Elizabeth G. Loboa, PhD
About Elizabeth G. Loboa, PhD
Elizabeth Loboa is SMU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. As the university’s chief academic officer, she is responsible for the overall quality of teaching, scholarship and research and all aspects of academic life, ranging from admissions and faculty development to supervision of SMU’s library system, international programs, and eight degree granting schools: Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Dedman School of Law, Meadows School of the Arts, Lyle School of Engineering, Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Perkins School of Theology, and Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Prior to SMU, Loboa was the 11th dean and Ketcham Professor of the University of Missouri College of Engineering. Beginning in 2018, and concurrent with her deanship, she served as MU’s vice chancellor for strategic partnerships. She was the first woman to serve as the College of Engineering's dean. During her decanal administration, she oversaw more than 140 faculty members and approximately 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. As one of the co-leaders, Loboa was instrumental in the largest capital research project ever undertaken at the University of Missouri - the $221 million NextGen Precision Health Institute. She worked to bring together the assets of five MU colleges -Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Arts & Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine - in partnership with the Truman VA Hospital, MU Research Reactor, and MU Healthcare. She received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in biomechanical engineering from Stanford University, and earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UC Davis. Loboa is a fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, National Academy of Inventors, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has earned the Insight into Diversity Giving Back Award, Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award, Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award and the UK-US Stem Cell Collaboration Development Award. Loboa also is the recipient of the University of California Davis Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal as well as the Stanford University Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award. Loboa serves on the advisory board of the AAAS Education Counsel Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM and is a member of the board of directors of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI).