Frank R. Hall, Ph.D., named John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture dean

Central State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank R. Hall, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (JWG CESTA).

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Dr. Hall holds a doctorate in geological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island and brings extensive experience in academic leadership, research, and cross-disciplinary program development. He has served in key leadership roles at multiple institutions, including dean of the Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Sciences and the College of Science and Engineering at Southern Utah University, dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Saginaw Valley State University, and dean of the School of Education, Health and Natural Sciences at Worcester State University. In these roles, he successfully advanced initiatives to bridge environmental science and environmental health, strengthen community partnerships, and expand diversity in STEM fields.

With a distinguished career in the geosciences, Dean Hall’s research has focused on Quaternary climate variability recorded in sediments of the high-latitude North Atlantic and Arctic oceans. He has contributed his expertise globally as a member of the Pool of Experts for the United Nations World Ocean Assessment Programme, as a staff officer for the National Academies Ocean Studies Board, and as the U.S. representative to the International Scientific Committee on Ocean Research in Santiago, Chile.

Dr. Hall is dedicated to fostering innovation in STEM education, building collaborative academic programs, preparing the next generation of educators and researchers, and creating opportunities for all students to excel academically and professionally. His leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of JWG CESTA and strengthening Central State's legacy of academic excellence.