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CUE 2004

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Robert H. Davis, Dean and Patten Professor

Dean Rob Davis with the CU-Boulder Engineering Center behind him

In my 21 years on the faculty in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU-Boulder, I have developed a strong commitment to this college and campus, and a deep appreciation for the excellence of our students, faculty, and staff. The negative publicity about CU-Boulder and its athletics program this spring is of great concern to me, as it is to other college and campus leaders, as we are committed to creating a climate of academic excellence, respect for individuals, and no tolerance for inappropriate behavior.

Not always evident in the news are the many great achievements by our students and faculty in education, research, and service to the community. In this issue of CUEngineering, we are pleased to share the stories of these recent achievements and the innovative, new programs, of which we are very proud.

Education and Outreach
A hallmark of our college is the educational enrichment provided to students through active, hands-on learning that supplements fundamental knowledge. We have received national recognition for educational innovation and were selected to host the national conference of Frontiers in Education (co-chaired by Professors Jim Avery and Melinda Piket-May) in November 2003. This year, we have developed new programs in discovery, service, and professional learning to enhance the active-learning opportunities for our students. I am pleased to announce the hiring of Terry Mayes in the new position of director of academic programs and assessment, to coordinate these opportunities.

I am also pleased to welcome Kristin Germain as director of outreach and education, leading our commitment to recruit and train outstanding and diverse students and to share the wonders of engineering with K-12 students. We have established a new partnership with Upward Bound that is supported by a generous donation from alumnus Jim Abrams to reach out to Native American students. Our Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory also is furthering its K-12 outreach through an initiative with new pre-engineering academies in Denver and Lafayette, Colorado, and our Colorado Space Grant Program is providing a wonderful opportunity to involve kids in space education through direct participation in satellite missions.

Faculty and Research
In February, Professor Frank Barnes was recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the highest national honor in engineering education and innovation, the $500,000 Gordon Prize, for his creation of the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program. In addition, we recently received news of another national honor—on May 3, Professor Kristi Anseth will receive the $500,000 Waterman Award, the highest honor awarded by the National Science Foundation, recognizing her pioneering research in chemical and biological engineering.

We are extremely proud of these faculty and of the election this year of professors George Born (Aerospace Engineering Sciences) and Kaspar Willam (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) to the National Academy of Engineering. They join professors Frank Barnes (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Ross Corotis (Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) as current college faculty in the NAE, the top engineering professional organization in the country.

Our college also is leading research efforts in national security, with new interdisciplinary research centers established in cybersecurity, to ensure safe storage and transfer of information, and in unmanned vehicles, which can be used for surveillance and monitoring. Elsewhere in this issue are articles on alumni, students, departments, and programs. I hope that you will enjoy reading about their many accomplishments.

Very truly yours,

Robert H. Davis
Dean and Patten Professor