Leadership at The Polytechnic@UofM
Dr. Russell Deaton
Dr. Russell Deaton is the executive director of The Polytechnic@UofM, which is an academic unit at the University of Memphis that is focused on workforce preparation, innovative academic programs, and improving access to education in applied technology. He is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering Technology. He is the former chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering and associate dean of the Herff College of Engineering. He has a BA in English from the University of North Carolina, a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Memphis, and an MS and PhD from Duke University. His research is in the self-assembly of new materials and recently has focused on circuit analysis of self-assembled structures with possible implications for axonal networks and topological insulators.
Dr. Alfred Hall
Director of The Polytechnic@UofM, Dr. Alfred L. Hall brings more than 30 years of transformative leadership across K–12 systems, higher education, and federal science policy to his role as founding director of the Polytechnic@UofM. A nationally recognized scholar in opportunity-focused STEM education, Dr. Hall oversees the strategic vision, enrollment management, faculty, and occupational programs of this innovative initiative at the University of Memphis — advancing access to high-quality technical and applied education for the Memphis region and beyond.
Prior to joining the University of Memphis, Dr. Hall spent three years serving as program director at the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM with the National Science Foundation. His areas of expertise include access and opportunities in STEM, curriculum development, K-12 & higher education leadership, federal grant management, project-based learning, accreditation, enrollment management, science education, and community partnerships.
Mr. Scott Southall
Mr. Scott Southall is the associate chair of the Department of Engineering Technology and former chair of that department, having served in that capacity for 15 years. He joined the university as full-time faculty in 1994 and taught in an adjunct capacity for three years prior to that. He has a BS and MS in engineering technology from the University of Memphis. Prior to joining the faculty, he worked in the automation and controls and integrated material-handling industries. His technical interests include automation systems, metrology, and engineering education.