Elizabeth G. Loboa

Elizabeth G. Loboa is an American biomedical engineer, inventor, researcher and academic administrator currently serving at Southern Methodist University (SMU) as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Education[]

Loboa received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis in 1995, followed by a master's degree in biomechanical engineering in 1997 and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 2002 from Stanford University.^[1]

Career[]

Loboa serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southern Methodist University (SMU) effective July 6, 2020. As chief academic officer for the University, she is responsible for the overall quality of teaching, scholarship and research and all aspects of academic life, ranging from admissions and faculty development to supervision of SMU’s eight schools, library system, and international programs. SMU's eight degree granting schools; Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman School of Law, Meadows School of the Arts, Lyle School of Engineering, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Perkins School of Theology, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development.^[2]

Prior to SMU, Loboa served at the University of Missouri as the vice chancellor for strategic partnerships since 2018, 11th dean of the College of Engineering since October 2015, and Ketcham Professor of the College of Engineering. She was the first woman to serve as the College of Engineering's dean. As dean, she oversaw more than 140 faculty members and approximately 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. While retaining her role as dean, she assumed the larger role of vice chancellor for strategic partnerships in 2018. Loboa previously served as associate chair and professor of the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, and as a professor of materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University^[2]

As one of the co-leaders, Loboa was instrumental in the largest capital research project ever undertaken at the University of Missouri – the $221 million NextGen Precision Health Institute. She worked to bring together the assets of five MU colleges – Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Arts & Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine – in partnership with the Truman VA Hospital, the MU Research Reactor, and MU Healthcare.^[2]

Loboa serves on the advisory board of the AAAS Education Counsel Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM. She is a member of the board of directors of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI). She currently serves on the nominations committee for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Loboa is a past member of the executive council of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, Inc. Until becoming provost, Loboa served as a director for the Engineering Deans Council for the American Society for Engineering Education and on the AAU’s Strategy for Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Advisory Board.  

Accolades & Awards[]

• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors: Selected for demonstrating “highly prolific spirits of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and welfare of society.”
• Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society: Selected for “exceptional achievements and contributions to the field of Biomedical Engineering, and for Inspired Leadership within the Biomedical Engineering Society.”
• Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering: Selected for “outstanding contributions to functional tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and wound healing as well as academic leadership and mentoring in engineering.”
• Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Selected for “transformative academic leadership, promotion of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and impactful research in biomedical engineering, particularly for contributions in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.”
• Insight into Diversity Giving Back Award
• University of California, Davis Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal
• North Carolina State University Faculty Scholar Award (2012)
• North Carolina State University Chancellor’s Innovation Award (2011)
• Stanford University Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award (2010)
• UK-US Stem Cell Collaboration Development Award (2009)
• Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award (2009)
• Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award (2005)

References[]