MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
 all is in the air and we are well into the semester.
The summer was a time of change in the department, including both staff
and organization. After 26 years with the department, Larry Wheeler
has moved to the College of Engineering Shop in the new Engineering
Centers Building. Nanette Kelsey has taken on a new challenge in the
Graduate School. Our staff have moved to be closer to the CEE main office,
and they are re-examining processes and identifying more efficient ways
to carry out critical tasks.
Three faculty have also relocated. We upgraded three
graduate rooms with state-of-the-art modular furniture
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welcome two new CEE staff |
Julie Zogg, who joined the CEE staff in July,
is the department’s new project assistant. She helps coordinate
many of the alumni and industry outreach events, including the
annual golf outing, alumni receptions, Engineers’ Day
and parents’ day events, that the department sponsors.
“I enjoy working in CEE development because I have an
opportunity to interact with alumni and corporate partners of
CEE from all over the country,” she says.
Abby Dawes joined CEE in April.
As student services coordinator, she supervises the undergraduate
advising process, provides information to prospective students,
and helps students at all levels navigate the university via
orientation sessions, advising and counseling. “I truly
enjoy being a part of the CEE team because I have the opportunity
to work with dedicated and friendly faculty and staff, as well
as talented students,” she says.
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We have also hired Julie Zogg as a project assistant.
Julie completed her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
from the University of Minnesota and is the daughter of Jerry Zogg (a
1976 CEE graduate). Julie has experience organizing events and is studying
for her master’s degree in education. She provided the support
and leadership to create the most successful event we have had in the
department to date—the 9th Annual Golf Outing. We want to thank
all of its participants—many of our alumni, current students and
industry partners. Mark your calendar for Monday, Sept. 11, 2006. The
outing will be even larger and more fun. Julie is also helping us organize
our alumni and industry receptions, which enable us to connect with
our alumni and industry partners. We had a very successful reception
in Denver, Colorado, in mid-September. Thanks to Ken and Ruth Wright
for hosting the event at the Colorado History Museum. Please check the
schedule for one close to you and try to attend. We need your help to
move the department forward.
As many of you know, we are the only school in the
United States to be three-time national concrete canoe champions. This
is a real testament to our students and their continued leadership.
Professors Steve Cramer and Hussain Bahia have also been a real source
of inspiration and help to them. Our steel bridge team also remains
highly competitive. Attendance at and involvement in meetings of the
American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter, canoe and bridge
teams are at an all-time high. The students are transforming the department
culture and spirit.
Our hiring committee is in full swing. We have become
much more disciplined and collaborative as we search for the right people
to enhance the department. Associate Professor Jamie Schauer is providing
strong leadership as the committee’s new chair. Assistant Professor
Trina McMahon has also been added to the committee that includes Professors
Teresa Adams, Kenneth Potter and Tuncer Edil.
We are preparing for our ABET accreditation visit
in the fall 2006. Professors John Hoopes and Hussain Bahia are leading
our team. We have a great deal of work to do to be prepared for the
visit. The CEE Visiting Committee will play a key role in helping us
prepare.
Many of you know that we have had a rough run with
the Wisconsin Legislature.The College of Engineering (COE) received
a $1.41 million permanent budget cut from its base budget. These conditions
require us to re-examine our strategic priorities and also look for
additional partnerships to help us further the department. In COE and
CEE, we are planning how to embrace this challenge and make the most
of the opportunities available to us. One thing is clear—we have
to rethink what we are doing and how we are doing it.
We are very excited to have funded the C.K. Wang
Professorship and the Charles G. Salmon Professorship. We have started
an environmental engineering and science faculty scholar fund and are
looking to remodel space in some of our labs, and to create a student,
staff and faculty lounge near the CEE main office.
In closing, we are very proud of all our students
and alumni. Our students and graduates are leaders on campus, in industry
and in society. On campus, we provide key leadership to support Engineers
Without Borders (see "Cleaning
the air"), Habitat for Humanity (see "In
Romania, There's no place like home"), and a trick-or-treat
for canned goods for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Wisconsin. We are
modeling a profession of service to other people. What a great, exciting
and uplifting profession we are in!
Please stop and see us if you are in the area. We
are always glad to see our graduates.
On Wisconsin!
Respectfully Yours,
Jeffrey
S. Russell, PhD, P.E., F., ASCE
2205 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608/262-7244
Fax: 608/262-5199
E-mail:
russell@engr.wisc.edu
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