Bradley Kramer named interim dean of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering
Bradley Kramer, professor, Ike and Letty Evans Engineering Chair and head of the department of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, will serve as interim dean of Kansas State University’s Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, effective July 6.
Kramer was appointed to the position by Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president, following an internal search. He will replace Matt O’Keefe, who is stepping down as dean after serving in the role since June 2020.
“Dr. Kramer has a distinguished record of service within the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering that has markedly advanced all facets of our land-grant mission in teaching, research and service,” said Mendez. “His experiences across the breadth of the mission, especially his strong focus on industry connection, will undoubtedly serve the college well as K-State Engineering advances forward.”
As interim dean, Kramer will serve as the chief administrative officer of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and will be responsible for the oversight and direction of the college’s collective teaching, research and outreach — including the development, implementation, growth and expansion of disciplinary and interdisciplinary opportunities in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Kramer will also have oversight in the development of collaborative, interdisciplinary research programs within the college, across K-State and between K-State and other research institutions and industry partners. In addition to providing fiscal leadership for the college, Kramer will also lead college fundraising efforts in partnership with the KSU Foundation.
"I am excited to lead the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and will do so with purple pride and purpose," Kramer said. "Engineering is critically important to Kansas State University, to Kansas and to the world. I look forward to working with our great faculty, staff, students and alumni to advance the college and contribute toward the advancement of the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan."
A champion of the university-industry connection, Kramer has been recognized for his contributions enabling technological advancement and spurring economic development. Kramer is credited as a co-founder of the Center for Research in Computer Controlled Automation, the entity that later became the Advanced Manufacturing Institute, which ultimately transitioned to its current name as K-State’s Technology Development Institute, or TDI.
Under Kramer’s leadership as director from 2000-2024, TDI transitioned from a primarily state-funded entity to a completely soft-funded organization, conducting technology and product development projects with companies across the nation. TDI developed an approach to rural regional economic development that was recognized by the University Economic Development Association, or UEDA, Award of Excellence in Leadership and Collaboration. Additionally, TDI's work that led to the creation of the Kansas Opportunity Innovation Network was recognized with the first ever UEDA Judges’ Award, highlighting the effort as a marquee example of university-based economic development. TDI ultimately secured an invitation from the White House to present its approach for rural regional economic development to U.S. and European Union diplomats.
Kramer’s application- and integration-focused research has led to the acquisition and his subsequent management of contracts valued at more than $30 million over the course of his career, garnering extramural funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation and private industry. He has been recognized with a myriad of awards acknowledging excellence in teaching, advising and administration, including the K-State Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head in 2008, Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer in 2001, Outstanding Advisor in the College of Engineering in 1992, Ralph Teetor Outstanding Engineering Educator by the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1988, the James Hollis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Engineering Education in 1988 and multiple recognitions as an outstanding undergraduate teacher in industrial engineering at K-State.
With a strong focus on active learning and engagement throughout his career, Kramer led the formation of the industrial and manufacturing systems engineering professional academy to actively engage alumni in advancing the department and programs. He created a highly interactive introductory course where an alumni mentor is assigned to every student.
Additionally, Kramer created the department’s capstone design experience, Manufacturing Systems Design and Analysis, in which students operate as a company to design and operate a working production system. Kramer and alumnus Bryce Huschka co-founded and continue to actively develop the department’s Skill Xcelerator program, which helps each individual student clarify their industrial engineering identity and work a plan to ensure they have the right skills to achieve their career objectives.
Kramer earned three degrees from K-State: a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree, all in industrial engineering. He began working as an instructor in the K-State department of management while completing his doctorate. He joined the then industrial engineering department as an assistant professor in 1985, advancing to associate professor in 1992 and full professor in 2007. He has served as department head since 1993 and held the Ike and Letty Evans endowed chair since 2006.
Kramer is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Tau Beta Pi, the Order of the Engineer and a fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
He will serve as interim dean while a national search is conducted to permanently fill the deanship. The search is expected to launch in fall 2025.