Darryll Pines Named Dean of the Clark School
 Darryll Pines, professor and chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, has been named Dean of the Clark School of Engineering and Nariman Farvardin Professor of Engineering, effective January 5, 2009. Pines brings extensive academic, government and industry experience to his new role, plus a record of exceptional success at the Clark School.
Update From Your Engineering Alumni Chapter— Clark School Commencement Reception Details
Clark School staff, faculty and the UM Alumni Association's Engineering Chapter will host a reception to congratulate graduates and their families on Sunday, December 21, 2008, from 3 to 5 p.m. (immediately following the Clark School's commencement ceremony). A signature event for the Engineering Alumni Chapter, the reception is meant to establish a new bond with the new grads. "We want our alumni to know that they are valued by the Clark School," says Elisabeth Goldwasser, one of the Engineering Alumni Chapter's board members who helped found the event. The Engineering Alumni Chapter welcomes alumni to attend and help greet the graduates and their families by handing out graduation gifts. If you are interested in helping out, or would like more information on other Alumni Association events, please contact Josey Simpson.
Missed Recent Clark School Events? Watch Them Online!
Did you miss the recent Clark School Innovation Hall of Fame induction ceremony or one of our Whiting-Turner lectures? The Clark School is pleased to announce that we have archived video of the following recent events: the induction of Alex J. Severinsky (inventor of the hybrid engine) into the Innovation Hall of Fame; the 2008 White Symposium, "Intellectual Property: How Well Does the System Protect the Individual Innovator?"; and last week's Whiting-Turner lecture by alumnus and author Stephen Ruffa, "Thriving in Uncertainty." We also offered these events via live webcast – stay tuned for future Clark School event details and how you can participate (both in-person and online).
Engineers Without Borders Chapter Hosts Hundreds for Regional Conference
The Clark School's Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter recently hosted a regional conference for all EWB chapters at universities in the mid-Atlantic region. The event was attended by hundreds of students and guests associated with the various chapters and the national EWB organization. Attendees took part in breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics including water purification, solar power and collaborating with communities. The event's keynote speaker was UM alumna Jody Olsen (M.S.W. '72 and Ph.D. '79, education), deputy director of the Peace Corps.
Great Expectations: Clark School Update
The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Metro Washington Chapter supports both graduate and undergraduate students at the Clark School. With their recent gift commitment, total support from ARCS now tops half a million dollars. To learn more about the Great Expectations campaign and how you can make a difference through scholarships, please contact Radka Nebesky.
Creative Ways to Give
Want to directly assist student programs with your gift? Visit the Clark School's new Creative Ways to Give web site for ideas like this one: Pave the Way – Provide a scholarship to fund a student's participation in the Stepping Stones to Your Future program, a one-week camp to interest young adults in science and engineering. Investment: $350 per person. For more ideas and details, please contact Darleen Lugenbuhl.
Clark School Alumni Spotlight—Brotherhood of Engineers
Stephen A. Ruffa (B.S. '82, aerospace engineering) recently returned to the Clark School to give a Whiting-Turner Business and Entrepreneurial Lecture (see above). Turns out, he's one of many Ruffas who can call the Clark School home. Two of his brothers also received engineering degrees – John Ruffa (B.S. '84, electrical engineering) and Anthony Ruffa (B.S. '81, mechanical engineering). John is lead systems engineer on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. His son, Joshua Ruffa, is a current Clark School sophomore studying electrical engineering. Anthony is a program manager at the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Blast from the Past: Help Us Uncover Clark School History
 Do you recognize anyone in this photo? Send any information you have to Missy Corley. Help us identify the people pictured and we will send you a Clark School decal for your car! Thank you to Anthony Davenport (B.S. '92, mechanical engineering), who let us know he recognized Matt LeBlanc (B.S. '92, mechanical engineering) on the right in last month's photo. Davenport also noted that he helped to design the ASME t-shirt worn by the student on the left-hand side of the photo.
Join TerpNation!
TerpNation is a new social and career tool brought to you by the Maryland Alumni Association that replaces the Terp Alumni Network. Connect online with friends (and friends-of-friends-of-friends) based on shared interests, common acquaintances, professions, locations and more. TerpNation is free and exclusive to Maryland graduates (former Terp Alumni Network members will need to re-register with TerpNation). Register now and watch your Terp connections grow!
Help Us Tell Prospective Female Students About the Clark School
In an effort to interest more women in entering the field of engineering, the Clark School has created a new section of its web site, called The Women’s Community, to feature our excellent female faculty, staff, alums and students. If you’re an alumna, please contact Missy Corley about adding your name and career highlights to the site. Your example may inspire a young woman to explore engineering.
Update Your Personal Information
Stay in touch with the Clark School by making sure we know how to reach you with announcements, news and more. Visit the Alumni Association web site to update your preferred contact information or contact Josey Simpson.
Your Name Here—Sponsorship Opportunities
Thanks to new Corporate Partner Grace for sponsoring this month’s edition of the Clark School's e-newsletter. There are many chances throughout the year to put your name and support behind the activities of the Clark School. Sponsorship opportunities include not only this e-newsletter but also alumni receptions and student projects! Contact us to learn how you can make a difference!
Find
Work with Our Corporate Partners
Are
you looking for a job? The Clark School's Corporate
Partners are always looking to fill positions with
experienced engineers! Below are direct links to their
recruiting web sites:
Alumni
Notes
Each month, we randomly select a name from the Alumni Notes featured in this e-newsletter to win a Clark School t-shirt! This month’s winner is Michael Ficco! Don’t miss your chance to win the next t-shirt – send us your news today by emailing Josey Simpson!
Pinar Akcora (Ph.D. '05, chemical engineering) is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri.
Joseph Barron (B.S. '07, mechanical engineering) is a mechanical engineer with The Manitowoc Company, Inc. in Shady Grove, Penn. He also will be married later this month.
R. Joseph Bender (B.S. '06, chemical engineering) is engaged to Rachael Marie Brown, who is also a UM alum. The couple will be married in August 2009.
Robert Bernhard (M.S. '76, mechanical engineering) who is vice president of research at University of Notre Dame, has been named to the board of directors of power company Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Ind.
Michael Boswell (B.S. '91, mechanical engineering) has been named chairman of AMDL, Inc., a bio-pharmaceutical company in Tustin, Calif.
Keith Chamberlin (B.S. '88, electrical engineering) is an aerospace engineer for NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center.
Victor K. Der (B.S. '72, M.S. '73 and Ph.D. '78, mechanical engineering) has been named principal deputy assistant secretary for fossil energy by the Department of Energy.
Yazdan Emrani (M.S. '00, civil engineering) has been named director of public works for Monterey County in California.
Michael Ficco (B.S. '74 and M.S. '77, electrical engineering) is the author of What Every Engineer Should Know About Career Management.
Elisabeth Goldwasser (B.S. '03, mechanical engineering), a member of the Engineering Alumni Chapter Board, is now a cell design engineer at SAFT America, Inc.
Michael Griffin (Ph.D. '77, aerospace engineering), head of NASA, was recently honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) along with his co-author on Space Vehicle Design, 2nd Edition. The AIAA gave the two its Summerfield Book Award.
Joseph (Joe) Krolak (B.S. '84, civil engineering) is a hydraulic engineer with the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Bridge Technology.
Tekin Kunt (Ph.D. '97, chemical engineering) has been promoted to director of research and development for software company Aspen Technology Inc. in Houston, Texas.
Emin Kutay (M.S. '02 and Ph.D. '05, civil engineering) has joined the faculty of Michigan State University's civil and environmental engineering department as an assistant professor.
Andres Kwasinski (M.S. '00 and Ph.D. '04, electrical engineering) has joined the faculty of the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering.
Daniel Landau (B.S. '06, electrical engineering) was married in August to Colleen Torke. The couple lives in North Bethesda, Md.
Liyou (Leo) Li (Ph.D. '91, electrical engineering) has been named president of Spreadtrum Communications, Inc., in Shanghai, China.
Pang Yen Lin (M.S. '88, civil engineering) has joined Parsons Brinckerhoff in Seattle as a supervising structural engineer.
Amit Mahadevia (M.Eng. '07, civil engineering) is a civil engineer with URS in Gaithersburg, Md.
Vikram Manikonda (Ph.D. '97, electrical engineering) has been appointed president of Intelligent Automation, Inc., in Rockville, Md.
Michael Sean Parker (B.S. '05, mechanical engineering) married UM alumna Keemia Leigh Khazeh in June. The couple lives in Laurel, Md.
David R. Sadowski (B.S. '75 and M.S. '77, chemical engineering) has been appointed assistant vice president of intellectual property management and commercialization at the University of Rhode Island.
Peter Sharer (B.S. '87, aerospace engineering) is an aerospace engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Suvir Sujan (B.S. '93, electrical engineering) is a team member at venture investment firm Nexus India Capital.
The Clark School Mourns the Passing of…
Over the past month, we learned of the deaths of Charles H. Riddle (B.S. '48, civil engineering), John R. Spielman (B.S. '43, mechanical engineering) and Carrie Fowler (B.S. '92, mechanical engineering).
Tell
Us Your News
Clark School Alumni, we produce this e-newsletter so we can tell you about the school, but also so you can tell your fellow alumni about yourselves. Send us news about your recent career moves and personal events and we will include them in upcoming issues. Please send your news to josey@umd.edu.
Feel Free to Forward!
We encourage you to forward this message to friends and colleagues! If you do not normally receive this e-newsletter and would like to sign-up for it, please send email to josey@umd.edu.
This
e-mail was approved for distribution by Josefina P. Simpson '84,
director of alumni relations.
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