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ÿÈÕ´óÈü¹ÙÍø has named Dr. Benjamin W. Caldwell as Associate Provost for Academic Administration, with responsibilities including faculty development, support of the provost's university-wide oversight of academics, and special projects within the provost's office. He will also oversee the Margaret Estes Library, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and the department of Accreditation and Quality Assurance.

Caldwell has served for the past five years as assistant professor in LETU's Department of Mechanical Engineering where he taught courses in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, engineering design methodology, and mechanisms and kinematics. Caldwell also shaped LETU's online engineering courses when he used video screencasts to replace traditional lectures for an online statics course.

Caldwell's research accomplishments include 2 National Science Foundation grants, 3 LETU internal funding grants, 7 journal publications and 16 peer-reviewed conference publications. In 2015, Caldwell was awarded nearly $300,000 in NSF grant funding for research on improving engineering creativity and problem solving. This year, he was awarded nearly $140,000 for educational research to enhance students' understanding of engineering concepts using a drawing-recognition tutoring system.

Caldwell has served LETU on the executive Teaching-Faculty Organization committee, including the last two years as TFO president-elect and president.

"Ben has a strong reputation on our campus as a diligent leader who has a very practical and wise way of solving problems, finding compromises, and enhancing our initiatives," said LETU Provost Dr. Steven D. Mason. "He is a tenured faculty member with a proven record of top-tier teaching and scholarship. Ben communicates clearly and authentically in complex situations and has demonstrated a special interest over the years in collaborating with faculty outside of his discipline, co-teaching courses, and investing in the broader enterprise of the university's mission. I am thrilled about his appointment and the gifts he brings to the university's administration."

Prior to teaching at LETU, Caldwell taught engineering courses at Clemson University, where he was named an ASME Teaching Fellow for 2010 and 2011, and he conducted research and projects with companies including BMW Manufacturing Company, Electrolux Major Appliances, and Michelin North America. Caldwell earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering all from Clemson University in 2007, 2009 and 2011, respectively.

ÿÈÕ´óÈü¹ÙÍø is the premier Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines and delivery models at LETU's residential campus in Longview, Texas, and in hybrid and fully online options at centers in the Dallas and Houston areas. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.