A Year of Growth

I am happy to report that the College of Engineering continues to lead in the energy arena, through new programs, new facilities, and continued research in areas such as photonics and smart grids.

As you will read in this issue, electrical engineering Professor David Wetz has received $12 million to open a new facility to test power systems used on U.S. Navy ships at full scale, which will help ensure the newest ships in the fleet are able to carry out their missions efficiently. More than that, his grant includes funding for student research, enabling our undergraduates to gain experience and contribute to solutions to challenges facing the Navy.

Our Resource and Energy Engineering program has grown significantly as it enters its second year. We are adding labs and office space for faculty and student groups; one of the latter, the Blaze Raycers, will compete in multiple competitions next year. (You can read more about them on page 9.)

Overall, we are No. 5 among all engineering schools in Texas and its four surrounding states in the latest U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings. We continue to explore opportunities for industry partnerships and are working closely with UTA's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development to prepare our faculty and students to bring their ideas and inventions to market.

I urge you to be involved with our college. We encourage alumni and friends to be part of our life. Whether you choose to be a guest speaker, a mentor for a senior design team, a judge for Innovation Day, or a volunteer for any of a number of other opportunities, your participation offers our current students the chance to learn from and network with working engineers. We hope you will experience a greater bond with us as a result of your interactions. ₪

Peter Crouch
Dean, College of Engineering