College of Engineering Welcomes New Faculty and Staff
The Department of Mechanical Engineering welcomes Azer Yalin, a tenure-track assistant professor, to its faculty. Yalin earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University. His doctoral work examined experimental studies of molecular processes in hypersonic flows and weakly ionized gases. This fall, Yalin is teaching an undergraduate fluid mechanics class and developing an advanced optical diagnostics course.
Amy Pruden joins the Department of Civil Engineering this fall as an assistant professor. Pruden earned her Ph.D. in environmental science and a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Cincinnati. Pruden is primarily interested in the application of biotechnology to environmental remediation and the removal of contaminants from water. This semester, Pruden is teaching the graduate-level course Microbial Processes and Environmental Systems.
Brian Bledsoe continues his work in the Department of Civil Engineering this fall in a new position: as a tenure-track assistant professor. Bledsoe previously served as a research associate and research assistant in the department. He earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering from Colorado State in 1999. Prior to his work with Colorado State University, Bledsoe was the environmental engineer nonpoint source program coordinator for the Division of Water Quality and an environmental specialist in the Division of Coastal Management, both at the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. His current research interests are water quality, fluvial geomorphology, nonpoint source pollution and river mechanics.
Several new staff members joined us this year. Stacey Coffman has worked in the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs since July. Rebecca Martin began working in the Engineering Business Office in July and Josephine Cobb joined EBO in September. Carol Martin became part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering staff in June. Claire Lavelle joined the Department of Chemical Engineering in July.