A UM-Flint physics professor will take the helm of the new College of Innovation & Technology that is being established on the Flint campus. Christopher A. Pearson was approved as the inaugural dean of the college at the Oct. 22 Board of Regents meeting. Pearson begins his duties Nov. 1. He currently is the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a position he has served in since 2015.
The CIT, which was approved by regents Sept.17, is designed to fill a gap in the technology workforce that exists between vocational technical training offered by community colleges and the science-based bachelor’s degree programs in engineering and computer science. It will offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in technology and prepare graduates for employment in automotive, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, health care, aerospace, cybersecurity and other sectors of the economy.