PULLMAN, Wash. — V.S. Manoranjan has been named associate dean for research and
academic affairs of the College of Sciences at Washington State University.
Chair of the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics since 1996, Manoranjan is noted
for his interdisciplinary research related to biological and environmental sciences and chemical
and mechanical engineering. He developed industrial collaborations that have resulted in
internships and employment opportunities for math students and an Algorithmic Science
Research Center at WSU. He has also created, along with several faculty, online self-help math
lessons for WSU non-science majors, as well as a Web site that helps high school students
determine their preparedness for college math.
Manoranjan earned a bachelor’s degree in 1977 from the University of Sri Lanka and a
doctoral degree in 1982 from the University of Dundee, Scotland, both in mathematics. He was a
research fellow at Oxford University, England, and was a faculty member in chemical and process
engineering at the University of Surrey, England, before coming to WSU in 1989. As associate
dean, a half-time appointment, his duties will include representing the college in matters
pertaining to graduate studies, branch campuses, research, grants and development of
distance-learning courses. The appointment is effective Aug. 16.
“We are pleased that Dr. Manoranjan will be joining the college dean’s office. His strong
background and interest in research will help us focus on new opportunities in both life and
physical sciences,” said Dean Leon Radziemski. One of his first actions will be to meet with the
chair of each school and department to become familiar with the needs and goals of those
programs.
Manoranjan replaces Ronald Brosemer, who is retiring as associate dean after 15 years of
service. He will return to teaching biochemistry in the Basic Medical Sciences Program and the
new School of Molecular Biosciences.
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