NEWS: Olin College Appoints Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand as Provost
Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand comes to Olin College from RPI, where she was a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, and Director of the Mercer XLab.
Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand will join Olin College of Engineering as Provost, beginning May 4, 2026. She brings to Olin a distinguished record as an educator, researcher and academic leader whose work reflects both deep technical expertise and a broad, transdisciplinary vision for engineering education.
Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand will join Olin College of Engineering as Provost, beginning May 4, 2026. She brings to Olin a distinguished record as an educator, researcher and academic leader whose work reflects both deep technical expertise and a broad, transdisciplinary vision for engineering education.
Armand joins Olin from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where she is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering and the inaugural Director of the Douglas A. Mercer ’77 Innovation and Exploration Laboratory (Mercer XLab). At RPI, she is widely recognized for her innovative, student-centered approach to teaching which integrates structured learning with open-ended design practice, fostering environments where students develop both technical mastery and creative confidence.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand as Olin’s Provost,” said President Lee. “Shayla brings exactly the kind of intellectual breadth, educational imagination and collaborative spirit that defines our community. I have seen her lead in her role at RPI and light up when engaging with Oliners. I am confident that having her in this role is going to be a great fit for all of us."
“Olin has had a profound impact on my life and my approach to education; I simply could not be more excited to join this inspiring and innovative community,” said Dr. Armand. “I have so many questions about what education can be, how we can continue to improve it for our students and our society. Olin inspires me to dig deeper into those questions. I am really looking forward to exploring the answers alongside Olin faculty, students and staff to build what’s next together.”
Olin has had a profound impact on my life and my approach to education; I simply could not be more excited to join this inspiring and innovative community.
I have so many questions about what education can be, how we can continue to improve it for our students and our society. Olin inspires me to dig deeper into those questions. I am really looking forward to exploring the answers alongside Olin faculty, students and staff to build what’s next together.”
Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand
Provost
Armand is deeply connected to Olin’s educational philosophy. Following her participation in Olin’s Summer Institute in 2019, she developed the “Alpha-Omega Lab” model, an approach that helped reshape engineering education at RPI and became a central component of its 2025 ABET accreditation framework, a milestone that kicked off further revision of the RPI engineering curriculum. Her work in this area has been widely recognized for its rigor, sustainability and human-centered design.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Shayla Sawyer Armand as Olin’s Provost,” said President Lee. “Shayla brings exactly the kind of intellectual breadth, educational imagination and collaborative spirit that defines our community."
Armand’s contributions to teaching and academic leadership have earned numerous distinctions, including RPI’s 2025 Outstanding Teaching Award for Innovation in Education and the 2023 David M. Darrin ’40 Counseling Award, selected by students. Most recently, she received the 2026 Constellation Prize in recognition of her role in sparking meaningful cultural change and reinvigorating RPI’s long tradition of student-centered, hands-on learning.
Additional information about Armand’s background and accomplishments is available in her biography.
Founded in 1997, Olin College of Engineering instills passion and ignites innovation in its students and prepares them to envision, create and deliver products, services, and systems that transform and improve people’s lives around the world. Olin teaches students to be explorers and creators who design their own paths. By challenging norms and sharing its unique approach to education, Olin is revolutionizing the way undergraduate engineers learn and create knowledge. Located in Needham, Massachusetts, Olin is ranked among the top three undergraduate engineering programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.