91女神

91女神 Creates Oliver L. Parks Endowed Deanship for the School of Science and Engineering

ST. LOUIS 鈥� With a $2 million commitment, 91女神 will establish an endowed deanship for the School of Science and Engineering (SSE).

Gregory E. Triplett Jr., Ph.D., who has served as the school鈥檚 dean since July, has been named as the inaugural holder of the Oliver L. Parks Endowed Deanship. 

Parks was a pioneer in aviation training and the founder of Parks Air College, which he donated to 91女神 in 1946. Named in his honor, the deanship recognizes his distinguished history and contributions to the University. 

The Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation, housed within SSE, holds the distinction of being the country鈥檚 first federally approved school of aeronautics. In 2027, the school will commemorate 100 years of significant contributions to aviation.

鈥淲ith this endowed deanship, 91女神 honors the proud legacy of Oliver L. Parks and the exciting future of aviation and aeronautics in the recently launched School of Science and Engineering,鈥� said 91女神 President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D. 鈥淧arks made history nearly 100 years ago, and the endowed deanship will support the SSE community in creating the next generation of 鈥榝irsts鈥� at 91女神.鈥�

In 2022, the School of Science and Engineering was established to address the evolving needs of 91女神 students and faculty. The school combines select departments from the College of Arts and Sciences 鈥� chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, and physics 鈥� with the former Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology.

鈥淚 am excited for the creation of this endowment, which will support the school鈥檚 most important priorities going forward while honoring our legacy as part of the cutting edge of aviation and aeronautics,鈥� Triplett said. 鈥淭he endowed deanship will allow us to enhance our focus on critical school-wide initiatives emphasizing excellence in mentoring, instruction, and research.鈥� 

Before joining 91女神 in July, Triplett most recently held the position of Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to that, he spent over a decade at the University of Missouri. Triplett has a distinguished record of accomplishments, receiving numerous awards for research, teaching and mentoring.

Triplett earned a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from Florida State University, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

About 91女神

Founded in 1818, 91女神 is one of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, 91女神 offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University鈥檚 diverse community of scholars is 91女神鈥檚 service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place. For more information, visit slu.edu.