Message From the Chair

As the Chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, I take great pride in its growth and standing among nationally recognized mechanical engineering programs. Currently, we have 44 active faculty, of whom 13 are Fellows of professional societies and five are members of the National Academy of Engineering.

During the last five years we have implemented new programs in manufacturing, energy, electronics, and smart materials that address critical issues for our changing national needs. We have also implemented important curricula changes to prepare better engineers for the challenges of the 21st century. Concurrently, we have established a successful record of integrating education, leading-edge research, and collaboration with industrial partners.

The department has significantly increased financial opportunities for all our students by offering more teaching and research fellowships. In the last decade our research has been strengthened by establishing interdisciplinary teams and attracting increased support. Currently over two-thirds of our budget is research-related and comes from industry and the federal government.

Our central goal is to continue on this path of excellence in all facets of research, education, and service to the state and the nation. We are proud of our accomplishments and are pleased to share them with you and welcome your involvement in our educational and research activities.

Avram Bar-Cohen
Professor and Chair