As an astrophysicist, Robert K. “Bob” McMahan Jr. has explored the foundations of the universe, but Cullowhee became the center of his world in late March when he began his duties as dean of Western’s Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology.

In coming to Western from his previous position as the North Carolina governor’s senior adviser for science and technology, McMahan is returning to his “first love” – education. During his career, he has worked in science, entrepreneurship, government and education, but he says, “My heart always has been in the university.”

Raised in Winter Park, Fla., McMahan (he pronounces it “McMan”) earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and art history from Duke University and a doctoral degree in physics from Dartmouth College, and completed postdoctoral studies at the Harvard University/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Center for Astrophysics in 1989. There, he participated in cosmological research that led to the discovery of the “bubble” structure of the universe and the “Great Wall,” the largest known structure in the universe, both of which are now foundational elements of modern dark matter theory. While still in postdoctoral studies, he started his own advanced technologies company, McMahan Research Laboratories, with a computer and printer on his kitchen table.

McMahan moved his business and family from Boston to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 1989. His business was acquired by GretagMacbeth in 2000, and he became that company’s vice president of worldwide engineering and research and development. After working with a private venture capital organization funded by the CIA, where he was responsible for developing a technology investment strategy for the intelligence community, McMahan began work as adviser to the governor and head of the state Board of Science and Technology in 2003. He also has served as research professor of physics and astronomy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as an adjunct professor at N.C. State University.

McMahan says that over the years he became aware of “really special” things going on at Western during visits to campus and through his association with Chancellor John W. Bardo, a member of the state Board of Science and Technology.

McMahan said he is “honored and excited” about leading the Kimmel School, and hopes he can leverage his varied career experiences to have a positive impact. “What is happening at Western today embodies some of the best thinking in the nation on how to focus a university on both academic excellence and meaningful and effective regional economic engagement,” he said.