Joseph B. Hughes is stepping down as chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), effective Oct. 15.

Hughes, who has served as chair since 2003, will be returning to the faculty.  

“We are all deeply grateful to him for his many years of extraordinary service to the school and the college,” said Gary May, dean of the College of Engineering.

An interim chair of CEE will be appointed and a national search for a new chair will commence soon, May said.

Sue Ann Bidstrup Allen has been appointed the new associate dean for faculty development and scholarship in the College of Engineering. Bidstrup Allen is a professor and the associate chair for strategic initiatives in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

“Sue Ann has a deep understanding of academic excellence as well as faculty needs,” May said. “While research and education is critical to the success of our college, it’s also imperative that we focus equally on professional development of our faculty. She is ideally suited to fill this important role, which is focused to address the most pressing issues of one of our most important resources — our faculty.”

Professor Steven W. Usselman has been named the new chair of the School of History, Technology and Society in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

“Dr. Usselman has been highly effective in recruitment, in program development and in advancing interdisciplinary education and research across the Institute, the academy and beyond,” said Jacqueline J. Royster, dean of Ivan Allen College. “We are extremely pleased that Steve will be shaping the future of HTS and that he will join the leadership team.”

Usselman will assume his new responsibilities in January 2012.