ISU College of Engineering E-News

College of Engineering E-News

September 30, 2008

Dean search committee announced

Iowa State University Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Hoffman has identified a 20-member committee to search for the next dean of the College of Engineering. Labh Hira, dean of the College of Business, will chair the committee. The new dean is expected to be in place by July 1, 2009. (News release)

"Energy and Politics" is focus of thematic year presentation


Charles Doran

Charles F. Doran, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of International Relations, School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, will present "Energy and Politics" on Thursday, October 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Howe Hall Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium. Doran’s presentation is part of the Engineering Policy and Leadership Institute’s first thematic year, "Energy Security and Sustainability."

Doran, who is also a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is the author of more than 100 refereed articles and books on international politics and political economy. A pioneer in political risk analysis, Doran has conducted major studies on oil politics and energy since the early 1970s. He has testified on energy matters before congressional committees, has been a consultant to industry, and has lectured widely on oil politics to business and trade organizations. Doran’s presentation will be followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by James M. Kurtenbach, associate professor of accounting, and partner, Prairie Oak Capital, LLC. (News release)

ECpE building dedication is October 2

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building-Phase I will be dedicated on Thursday, October 2, at 5:30 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. The program, including comments by Iowa State University President Gregory L. Geoffroy, Interim Dean James E. Bernard, ECpE Chair Arun Somani, Board of Regents President David W. Miles, Iowa State Foundation Board of Directors Chair David Van Wert, and two students, will take place in a tent across the street from the west entrance of the ECpE building. After the program, a robot designed and built by Alexander Stoytchev, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, will cut the ribbon, demonstrating some of the technology that will be explored in the new facility. Refreshments will be served.

Family Weekend pregame tailgate party planned

Faculty and staff are invited to join alumni, parents, students, and administrators at an engineering tailgate party on Saturday, October 4, from 9 to 11 a.m. The party will be in tent #7 on tent row at Jack Trice Stadium. Currently, 495 students and parents are signed up to come, and that is a significant increase over previous years. This year’s event is set up as a mini engineering "market" with people to see, things to do, food to eat, fun stuff to grab, and cool things to engage minds long after the event is over.

Hoover Mentoring Workshop is October 1

The 3rd Annual Hoover Mentoring Workshop is Wednesday, October 1, from noon to 5 p.m. in the Howe Hall Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium. The workshop honors the memory of long-time civil engineering faculty member James M. Hoover, who was known for his mentoring and the profound influence he had on many people. The agenda includes "What’s In It For Me? Mentoring 101 for Mentors, Protégés, and the Curious" by James O’Brien, managing director, Professional and Educational Activities Division,


	Patricia Galloway

American Society of Civil Engineers; perspectives on mentoring, learning communities, and leadership by Engineering Leadership Program students; and "Mentoring for the 21st Century Engineer" by Patricia Galloway, owner and CEO, Pegasus Global Holdings. For more information contact Vern Schaefer, James M. Hoover Chair in Geotechnical Engineering, at 294-9540 or vern@iastate.edu.

Engineering GRADS program focuses on graduate retention

Engineering GRADS (Graduate Retention through Academic Development Seminars) is a new program that started this fall with an Iowa State Professional and Scientific Retention and Recruitment grant. Nancy Knight, director of graduate enrollment management for the College of Engineering, and Carolyn Payne, assistant dean of the Graduate College, are co-PIs. Kathryn Andre, graduate assistant for Engineering Graduate Programs and PhD student in educational leadership and policy studies, also collaborates on the program. Andre is planning to focus her dissertation research on the perceived needs of graduate students to be successful in their degree programs.

As part of Engineering GRADS, an exit survey template will be piloted that departments can use as a tool for evaluation and improvement and a needs assessment will be conducted to assist in developing a series of six seminars focused on the students’ identified priorities. The seminars will feature a speaker and incorporate a meal and social networking time. The first seminar, "What Engineering Graduate Students Should Know about the IRB (Institutional Review Board)," will be Tuesday, October 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Hoover 1213. Graduate students may register by e-mailing sjhines@iastate.edu by October 2.

Students and researchers benefit from PERUSE

PERUSE (Providing Experiences in Research for Undergraduate Students in Engineering) was started last year with the first positions offered in January 2008. This semester, 34 students have signed up and 8 have been placed with faculty. With NSF, the College of Engineering, and Iowa State all extolling the benefits of undergraduates being involved in research, now is a great time to join the effort. Currently, only seven positions are listed, but if more were available the student numbers would grow as well. Find out how you can participate by visiting the PERUSE Web site.

The program, which was initiated with a Professional and Scientific Retention and Recruitment Grant and support from differential tuition, continues to be partially supported with differential tuition funds. All engineering undergraduates are eligible to apply. Unlike other programs, participation is not limited to freshmen in undergraduate honors or students with financial need. For more information, contact Nancy Knight, nknight@iastate.edu, or Kathryn Andre, kandre@iastate.edu.

Mark your calendars!

October 1--Hoover Mentoring Workshop, noon-5 p.m., Howe Hall Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium

October 2--Dedication, Electrical and Computer Engineering Building-Phase I, 5:30-7 p.m., west entrance, ECpE Building

October 2--"Energy and Politics," by Andrew W. Mellon, as part of the Engineering Policy and Leadership Institute thematic year, Energy Security and Sustainability, 7-9 p.m., Howe Hall Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium

October 4--Family Weekend engineering tailgate party, 9-11 a.m., tent #7, Jack Trice Stadium

October 7--Engineering GRADS seminar, "What Engineering Graduate Students Should Know about the IRB (Institutional Review Board)," 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1213 Hoover

October 10-11--ISU ADVANCE Conference, "The New Norm of Faculty Flexibility: Transforming the Culture in Science & Engineering," Scheman Building

October 24--College of Engineering Homecoming Breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Howe Hall atrium


	E-News is distributed by Engineering Communications and Marketing. If you have questions or news items to suggest, please contact Mary Jo Glanville at mglanvil@iastate.edu or call 4-8787. 104 Marston Hall, Ames, IA 5001, (515) 294-5933, info@eng.iastate.edu Copyright © 2004, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.