Applied Sciences & Technology | Montgomery College, Maryland

Dr. Vedham Karpakakunjaram, Dean of Applied Sciences & Technology (AST)

Dr. Vedham Karpakakunjaram, Collegewide Dean of Applied Sciences & Technology (AST)

Montgomery College's Applied Sciences & Technology (AST) area consists of departments offering courses and associate degrees in the biotechnology, cybersecurity, networking and cloud computing, and the Information Technology Institute.

As part of the Montgomery College mission of empowering students to change their lives, we are committed to providing quality instruction that leads to understanding and competence suitable for the emerging global economy.

Most of the undergraduate courses are transferable to top tier four-year institutions.

Students in these courses have numerous academic enhancement opportunities through student clubs, internships, and undergraduate research.

More About the Dean

Dr. Karpakakunjaram has served Montgomery College for over 16 years in a variety of impactful roles. Most recently, he served as the acting chair of the biology department on the Rockville Campus, where he led student-centered initiatives to promote academic excellence, equity, and a sense of belonging across the department. He has also been the principal investigator of a $530,000 NSF-funded grant that built a national network of STEM faculty from more than 45 community colleges.

Dr. Karpakakunjaram’s leadership includes serving as co-chair of the Collegewide Curriculum Committee, where he led efforts to improve operational efficiency and strengthen institutional collaboration. He has managed grant and departmental budgets exceeding $1 million, demonstrating his strategic approach to resource planning.

As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Karpakakunjaram brings deep empathy and understanding to his student-centered leadership. He has co-led numerous high-impact practices, including implementing Open Educational Resources and expanding course-based undergraduate research experiences to increase student access and success.

Dr. Karpakakunjaram currently serves as the president-elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers and has cultivated partnerships with institutions such as NIH and industry leaders through the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals to expand experiential learning and workforce development opportunities for students.

Dr. Karpakakunjaram earned a both a bachelor and master of science in zoology from Loyola College, Chennai, India, and a doctor of philosophy in zoology from University of Madras, Chennai, India.