Meet Robert Keynton: Dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering

Rob Keynton, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering, is a leader in engineering research and education with expertise in development of biomedical micro-electromechanical systems and cardiovascular mechanics, the development of micro Total Analysis Systems, experimental and computational microfluidics, acoustic transducer design and fabrication and experimental fluid mechanics. He joined UNC Charlotte as dean in July 2020. Previously, he served as interim executive vice president for research and innovation and professor and Lutz Endowed Chair of Biomechanical Devices in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering.

Get to know Keynton better through the questions below, asked by Genavieve Chianese, a senior communications major who interned in the Office of Communications during the summer.

What attracted you to UNC Charlotte specifically?

When I visited as a candidate, I was impressed by the people and facilities. I noticed the environment fostered my love to build and grow things. There was a huge opportunity here to do this because of the sound foundation the school already had.

What do you love most about UNC Charlotte?
The best part of UNC Charlotte is the people. The passion everyone has for doing things to better students’ lives and helping them toward a path of success for future endeavors.

What three words do you believe best define your leadership skills?

The three word I would use to describe my leadership skills are visionary, compassionate and collaborative.

What is the best piece of professional or personal advice you have received?

The best piece of professional advice I ever received was from my father before I started my first co-op job in undergraduate school. He said, “No matter who it is, if someone tells you to duck, then duck because a wrecking ball may be coming to your head.” Over time I have interpreted it to mean, listen to the people around you, everyone has had a different experience in life that can contribute value to an organization.

The best personal advice I ever received was from both of my parents, work hard, persevere and never give up. If you give your best effort, good things will happen.

You are headed to a deserted island. You can take a food, a drink, a book, a song, and a movie. What are they and why?

I would have to go for my favorite food, hot crisp french fries from the Holy Grail in Louisville. I would have to bring coffee; it’s the first thing I have in the morning everyday. There are a couple books I like, “Old Man in the Sea” is one of my favorites, there is a lot of symbolism, and I do love to fish. I listen to all kinds of music, which makes this one pretty difficult. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin and “Hotel California” by the Eagles. There are several different movies too, as an engineer you have to love “Star Wars” for all of the cool inventions. “The Godfather” is another movie high on my list, I’ve watched that one over and over again. The last is an old WWII movie with John Wayne called “In Harm’s Way,” it talks about the early period of the Pacific, and what transpired during those years.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time and why?
I love to fish. The first time I went tuna fishing with some friends we caught a 509-pound tuna off of the Cape Cod coast.