2008 Woodie Awards
CESTA gets new dean
Chantell Black
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
The new dean and director of land-grant programs of the FAMU College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture was welcomed with high praises.
Makola M. Abdullah took charge of his new position Jan. 7.
Abdullah has a storied employment history at FAMU. He joined the FAMU faculty in 1996 as an assistant professor. Abdullah also served as a department of civil engineering professor and most recently, the associate vice president of research.
Abdullah, who is just 38 years old, replaced Samuel L. Donald, who worked as CESTA's interim dean. Abdullah is also the youngest African American to receive a Ph. D. in engineering from Northwestern University.
The dean is also an internationally renowned researcher and educator with an expertise in earthquake and wind engineering. Abdullah has lectured in Japan, South Africa and across the United States. He also has written more than 25 technical publications.
One of the most important responsibilities of the dean of CESTA is gaining funding for research. Abdullah's research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation, which includes the placement and design of output feedback controllers, optimization of algorithms for discrete location placement, robust control design and minimization of structural pounding.
Abdullah said one of his goals is to receive more money for the school to improve the program. This requires a lot of time writing proposals and grants to gain funding from sponsors.
"The number one thing we can do to improve our college is to let everyone know the best kept secret at FAMU," he said.
In the 2006 Annual Report on Research, out of the $28 million awarded to the 10 colleges in the University that year, CESTA received almost one-third of that money. Abdullah has been entrusted with more than $3 million worth of research funding.
His colleague Dale Wesson, an associate professor and chairman for biological and agricultural systems engineering, said Abdullah is the right man to get the job done.
Makola M. Abdullah took charge of his new position Jan. 7.
Abdullah has a storied employment history at FAMU. He joined the FAMU faculty in 1996 as an assistant professor. Abdullah also served as a department of civil engineering professor and most recently, the associate vice president of research.
Abdullah, who is just 38 years old, replaced Samuel L. Donald, who worked as CESTA's interim dean. Abdullah is also the youngest African American to receive a Ph. D. in engineering from Northwestern University.
The dean is also an internationally renowned researcher and educator with an expertise in earthquake and wind engineering. Abdullah has lectured in Japan, South Africa and across the United States. He also has written more than 25 technical publications.
One of the most important responsibilities of the dean of CESTA is gaining funding for research. Abdullah's research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation, which includes the placement and design of output feedback controllers, optimization of algorithms for discrete location placement, robust control design and minimization of structural pounding.
Abdullah said one of his goals is to receive more money for the school to improve the program. This requires a lot of time writing proposals and grants to gain funding from sponsors.
"The number one thing we can do to improve our college is to let everyone know the best kept secret at FAMU," he said.
In the 2006 Annual Report on Research, out of the $28 million awarded to the 10 colleges in the University that year, CESTA received almost one-third of that money. Abdullah has been entrusted with more than $3 million worth of research funding.
His colleague Dale Wesson, an associate professor and chairman for biological and agricultural systems engineering, said Abdullah is the right man to get the job done.
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