Message from the Dean: An Equation for Excellence

« Washington Engineer - May 2006

: Acting Dean Mani Soma

I'd like to open this issue of Washington Engineer with our most exciting news: After a yearlong national search, we’re pleased to announce that the College of Engineering has a new dean.

Matthew O’Donnell, who is currently chair of the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan, will take the college’s top post this fall. His official start date is Sept. 1.

We're very excited to have Matt onboard. He is a distinguished scholar, widely published and at the cutting edge of his field, which is biomedical imaging. A physicist by training and a professor of computer science, electrical engineering and biomedical engineering, he has made a career of working across disciplines. He has more than a decade of experience working in the private sector and holds 50 patents. He is a visionary leader, and colleagues can attest to his engaging personality, his candor and his keen professional drive.

In short, he is the perfect fit to take UW Engineering to the next level.

You can read more about Matt in the news release we sent out about his appointment and in the short profile on the college’s Web site.

I also need to say a special thanks to two of the people who helped us attract such a high caliber candidate for the job. Last year, Frank and Julie Jungers gave $4 million to create the Frank and Julie Jungers Endowed Deanship in Engineering. At the time, Frank said he hoped it would help us obtain the very best leadership available for the job. It did, Frank – our heartfelt thanks to you and Julie.

: Dean Designate Matthew O’Donnell

Our other big news is the opening of a new home for our nationally ranked Department of Bioengineering. In March, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President Jimmy Carter traveled to Seattle to be the keynote speaker at dedication ceremonies for the William H. Foege Building, which houses bioengineering and the university’s Department of Genomic Sciences. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, whose foundation donated $50 million toward the structure, also participated in the event. You can read about the details in this issue’s Creating Futures section.

Before moving into their new home, our bioengineering faculty were scattered in offices and labs across campus. They now have a modern, high-tech facility that is worthy of them and the internationally recognized work they do.

Finally, I feel I should brag a little about our people. Engineering recently lost two of its talented leaders to higher callings. Mary Lidstrom, our former associate dean for new initiatives, was snatched by the UW administration to lead research for the entire university. And Tricia Thompson, our former director of communications and marketing, has been appointed as director of marketing for the UW as a whole. You can read about their appointments in Moving Up. On one hand, that’s the bad news. Both will be sorely missed.

On the other hand, it’s encouraging to see how in demand our people are. The fact that the UW regularly turns to Engineering for leadership at the university-wide level says a lot about us. The good news is that we have many other talented faculty and staff in the college to keep the momentum going.

A new dean, supportive friends, a new building and a lot of talented, innovative, hard-working people. That sounds like an equation for excellence to me. I invite you to be part of it. Together, we can ensure that UW Engineering continues its rise to international prominence.