Jinny Rhee

Dr. Jinny Rhee serves as Associate Dean of the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at San José State University, overseeing all undergraduate programs since her appointment in June 2014. She is also a full Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, having received promotion to this rank in 2013. Her administrative responsibilities include working closely with the Dean, Associate Deans of Graduate Studies and Research, as well as university leadership on academic initiatives and strategic planning.

Dr. Rhee earned her academic credentials from Stanford University, receiving her B.S. (1989), M.S. (1990), and Ph.D. (1995), all in mechanical engineering. She joined San José State University in 2002 and has since established herself as a leader in engineering education and thermal systems research.

Dr. Rhee's research spans two primary domains: engineering education and thermal management systems. In engineering education, she focuses on multidisciplinary senior capstone projects, sustainability education, student teamwork dynamics, and growth mindset interventions for freshman engineering students. Her thermal management research centers on renewable energy applications, particularly solar thermal systems and thermal stratification in hot water storage. She directs the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Laboratory at SJSU and serves as faculty advisor for the IEEE-CPMT student chapter.

Analysis of Dr. Rhee's publication record reveals a strategic evolution in her research trajectory. While maintaining her expertise in thermal engineering and renewable energy systems, she has increasingly focused on engineering education research since approximately 2014. Her recent publications highlight her interest in growth mindset interventions, women in engineering, and career development pathways for engineering students. This shift reflects her dual role as both researcher and academic administrator shaping engineering education practices.

• $150K National Science Foundation grant for 'Co-instruction Model for Multidisciplinary Senior Projects in Sustainability' (2010)
• $18.9K Hewlett-Packard Laboratories grant for 'Cogenerating Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Collector' (2007)
• $72K Rockwell-Collins grant for 'Overcoming Thermal Spreading Resistance' (2006)
• Multiple annual grants including $18K/year from Synopsys Outreach Foundation and $10K/year from UC Office of the President for educational programs

As Associate Dean, Dr. Rhee has led numerous initiatives including serving as General Chair of the 2018 Frontiers in Education Conference, establishing the EPICS @SJSU program, expanding the Engineering Ambassador Program, and implementing laboratory safety policies. She oversees the Engineering Student Success Center and has led ten engineering programs through ABET reaccreditation.