College prepares to welcome new dean

Wickert		Bernard

On July 1, Jonathan Wickert will assume the role of dean of the College of Engineering. Wickert joined the Iowa State faculty in 2007 as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is also the Larry and Pam Pithan Professor of Mechanical Engineering. (News release)

College faculty and staff recently hosted a reception to thank James Bernard, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering, who has served as interim dean since last September, and Sandra McJimsey, who has served as assistant to the dean.

Demand for engineering graduates remains strong

Citing 74% graduation placement rates, significant signing bonuses, and salaries that have increased two to four percent over last year, Engineering Career Services (ECS) director Larry Hanneman says the demand for Iowa State University engineering talent remains strong even in these tough economic times. Employer registration for the September 22 career fair is another positive indicator. More than 190 booths have already been reserved just seven weeks into the registration period. At this rate, the fair, which is open to all students and alumni, is expected to sell out with more than 280 booths.

	Spring '09 Engineering Career Fair

Hanneman and Roger Bentley, ECS student and alumni program manager, attribute the demand for Iowa State engineers to the approaching retirement of many baby boomers, recovery by companies that had been impacted by the economy, and development of a technology corridor in the Midwest requiring workers in science, technology, engineering, and math. "Plus, we have a great product," Hanneman points out. "Some 85% of our students graduate with co-op and internship experiences, and that is a real added value both in terms of work experience and building contacts."

This is a good time for alumni to reconnect with the college because an increasing number of companies are contacting ECS to advertise experienced-hire positions, according to Bentley. Alumni career services are available at no charge through the electronic career management data system. Currently about 1,000 engineering alumni have active accounts. Using a password-protected account, alumni can view job postings, sign up for interviews, and build and send out résumés. To open an account, e-mail your request to ECS@iastate.edu, and a staff member will respond with information for setting up the account.

Griffith
Steward

Additional NSF fellowship winner named

Computer engineering and human-computer interaction master's degree student Shane Griffith joins three other students with ties to Iowa State University in winning a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship this year. Griffith is studying developmental robots and hopes to play a role in research to create robots that can help humans do laborious tasks such as assemble large structures, prepare food for the elderly and disabled, and clean and organize homes. (News release)

Steward awarded Fulbright Scholar grant

Brian Steward, ABE associate professor, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2009–2010 academic year. Steward will conduct research at the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil and develop unified modeling technologies for biorenewable production systems in Brazil and the United States. (News release)

Alumni in the national news

Chrysler LLC announced May 20 that ISU alum C. Robert Kidder (MSIE'69) will be the new chairman of Chrysler Group LLC once it completes its global alliance with Fiat SpA. Kidder is the past chairman and CEO of Duracell International, Inc., and Borden Chemical, Inc., and currently serves as chairman and CEO of the investment firm 3Stone Advisors LLC. (News release)

Winslow Sargeant (MSEE'88) has been nominated by President Obama to be chief counsel for advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Sargeant, a venture capitalist with three electrical engineering degrees who has been managing director of the technology practice at Venture Investors (Madison, Wisconsin) since 2006, awaits Senate confirmation of the appointment. (News release)

SPEED gives students a head start

Twenty-five incoming freshman engineering students are getting a head start on their university careers through SPEED (Summer Program for Enhancing Engineering Development) this summer. This is the second year for SPEED, which is sponsored by Engineering Diversity Affairs. The eight-week program is designed to provide women and multicultural students the opportunity to participate in either an academic program or a research program prior to their first semester at Iowa State. The academic track prepares the students to begin their freshman year taking advanced-level math and physics courses instead of prerequisite courses. They also develop stronger study habits and create a support network of peers, faculty, and staff. Students in the research track are paired with a mentor and gain hands-on experience working on active research projects. To learn more about SPEED, e-mail engrdiversity@iastate.edu or call 294-4042.

	Josh Zepps (left), host of Brink, and Alex Stoytchev

Science Channel to feature work of robotics prof

A film crew from the Science Channel’s Brink show arrived on campus June 18 to shoot a feature about Alex Stoytchev, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his work in developmental robotics. The program is tentatively scheduled to air on July 13 at 9:30 p.m. CDT. Please watch for schedule updates on the College of Engineering homepage.

SEECing Connections workshop held

The STEM Student Enrollment and Engagement through Connections (SEEC) project team recently hosted SEECing Connections, a professional development workshop for Iowa State and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) recruitment, academic advising, admissions, and counseling staff. The purpose was to help address the SEEC project goals of improving awareness and understanding of engineering among those who influence student choices and of advising engineering transfer students in a way that fosters retention and success. SEEC team members provided the nearly 60 attendees information and resources specific to advising and recruiting with a focus on DMACC-to-Iowa State transfer students.

Student/alumni golf tournament planned for E-Week

Planning for Engineers' Week 2009--"Rising Together, We Can . . ." is in full swing. One of the goals is to create greater interaction between current students and alumni. To help meet that goal, a student/alumni golf tournament is planned for Saturday, September 19, at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. Students will be partnered with alumni, giving them the opportunity to gain insights into the working world. The cost is $35 per alum, which includes 18 holes of golf and lunch. To register, send your name and contact information to eweek.events@gmail.com by Friday, September 4. Information about this and other E-Week events will be posted on the Engineers' Week Web site throughout the summer.

News Releases and Media Spotlights

Partha Sarkar talks about the Wind Simulation and Testing Laboratory: Radio spotlight

Iowa State bioplastics on display at international plastics show: News release

ABE researcher leads bioplastics software development: News release

Iowa State's Intensive Program in Biorenewables shows students the action: News release

Lightning strike slows Iowa State's solar car team in Texas competition: News release

Two Minutes With Sarah Ryan, IMSE professor: Video spotlight