Corsi web

June 12, 2018

Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering professor and indoor air quality expert Richard L. Corsi has been named as the next dean of Portland State University’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. He will begin his appointment on Sept. 1, 2018.

Corsi joined the Texas CAEE faculty nearly 25 years ago and served as chair of the department from 2013 to 2017. Among his accomplishments as department chair, Corsi hired eight new faculty members, launched a new undergraduate degree in environmental engineering and led the development of the department’s strategic plan, which focuses on solving complex problems surrounding the nexus of cities, water and energy.

“Dr. Corsi brings an incredible breadth and depth of experience, not only in his research areas in the sciences but also in leading dynamic academic organizations,” said Rahmat Shoureshi, president of Portland State University. “I look forwarding to working with Dr. Corsi and everyone in the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science to further expand the impact of the college in Portland, the region and globally.”

Corsi’s research focuses on the physics and chemistry of indoor air pollution, particularly as it relates to pollutant interactions with indoor materials. He has explored innovative strategies for reducing human exposure to air pollution both outdoors and indoors. He has served as principal investigator on over 70 scientific research projects, advised dozens of students, written hundreds of papers and journal articles and has been featured in many mainstream publications.

He is also highly regarded as an educator, having received numerous teaching awards, including a UT System Board of Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and induction into the UT Austin Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

“I’m thrilled to be named dean of Portland State University’s preeminent engineering and computer science school and look forward to building on its successful teaching, learning and research accomplishments,” Corsi said. “PSU engineering and computer science is poised to grow its already impressive contributions to the Portland region and beyond. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our offerings — a holistic experience for our students, attracting and retaining highly competent and diverse faculty and staff and delivering cutting-edge research that improves human and natural systems for everyone.”

Corsi received his bachelor’s degree in environmental resources engineering from Humboldt State University, where he was named a distinguished alumnus in 2006. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and began his career in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

At Portland State University, Corsi replaces Renjeng Su, who has been dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering since 2009 and will return to a faculty position in the fall.