Sarah Mobley, a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named the new director of safety for the Tickle College of Engineering. Mobley replaces Bill Dunne, who is retiring at the end of the fall 2026 semester.
“I am honored and excited to step into this director of safety role within the Tickle College of Engineering,” Mobley said. “Safety is fundamental to our mission of teaching, research, and innovation, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by Bill Dunne. His dedication, mentorship, expertise, and commitment to our college have made a lasting impact, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue and advance the important work he has done.”
Mobley has been the chair of the Laboratory Safety Committee at UT since 2024. She will continue in that role for the next two years after being re-elected this summer. Previously, she served as the laboratory safety advocate for CEE from 2019-2024. Before arriving at UT, Mobley spent a decade working in civil design and construction administration for the Alaska State Park system, where safety was a key component of all daily activities.
“I am grateful that Sarah is stepping up to this important role. There is nothing more important than assuring we all work and learn in a safe environment,” said TCE Dean Matthew Mench, the Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair of the college. “Providing training to maintain the highest possible safety culture standard in the Tickle College of Engineering is also a critical element of the training we provide students entering the workforce.”
In her role as TCE directory of safety, Mobley will be responsible for leading and supporting the college Laboratory Safety Advocate committee, drafting and administering building emergency action plans, providing oversight for incident management, serving as a liaison to UT’s Environmental Health and Safety, partnering with other colleges/units on safety culture related projects, taking the lead in the planning of TCE Lab Safety Day, and serving as a point of contact for any other safety facing issue the college may encounter.
“Sarah Mobley has been a creative force in our efforts to improve laboratory safety culture in the Tickle College of Engineering,” said Dunne. “Her creativity, passion for matters related to laboratory safety and leadership experience with the UT Lab Safety Committee position her to continue the new tradition of TCE being an academic leader in the campus’s laboratory safety culture.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])