Meet the Deans
Michael J. Quinn, Dean
Michael J. Quinn is Dean of the College of Science and Engineering. He earned a Ph.D. in computer science from Washington State University, specializing in the area of parallel computing. He also holds an M.S. in computer sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in mathematics from Gonzaga University. He began his academic career as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of New Hampshire. He left his tenured position at UNH to join Oregon State University as an associate professor in 1989. Immediately after his promotion to full professor, Dr. Quinn spent a sabbatical year at the University of Southampton in England. Soon after his return to OSU, he became head of his department.
Dr. Quinn served as Head of the Department of Computer Science, one of OSU’s largest academic units, for five years. He led the Department’s successful effort to gain accreditation for its B.S. program in computer science. Under his leadership, the Department also increased the attractiveness of the computer science major by creating new program options. These options have given students the ability to choose a curriculum better aligned with their interests and career goals. Dr. Quinn continued the development of an innovative workload model that provided faculty members the opportunity to shape their teaching, research, and service assignments more closely to their talents and aspirations. He cultivated relationships with alumni that resulted in a significant increase in the number and size of gifts to the Department.
During his time at OSU, Dr. Quinn was heavily involved in faculty governance. He served on a wide variety of campus committees and chaired three of the most important: the Curriculum Council, the Budgets and Fiscal Planning Committee, and the Distinguished Professor Committee. At the time he left OSU he was serving as Faculty Senate President.
Dr. Quinn is an internationally recognized expert in the field of parallel computing. His research in the area has resulted in the publication of more than 60 refereed journal and conference papers, and his textbooks on parallel computing have been used by hundreds of universities worldwide. The recent emergence of commodity multi-core processors has brought new attention to his work, and he has helped Intel Corporation develop materials for short courses in multi-core programming.
A prolific writer, Dr. Quinn is also a leader in the field of computer ethics. His textbook, Ethics for the Information Age, explores moral problems related to modern uses of information technology, such as spam, Internet addiction, intellectual property rights, computer security, software reliability, automation, and off-shoring. The book has been adopted by more than 125 colleges and universities in the United States and many more internationally.
Jean Jacoby, Associate Dean
Jean Jacoby is Associate Dean and a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the College of Science of Engineering. She received a B.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering-Environmental Engineering and Science from the University of Washington.
From 1986-1991, she worked at several civil and environmental engineering consulting firms where she managed studies of toxic pollution in urban bays of Puget Sound, watershed and water quality investigations, and lake restoration projects.
In 1991, she was appointed the Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Environmental Engineering at Seattle University. She was named the first Thomas J. Bannan Chair in Engineering at Seattle University in 1996.
Dr. Jacoby has taught courses in environmental engineering and science, and has conducted research in lakes and streams, specializing in the ecology and management of toxic and nuisance algae. She is active in several professional organizations, serving as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers for fourteen years, a board member of the North American Lake Management Society, and an associate editor for the journal Lake and Reservoir Management.
Mara Rempe, Associate Dean
Mara Rempe is Associate Dean and Assistant Professor in Chemistry at the College of Science and Engineering. She received a B.S in Chemistry at Seattle University and her Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Rempe taught at various community colleges before coming to Seattle University in 1997. At Seattle University she has taught various classes in the Chemistry Department, primarily for freshmen and non science majors. Currently, she teaches a general chemistry lab in conjunction with Kennedy High School, giving talented high school students the opportunity to earn college credit.
In addition to being Associate Dean, Dr. Rempe is currently also the Director of New Student Registration, registering all new freshmen for Seattle University. This keeps her active throughout the campus, working closely with the Core, Freshman Orientation, and transfer issues.
Each spring, Seattle University hosts Expanding Your Horizons, an event that encourages middle school girls to explore mathematics, science and engineering careers. Dr. Rempe has been involved for many years in coordinating this event for about 450 young women.