Provost Updates: Thank You, Dean Tina Choe

May 20, 2026

Dear LMU Community,

It is with deep gratitude and admiration that I share that S.W. Tina Choe, Ph.D., has decided to conclude her service as dean of LMU Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering at the end of the 2026 calendar year and return to the faculty. Following a well-earned sabbatical, Dean Choe will resume her role as a tenured professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Since she served as interim dean in 2014 and her appointment as dean in 2015, Dean Choe’s visionary leadership, deeply rooted in LMU’s mission, has made a profound and lasting impact on Seaver College and the broader LMU community. During this time, she played a pivotal role in securing more than $125 million in philanthropic support for Seaver College in
collaboration with University Advancement, expanding resources for scholarships, research, and transformative facilities that will serve future generations.

Dean Choe’s commitment to student success through experiential learning has been unwavering. She has expanded hands-on student research through programs such as Seaver’s Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR), the Seaver Mentorship for Advanced Research and Training (SMART) Grants, and the Interdisciplinary Project Seed Grants. She has also advanced academic initiatives that bring a practical, real-world lens to teaching, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals initiative and efforts to promote the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across the curriculum.

Dean Choe has prioritized the recruitment and development of an exceptional and diverse community of faculty and staff, increasing positions across departments and offices throughout the college, strengthening academic programs and resources, and fostering a more inclusive environment for teaching, research, and service. She built meaningful connections with industry and alumni through initiatives such as Seaver Spotlight, the Industry Practice Leaders program, the Engineering and Computer Science Design Showcase, and the Council for Industry Partnerships.

Her leadership drove significant investments in facilities for learning and discovery, including the construction and opening of the award-winning Life Sciences Building and the renovation of the Cheryl and Robert Gross Engineering Design Center. Dean Choe helped drive fundraising efforts and led the design of the Engineering Innovation Complex, which will position Seaver at the forefront of STEM education.

Dean Choe expanded academic offerings to include new bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with additional minors, certificates, and accelerated master’s programs, while leading Seaver through two successful ABET accreditation cycles. She championed interdisciplinary collaboration, partnering with the School of Film and Television on the interactive, gaming, and immersive media minor, and with the College of Business Administration on the BEST Bootcamp.

Dean Choe elevated Seaver’s visibility and reputation through strategic communications and storytelling, while also providing significant service to LMU, including co-chairing the provost search and two dean searches.

Dean Choe’s transition leaves an important role to be filled. I will share additional information this summer regarding interim leadership and the search process.

Please join me in congratulating Tina on her many accomplishments at LMU and in expressing gratitude for the outstanding leadership, service, and enduring impact she has made on our campus community. Her contributions will continue to shape Seaver College and the university for years to come.

With gratitude,
Kat

Kat Weaver, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
Professor of Biology
Loyola Marymount University