George Pincus, Dean of the College of Sciences and Technology, has announced that he will be returning to the Engineering Technology Department as a faculty member and stepping down from his deanship, effective Sept. 1.

Pincus, a professor of structural analysis and design, came to UHD in 1996. He has written over 50 journal articles and two books and received several prestigious awards including, the Daniel Terrell Award from the Kentucky Society of Civil Engineers, the Kittinger Teaching Excellence Award from the UH College of Engineering, Engineer of the Year in 1990 from the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers, and the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award in Higher Education.

"During Dr. Pincus' tenure, he made substantial improvements to the operations in the College of Sciences and Technology," said Brian Chapman, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Akif Uzman, professor of biology and biochemistry, will serve as Interim Dean of the College of Sciences and Technology in Pincus' stead. Uzman has worked at UHD since 1997 and specializes in developmental biology, gene regulation and science education. His numerous publications and three degrees, including a doctorate in zoology from UC Berkeley, make Uzman a highly qualified interim dean. Previously the Department Chair of Natural Sciences, Uzman will serve in his new post through mid-2013.