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Spring 2004 |
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Cover Story
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 I’ve enjoyed the support of hundreds of people along the way, both in industry and academia, who have given me time, advice, tolerance, and understanding—and more than a few breaks when I’ve messed up! For my part, I’ve tried to emulate the generosity of those who have helped me, knowing full well that I can never give back all I have received. What, then, have been my greatest achievements at Iowa State? I wanted to change the way engineering is taught by faculty to better accommodate the way engineering is actually learned by students, and I think we’ve done that. I wanted more and better facilities in which real learning takes place and, with the ETRC and other projects, we’ve achieved that as well. And I wanted better outreach to engage industry and people outside of the university in the splendid work being done at a land-grant institution that was, after all, founded to serve them in the first place. But you never reach all of your goals. For each one you achieve, another rises to take its place, and the process goes on forever. We can and must do more. In food, energy, security, and a host of other areas, our world faces towering challenges. Many of these problems are political and cultural, arising from our basic human nature, which technology is admittedly helpless to change. But while technology can’t change people’s hearts, it can help to improve the material circumstances under which such change necessarily takes place. Our work matters. Thank you for the support you’ve given me the past nine years. If in any way I’ve deserved your thanks in return, those are best expressed by your continuing support of the people and programs of the College of Engineering. I leave it to all of you—faculty, students, staff, and friends of the college—to finish the work I started to become a top 20 engineering program. Much progress has been made in our Reach for the Top initiative; more work needs to be done. With your help, we can make it. It’s been a privilege to serve as your dean. Whether at a reunion tailgater or some other alumni function, we’ll meet again. Until then, best wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity to all of you.  |
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