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Michigan E-News - October 2, 2002

Welcome to Michigan E-News, a periodic update of happenings at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. It is published by the Office of College Relations, Media and Marketing.

If you prefer not to receive future newsletters or if you would like to update or add an email address, please scroll to the bottom of this issue. Feel free to send this newsletter to other Michigan Engineering alumni who are not receiving it.

In this issue:

1. New President Meets with Dean Director
2. Dean Director Presents Capital Projects to Regents
3. Brent Gillespie Receives PECASE Award from George W. Bush
4. Rodney Ewing Appointed William Kerr Collegiate Professor
5. Brian Noble Appointed Wellman Assistant Professor, Creates Laptop Security Device
6. Alumni Weekend Registration Deadline Extended
7. Sculptor to Visit Campus for Class Gift Dedication
8. Join the Student/Alumni Network
9. Create Opportunities for Students
10. Media Coverage


1. New President Meets with Dean Director
In July, Mary Sue Coleman, the University's new president, met with Stephen Director, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, for a briefing on the major initiatives in the College. The briefing included a short tour of the Engineering campus. Said Dean Director, "I am encouraged by her enthusiasm for our work and look forward to her leadership in promoting the sciences and technology."

2. Dean Director Presents Capital Projects to Regents
Earlier this month, Dean Director presented the College's capital plans to the Regents. The dean described the progress the College has made in recent years, its opportunities to shape society in the years to come and the College's three proposed building projects:

  • A new Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) building
  • A new building for Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Engineering, in part a new facility and in part, a renovation of the current Advanced Technology Lab building
  • A renovated and expanded Solid State Electronics Lab in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building.  The Regents will be asked to vote on this request during their October meeting.
3. Brent Gillespie Receives PECASE Award from George W. Bush
Brent Gillespie, assistant professor, Mechanical Engineering, was one of three U-M researchers to receive the NSF Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President George W. Bush at a ceremony this summer at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Gillespie is developing a robotic device that can determine how physical objects feel when pressed or pushed, and then automatically emulate such feel for a human who presses or pushes on the robot.

4. Rodney Ewing Appointed William Kerr Collegiate Professor
Rodney Ewing, NERS, MSE, has been appointed the William Kerr Collegiate Professor. This collegiate professorship was established to recognize the long-standing contributions of Professor William Kerr. Kerr served as chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering for over 15 years and as director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project for over two decades.

Ewing has made pioneering contributions to the understanding of radiation damage processes in complex ceramics and the development of radiation-resistant nuclear waste forms for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium. He has published over 400 papers in a variety of disciplines, including materials science, condensed matter physics, geoscience and environmental science. He is president of the Mineralogical Society of America.

5. Brian Noble Appointed Wellman Assistant Professor, Creates Laptop Security Device
Brian Noble, EECS, has been appointed the Morris Wellman Faculty Development Assistant Professor. Michael P. Wellman, professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, endowed this professorship in his grandfather's name to recognize outstanding contributions to teaching and research by a junior faculty member in computer science and engineering.

Noble's research focuses on mobile computing, distributed systems, security and file systems. He has published over 25 papers in these areas. He received the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2000, and has held fellowships from AT&T, the National Science Foundation and the Computer Measurement Group.

Noble and team member Mark Corner, an EECS graduate-student research assistant, have developed a security framework for mobile computing devices that will automatically encrypt sensitive information when owners stray too far from their machines, or vice-versa. Called ZIA, or Zero-Interaction Authentication, the system could help protect sensitive documents from falling into the wrong hands. Noble's accomplishment recently appeared in The New York Times (see "Media Coverage" below).

6. Alumni Weekend Registration Deadline Extended
Michigan Engineering Alumni Weekend is right around the corner, October 24-26. The registration deadline has been extended to October 4. Also, extra football tickets are available, so each alum can get six rather than the usual four. Make your plans now! Visit the Michigan Engineering Alumni Weekend Web page for details and to register.

7. Sculptor to Visit Campus for Class Gift Dedication
World-renowned sculptor Kenneth Snelson, creator of Indexer II, the Class of '50E Emeritus gift, will be on North Campus for its dedication during Alumni Weekend on October 25. Snelson will give a lecture immediately following the dedication.

8. Join the Student/Alumni Network
Help a student. Participate in the Michigan Engineering Student/Alumni Network. Alumni participants enter information about themselves into a database searchable by major, industry or region. Students seek out these experienced Michigan Engineers for educational and career advice. Email ecrc-info@umich.edu or call (734) 647-7160 to request your registration password today.

9. Create Opportunities for Students
Michigan Engineering Fund gifts recently have funded merit scholarships and provided new equipment for the Mechanical Engineering and Marine Design Labs. Your gift could change a young person's life. Visit us on the Web to find out how you can support the Michigan Engineering Fund or to make a gift online.

10. Media Coverage
Following are recent media stories mentioning activities at the College. (Links are provided when available.)

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