Our Bureau
Tallahassee, FL
Professor Rajan Kumar, Ph.D, has been named the new chair of the Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Effective on Friday, December 20, 2024, Kumar takes the helm at the joint college’s largest department.
Kumar received his master’s and Ph.D. (2005) in aerospace engineering from the top-ranked Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, India.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve as the chair,” Kumar said. “I would like to thank our dean and my colleagues in the department for entrusting me with this important position. I will do my best to provide quality education to our students and help the growth of our faculty and staff.”
During Kumar’s distinguished service to the college, he has received more than $30 million in research funding from the Department of Defense, NASA, National Science Foundation and major aerospace industries as PI & Co-PI. He has also published more than 150 papers in leading aerospace journals and conferences.
His current research interests include experimental aerodynamics, supersonic and hypersonic flows, advanced flow diagnostics, active flow and noise control, and high-speed test facilities.
“I have strong confidence in Professor Kumar’s leadership and believe that, under his guidance, the department will continue to flourish and achieve new heights,” said Survranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
Professor Kumar succeeds Professor William Oates, who served as department chair since 2021. De thanked Oates for his outstanding leadership during his tenure as mechanical engineering faculty leader.
