Dr. Tariq Samad Named TLI's Senior Fellow for Research and Advancement

The Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota today announced that Dr. Tariq Samad will be assuming the newly-created role of Senior Fellow for Research and Advancement for the Institute. He will step down from his current role as Director of Graduate Studies, effective August 31. 

Dr. Patria Lawton, current Security Technologies program Fellow and the James J Renier Chair for Security Technologies, will take over the Director of Graduate Studies role on an interim basis.

“I am pleased to be handing over DGS responsibilities to Pat Lawton,” Samad said. “With a doctorate in education, extensive teaching experience in multiple institutions, and leadership in one of TLI’s MS programs, she is ideally suited to the role.”

Dr. Samad added that his new position will focus on thought leadership for TLI and the College of Science and Engineering.

“Exciting things are happening in the institute, and I hope to help enhance our scholarship, outreach and recognition, in Minnesota and beyond,” he said.

“I’m honored to be stepping into the role of DGS following Dr. Samad’s steadfast leadership and service,” Dr. Lawton said. “In collaboration with the incredible faculty and staff that make TLI a truly exceptional institution, I look forward to fostering an environment of excellence and innovation in this new capacity.”

Dr. Lawton is an executive with the Defense Alliance, having served as their Business Director since 2010. In addition to her corporate duties, Pat is a faculty member in the Communication Department at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, MN, where she teaches several communication courses including Public Speaking. Under her Security Technologies leadership, the number of students who have accepted enrollment into the program has increased by 130%. She has also worked tirelessly with students to ensure program completion. Pat holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Minnesota State University Moorhead, as well as an MBA from Augsburg College and an MA in Communication from Bethel University.

Dr. Samad holds the Honeywell/W.R. Sweatt Chair at TLI. He joined TLI in May 2016 after a 30-year career with Honeywell, for the last half of which he was Corporate Fellow with Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions (ACS). During his career with Honeywell, he contributed to and led automation and control technology developments for applications in electric power systems, clean energy, building management, the process industries, automotive engines, unmanned aircraft and advanced manufacturing.

During his tenure as the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Samad greatly expanded technology leadership courses across the institute, as well as industrial short-course offerings.  In April 2023 he was named to the Process Automation Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed each year by the editors of Control magazine. In July he received the Outstanding Service Award from the International Federation of Automatic Control. He holds an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a doctorate in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.