New Deans at LeTourneau University

LONGVIEW – Two new deans have been named at LeTourneau University. Dr. Steven K. Starrett as its new Dean of Engineering and Engineering Technology. The new dean of the School of Business is Van Graham, J.D. Both were named to the posts following a nationwide search.

Starrett’s new role begins effective July 1. He comes to Longview from Kansas State University where he has served in leadership roles over the past two decades. He writes and teaches internationally on ethics in engineering. Starrett serves as president of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute, one
of the largest technical institutes of the ASCE with 20,000 members. He is a fellow of the ASCE and a fellow of the ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute. He has been recognized by the National Academy of Engineering for providing an exemplar course in engineering ethics and he has also taught engineering ethics workshops internationally through ASCE events in Ecuador, Canada, Hawaii and Sri Lanka. He also has experience as an expert witness in numerous legal cases related to water resources issues including erosion control, flooding, hydraulics, groundwater and surface water hydrology and siltation. Starrett is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Graham begins his new role at LETU effective June 1. He is currently interim dean of North Carolina’s Gardner-Webb University. Graham earned his juris doctorate from Baylor School of Law after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Asbury University. Prior to attending Asbury University he completed an intensive study in Chinese Mandarin at Yale University’s Institute of Far Eastern Languages. Graham has taught law-related business courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including courses in legal environment of business, human resources management, business law and ethics, employment law, ecommerce and internet law, health care law, ethics accounting legal issues, advanced securities and financial regulations, and estate planning.

Graham also has taught as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Wyoming and as an adjunct faculty lecturer at Tyler Junior College. He also has served as associate pastor and the first administrator of Grace Community School in Tyler.