Lyle D. Feisel, the founding dean of Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, died Nov. 5. He was 90.
From 1983 to 2001, Feisel led what was then known as the Watson School. He helped to construct it from the scaffolding of its predecessor, the School of Advanced Technology, into an training and analysis powerhouse.
“Dean Feisel’s leadership during Watson’s early years was critical to the achievements we see today,” present Watson Dean Atul Kelkar stated. “We stand on the global stage as a place for scholarship and innovation based on the foundation that he laid down for us, and we are grateful for his work every day.”
“Watson College stands tall in American public higher education because of the tireless work and vision of people such as the late Dean Feisel,” stated Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Hall. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends as well as the countless faculty members and students who benefitted from his wisdom and leadership during his time at Watson College.”
“I want to offer my condolences to the Feisel family,” stated President Anne D’Alleva. “I am just beginning to absorb Binghamton’s rich history and traditions. It is clear that the University’s many current successes are a credit to people like Dean Feisel, who were bold and innovative in building the capacity for research at Binghamton. His legacy continues to inspire the work Watson College does today.”
Among his accomplishments at Watson, Feisel guided the creation and restructuring of many graduate and undergraduate applications that proceed to thrive right now, and he oversaw the accreditation course of from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and comparable oversight organizations.
“We were constantly growing and changing,” he stated in a 2022 interview, wanting again on his tenure. “Every year, new programs were added. If you look at the number of degrees in 1983 and the number we had in 2001, there’s no comparison at all. You always looked over the horizon. You wanted to go over there and see what opportunities might exist.”
Born Oct. 16, 1935, in Tama, Iowa, Feisel served within the U.S. Navy testing newly developed surface-to-air missiles. He additionally labored at numerous occasions as a farm hand, metalsmith, building employee, truck driver, sailor and theater supervisor.
Feisel acquired his bachelor’s, grasp’s and doctoral levels in electrical engineering from Iowa State University. Prior to coming to Binghamton, he served as head of the Electrical Engineering Department on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
During his time as Watson dean, Feisel served as president of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) from 1997-98. He was additionally a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and served as president of its training society.
Michael McGoff, who served as assistant dean and affiliate dean beneath Feisel for 17 years, believes that working to ascertain the Watson School was the spotlight of his 53-year profession at Binghamton.
“Lyle was creative, intelligent, knowledgeable, adaptive and determined,” he stated. “These qualities, alongside along with his management and talent to plan and act strategically, enabled Binghamton University to design engineering, computing and techniques applications which rival essentially the most prestigious applications within the nation.
“Dean Feisel came at the right time, to the right place and brought together all of the elements necessary to create superb academic programs and to attract faculty who excel in their fields. Without his vision, there would not be a Watson College today.”
McGoff, who retired as Binghamton’s senior vice provost and chief monetary officer in 2021, added: “To me personally, Lyle was a patient, caring and powerful mentor and friend who nurtured me and trusted me to be his colleague in helping to create the Watson School. I feel a deep personal loss at his death.”
After retiring as dean in 2001, Feisel continued to work with engineering societies and to function an adviser, marketing consultant and evaluator for universities within the U.S., Asia and Latin America. He held two patents and revealed extensively on technical topics, the idea and apply of training, and social {and professional} points. He acquired quite a few honors and awards for instructing, service and publication.
In 2013, Brooklyn River Press revealed Lyle’s Laws: Reflections on Ethics, Engineering and Everything Else, a set of 40 columns Feisel wrote for The Bent, the journal of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.
Two a long time after leaving Binghamton University, Feisel nonetheless had fond reminiscences of his time at Watson.
“It was such an honor for me to be in that position,” he stated in 2022. “When you stop and think about it, SUNY Binghamton — as it was known then — hiring a guy from South Dakota to come in and be the dean of a new school made no sense at all. But I’m sure glad they did.”
Feisel is survived by his spouse, Dorothy (Stadsvold) Feisel, and his three youngsters, Patricia (and husband Greg) Cargill of West Chester, Ohio; Margaret (and husband Donald) Craig of Lexington, Mass.; and Kenneth Feisel (and husband Derek Nguyen) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; in addition to grandchildren Allison Cargill and Jeffrey (and spouse Lauren) Cargill, each of Seattle, Wash.; and plenty of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in loss of life by his 4 brothers and two sisters.
A memorial service will likely be held Nov. 21, 2025, at Heron Point in Chestertown, Md.
Memorial donations
Donations in Dean Lyle Feisel’s reminiscence will be made to:
- The Sultana Education Foundation, a nonprofit that delivers environmental literacy applications for public college youth on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Feisel served as secretary of the group’s board of administrators.)
- The Lyle and Dorothy Feisel Scholarship for Excellence at Binghamton University (choose “Other” within the drop-down menu when prompted to decide on a fund and point out “Feisel Scholarship” within the particular directions).