David Grewell has been named the chair of the NDSU Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and awarded a Walter B. Booth Distinguished Professorship. Grewell, currently a professor at Iowa State University, will join NDSU on August 1.

“I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Grewell to NDSU. I believe he has the experience, perseverance and leadership skills to lead the IME Department to new heights and fulfill our land grant heritage of education, research and service,” said Michael Kessler, dean of the College of Engineering.

During his tenure at Iowa State, Grewell founded, directed and developed a highly successful National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center focused on bioplastics and biocomposites. The center has secured millions of dollars in grants and created new, long-term partnerships between academics and industry. 

“One of my goals is to serve as a bridge connecting industry, government and NDSU and to mentor researchers who want to engage extramural and nongovernmental funding sources,” Grewell said. “I also have a deep personal appreciation for the commitment of land grant institutions being inclusive and preparing the future workforce to meet the needs of the state and region.” 

Grewell earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in welding engineering at Ohio State University. He spent over 10 years working in industry, including positions at Edison Welding Institute and Branson Ultrasonic Corporation. 

He is a fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers, serves as the United States’ representative for the International Institute of Welding and edited the Plastics and Composite Welding Handbook. 

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