Supporting the continued growth of the school’s research enterprise is among the key initiatives for her third term.
Wendi Heinzelman has been reappointed to a third five-year term as dean of the University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, a position she has held since her initial appointment in 2016. During her second term as dean, Heinzelman has successfully led the Hajim School through strategic initiatives to enhance its national reputation, increased research expenditures, expanded academic offerings and experiential opportunities for students, and promoted interdisciplinary collaboration.
Under Heinzelman’s leadership, the Hajim School has achieved a series of tangible results that reflect its growing national prominence and institutional strength. One key indicator is a 36 percent increase in research expenditures, underscoring the school’s expanding research capabilities and thriving interdisciplinary centers. At the same time, the faculty has grown by 20 percent, including a near doubling of instructional track faculty—highlighting a clear and sustained commitment to faculty success and development.
That momentum extends to academic programming as well, with new and innovative engineering and applied sciences degree offerings designed to meet emerging industry and societal needs. Complementing these academic and research gains are exceptional fundraising efforts such as the Wyant challenge, which is ahead of schedule in securing matching gifts to support a 50 percent expansion of the Institute of Optics faculty. Under Heinzelman’s lead, the school also established its first endowed professorship in computer science, marking a major milestone in honor of the department’s 50th anniversary.
Heinzelman has been an extraordinary advocate for research and STEM education. This includes helping to advance the university’s federal priorities, such as pursuing opportunities through the CHIPS and Science Act and serving as a science policy resource for Members of Congress.
In order to rebuild the Department of Chemical Engineering, Heinzelman supported the recruitment of six new research-active faculty to the department in the last 3 years, including the department chair, Darren Lipomi, who came to Rochester from UC San Diego. Additionally, Heinzelman has promoted outstanding hires throughout all of the Hajim departments and the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and established effective recruitment and mentoring approaches for these new junior faculty members.
Heinzelman receives high praise for her fair decision-making and strong organizational and communication abilities. Her commitment to inclusive leadership practices has created an environment that fosters growth, engagement, and excellence.
“Wendi Heinzelman has been an extraordinarily effective Dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences,” says Nicole Sampson, University of Rochester provost and chief academic officer. “Under her leadership, the Hajim School has recruited stellar faculty, grown its research portfolio, and further established itself as a school dedicated to excellence and student success. I am delighted to appoint her to another term as dean.”
“It has been a privilege to serve as dean of the Hajim School and to work alongside such talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and students,” says Heinzelman. “Together, we have advanced the Hajim School’s mission: to promote and support the highest quality research that advances solutions to pressing societal problems and to advance education in engineering and applied science through engaging experiences and environments that promote critical thinking, creativity, equity, ethics and leadership, creating lifelong learners. I am honored to continue this work and excited about what we will achieve in the years ahead.”
Prior to her first term as dean, Heinzelman served as dean of graduate studies for the former Arts, Sciences, & Engineering unit. She is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering with a secondary appointment in computer science. Heinzelman joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2001 as an assistant professor and became a full professor in 2012.
Key initiatives Heinzelman plans to undertake during her third appointment as dean include:
- Supporting continued growth of the Hajim School research enterprise.
- Increasing opportunities for Hajim students to participate in research, internships, entrepreneurship, and global experiences.
- Enhancing the sense of community and professional development support for staff.
- Increasing the engagement of Hajim alumni and friends.
- Overseeing the design and construction of a new Transformational Materials and Technologies (TMT) building to support faculty growth and student success in the years ahead.
Through these initiatives, Heinzelman aims to enable Hajim faculty, staff and students to excel at the highest levels and ensure the Hajim School continues to become “ever better.”
Heinzelman will begin her third term as dean of the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences on July 1, 2026.
