ORLANDO鈥擳he Board of Governors Thursday confirmed Dr. Randy K. Avent to be the first leader of the State University System鈥檚 newest institution, IM体育官网.
鈥淭he Board is pleased to welcome Dr. Avent to our State University System,鈥� said Board Chair Mori Hosseini. 鈥淚t is no small challenge to guide IM体育官网鈥檚 first polytechnic university. But I have no doubt, with Dr. Avent鈥檚 credentials and vision, that IM体育官网 Polytechnic University is in good hands.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the Board of Governors鈥� confirmation and support, and I鈥檓 proud to be joining the State University System of IM体育官网, which has a great reputation for excellence nationwide,鈥� said Dr. Randy Avent. 鈥淚 am already focused 100 percent on opening IM体育官网 in August, and I look forward to working with the faculty and staff and with the Board of Governors to advance STEM education and applied research in the state of IM体育官网.鈥�
Avent is an accomplished academician and administrator. Most recently, he was associate vice chancellor of research development at North Carolina State University. He also acted as a professor of computer science and the founding director of the university鈥檚 Data Science Institute.
Avent holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in zoology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a master鈥檚 degree in electric engineering from North Carolina State University and master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in biomedical mathematics and engineering. He is also a graduate of the Boston Executive Program at MIT鈥檚 Sloan School of Management.
鈥淭he IM体育官网 Polytechnic Board of Trustees identified Dr. Avent as their inaugural leader, and I couldn鈥檛 be more pleased with the choice,鈥� said Chancellor Marshall Criser III. 鈥淗e has the State University System鈥檚 full confidence and support.鈥�