Dear Clark School Friends,

One of the most gratifying aspects of serving as Clark School dean is to witness the remarkable leaders—alumni, faculty, donors—who come forward every year to champion a new idea, build a new program, or support a crucial need.

Truly, it is much easier to be a leader when you are surrounded by leaders.

Leading the University in Energy Research
The Clark School, led by its faculty and Board of Visitors, is in turn leading the university with the launch of a new, campus-wide, multidisciplinary University of Maryland Energy Research Center. The center pursues research in areas such as fuel-cell systems, small-scale power systems for wireless electronics and propulsion systems, advanced solar energy conversion, and nuclear energy technologies. Not only does the center include Clark School researchers, but also partners in chemistry, physics, public policy, economics, and environmental studies—the best minds, across disciplines, across the campus. Having landed a $4 million research and education contract from the Petroleum Institute of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (see New Research), the center is already off and running.

Success in Attracting New Leaders to the School
There is a powerful influx of new ideas and capabilities occurring throughout the Clark School today with the appointment of new department and institute heads, new faculty and new leaders for our Board of Visitors. Attracting such excellent people to our school is a key predictor of our continued rapid advancement. Joseph Schork, formerly of Georgia Tech, is the new chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Darryll Pines (pictured, left), long a respected member of our aerospace engineering faculty, has become the new chair of that department. Likewise, the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics has seen Daniel Lathrop emerge from its faculty to become director. We have also hired a number of outstanding new faculty members, up-and-coming leaders in engineering research and education with a clear emphasis on nano-bio technology: Sameer Shah, Fischell Department of Bioengineering; Cinzia Cirillo, civil and environmental engineering; Joonil Seog, materials science and engineering and Fischell Department of Bioengineering; Jaydev Desai, Teng Li and Santiago Solares, mechanical engineering; Edo Waks, electrical and computer engineering; and Kristine Rosfjord (pictured, right), Clare Booth Luce Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. New professors of the practice are Mel Bernstein, materials science and engineering (and the university’s new vice president for research), and Marvin Sambur, Institute for Systems Research. And, after many years of dedicated service, Jim Redifer has stepped down as chair of the Clark School’s Board of Visitors, to be succeeded by Thomas Scholl, chair, and Emilio Fernandez, vice chair, who bring great spirit and insight to their new roles.

A Leadership Challenge: The Great Expectations Campaign
Everyone should know by now that the university has launched its most ambitious development campaign, called Great Expectations, with a goal of $1 billion. But you may not know that the Clark School is responsible for the single largest portion of those expectations—$185 million. Thanks to very significant gifts from Jim Clark (the Clark Scholarship Endowment for Undergraduates), Bob Fischell and his sons David, Scott and Tim (the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices), Marguerite and Patrick Sung, Charles Irish, Sr., Pedro Wasmer, Harry Wells, Erik and Joyce Young, the Hillman Family Foundation, and the R.W. Deutsch Foundation—and to the generous gifts of numerous additional donors—we are well on our way to achieving our objective. Major campaign priorities include funding for student scholarships and fellowships, endowed chairs and professorships, the Keystone Program, the University of Maryland Energy Research Center and a new Clark School Student Services Center. (Contact Steve Beeland for more information about the campaign.)

Best Regards,

Nariman Farvardin
Professor and Dean

P.S. It is my pleasure to share with you a new video, called "Signature Contributions," that shows how five people linked their names to some of the school's most innovative programs and facilities. You may view the video here.