Fall is one of my favorite times of year. In August, the campus began to buzz with the energy of students, and now the semester (not to mention football season) is in full swing! In addition to a new crop of freshman engineers, we have several new faculty members this semester. The college has also been busy with several projects over the summer. We’ve been working on a new strategic plan, and we’ve also appointed our new associate dean for research, named two new department heads, and implemented the findings of the Research Task Force.
We also had some exciting events—our annual Alumni Awards Banquet in the spring, the dedication of a renovated space for our biomedical engineering department and the first College of Engineering Federal Day. For this, we invited federal staffers to visit campus and learn about the innovative research we do in the College of Engineering.
Of course, one of the best things about working at the university is knowing that the reach of our engineering program doesn’t end at the borders of our campus. This magazine is full of stories about alumni who have accomplished many great things with their degrees. In this issue you’ll meet two industrial engineers who are Walmart vice presidents, and you can read about several engineers who have branched out into the arts.
You can also learn about the ways our undergraduates are getting research experience, and read about Darin Nutter, a mechanical engineering professor who is working with manufacturing facilities to help them save energy and money—something that benefits our economy and our environment.
I hope you enjoy this issue of the Arkansas Engineer, and I hope you’ll also consider engaging with us in person. We have a great tailgating event planned for homecoming—see the back of the magazine for details. In addition, feel free to stop by anytime you’re in the area. Our campus has more students than ever, some beautiful new buildings and a lot of exciting research and educational programs. Your alma mater is always growing and changing, and you are always welcome here!
