Jack Chessa has stepped down as chair of the University of Texas at El Paso’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering – the latest move tied to UTEP’s actions after the National Science Foundation announced its suspension of a major grant in May.
Chessa, who had been chair since 2018, announced his decision Nov. 6. In an email to department faculty obtained by El Paso Matters, he expressed his regrets at leaving his position, but said it was in the best interest of the department. He will remain as a tenured professor of mechanical engineering.
The professor, who UTEP hired in 2003, had voiced his frustrations previously with Kenith Meissner II, dean of the College of Engineering…