Stanley Rolfe was named the interim dean of Kansas University’s School of Engineering on Friday.

Rolfe, the Albert P. Learned Distinguished Professor in the civil, environmental and architectural engineering department, will begin working immediately with outgoing dean Stuart Bell, who is leaving to join Louisiana State University as its executive vice chancellor and provost on Aug. 2.

The school will begin a nationwide search for a permanent dean, according to a KU media release.

Rolfe joined KU’s civil engineering department in 1969 and was a department chairman from 1975 to 1998.

“After consulting with engineering faculty, staff and students, Dr. Rolfe’s name was consistently mentioned as the ideal individual to lead the school during this transition,” said KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter in the release.