Campus.News is reporting that Joseph E. Flaherty has been named dean of the School of Science. Dr. Flaherty, who has been at Rensselaer for 28 years, is the Amos Eaton Professor of Computer Science. He was also the founding chairman of the Department of Computer Science at RPI.

Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer, said, "Dr. Flaherty has served Rensselaer for 28 years as a distinguished scholar and administrator. He will bring the intellectual leadership, the vision, and the commitment that will move the School of Science forward to even higher levels of excellence. In addition, his research is at the intersection of biotechnology and information technology, the two research areas given priority in the Rensselaer Plan."

Rensselaer's announcement of Joseph Flaherty as Science Dean apparently supercedes the announcement of Dr. Heinz Engl as Dean of the School of Science. That announcement was made in March 2001 and was to take effect on September 1.