Srihari to exit Watson College Deanship in 2024

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Srihari will remain at his post until the new dean arrives, according to Hall. This includes continuing to oversee the hiring of new professors in Watson College and continuing to lead its research initiatives. New faculty will also be added to the college over the next year, and it will continue to have strong ties to industry, alumni and the research community.

On the search for a new dean, Hall discussed the various factors to consider throughout the process.

“I want someone who will build on Dean Srihari’s success over the past decade,” Hall wrote in an email. “Watson [College] is on a remarkable trajectory and the next dean will be a leader, mentor, world-class researcher and supporter of student success, just as Dean Srihari was.”

Srihari expressed pleasure to have worked for BU President Harvey

Stenger and Hall, and commented that the caliber of the Watson College faculty and staff is “superb,” and that their goal should always be to do their very best for their principal customer — their students.

After he leaves the role of dean, Srihari expressed intent to return to Watson College’s systems science and industrial engineering department.

“In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses, I will continue to work with graduate students,” Srihari wrote in an email.

“Furthermore, it would be an honor to continue to serve our campus in any way that I can.”

Stenger also wished Srihari the best, in the BingUNews announcement of Srihari’s impending departure. Stenger said that a standard was set as dean, and that he is glad that Srihari will still continue for this next year.

While she stated her interactions with the dean were very few, Clara Rodriguez, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering, described Srihari as a “very caring person.”

“He is extremely passionate about equipping students for success, and he also is considerate toward his colleagues,” Rodriguez said. “From networking opportunities to simply helping clear plates off a table at an event, his compassion for others and humility speak volumes about his character.”

Frankie Rumreich, a freshman majoring in computer science, weighed in on the traits he would like to see in a new dean of Watson College.

“I’d say transparency is important since changes could affect Watson [College] students,” Rumreich said. “They should also pick someone who weighs student interest into their decisions.”