Dean Director to Step Down

After serving nearly nine years as dean of the College of Engineering, Stephen W. Director , the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, accepted the position of provost and senior vice president at Drexel University.

"I have enjoyed my tenure at the University of Michigan," Director said, "and feel honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as dean and the privilege of working with such an outstanding faculty and staff, highly talented students and an exceptional group of alumni and friends."

Director leaves North Campus after a remarkable tenure during which Michigan Engineering thrived as one of the nation's top engineering colleges. The student body is now the largest and of the highest quality in the history of the College. Research has a worldwide reputation for excellence. Michigan Engineering is one of only a few engineering colleges to simultaneously have two NSF Engineering Research Centers.

Faculty members are world-class, as evidenced by the fact that nearly two dozen are members of the National Academies, and three more were elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2005. The physical plant has expanded and improved. And, as Director departs, the College's fiscal health is sound -- despite the decrease in state support. The Progress & Promise: 150th Anniversary Campaign stands at almost 56 percent of its $300-million goal, and the endowment is at an all-time high, exceeding $230 million that includes nearly three dozen endowed faculty positions.

Director will assume his new position on July 1, 2005. An interim dean will be named soon.

Senate and House Hear from AOSS Space Researcher

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, spoke to U.S. House and Senate members earlier this month about the importance of space-science research.

New GE Aircraft Engines Partnership

General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE)and the College of Engineering have entered into a long-term research partnership. This five-year agreement will provide close to $5 million in research support to faculty in the College of Engineering to address topics of mutual interest. The College becomes the largest member of GEAE's University Strategic Alliance (USA) Program, which involves Stanford, Georgia Tech and six other institutions.

Lifetime Achievement Award for ChE Faculty Member

Scott Fogler, the Vennema Professor of Chemical Engineering, has received the American Society for Engineering Education 2005 Award for Lifetime Achievement in Chemical Engineering Pedagogical Scholarship.

Google Co-Founder to Speak at Graduation

Google co-founder and president, Products, Larry Page (BSE CompE '95) will give the keynote address at the CoE graduation on April 30.

Create the Opportunities of a Lifetime

Michigan Engineering Fund gifts equip classrooms with new technology, help the College fund scholarships and provide new equipment for labs. For information or to make a gift online, visit http://www.engin.umich.edu/alumni/getinvolved/giving/.

"UM Laser Center Puts Doctoral Research to Work"

Crain's Detroit Business, 3/28/05, pg. 10

"Discovery Furthers Life on Mars Theory"

Michigan Alumnus, winter 2005, pg. 40

"The College Vanguard: 15 Students You Don't Know... But Will"

Current (a product of Newsweek and MSNBC), summer 2005, pg. 29

Online: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7502379/site/newsweek/page3

Michigan E-News, an update of happenings at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, is published by the Office of College Relations, Media and Marketing.

Copyright 2005 University of Michigan College of Engineering http://www.engin.umich.edu.

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