Dr. Jim Brandeberry, Founding Dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science (CECS), passed away at the age of 78 on Sept. 7 in his home following a prolonged
Brandeberry had recently received treatment for cancer, which had been successful due to the cancer being caught early.
In 1969, Brandeberry began working for Wright State as an assistant professor in the electrical engineering department. From there, he helped start the computer science department and in 1974, became its chairman.
In 1984, he was chosen to be the Director of the School of Engineering. The faculty chose him to be the founding Dean of CECS in 1986. He was known by many as the “Godfather of CECS.”
He created numerous engineering and computer science programs as well as a collaborative program among Wright State, the University of Dayton and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Brandeberry helped design and fundraise for the Russ Engineering Center and the Joshi Research Center; the Joshi Research Center is home to the Brandeberry Career Development Center, which was named in his honor. For many years, he was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He retired from Wright State in 2005.
“The role that he [Brandeberry] served for the university, and thereby the Dayton community, was a really important one,” said Brian Rigling, Interim Dean of CECS. “His passing is kind of the end of a particular era for us as far as Wright State engineering and computer science goes.”
Aside from his work at Wright State, Brandeberry opened Brandeberry Winery and was often called the “Lil’ Olde Winemaker.”
In place of flowers, the family would appreciate donations towards the James and Sharon Brandeberry Endowed Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is for CECS students and honors Brandeberry’s legacy at Wright State. Donations may be sent through the Wright State Foundation.
To donate, follow this link: https://engineering-computer-science.wright.edu/about/give-to-the-college
