From the Dean

As we begin a new academic year, we have much to celebrate in the College of Engineering. The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced that NC State will be the lead institution on a $5.5 million National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure grant that will bring together expertise and facilities from NC State, Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill to develop new nanotechnology-based products and educational opportunities. Led by NC State materials science and engineering professor Dr. Jacob Jones, this new partnership provides an important platform for economic development in North Carolina and the nation.

We also received news that our two NSF Engineering Research Centers, ASSIST and FREEDM, have been unconditionally renewed — a distinction that is rarely bestowed on ERCs. When we add to this the 20 new faculty members joining us this year, the unprecedented demand for our programs, which has taken our enrollment to more than 10,000 students and many more accomplishments of our outstanding faculty, students and staff, it is easy to see why we continue to view our future as bright.

We are also excited about the progress being made on Engineering Oval, the proposed new engineering building on Centennial Campus. We are optimistic that the public-private partnership model that has been developed for financing this project will soon bear fruit and take us very close to unifying almost all of our college on Centennial Campus. More details on this project are provided on page 32 of this magazine.

In this issue, you will meet the students behind the Undercover Colors nail polish that has caused a nationwide stir. It is part of a special section that focuses on making entrepreneurship a vital part of engineering education. You will also learn about the first engineering summer camp organized for students with visual impairments or blindness and about our other exciting endeavors.

Finally, please receive my appreciation for all your support and our commitment to continue to do all we can to make you proud of “your College” at NC State.

Louis A. Martin-Vega, Ph.D., P.E.
Dean

Return to contents or download the Fall/Winter 2015 NC State Engineering magazine.