In 1997, Richard Shultz became the dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. But being the dean of EMS was not Shultz’s first experience at UW-Platteville.

In 1985, UW-P added a new major and department to its roster, known as the electrical engineering department. Shultz was originally hired to help build the faculty, laboratories and curriculum in the department. All his hard work paid off by 1988.

Richard Shultz

In 1997, Shultz was hired as the dean of EMS and enjoys his job greatly, especially working with students.

“Getting to work with young people and directly influence their lives, getting to try new and innovative things on a daily basis, working in an environment that keeps you thinking and active and working in a place that is family friendly, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Shultz said.

The atmosphere and the attitude of the people is what Shultz likes the most about UW-P.

“Almost without exception, when we come up with a new idea or new way of doing something, everyone involved gets excited and says how can we make this work,” Shultz said. “That is a very fun environment to work in.”

Shultz said that the best opportunities he has been involved in while at UW-P are the creation of new majors and minors, the expansion of the international exchange opportunities for students and new technologies in the classrooms.
Faculty members in the College of EMS enjoy working with Shultz.

Osama Jadaan, professor and chair of the general engineering department, has been working with Shultz since 1990. Jadaan enjoys working with Shultz and believes that Shultz does well in the dean position.

“Dean Shultz, first of all, is professional and knowledgeable,” Jadaan said. In addition, he is constantly advocating for the student which is why we are all here. He is open to new ideas as long as one can justify them and they favor the students.”
Mohan Gill, professor and chair of computer science and software engineering department, agrees with Jadaan. He said that Shultz is a great leader who understands staff and faculty’s problems.

Shultz received his Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Campaign. After working at the Illinois Power Company for a few years, Shultz decided to return to the U of I to pursue his master’s in electrical engineering. He finished his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

Prior to coming to UW-P, Shultz was a faculty member at Clarkson University in upstate New York, and before that, he was a faculty member at the U of I -Urbana-Campaign. Shultz came to Platteville expecting to spend only five years here.
“I am finishing my twenty-fourth year,” Shultz said. “Platteville is a great place to live and raise a family and I could not have asked for a better place to work than UW-P.”

Shultz and his wife, Mary Ann, have three daughters named Catherine, Rose, and Theresa, and a son named Mark.