Morehead State names Dr. Steve Fenster as dean of College of Science & Engineering

An academic leader with a track record of over 20 years of student success in the sciences will now take on a key role at Morehead State University.

Dr. Steve Fenster, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, will serve as the next dean of the College of Science & Engineering at MSU, succeeding Dr. Ahmad Zargari, who will retire on June 30.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Fenster as the next Dean of the College of Science & Engineering,” said Dr. Chris Schroeder, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our STEM programs are among the fastest‑growing on campus, and Dr. Fenster is the right person to continue to move these programs towards further excellence, advance interdisciplinary collaboration and support student success.”

Fenster has served Fort Lewis College for a combined 13 years, including his tenure as dean of the School of Arts & Sciences since July 2024. In that role, he has championed academic excellence and advanced programs that are innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of students. His leadership emphasizes transformative education, empowering students to think critically, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

“I am excited about the dean of the College of Science & Engineering position at MSU because it closely aligns with my prior leadership experience and offers me the opportunity to impact applied STEM education,” Fenster said. “I was specifically interested in this role due to MSU's strong community engagement, commitment to student success, and excellent career outcomes.”

Fenster joined Fort Lewis College in 2013 as a professor in the Department of Biology and became co‑chair of the department in 2019. He later held several key leadership positions, including associate dean of the Division of Science, Engineering and Mathematics; program director for the National Institutes of Health U‑RISE Program; and interim dean of the School of Science and Health.

Before becoming dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at Fort Lewis College, he was the vice provost of student success at Hawaii Pacific University from 2023 to 2024. He also previously served as a professor at several universities in Ohio, including the College of Wooster and Ashland University, and was a visiting scholar at Ohio State University.

Fenster earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of California San Diego in 1991 before earning his doctorate in cell biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2000.

Fenster is excited to lead the College of Science & Engineering during a period of growth and expansion, driven by the construction of the Science & Engineering Building, set to open in Spring 2027. He has short-term goals to continue strengthening and expanding existing programs and to support student success initiatives, with long-term aspirations to identify new and emerging opportunities for program development and to foster collaborations across campus.

“I envision leading a college that continues to be recognized for academic excellence, research innovation, and local and regional development,” Fenster said. “My goal as dean would be to foster a robust, interdisciplinary environment where faculty, staff, and students work together to address real-world challenges through advanced research, excellent teaching, and community involvement.”

To learn more about programs in MSU’s College of Science & Engineering, email dsci@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2626.