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Bruce Seely '75 has been named dean of Michigan Technological University's College of Sciences and Arts, effective Aug. 1. He joined the faculty there in 1986 and had been chair of the department of social sciences for six years.

From 2000 to 2002, he also served as program director for science and technology studies in the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Studies. He is the founding co-editor in chief of Comparative Technology Transfer and Society, a journal published by Johns Hopkins University, and was secretary and newsletter editor for the Society for the History of Technology. Seely has a master's degree and Ph.D. in the history of technology from the University of Delaware; his bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence is in history.

A leading expert on the history of technology and education, Seely has published extensively in a variety of fields, including the American highway system, nanotechnology and engineering education, technology transfer and rail transportation. As the U.S. interstate highway system marked its 50th anniversary in 2006, Seely gave many presentations and interviews on the system's history, including lessons to be learned from its successes and failures. He addressed the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission of the U.S. Department of Transportation as it considered transportation planning for the next 50 years.

At St. Lawrence, Seely was elected to the leadership honorary Omicron Delta Kappa and the history honorary society, Phi Alpha Theta.

Posted: September 11, 2008