Sundaram Narayanan, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science who helped create and lead the Wright State Research Institute, began serving as university provost March 18, 2013.

The appointment marks the continuation of an exemplary 18-year career at Wright State for Narayanan, Ph.D., P.E.

Narayanan came to Wright State as an assistant engineering professor and served as chair of the Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering (BIE) for nine years. He was later appointed executive director of the Wright State Research Institute and then named dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, serving both positions concurrently.

Under Narayanan’s tenure as dean, the engineering and computer science college experienced its highest enrollment in its history; the school’s research funding grew by 67 percent from $9 million in 2009 to $15 million in 2012; and the college created Ohio’s only master’s degree program in cyber security.

Narayanan was also instrumental in creating and directing the Wright State Research Institute, which in five years has grown to more than 75 employees with annual research awards of more than $20 million.

Narayanan says student success is a top priority as provost.

Narayanan’s leadership philosophy is to recruit and retain top talent, give them the tools and resources to succeed, and then get out of their way.

A first-generation college student from India, Narayanan obtained his master’s degree from the University of Alabama and doctoral degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in industrial and systems engineering.

Narayanan and his wife, Viji, reside in Centerville with their three children.