Dr. Joshua Colwell was selected as the new dean of the College of Sciences on Friday. In Colwell’s open forum, he said his main priorities for the college included promoting research and innovation and student success.
Courtesy of College of Sciences
Dr. Joshua Colwell has been selected as the new dean of the College of Sciences, effective immediately, according to an email that went out on Friday from Provost John Buckwalter.
Colwell has served as the interim dean for the college for the past nine months. Buckwalter said that, in this position, he has already helped build a flourishing environment for UCF’s community.
“Dr. Colwell’s steady leadership has helped to create an environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive,” Buckwalter said. “While strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding research and community impact.”
Colwell, a Pegasus professor of physics, has been with UCF since 2006. He previously served as chair of the Department of Physics and associate dean for research at the College of Sciences.
Colwell expressed his gratitude at being selected for the position and his hopes as the new dean in an email to The Charge.
“I am both humbled and inspired to be trusted with the position of Dean of the College of Sciences by Provost Buckwalter,” Colwell said. “Our college’s students, faculty, and staff amaze me with their talent, dedication, and innovation every day.”
Colwell earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Stetson University and earned his doctoral degree in astrophysical, planetary, and atmospheric sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Additionally, Colwell has a deep background in space research. According to the email, Colwell served as a co-investigator on NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn and has worked closely with students on spaceflight experiments.
Dr. Joshua Colwell spoke to students and faculty in the Charge On Chamber on Thursday, laying out his plan for the College of Sciences as a ca…
During his open forum as a candidate, Colwell laid out his plans for the College of Sciences, UCF’s largest college by enrollment. The main points include creating more opportunities for research and innovation, and finding new ways to promote student success and preparedness, which he reiterated in his email.
“I look forward to working together to provide the best educational experience and to foster groundbreaking and impactful research and scholarship,” Colwell said.
Buckwalter said he believes in Colwell’s leadership ability, and he will continue to help the College of Sciences prosper.
“I’m confident that under Dean Colwell’s continued leadership, UCF’s largest college will continue building strong momentum, advancing innovation, preparing the next generation of professionals to thrive, and meeting the evolving needs of the communities our graduates go on to serve,” Buckwalter said.