Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, has named Pamela McCauley, Ph.D. as the new dean of the School of Engineering, effective July 1. Dr. McCauley is a well-known scholar, educator, entrepreneur, and university administrator whose achievements include the development of mathematical models based on fuzzy set theory, human engineering, biomechanics, and engineering leadership.

She has been serving as an associate dean for academic programs, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University since 2020. McCauley has published over 100 technical papers, book chapters, conference proceedings, and a bestselling ergonomics textbook. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in engineering and higher education, particularly for underrepresented groups in STEM.

She has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to these fields, including being the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in engineering in Oklahoma.

In February 2023, she was inducted into the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Hall of Fame. She has also received Oklahoma’s highest honor as a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and was named technologist of the year at Women of Color magazine’s STEM Conference.

Throughout her career, McCauley has launched support groups and community organizations for young women in STEM. She has also served as a UN global expert on women in STEM and worked with the World Bank to promote the sustainability of HIV/AIDS healthcare service delivery in developing nations.

McCauley’s research has focused on human engineering in information systems, including the human impact on information security and how humans interact with technology regarding disaster management. She has also created simulations and technologies to streamline high-consequence disaster management using artificial intelligence (AI).