Interim Dean

Dr. Stephanie George steps in for retiring Dr. Harry Ploehn

Published Aug 01, 2025 by
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Dr. Stephanie George has been appointed interim dean of the East Carolina University College of Engineering and Technology (CET), effective Aug. 1.

George will step into the role with the retirement of Dr. Harry Ploehn, who had served as dean of the college since 2017.

A female student in a black shirt points to a laptop screen while a woman in a black blazer and purple and black blouse observes at her right in a classroom. Two male students, one wearing headphones at right and another sitting at left observe.

Dr. Stephanie George works with students, from left, Noah Smith, Awesome Akinbanjo and Daniel Akhnoukh, in the Science and Technology Building. George, an engineering professor, has been at ECU since 2010. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)

George, a professor in the Department of Engineering, believes deeply in student success. She leverages innovative approaches to train the whole student, engages all learners and prepares them for successful careers, particularly within the biomedical engineering concentration.

Her research has focused on the application of engineering techniques to cardiovascular health, from understanding how the forces produced from pumping blood affect blood vessel walls to developing new devices to assess tissue fluid accumulation. She has secured more than $2.8 million in funding at ECU, including $1.6 million as a principal investigator. George was the principal investigator for ECU’s Biomedical Engineering in Simulations, Imaging and Modeling Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. It exposed students to cutting-edge research using advance computational models in biomedical engineering applications.

While at ECU, she accepted a role as program director for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering of Biomedical Systems program in 2020, serving four years. In that time, she led strategic efforts to shape research investments, ensured the fair allocation of program resources and aligned the research community with national priorities.

She came to ECU in 2010 after completing a post-doctoral fellowship and a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech and Emory University.

“I am honored to serve the CET community and look forward to working collaboratively to strengthen the college’s commitment to student success, innovation and workforce development — advancing ECU’s mission of public service and regional economic transformation,” George said.

Ploehn came to ECU from the University of South Carolina where he was a professor of chemical engineering and associate dean for faculty affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing. He has bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering. At ECU, he was the principal investigator on a $1.9 million Golden LEAF Foundation grant that created the ECU Eastern Region Pharma Center, a workforce development hub for the region’s growing pharmaceutical industry.

A woman in a multi-colored dress stands next to a man in a purple polo shirt hold a glass plaque in a classroom.

Dr. Harry Ploehn receives a plaque from Turrochelle McEachern, CET executive assistant, during his retirement celebration. (Contributed Photo)

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve as dean,” Ploehn said. “What I’ll miss most are all the great people with whom I’ve worked. We share a passion to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of the students we meet, year after year. I wish the college faculty, staff and students all the best in the future.”

Ploehn said George’s experience as a professor, researcher and program manager with the National Science Foundation provided her a solid foundation to lead the college.

“She will listen to faculty and staff, work with department chairs and work with the university administration to make tough but good decisions on how to invest resources to achieve our mission,” Ploehn said. “She has the ability to use data as well as the input she receives from people to be able to make great decisions, and that’s one of the most important things as the college goes forward.”

ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology consists of four academic departments — computer science, construction management, engineering and technology systems. Along with the pharma center, the college includes a Student Success Center and the Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering. With an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, the college offers nine baccalaureate and nine master’s degrees, plus a doctoral program in technology management via a multi-university consortium.

A man in a black graduation robe and cap stands at a podium and speaks against a black background.

Dr. Harry Ploehn speaks during the College of Engineering and Technology Graduate Recognition Ceremony last year in Minges Coliseum. (Photo by Ken Buday)