Ann Bisantz named dean of undergraduate education

Ann Bisantz, a renowned expert in human factors engineering who has led the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering since 2012, has been named dean of undergraduate education.

She replaces Andrew M. Stott, who left UB earlier this year for the University of Southern California.

Her appointment, effective Jan. 29, was announced today by Graham L. Hammill, vice provost for educational affairs and dean of the Graduate School.

“Dr. Bisantz has distinguished herself through an outstanding record of educational and academic service that has greatly benefited students and fellow faculty members. Her research and leadership has continuously placed the University at Buffalo in the spotlight as a premier public research university,” said Hammill, who served as interim dean of undergraduate education after Stott’s departure.

Bisantz was chosen from a strong pool of candidates, all of whom expressed tremendous ideas and vision for the position, Hammill said.

In her new post, Bisantz will be responsible for providing dynamic academic leadership, as well as articulating, shaping and elevating learning for undergraduate students at UB. She will facilitate the university’s undergraduate academic enterprise, and oversee campus, system and state processes for all undergraduate curricular changes.

Bisantz also will provide guidance, purpose and a sense of strong collaboration among the areas she oversees — including the Honors College, UB Curriculum, Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, and the Experiential Learning Network. She will collaborate with other leadership within the Office of Educational Affairs and across campus to promote and strengthen undergraduate student success and satisfaction.

“I am looking forward to serving students and the UB community in new ways,” Bisantz said. “In particular, I am excited about working with faculty and staff from across the campus to help all our undergraduate students achieve a transformative educational experience.”

A UB faculty member since 1997, Bisantz has served as professor and chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering since 2012. She specializes in human factors engineering and cognitive engineering — fields that concern designing products, systems or processes that focus on the well-being of the people using them.

She has published more than 70 journal articles and book chapters, edited two books and delivered more than 160 conference and invited lectures. She has received more than $15 million in research funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and numerous defense agencies. A fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), she has received numerous awards and honors, including an NSF CAREER award, HFES Paul M. Fitts’ Education Award and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.

Bisantz has developed fundamental and advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in human factors engineering and industrial engineering that are highly regarded by students and colleagues, and has advised or mentored 60 graduate students. Previous to her appointment as department chair, she served as director of undergraduate studies and was responsible for student advisement, curriculum development and leading a successful accreditation of the undergraduate degree program.

Bisantz received her PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She received a master’s and bachelor’s degree from UB.