Jabbari to Serve as Interim Dean

Feb. 26, 2026 - Faryar Jabbari, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been appointed interim dean of the Samueli School of Engineering, effective March 1, 2026. Jabbari replaces Magnus Egerstedt who is now the provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

A UC Irvine faculty member for 40 years, Jabbari has served as senior associate dean for academic affairs in the UCI Samueli School of Engineering since 2011. He has also served as chair of the Academic Senate’s Council on Research, Computing, and Libraries; Council on Academic Personnel; and Committee on Committees.

Jabbari earned his master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering at UCLA. His research focuses on control theory and its applications, particularly in energy systems and structural control. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and has held editorial and leadership positions in its Control Systems Society, receiving the Distinguished Member award in 2020.

Looking toward the future, Jabbari says that the world of learning and discovery is moving faster than ever. “We can't, and won't, stand still,” he said. “Our faculty will continue their great research and teaching, and our students will continue their learning journey. Administratively, we will have to move, adjust, fine-tune and make changes.” 

– Lori Brandt