From Penn State to Ohio University, Patrick Fox takes helm of Russ College of Engineering and Technology

Patrick Fox traded the Appalachian mountains of central Pennsylvania for the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.

Happy to return to a place he once called home, Fox left his role as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State University to become Ohio University’s new dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Some things have stayed the same since Fox last lived in Lancaster, Ohio, but change is afoot in the “Silicon Heartland.”

Red bricks fired from local clay still pave roads around the oldest land-grant campus in the Northwest Territory. And uptown Athens, Ohio, maintains its relaxed vibe with eclectic coffee hangouts and eateries, though Fox hasn’t established a favorite coffee hangout in Athens yet.

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He prefers drinking his morning cup of coffee at his desk in a building that’s the heart of technical innovation at Ohio University — and it’s not far from where the new Russ Research Opportunity Center will soon take shape at the intersection of medicine, health and cutting-edge technology research.

Fox returns to Ohio just in time for the high-tech explosion poised to kick an already vibrant state economy into overdrive. Ohio University leads ASCENT, the Intel-funded Appalachian Semiconductor Education and Technical Ecosystem, aimed at preparing the technical workforce to meet the needs of Intel and other high-term companies moving into the state.

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Who is Patrick Fox?

As a professor, Fox holds fond memories of his classroom teaching days. His favorite class to teach was Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering because it provided an opportunity to expose students to many new concepts associated with this exciting field of specialization.

While he may not be teaching his favorite course, in his role as the dean he will continue to lead faculty, staff and students on their own paths in support of not only their personal and professional goals, but the overarching goals of the college.

"This is an outstanding leadership opportunity, and I’m truly thrilled and honored to serve in this capacity for the Russ College,” Fox said. “We have a new engineering research facility opening this year — the Russ Research Opportunity Center. This renovated facility will accommodate our current needs and future growth.”

Fox has worn many hats as a skilled instructor, a distinguished researcher and a thoughtful leader, making him prepared to lead students, faculty and staff as they make a lasting impact on engineering at the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and beyond.