Dear ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Engineering community,
This is a rare moment in history as our global society responds to the COVID-19 public health crisis. As a college and a campus, we are united around our students to ensure they can continue their education and graduate with the least amount of disruption. As a community, we are focused on our health and well-being as we adapt to new learning, teaching and working environments and norms. Our thoughts are also with you and your families. We are all Buffs together.
I am honored to be serving the college as the interim dean as we navigate these dramatic changes and plan for the future. All three of my degrees are from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, and I have been a full professor at the college since 2011. I am extremely proud of how our college has responded and grateful for our faculty and staff who are leading in their own ways.
At the college, our faculty have partnered with researchers across the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ system to design and build a wide range of personal protective equipment for ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ hospitals. Learn more about their effort at . Now, more than ever, the world needs engineering solutions to drive the economy, security and quality of life of our state and nation.
We planned this issue of the magazine months before current events began to unfold, but the topics are even more relevant today. This year, the college began offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering. This field focuses on fundamentals in mechanics and electronics, preparing graduates for opportunities in medical devices and instrumentation, prosthetics, imaging systems, and many other fields.
As you will read in this issue, leadership and innovation in the health sciences will come from every area of the college, from alumnus Joey Azofeifa, founder of Arpeggio Biosciences, to the student group leading the charge against antimicrobial resistance.
In any crisis, there is the opportunity for growth and innovation. As we practice a new level of care, concern and respect for each other, we will grow stronger as a community. What we will remember most from this difficult time is how we came together for support and how kindly we treated each other.
Keith Molenaar
Interim Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science
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