A new dean has taken over at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Engineering, officials announced on May 16.

Dr. Jean VanderGheynst is leaving her current job at the University of California, Davis where she is the Executive Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and a professor of biological and agricultural engineering for its College of Engineering.

VanderGheynst will now oversee six academic departments with 1,300 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students.

“I am excited to work with the incredible faculty and students at UMass Dartmouth,” VanderGheynst said. “The university offers a wide array of engineering programs and the success stories I have already seen have impressed upon me that something very special is happening here.”

At the moment VanderGheynst is researching biofuels, bioproducts and biotechnology to address relevant problems in such fields including water treatment and food and energy production.