Kay C Dee

Kay C Dee serves as Associate Dean of Learning and Technology and Professor of Biology and Biomedical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she holds dual appointments in administrative leadership and academic instruction. Her work bridges biomedical research and educational innovation, earning recognition as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (top 2% of engineers nationally).

Her academic background includes:

• PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1996)
• M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1994)
• BS in Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1992)

Dr. Dee's research program integrates laboratory-based tissue engineering with educational scholarship. She investigates cellular responses to biomaterials while pioneering methodologies for academic change and active learning. Her dual focus aims to transform both biomedical interfaces and engineering pedagogy through evidence-based approaches.

Her publications reveal a distinctive trajectory merging Journal of Engineering Education pedagogical studies with Tissue Engineering biomaterials research. The 2002 textbook An Introduction to Tissue-Biomaterial Interactions established foundational principles, while later work examines student workload perceptions and collagen gel mechanics, demonstrating interdisciplinary rigor.

Major recognitions include:

• American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering Fellow (2015)
• Rose-Hulman Honorary Alumnus (2013)
• Rose-Hulman Excellence in Service Award
• Carnegie Foundation's Louisiana Professor of the Year

As an educator, Dr. Dee develops globally delivered workshops on academic transformation and teaching portfolio development. Her NSF and Carnegie Foundation-recognized mentorship emphasizes close student collaboration, reflecting Rose-Hulman's hands-on learning philosophy while advancing national engineering education standards through evidence-based practice.