A message from the Dean

After a busy semester like the one we just concluded, I like to sit back for a few minutes and reflect on all that has happened in the School of Engineering. The spring semester is always action packed, with senior design projects, thesis defenses and all the other activities that culminate in another class of undergraduate and graduate students leaving Rice and beginning another phase in their lives. But there are also less routine things that happen, like the death of Bill Wilson, a beloved professor of electrical and computer engineering. We open this edition with a remembrance of him and his contributions to student life at Rice.

Also in this issue we highlight the undergraduate students’ first semester of full-throttle use of the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. The students put the Kitchen’s resources to the test and came out with national design awards and quite a few projects that will improve the lives of others. You’ll find those stories throughout this issue.

Our Awards section brims with stories of the recognition our faculty, students and staff earned this semester; some are honors bestowed by peers at Rice, others are national awards that enhance Rice’s reputation beyond our hedges. All are noteworthy, and we salute those who earned them.

I hope you enjoy reading about our busy semester and while you’re looking at our newsletter, I invite you to click on the words “George R. Brown School of Engineering” at the top left of the newsletter pages. That will take you to the new award-winning School of Engineering web pages, which I think you might also find interesting. These pages have been recognized by the Rice Public Affairs Office with the first Brandy Award for excellent and consistent use of the Rice brand. We’ve added many new features to our website, including a section of alumni profiles, which we are continuing to expand.

I look forward to receiving your comments on our activities and accomplishments, and our new web pages.

Sallie

Sallie Keller-McNulty
William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering