Note from the Dean: 2011 in review
Engineering Night at ASU Men’s Basketball, Feb. 2012
Dear Friends,
Just when I think we have hit the heights of accomplishment, our students, faculty and alumni raise the bar even further: 2011 was no exception.
Our students are scholars, problem-solvers and entrepreneurs that don’t just talk about changing the world; they are doing it. Interdisciplinary teams of students are bringing home significant honors—winners at the Microsoft Imagine Cup, College Entrepreneurs of the Year, National Health Data Challenge winners and more. Presented with real-world problems, their solutions are inventive with the potential to make a great impact.
Our faculty continue to receive top accolades in their fields, lead use-inspired research, foster strong community relationships and encourage our students to strive for more. We welcomed 25 new faculty members in the last 12 months, expanding our collective expertise in our research themes of health, energy, security, sustainability and education. We are competing successfully against the top schools in the nation for research grants. We have reached almost $80M in research funding and for the first time were selected to lead an Engineering Research Center for the National Science Foundation. This new center is a national focal point for advances in photovoltaics and solar energy.
Our alumni are making the most of their careers—and bringing that experience back to support and inspire young engineers at E2 Camp, networking events and Homecoming. We are also proud of our newly graduated students—1,342 degrees were granted in 2011.
We started this academic year with a record-sized incoming freshman class of almost 1,300 students—amazing growth from just over 900 students two years ago. The economy and resurgence in interest in engineering careers may be factors, but incoming students will also tell you that they chose Fulton Engineering because of our strong commitment to students and emphasis on opportunities for meaningful, resume-building engineering experiences outside of the classroom.
And, you, through your generous support of our Schools, make all of this possible. Your investments in E2 Camp, eSpace, student organizations, scholarships and fellowships, endowed chairs and the many other initiatives that make up the Fulton Difference are helping us to build one of the best engineering schools in the country.
We should all be proud to be associated with an engineering school and extended community that are dedicated to student success and innovation with global impact. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Paul C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
