Looking Back on the Decade

How has it been 10 years already?

As I reflect on my time as dean of the College of Engineering, I remember countless accomplishments in our classrooms, our labs, and the community, and I am optimistic about our future.

Our research portfolio has doubled, but just as importantly, our research has impact and makes our world better in very real ways. Our faculty are working to better understand flooding and coastal erosion to prevent catastrophic losses during major weather events. They are working to identify better ways to cool large-scale data centers efficiently and sustainably. And they are working with the U.S. Navy to design and test power systems for the next generation of warships.

Engineering is a constantly evolving profession, and we have tried to ensure that our curriculum keeps pace with the changing demands of industry and society so our students are well-prepared to join the workforce as innovators and leaders. We have added multiple new degrees and will introduce three fully online degree programs in 2027.

Looking ahead, we will continue to build robust, mutually beneficial relationships with industry, from providing students with full-time career opportunities and internships to offering companies coursework onsite for their employees.

We can't discuss the future without talking about artificial intelligence. We are building AI courses into our curriculum and working with faculty to determine how it may be used to enrich our students' experience. Also, many faculty are conducting AI-related research that will make its use more efficient and more secure.

I have been a dean for more than 30 years, and I know better than to take our accomplishments for granted. There are challenges ahead, but there will always be opportunities to do great things. We adapt. We innovate. And we continue on together in pursuit of excellence. ₪

Peter Crouch
Dean, College of Engineering