Texas Border Business
| By News and Internal Communications RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley announced today the appointment of Dr. Can (pronounced John) Saygin as the new senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College, effective Aug. 1, 2022. “I am looking forward to playing an impactful role in developing and implementing the vision, programs, and infrastructure that will continue growing the Research Enterprise and expanding the Graduate College at UTRGV,” said Saygin. Saygin joins UTRGV from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he served as senior associate vice president for Research and professor of Mechanical Engineering. |
“In his new role at UTRGV, Dr. Saygin will guide institution-wide efforts to grow comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and collaborative graduate and research programs to advance the process of designation as an R1-Classification institution and elevate the stature of the university to improve the lives of people in the Valley and beyond,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey.
Bailey thanked Dr. Sandra Hansmann who, for the past year, served as interim dean of the Graduate College.
“We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the entire Division of Research staff, which also did a great job maintaining operations during this transitional period,” he said.
ABOUT DR. CAN SAYGIN
He joined UTSA in 2006 and has held a variety of administrative roles during his tenure, including advisor to the President for Strategic Initiatives; senior vice provost for Institutional Intelligence and Strategic Initiatives; interim dean of Graduate School; and senior vice provost for University Planning.
Saygin has directed several projects funded by the Air Force Research Lab, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, the Boeing Company, the Ford Motor Company, UT Health San Antonio, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and various manufacturing industries in San Antonio. He has also led regional advanced manufacturing efforts under the designation of Alamo Manufacturing Partnership.
He is the recipient of the UTSA College of Engineering 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award, the UTSA President’s 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence, and The University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012.
Saygin received his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing systems and automation from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara in Turkey.
