Eric Brey named dean of the UTSA Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design

MAY 3, 2024 — UTSA Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley today announced the selection of Eric Brey as dean of the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (Klesse College) and David and Jennifer Spencer Distinguished Chair.

Brey has served as interim dean of the college since June 1, 2023.

“I am thrilled to announce Eric Brey as our new dean,” Shipley said. “Dr. Brey’s steadfast advocacy for student achievement, academic excellence and research development aligns seamlessly with the college’s upward trajectory. His comprehensive vision for the college's future, coupled with his dedication to both knowledge discovery and preparing students for their chosen careers, will undoubtedly propel us toward our goals.”

Shipley continued, “I thank the search advisory committee and chair Glenn Martínez for their efforts, insight and dedication in cultivating an exceptional pool of finalists as potential candidates to lead the Klesse College to continued excellence.”

“Dr. Brey’s steadfast advocacy for student achievement, academic excellence and research development aligns seamlessly with the college’s upward trajectory.”

A professor of biomedical engineering and chemical engineering, Brey joined UTSA in 2017 as professor and department chair after 13 years at the Illinois Institute of Technology. As department chair he oversaw a time of unprecedented growth in faculty, research expenditures and new programs. In addition to his teaching and administrative roles, Brey is co-director of the UTSA Institute for Regenerative Medicine and directs research focused on the fields of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and biomaterials. He holds the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. Endowed Chair in Mechanics.

Brey is recognized internationally for his innovative research approach to engineering vascularized tissues, and for developing novel imaging methods to analyze and monitor engineered tissues. His research has culminated in more than 150 publications and over 7,600 citations, and he has received more than $25 million in grant funding to support his research from organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense and the San Antonio Medical Foundation.

Brey is also dedicated to engineering education, especially how undergraduate research and disciplinary cultures impact a student’s career trajectory. He has contributed to innovative training programs, including in his current role as associate program director for the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD), a three-year research professional development program backed by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences that guides PhD students as they adjust to doctoral training and advance in their scientific careers.

He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, B.S. and M.Eng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville and was a NIH post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Surgery at Loyola University Medical Center.

“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to lead the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design into its next chapter of growth and innovation,” Brey said. “Klesse College is an incredible environment with exceptional students, faculty and staff. I look forward to collaborating on the development and implementation of a vision focused on being a role model of an urban-serving college with excellence in research, distinctive educational programs, collaboration across disciplines, and service to the community.”

The College of Engineering and Integrated Design was formed in 2021 following a yearlong initiative to combine academic departments and programs previously under the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, to optimally position UTSA on the cutting edge of transdisciplinary research, academic programming and workforce preparation for students. Later the same year, the college was named for former Valero CEO and Chairman of the Board Bill Klesse and his wife, Margie, in recognition of their transformational $20 million gift.

Home to over 4,200 students and nearly 150 faculty members, the Klesse College is San Antonio’s leader for engineering and designed environment research and instruction. With experiential learning opportunities that cover internships, special projects, study abroad and community partnerships, students learn to collaborate across multiple disciplines to understand how to connect the vision to the outcome.

The college’s educational programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the National Architectural Accrediting Board, the American Council for Construction Education and the Council of Interior Design Accreditation.

— Rebecca Luther