Mark Workman, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, announced May 7 that Dr. Peter Braza will be replacing Dean Neal Coulter as interim dean at the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction for the next two years.

Coulter will be retiring after serving as dean of the COCEC for 11 years.

“I planned to retire after serving two five-year terms as dean, but I stayed while the college searched for a successor,” Coulter said. “I think Braza is very highly qualified, has the right disciplines and experience and will interact well with the faculty and students.”

Braza has been the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the past seven years and is held in high regards among his associates.

“I think it was a combination of personal attributes and professional experience that led to him being chosen,” Workman said. “Braza expressed great optimism about the college, its potential growth in enrollment and development of its programs.”

Braza’s appointment will commence July 1. The Spinnaker spoke with him about his past experiences and future goals for the COCEC.

Where did you go to college?

I went to the University of Wisconsin Madison for my undergraduate studies, and I received my master’s and doctorate degrees in applied mathematics from Northwestern University.

Where did you work before you became a professor?

This was actually my first job. I came down here when I was 27 years old without a car and became an assistant professor in 1988.

Who is going to take your place as the associate dean at the College of Arts and Sciences?

That is yet to be determined, but as we speak they are interviewing people.

Why do you want to become the dean of the COCEC?

I think they [COCEC] can become a star college. Don’t get me wrong, the college has excellent programs now, but I think it can become the college of the university. I want high school students around here to start thinking of UNF as a school like UF or USF. The school is already involved in the community, but I want it to have an even greater impact on the community.

What changes would you like to make to further the advancement of the COCEC?

One thing I would like to explore is the possibility of five-year master’s programs.

Coulter spoke of the need to add some more undergraduate programs. Do you plan on adding any, and if so which ones?

I do not have any specifics in mind right now, but I’d like to hear from the faculty. Between new programs or the possibility of five-year master’s programs, I would like to focus on the master’s programs for now.

Is there a lot of added stress because of transferring from one college to another, instead of transferring inside of one college?

Not to me. I am looking forward to the new challenges.

Why are you serving as interim dean for only two years?

There has been a search going on for a new, permanent dean by the COCEC for two years now. I want to come in and get the college back on its feet. I would like to continue as the permanent dean, but there is uncertainty about whether my degree [applied mathematics] would be acceptable, since it is not something that is offered at the COCEC.

What are your duties as dean of the COCEC compared to your duties as associate dean of the COAS?

Right now I run the nuts and bolts of the COAS, over there I will be leading the college [COCEC] in its programs and its direction.