On the eve of the first cohort of Illinois State University’s new College of Engineering beginning classes this fall, President Aondover Tarhule described the occasion as one that will help define the University for years to come. 

“It’s not always obvious when we are part of a pivotal moment in time, the making of history,” Tarhule said. “We are helping write an important chapter in the history of Illinois State and creating opportunities for students that did not exist before.”

Leading the new college, which is expected to welcome an inaugural class of more than 150 students out of 1,205 applicants, is Dean Thomas Keyser. Tarhule said bringing Dr. Keyser on board in 2023 was an “absolutely fantastic” move.

“Hiring Dean Keyser was one of the early decisions we made that I am most proud of,” he said. “His expertise, experience, and people skills have truly helped lay a solid foundation for the college. I admire his collaborative approach and calm demeanor.”

Keyser said he is ready for students to finally arrive following two years of preparation.  

“I’m looking forward to the first day of class when they finally get here, and I can go around and just welcome them to campus,” he said.

Keyser said founding chairs, Dr. Vijay Devabhaktuni in electrical engineering and Dr. Nesrin Ozalp in mechanical engineering, along with Dr. Matthew Aldeman, the founding associate dean, have done a great job developing the academic curriculum. They and their faculty have also prepared laboratories, established safety procedures, and have been active in recruiting students. 

A $41.5 million project is simultaneously underway to transform the former COUNTRY Financial office building on General Electric (GE) Road in Bloomington into the future home of the College of Engineering. A pivot from the initial plan to renovate two buildings on campus—the John Green and Carter Harris buildings—for Engineering was prompted by rising construction costs and additional site requirements.

While the college’s grand opening is planned at the new location in early September, work on the first phase of the new GE Road facility isn’t scheduled for completion until fall 2026. Engineering classes will temporarily be held in Williams Hall, on the University’s Normal campus, during the first academic year.

“As you may know, Illinois State is undertaking this project entirely without state support,” Tarhule said. “Therefore, we had to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to how the college will be funded.

“Dean Keyser and his team have also made remarkable progress in industry partnership development and fundraising. For a school with no alumni, it says a lot that the college has already exceeded its fundraising goals.”

The GE Road location is about an eight-minute drive from campus, a challenge Keyser isn’t worried about. 

“We’ll have to get students back and forth, whether that’s using shuttles or the local bus service is still to be determined,” he said. “We will do this with the best interests of our students and faculty in mind. Lots of campuses have done it before.”

Prior to coming to Illinois State, Keyser served as dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management at Oregon Institute of Technology.  

“I was happy in Oregon, but the idea of building something from scratch was just too exciting to say no to,” he said. “When I came here to visit, I could see the excitement from Dr. Tarhule, who was the provost then. It seemed like a great opportunity that was an almost once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Keyser has been busy meeting community members and industry leaders while hiring faculty and staff. In addition to the two department chairs and the associate dean, the college is supported by two administrative assistants, a student support director, and a technician. Keyser expects to hire more faculty as well. 

“By next spring, we should have six mechanical engineering faculty and five electrical engineering faculty,” Keyser said. “It’s all lining up. Faculty, staff, and administration have all been working for the day we have our first students on campus.

“We also have Branden Delk, who is our director of student success, and he has been instrumental in recruiting students. He is a true student advocate and always makes sure that our students come first.”

Delk has been at Illinois State for over 10 years. The son of an electrical engineer, Delk said the college’s creation was based in part on the idea that it would be centered around diversifying the field of engineering.

“The mission is to give access and opportunities in the field of engineering to all communities,” he said.

Getting students here is just the first part. Making sure they come back by engaging with them will be integral to the success of students and the college, Delk added.     

“Retention is critical, and the first three semesters are critical to retention,” he said. “We want our students to have good first- and second-year experiences. We also want to focus on their overall well-being.

“When I found out they were looking for a director for this role, I thought, ‘I can do this.’ This involves recruitment, advising, engagement, and a chance to do something bigger than me, something transformative.”

Delk also thought about all the years he worked in the Office of Admissions and was asked if Illinois State had an engineering program. 

“Every week I was asked that question, and I always had to say no,” he said. “Now we can offer access and generational wealth to underrepresented groups that haven’t always seen themselves as engineers.”

Jamarion Bardwell from Springfield is one of those students Delk has worked with during the admissions process. Bardwell is excited to be part of a new program, with graduation anticipated in the spring of 2029.

“I like the idea of helping shape something from the ground up,” he said. “Being part of the first class means we’re setting the tone for everyone who comes after us. There’s a sense of pride and responsibility that comes with that and a lot of excitement.”

Bardwell said Illinois State’s focus on hands-on learning and creating a close-knit community made it feel like the right fit. He’s looking forward to meeting new people who share similar interests and to working closely with faculty and peers on real-world projects. He’s keenly aware that he’ll be helping bring more diversity to his chosen profession. 

“That part feels empowering,” Bardwell said. “Engineering needs more voices from different backgrounds, and I’m proud to be part of that shift. I hope my presence helps pave the way for others who might not have always seen themselves in this field.”

Tarhule admits that his enthusiasm is running high given the historic nature of what’s about to happen. 

“You need to appreciate the context and significance of what we have accomplished here,” he said. “This is the first new college established at Illinois State from scratch in over 50 years. Our new Engineering students will soon embark on an educational journey and career preparation in a program that was once little more than an abstract concept a few years ago.

“We have created something that will transform Illinois State for all time.”

The first-ever cohort of students from Illinois State’s College of Engineering came together for a hands-on summer camp—jumpstarting their college journey with design challenges, teamwork, and new friendships.