Dr. Peter Rim is the founding Director and Department Chair of the newly formed Engineering and Technology Department.   Dr. Rim comes to us from Virginia Tech, where he was an Endowed Professor for 6 years in the nationally ranked School of Engineering.  An expert in modem business strategies, product development processes, customer relations, and quality improvement and control, Rim's expertise in both industrial technology and business management is valuable both to students who seek careers in the manufacturing industry and will be instrumental in leading successful growth of the new department.  Rim received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. He also received an MBA from the University of Richmond.

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Rim was in charge of new product strategy, research and development, and commercialization for Honeywell-Performance Fibers and he has significant experience in the development, commercialization, and marketing of performance materials.  His name appears on 12 patents and on more than 20 technical publications.  At Virginia Tech, Rim was been very popular among students, as he received the highest student teaching evaluation his first year, and his Business and Marketing in Process Industries course is unique among engineering undergraduate programs in the United States.   Finally, he initiated and mentored Virginia Tech’s Chem-E-Car team which has won numerous awards and is currently ranked 4^th among worldwide universities.