Faculty & Staff

Paul E. Slaboch

Founding Dean, Conrades School of Engineering

Paul Slaboch, Ph.D., P.E., will join the Ohio Wesleyan faculty in January 2027. He currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Acoustical Engineering at the University of Hartford, where he is also the founding director of the aerospace engineering program. He established Connecticut's only ABET-accredited aerospace program and led its growth into the university's second-largest engineering program.

Paul's teaching emphasizes a strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and the ability to connect theory with physical systems. He has taught courses ranging from aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer to laboratory courses and senior capstone design. He emphasizes technical writing and teamwork throughout this process. He also advises the AIAA student chapter aircraft Design-Build-Fly team that competes in international competitions.

His research spans experimental aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and engineering education. During faculty fellowships at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, he studied open rotor propulsion systems and supersonic engine inlet noise. As an aerospace engineer at the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, he contributed to aircraft wake turbulence research and airport operational procedures. He has also led undergraduate research teams using high-altitude balloons to study total solar eclipses. His students have coauthored research papers and presented their work at conferences both in the US and abroad. In engineering education, he studies how students develop technical writing and teamwork skills and how faculty can create more inclusive classrooms.

Paul is frequently interviewed about aviation and space exploration, discussing topics ranging from space missions and commercial spaceflight to aircraft safety. He has appeared on Connecticut's NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates. His work and commentary have also been featured in Aerospace America, the Hartford Courant, the Hartford Business Journal, and CT Insider.

Paul serves on the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Committee on Higher Education. His honors include the 2026 Mechanical Engineer of the Year award from the Hartford Section of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and the 2024 AIAA New England STEM Educator Award. Under his direction, Hartford's aerospace engineering program received the Connecticut Science Center's 2026 STEM Achievement Award for a Higher Education Initiative.

Paul earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He is a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) in mechanical engineering.