Daniel “Danny” Dale, the Harry C. Vaughan Professor of Astronomy at the University of Wyoming (UW) and longtime associate dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), has been named the college’s interim dean. The appointment, approved this week by UW’s Board of Trustees, is effective immediately. A national search for a permanent dean will follow in the coming months.
A publication by the University of Wyoming stated that Dale is a seasoned academic leader and researcher who brings over 25 years of experience at UW to the role.
The publication stated further that since Dale joining the university in 2001 as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, he has achieved full professorship and served in multiple administrative roles, including department head, associate dean, and interim dean of the former College of Arts and Sciences indicated that his leadership continued after the department’s transition to CEPS, where he has served as associate dean since 2020.
A renowned astrophysicist, Dale’s research focuses on star formation in nearby galaxies. Beyond his academic work, he directs UW’s Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium, oversees a National Science Foundation-funded undergraduate internship program, and coaches the university’s women’s club ice hockey team. He is also deeply involved in STEM outreach, spearheading initiatives like UW’s Windy Ridge Foundation Astro Camp and other K-12 educational programs.
Dale’s contributions have earned him widespread recognition, including UW’s 2024 George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award, the university’s highest honor for faculty achievement. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. and master’s degree in physics from Cornell University, following a summa cum laude bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He completed postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology.
As interim dean, Dale will oversee CEPS’s academic and research enterprises, building on his legacy of fostering innovation, student success, and community engagement.
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