Dr. Elaine Scott is the new director of the Science and Technology Program at the University of Washington, Bothell. Scott is currently professor and director of engineering programs at Seattle Pacific University.

Groundbreaking for a new Academic and Science Building was held last month; it will be completed in 2014. Recently, two programs were merged at UW-Bothell to create a single Science and Technology Program. By 2013, the program is expected to become UW-Bothell’s third school: the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a leader of Elaine’s caliber to lead this critical program,” says Dr. Susan Jeffords, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at UW-Bothell.

“We performed a national search, but found a candidate close to home who has already accomplished many of the things needed to guide the new school to success.”

Before joining Pacific Seattle University, Scott served as a professor in the department of mechanical engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). At Virginia Tech she was responsible for the successful planning, development and initial leadership of a new interdisciplinary, multi-institutional school, the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences.

Scott holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of California, Davis. She also holds doctoral degrees in agricultural engineering and mechanical engineering from Michigan State University.

She will begin employment at UW-Bothell on Aug. 1.