Dean's Message

A Farewell Celebration

This is my last Trend message—after six plus great years as dean, I will shift focus back to bioengineering research and return to teaching in January 2013.

It has been a privilege to partner with many people across the UW and Seattle communities to advance key initiatives focused on the student experience, faculty development, educational outreach, research and commercialization. As you’ll see, even in challenging times we were able to grow many important programs.

The Student Experience

All of our departments now directly admit freshmen — growing programs and ensuring access for the state’s top high school graduates. We’ve grown undergraduate enrollment by 27% and degrees by 12% and have aggressive plans to grow our capacity further. Graduate enrollment grew by 22% and degrees by 34%. More than 35% of our undergraduates participate in research, giving them a leg up as they go into the workforce.

“The UW is an amazing economic engine for our economy, and engineering is a major player... I am extremely bullish on the future of engineering education and research at the UW.”

Matt O’Donnell,
Frank and Julie Jungers
Dean of Engineering

Faculty Development

Outstanding education and research happen because of the right people. Twenty-six percent of our faculty are new hires within the last six years, representing both replacements for retirees and growth. More important than the number is the sheer quality of these individuals. Most often we are competing with the top five engineering schools in the country, and the large majority of candidates choose the UW.

Educational Outreach

As is our tradition, we serve industry in part through the development of continuing education programs. Professional master’s degrees are now offered in a majority of our disciplines, in partnership with UW Professional & Continuing Education.

Research Expenditures & Commercialization

The UW is an amazing economic engine and engineering is a major player. Our research expenditures have grown by 21% from $92.5 million to $113 million — a credit to our entrepreneurial faculty. Last year the college comprised 38% of the UW’s commercialization activities with only about 6% of total UW faculty.

This fall we will celebrate the opening of the Molecular Engineering and Sciences building. It will house some of our best and brightest faculty and students working to make important advances in energy and medical applications.

I am extremely bullish on the future of engineering education and research at the UW. The college has strong leadership in place, remarkable faculty, an excellent student base and an amazing group of supporters in you, our alumni. We will continue to provide a quality research and educational experience to equip the next generation of Husky Engineers.

Matt O’Donnell
Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of Engineering

Banner Year for Faculty Recruitment

Eleven exceptional new faculty members will join the college this year. We highlight two below.
MEET ALL 11 »

Carlos Guestrin, Computer Science & Engineering

Considered one of the world’s leading researchers in machine learning, Carlos Guestrin joins us this fall from Carnegie Mellon University.

Guestrin is the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and was named one of the 2008 “Brilliant 10” by Popular Science magazine. He is one of four game-changing new hires in the computer science and engineering fields of “big data” and machine learning.

Kate Starbird, Human Centered Design & Engineering

Former WNBA star Kate Starbird returns to Seattle in a new role — assistant professor.

Her research focuses on the use of social media during crises and mass emergencies, and specifically examines how digital volunteers and members of the connected crowd help to organize information during disaster. She is the recipient of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

Lehman & Notkin Assume College Leadership Roles

Dawn Lehman, associate professor of civil & environmental engineering, has been named associate dean of infrastructure where she will guide the development of new research and computational facilities for the college.

David Notkin, professor of computer science & engineering, will serve as acting associate dean of research and graduate studies for one year. He will foster multidisciplinary collaborations, develop research programs, and strengthen recruitment and mentoring programs for graduate students.

UW Engineering Home Trend Archive Events AUTUMN 2012 ISSUE \| Dean's Message \| Molecular Engineering Revolution \| Research: Zplasma \| Student Experience: WiSE

Dean's Message A Farewell Celebration This is my last Trend message—after six plus great years as dean, I will shift focus back to bioengineering research and return to teaching in January 2013. It has been a privilege to partner with many people across the UW and Seattle communities to advance key initiatives focused on the student experience, faculty development, educational outreach, research and commercialization. As you’ll see, even in challenging times we were able to grow many important programs. The Student Experience All of our departments now directly admit freshmen — growing programs and ensuring access for the state’s top high school graduates. We’ve grown undergraduate enrollment by 27% and degrees by 12% and have aggressive plans to grow our capacity further. Graduate enrollment grew by 22% and degrees by 34%. More than 35% of our undergraduates participate in research, giving them a leg up as they go into the workforce. “The UW is an amazing economic engine for our economy, and engineering is a major player... I am extremely bullish on the future of engineering education and research at the UW.” Matt O’Donnell, Frank and Julie Jungers Dean of Engineering Faculty Development Outstanding education and research happen because of the right people. Twenty-six percent of our faculty are new hires within the last six years, representing both replacements for retirees and growth. More important than the number is the sheer quality of these individuals. Most often we are competing with the top five engineering schools in the country, and the large majority of candidates choose the UW. Educational Outreach As is our tradition, we serve industry in part through the development of continuing education programs. Professional master’s degrees are now offered in a majority of our disciplines, in partnership with UW Professional & Continuing Education. Research Expenditures & Commercialization The UW is an amazing economic engine and engineering is a major player. Our research expenditures have grown by 21% from $92.5 million to $113 million — a credit to our entrepreneurial faculty. Last year the college comprised 38% of the UW’s commercialization activities with only about 6% of total UW faculty. This fall we will celebrate the opening of the Molecular Engineering and Sciences building. It will house some of our best and brightest faculty and students working to make important advances in energy and medical applications. I am extremely bullish on the future of engineering education and research at the UW. The college has strong leadership in place, remarkable faculty, an excellent student base and an amazing group of supporters in you, our alumni. We will continue to provide a quality research and educational experience to equip the next generation of Husky Engineers. Matt O’Donnell Frank & Julie Jungers Dean of Engineering Banner Year for Faculty Recruitment Eleven exceptional new faculty members will join the college this year. We highlight two below. MEET ALL 11 » Carlos Guestrin, Computer Science & Engineering Considered one of the world’s leading researchers in machine learning, Carlos Guestrin joins us this fall from Carnegie Mellon University. Guestrin is the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and was named one of the 2008 “Brilliant 10” by Popular Science magazine. He is one of four game-changing new hires in the computer science and engineering fields of “big data” and machine learning. Kate Starbird, Human Centered Design & Engineering Former WNBA star Kate Starbird returns to Seattle in a new role — assistant professor. Her research focuses on the use of social media during crises and mass emergencies, and specifically examines how digital volunteers and members of the connected crowd help to organize information during disaster. She is the recipient of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Lehman & Notkin Assume College Leadership Roles Dawn Lehman, associate professor of civil & environmental engineering, has been named associate dean of infrastructure where she will guide the development of new research and computational facilities for the college. David Notkin, professor of computer science & engineering, will serve as acting associate dean of research and graduate studies for one year. He will foster multidisciplinary collaborations, develop research programs, and strengthen recruitment and mentoring programs for graduate students.
UW Engineering Home Contact Trend Copyright © 1999-2012 University of Washington • This page was last modified on November 8, 2012