About Me

Howdy! I am Tony Ferrar.

Chair and Associate Professor in Residence

Department of Applied and Interdisciplinary Engineering

Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, UNLV

My Vision: Engineering the Future of Synthesis

As the founding Chair of the Department of Applied and Interdisciplinary Engineering, I don’t believe in silos. I believe that the greatest innovations of the 21st century happen at the intersections: where Computer Science meets Mechanical Engineering, or where Entertainment Engineering meets Civil infrastructure.

My "superpower" is finding connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. I manage this department like a tech startup - prioritizing agility, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking over rigid tradition. Whether I’m using marketing tactics to make Calculus "viral" to my students or drawing engineering lessons from the grit and physics of rock climbing, my goal is to teach students how to see the hidden patterns in the universe.

The "Rigorous Empathy" Promise

At many institutions, engineering is seen as a "weed-out" major. In the Department of Applied and Interdisciplinary Engineering, we take the opposite approach. Our department is built on Rigorous Empathy. 

• The "Rigorous" Part: We hold our students to the high standards required of the engineering profession. You will learn the math, you will master the physics, and you will become a world-class problem solver.
• The "Empathy" Part: We see you as a person, not a number. We recognize that school is only one part of your life. We design our systems to be flexible and adaptable, offering mentorship that extends beyond the classroom - into personal finance, time management, and career navigation.

We don’t boast about who we drop; we boast about who we graduate.

Beyond the Classroom

When I’m not in the lab or the lecture hall, you can usually find me exploring the history of the universe, diving into philosophy, or scaling a rock face. I believe that a well-rounded engineer is a more effective engineer, and I bring that passion for lifelong learning into everything I do at UNLV.