Dickerson named associate dean for academic affairs and community engagement
April 8, 2026 - Carly Bowling
Darryl Dickerson, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, has been named associate dean of academic affairs and community engagement of the School of Engineering. He will work in support of student success by finding and eliminating curricular barriers while strengthening engineering pathways.
"Dr. Dickerson's extensive experience in organizational leadership, engineering pathways, and student success will be an asset as we continue to carry out the goals set forth in the School of Engineering strategic plan,” said Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing. “His background is well-suited to support our students and prepare graduates for successful engineering careers."
Dickerson holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and a B.S.E. from Tulane University, both in Biomedical Engineering. He joined The University of New Mexico School of Engineering last fall from Florida International University.
“As professors, we do the work here, not because we hold particular expertise we want to share, but because we want students to gain their own expertise and think about how they can support their own communities,” he said.
Dickerson brings a wealth of knowledge in student success to the associate dean position. He served as chairman of the board for the National Society of Black Engineers and president of the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates, an organization of STEM intervention professionals who work to change institutional structure for greater student success. He spent several years working as the associate director of Purdue University’s Minority Engineering Program, where he sought to identify barriers to accessing engineering education, developed programming, and assessed how the institution could better support students.
“If students leave engineering, it should be because they’ve found passion elsewhere, but we don’t want students driven from the profession by their academic experiences,” he said.
Dickerson plans to begin his work as associate dean by examining student success data and speaking directly with students about their academic experiences. He will also support the school-wide launch of the Bridge to Engineering course and reinvigorate connections with student resources across campus. Another focus of his will be understanding the expectations industry leaders have for graduates and working to ensure UNM Engineering curriculum prepares graduates to be top contenders for industry positions.
Dickerson is the founder and CEO of Advanced Regenerative Technologies, a company focused on developing materials that guide the body in regenerating lost connections between hard and soft tissue.
In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, cooking, and family life. He is also a former violinist.
