UT ECE professor Dean P. Neikirk has been appointed associate dean of graduate studies at the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin.

A professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Neikirk holds the Cullen Trust for Higher Education Endowed Professorship in Engineering, and has been a member of the Engineering faculty since 1984.

His appointment, effective August 11, 2014, will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Terry Kahn, who has served as associate dean of graduate student services for the past 11 years.

“Dean Neikirk comes to the Graduate School with a deep understanding of the university and graduate education,” said Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Judith Langlois. “He is not only an outstanding scholar, but his 11 years of administrative experience as a graduate adviser, past chair of the Graduate Assembly, and past chair of the Faculty Council, provides a solid foundation for his new role at the Graduate School.”

The Graduate School oversees 78 doctoral programs and 116 master’s degree programs including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, business and arts. It also provides access to resources, services and funding to support the more than 11,000 graduate students enrolled at the university.

In his capacity as associate dean, Neikirk will oversee graduate student services, working directly with graduate students, faculty and staff in more than 100 academic programs to implement and interpret university policy in all areas of graduate education.

”I am deeply honored to have been asked to assume this position; it will certainly be a challenge to fill Terry Kahn’s shoes after his many years of excellent service as associate dean of graduate student services.”

Neikirk received a B.S. in physics and mathematics from Oklahoma State University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology.