June 30, 2025
At the same time, Dean John Judge, Ph.D., will begin a well-deserved year-long sabbatical. Afterward, he plans to return to the university in a full-time faculty role, where he will continue to contribute meaningfully to the academic and research life of the university. We are grateful for his years of dedicated leadership and are excited to see him return to the classroom.
Steve Brown brings more than 27 years of service to Catholic University, with a strong track record of academic leadership and research excellence. He currently serves as Senior Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Dean of Graduate Studies. His previous roles include Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean of the School of Engineering. An MIT-trained engineer, Steve is a nationally respected scholar in thermodynamics and refrigeration technologies, a Fellow of ASHRAE, and a recipient of multiple teaching awards. His leadership and experience make him exceptionally well-suited to guide the School through this important transition.
In another significant step forward, we are pleased to share that the Department of Physics will officially join the School of Engineering. This unification will foster closer collaboration between disciplines and strengthen the university’s capacity to lead in applied science, technology, and research. Faculty in the Department of Physics have built an impressive portfolio of externally funded research, including large-scale, federally supported projects focused on space science and environmental stewardship. These efforts include major multi-year partnerships with NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, totaling more than $90 million in active awards.
Reflecting this academic and research growth, the School will officially be renamed the College of Engineering, Physics, and Computing. This new name honors the breadth of disciplines and affirms the University’s vision to lead in key areas of national and global importance.
These changes represent a bold and thoughtful step forward for Catholic University’s engineering, physics, and computer science communities, and we are excited for what’s ahead. We remain deeply grateful for this community's continued support and engagement as we work to advance the mission of the university.