Matthew Elwin Named Assistant Dean for Master’s Programs

Northwestern Engineering has announced that Matthew Elwin, director of the Master of Science in Robotics (MSR) program and associate professor of instruction in mechanical engineering, has been appointed assistant dean for master’s programs. He assumes the role immediately. 

In this role, Elwin will join the McCormick School of Engineering’s senior leadership team and impact the school’s entire master’s degree portfolio. He will continue as an associate professor of instruction and in his position as MSR director, a role he began in 2025 after previously serving as the deputy director in 2021 and co-director in 2022.

“Matt has demonstrated a strong commitment to our students and has been pivotal to the continued success of our MSR program,” Dean Christopher Schuh said. “His experience and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen all our offerings and consider how they can best serve our students.”

As director of the MSR program, Elwin develops the program’s curriculum and advises its students. Elwin also leads system integration and testbed work for the Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity Engineering Research Center (HAND ERC) and contributes to its education and outreach efforts. As an associate professor of instruction, he teaches robotics courses and advises robotics projects while conducting research in the Center for Robotics and Biosystems.

Elwin earned a bachelor of engineering and bachelor of arts in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College, and an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from Northwestern Engineering.