The Search for Our Next Provost

Dr. Christina L. Bloebaum is Dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University, where she has led a transformative period of growth since 2018. Under her leadership, the college has more than doubled its incoming undergraduate class and increased overall enrollment by 55%, while raising academic quality, expanding hands-on learning opportunities, and launching new, high-demand undergraduate and graduate programs that align with emerging industry needs.

A nationally and internationally recognized expert in the design of large-scale complex engineered systems, Dr. Bloebaum has authored pioneering work in multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), tradespace exploration, and value-driven design. Her research has been supported by a range of federal agencies and industry partners, including the National Science Foundation, where she served as a program director for Engineering and Systems Design and System Science, and helped lead the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation initiative, Origami Design for Integration of Self-assembling Systems for Engineering Innovation (ODISSEI).

She has launched multiple interdisciplinary research centers at both Kent State and the University at Buffalo, focused on advancing emerging technologies, digital transformation in engineering, and next-generation aerospace and mobility systems. Her leadership has been recognized with national awards for teaching, research, and innovation, including the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Aerospace Educator Award, the AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award, and the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow Award. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Dr. Bloebaum has advised more than 90 master’s and Ph.D. students, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, government, and industry. She continues to teach and mentor students at all levels, including first-year undergraduates. She is deeply committed to student success, working to ensure that learners from all backgrounds have clear pathways to fulfilling careers and meaningful contributions to society.

As Dean, she has overseen more than $30 million in completed capital investment at Kent State, including a $24.1 million building expansion and a $6.5 million academic center for professional pilot training. She is currently leading a $36 million, three-phase initiative to expand Kent State’s university airport in support of advanced air mobility research and aerospace workforce development. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Bloebaum brings a student-centered, collaborative, and future-focused approach to academic leadership.