Steady Growth, Strong Commitment

The People Behind Engineering’s Success

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,,

As we all like to say in the college, it’s engineering’s time.

I write this letter as we reflect on a productive academic year that brought continued success in the education and research arenas. It is my pleasure to share in this issue the many stories of the people behind our successes.

You will read about the fascinating projects at the 2023 Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Day, including the college’s support of community service efforts. The enthusiasm of our students and the volunteers and sponsors who make Design Day happen is contagious. This year Nancy Berge and Barbara Berge Campbell, Craig and Nancy’s daughter, joined us. They thoroughly enjoyed meeting students and seeing the full vision of the Craig M. Berge Design Program.

We also highlight engineering faculty. Four received university awards of distinction, an all-time record. Three won prestigious NSF CAREER awards. And Kim Ogden received the largest research award in the college’s history.

The College Is on the Move

I came on board four years ago with a bold vision to grow the college to its rightful place among peer institutions. Namely, these are land grant universities in the Association of American Universities with medical schools on their main campuses. (AAU members form a group of the most active and prestigious research universities in North America.) No more than a dozen universities in the nation meet these criteria. They all have engineering enterprises two to three times the size of ours. This vision drives a high-tech economy while providing access to an engineering education for the people of Arizona, and the nation.

This magazine focuses on the progress we have made.

For example, I am delighted to announce the college’s 17th undergraduate degree program – computer science and engineering, housed in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Recently approved by the Arizona Board of Regents, CSE will train engineers vital to an increasingly complex technology landscape. This expansion feeds the college’s strong relationship with industry, where workforce and research are key. Our programs, steeped in experiential learning, provide high-quality engineers trained in fundamentals who have developed the skills of teamwork, leadership and communication, and who thrive on diverse teams.

Support Matters More than Ever

Developing new degrees and hiring new faculty, often with significant start-up costs in research equipment, requires a strong institutional investment. Senior Vice President of Research Betsy Cantwell, Provost Liesl Folks and President Robert Robbins have been highly supportive of the college’s strategic growth. As you will read in President Robbins’ guest column, he sees engineering among the cornerstones of university expansion.

Partnerships across campus, such as collaboration with Health Sciences on cancer engineering, reinforce the college’s key role in the university’s teaching and research missions. Beyond campus, industry leaders, alumni and friends, and elected officials have embraced the expansion of UA Engineering, bringing together the final pieces of a powerful coalition. Together we will achieve greatness. I hope you enjoy learning more about our plans.

Wishing you a safe and wonderful summer and Independence Day.

Go Cats and Bear Down!

David W. Hahn

Craig M. Berge Dean, College of Engineering