JG Innovations Inc., a leading provider of steel soffit concealment systems, has named Allen Stowers as the firm’s new president. Stowers most recently served as vice president for JG Innovations Inc. and began his career with the company as a marketing director.
The University of Dayton has named Eddy Rojas as its new engineering school dean. Rojas currently serves as director of the Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and will begin the new role on July 1. As dean, Rojas will oversee the university’s 2,600 engineering students. Rojas has experience in administration, teaching and research, and has also overseen strategic plan development and other initiatives.
Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, has hired William S. McMullen, CFM, LEED AP, as the business unit manager for its newly formed energy solutions group. Based in Dewberry’s Raleigh, N.C. office, McMullen will be responsible for all facets of the group’s client and project development. McMullen has more than 25 years of experience in building operations, facility engineering and commissioning, and energy engineering.
Elizabeth K. Meyer has been appointed to a two-year term as dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Meyer, the Merrill D. Peterson Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University, begins serving in the new role July 15. An internationally renowned design theorist and critic, Meyer will continue teaching during the two-year appointment, and plans to return full-time to that role at the conclusion of her term.
The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers has named Joseph G. Burns, a managing principal at Thornton Tomasetti, an SEI Fellow. Burns joined Thornton Tomasetti in 1995, and has more than 30 years experience in building design and renovation.
Ann Poppen has been promoted to preconstruction manager for the California district of Sundt Construction Inc. Poppen joined Sundt in December 2013 as a preconstruction project manager on the San José State University Campus Village Phase II student housing project before being promoted to her new position.
Dr. Meria Carstarphen has been named the new superintendent of Atlantic Public Schools. Carstarphen most recently served as district superintendent of the Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas, prior to which she was superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools. Carstarphen also worked with public school systems in the District of Columbia, Tennessee and Ohio, and has taught at the middle school and elementary levels.
Kwame Foundation has named Yolonda Lankford as its new executive director. The Kwame Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization founded by Kwame Building Group CEO and Chairman Tony Thompson, providing mentoring and scholarship opportunities for youth in underprivileged communities. Prior to joining Kwame Foundation, Lankford worked with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Cardinal Care and the Antwan Moore Memorial Scholarship fund.
John Tran, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, has been hired as design principal at the Phoenix office of architecture, engineering and planning firm SmithGroupJJR, Tran will join the leadership team for the firm’s practice in Arizona and the southwest, while providing support to all SmithGroupJJR offices. He is an award-winning designer with 20-plus years of experience, and has led projects as senior designer, project designer and design principal.
Dr. Randy Avent has been named the first president of Florida Polytechnic University, the newest institution in the Florida State University system. Avent is currently the associate vice chancellor for research development, as well as a professor computer science, at North Carolina State University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of North Carolina, and his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University.
