that he’s equally impressed by another key quality of the new dean. “He’s just really liked and very much enjoyed by everyone I talked to at Purdue.”

Snyder described Balakrishnan as a dedicated teacher and a leader who grew enrollment, attracted new research dollars and diversified the faculty ranks at one of the nation’s top programs for electrical and computer engineering.

“All of these accomplishments and more have prepared him so well to assume the deanship of the Case School of Engineering,” she said.

Balakrishnan was first introduced to staff and faculty at a reception in Nord Hall June 28. He told his new colleagues he was honored to accept the title of dean of the Case School of Engineering. During the lengthy selection process, he said, he became familiar with the “collaborative spirit” on Case Quad and the impactful research that resulted. “We don’t do anything great in this world alone,” he said. “All these values came shining through. I really enjoyed learning about Case. I’m really delighted to be joining the institution. It’s my honor and my gain.”

His former employer expressed sadness and good wishes.

“All of us in the College of Engineering are very thankful for his dedication and service,” said Mung Chiang, dean of the College of Engineering at Purdue. “While Ragu will be sorely missed by ECE and the Purdue community, we wish him the very best as he starts this next chapter in his remarkable career.”

Balakrishnan led the largest academic unit at Purdue, overseeing more than 100 faculty, a staff almost as large as the Case School of Engineering, Baeslack observed.

“There’s a tremendous alignment between the excellence at Purdue and a university like ours,” he said in an interview with Case Alumnus. “I think it’s going to be a good fit.”

Steve Zinram, executive director of the Case Alumni Association, said he’s anxious to work with the new dean and to introduce him to the alumni community. “I’m sure that in the months ahead we will be developing many opportunities for alumni to have a chance to meet Dean Ragu and welcome him into the Case family,” he said.

A native of India, Balakrishnan earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1985, where he graduated at the top of his class.

He came to Stanford University as an international student and earned two master’s degrees and a PhD.

He has taught at Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana, for 24 years and for the past nine years led the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is ranked ninth nationally for its computer and electrical graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report.

An accomplished researcher in system and control theory, Balakrishnan received awards for his teaching and the prestigious designation of Fellow of the IEEE, the world’s largest technical and professional organization committed to improving technology to benefit humanity.

At the Nord Hall reception, Snyder thanked the search committee, co-chaired by Distinguished University Professor Hunter Peckham from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Dean Pamela Davis of the School of Medicine, and gave a special shout-out to the interim dean.

“The person we really have to thank is Jim McGuffin-Cawley,” she said to applause. “Jim, you stepped up when we needed you to.”

McGuffin-Cawley assumed the role of interim dean July 1, 2017, when former dean Jeffrey Duerk left for a leadership role at the University of Miami. He remains a professor of engineering and said he looks forward to working with the new dean and serving the school in a different capacity.

Steve Zinram, executive director of the Case Alumni Association, welcomes the new dean at Nord Hall as Kelly Hendricks, director of alumni relations, waits to say hello.