M. Grant Norton Selected as WSU Honors College Dean
PULLMAN, Wash. – M. Grant Norton, a professor with the Washington State University School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, has been selected as the new dean of the university’s Honors College.
“The Honors College and its associated programs are extremely important parts of WSU’s undergraduate programs,” said Warwick M. Bayly, WSU provost and executive vice president. “Grant impressed everyone with his enthusiasm and the quality of his ideas during the interview process. I am confident he will effectively lead the college through the next phase of its development.”
Norton, who will assume his new position May 16, served the College of Engineering and Architecture as associate dean of Research and Graduate Programs from 2005-11 and was chair of the interdisciplinary Materials Science Program from 2001-05. He joined WSU in 1991 after working for two multinational industrial companies in Europe.
“I am privileged to have this opportunity to lead the Honors College,” said Norton. “My goal is to build on the excellent academic and cultural experiences provided by the Honors College. In particular, I want to increase opportunities for students in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, and global engagement. I am looking forward to working closely with the academic colleges to create synergies that enhance the visibility of the Honors College at Washington State University.”
Professor Norton’s current research activities are in the applications of nanotechnology for clean energy and the life sciences. The National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and Boeing are supporting these programs.
Norton received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Southampton University and his Doctor of Philosophy and D.I.C. in Materials from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine; University of London, UK. In 2003 and 2004 he was an Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Faculty Research Associate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and spent the 1999/2000 academic year as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Materials at Oxford University.
From 2004 to 2007 Norton held the Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair in Materials Science. He is author or co-author of about 200 papers in the archival literature, several book chapters and two textbooks, most recently “Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering,” published by Springer. Professor Norton serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of “Journal of Materials Science”, is on the editorial board of “Journal of Nanotechnology” and on the international editorial board of “Journal of Materials Education.” He has consulted for a number of companies and organizations including the United States Air Force and REC Silicon. From 2009 to 2011 Norton served, at the request of Governor Christine Gregoire, on the board of directors of the Washington Technology Center.
Libby Walker, current dean of the Honors College, will retire in June after serving the Honors College for 17 years in many roles – dean, interim dean, associate dean and assistant dean.
“Libby Walker deserves our sincere thanks for doing an outstanding job in leading the Honors College through a period of very positive change and growth,” said Provost Bayly.
Contacts: M. Grant Norton, 509-335-6617, mg_norton@wsu.edu
Robert Strenge, WSU News, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu