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New Electrical and Computer Engineering chair joins UNM from Penn State
June 9, 2025 - Carly Bowling
Tim Kane has been named chair of The University of New Mexico Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, beginning Aug. 11.
“Tim brings to the School of Engineering a prodigious record of research excellence, a steadfast commitment to student success and educational innovation, and an extensive skillset in listening and communication. I look forward to his contributions as part of our School’s leadership team,” Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing, said.
Professor Mark Gilmore has served as interim chair of the department since August 2023, as the school conducted a national search for a permanent hire with executive search firm WittKiefer.
Kane has been a researcher and faculty member in the Penn State University Department of Electrical Engineering since 1994 and an affiliate professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science since 2003. He has been a research scientist at the Applied Research Lab, a Naval UARC, since 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science (’87), Master of Science (’89) and Ph.D. (’92) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Inspired by a belief in fostering strong teams and enhancing academic programming, Kane is eager to join the UNM faculty.
"I’m looking forward to all of the partnering opportunities within the awesome ECE department, the SoE, campus-wide, and beyond. I’m especially looking forward to our students and their success,” Kane said.
His interdisciplinary research spans the fields of optical remote sensing, modeling and measurement of atmospheric processes, space weather, and machine learning. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Atmospheric Research Observatory, the Office of Naval Research and more.
Kane is interested in building innovative education and research systems that advance academic programming. In addition to mentoring students and junior faculty, he designed and led the summer camp, “Anything is Possible for Girls in Electrical Engineering.” Kane said he believes his greatest achievement is the success of his students. At Penn State, he has served as an honors program advisor, chair of his department’s promotion and tenure committee, a graduate admissions officer, a member of the first-year student seminar working group, and more.
In addition to working with the faculty, staff and students of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UNM, Kane looks forward to Albuquerque’s 310 days of sunshine each year.