Monday, September 13, 2010

Welcome back from summer! As we look ahead to the new semester at LCS, I am proud to point out some new positions and new people you will see around LCS. First, I decided to devote more resources to our staff in the SOAR office, and Dr. Andria Costello-Staniec of the Civil and Environmental engineering department is now managing this group. She is LCS’s first Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Dr. Achille Messac has joined us from RPI as the Chair of the Mechanical and Aerospace department. Dr. Messac works in multidisciplinary design optimization, and has a special interest in energy systems. The MAE department has also been joined by Dr. Jeongmin Ahn from Washington State University, who specializes in energy conversion.

The EECS department welcomed Dr. Jian Tang from Utah State University. Dr. Tang works in the area of wireless communications and networks.

And, the college has created a new Assistant Dean for External Relations position, held by Ariel DuChene. Ariel will focus on strategic marking, communications, and alumni affairs for the college. You will see her work in evidence on the new and improved LCS website.

In addition, several new ratings of universities came out over the summer. LCS now ranks 65th in engineering schools in the country according to US News and World Report. SU as a whole is rated 8th in the country based on SU’s contributions to the public good including promoting social mobility, producing cutting-edge research, and providing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful service opportunities

And, CNNMoney rated the City of Syracuse the most affordable city in the nation. Syracuse rates #1 because of its relatively high rate of employment and affordable home prices.