Dr. James H. Garrett, Jr. is the Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Thomas Lord Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to being named provost, Garrett served as dean of the College of Engineering from January 2013 – December 2018. He is a three-time alumnus of Carnegie Mellon and began his duties as the provost in January 1, 2019.
Serving as a key member of his leadership team and with primary responsibility for ensuring academic excellence across the university. As the university’s chief academic officer, Garrett oversee academic activities across CMU’s campuses and programs around the world and is instrumental in long-range institutional and academic planning and implementation. Garrett plays a critical role in fostering collaboration across colleges and departments, promoting the interdisciplinary approach that is at the heart of Carnegie Mellon’s culture.
As dean, Garrett has leveraged partnerships both regionally and globally to advance research and educational opportunities with a deep commitment to the integration of research and teaching across engineering, science, arts and business. He broadened the impact of campuses in Kigali, Rwanda, and Silicon Valley, California, and through his fundraising efforts has transformed the environment for the College of Engineering and increased the college’s connectivity with the rest of the university. The College of Engineering is currently ranked 6th for both graduate and undergraduate education, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Garrett states. “As I began this new journey as provost he is committed to working across the entire university and to partner with students, faculty and staff to better understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, knowingly they can continue to make an extraordinary difference in the world.”
Previously, Garrett was the head of Carnegie Mellon’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2006 – 2012. He served as the College of Engineering’s associate dean for Graduate and Faculty Affairs from 2000 – 2006. An elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Garrett’s research and teaching interests focus on the use of sensor systems in civil and environmental engineering.
Dr. James Garrett received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in civil engineering from CMU’s College of Engineering. He joined the faculty in 1990 and has served as dean of the college for the past six years.