GRAND RAPIDS – Grand Valley State University Acting Provost Jennifer Drake announced the appointment of Adebayo “Bayo” Ogundipe as the new dean of the Padnos College of Engineering.
Ogundipe will begin his new role March 1. A native of Nigeria, Ogundipe has extensive experience in both chemical and environmental engineering, and higher education, including 14 years at James Madison University, most recently as professor and department head of engineering.
Adebayo “Bayo” Ogundipe
Drake said Ogundipe’s depth of experience will enhance and further the College of Engineering’s mission.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Ogundipe to Grand Valley,” Drake said. “He will provide strong leadership for the college. His contributions will build upon its solid foundation, paving the way for a bright future in engineering education.”
Ogundipe is the first dean of the College of Engineering since the engineering and computing colleges were housed in the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. In 2023, GVSU’s Board of Trustees approved creating a new College of Computing.
Ogundipe earned a doctoral degree in environmental engineering, master’s degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Lagos in Nigeria.
As head of James Madison’s engineering department, Ogundipe increased enrollment by 40 percent over a four-year period, expanded industry-sponsored capstone projects and applied research for faculty, and implemented the first co-op program — after learning of Grand Valley’s robust co-op program from Paul Plotkowski, retired dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.
“Paul’s vision and longevity has left an imprint on the program. The program’s core tenets and the collaborative faculty and staff have built a solid foundation of engineering education. This creates a robust ecosystem for project-based learning and industry-sponsored projects,” Ogundipe said. “We need to continue to align this work with what industry needs of their future employees.”
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