From the Dean
We are well into the spring semester, and it is nice to see more students, faculty and staff returning to campus and feel the energy they bring. It certainly has had an effect on our college, and this newsletter highlights some of our new initiatives and partnerships and the impact they will have.
An excellent example is the role the college’s students, faculty, staff and facilities will play as part of Clemson University’s membership in the Battelle Savannah River Alliance. As a result of this new partnership, the Savannah River National Laboratory will have increased access to our college’s extensive knowledge and experience in advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, energy security and nuclear environmental engineering and science. The rich history of our 30-year collaboration with this lab positions us to have maximum impact on both the state and national levels.
Also in this newsletter, we feature three additional initiatives that underscore the breadth of the college’s partnerships. The Department of Industrial Engineering has collaborated closely with industry, especially Fluor Corp., to create an online master’s program that has graduated approximately 300 students from five continents since its inception in 2008. Primarily focused on supply chain logistics, it is now expanding its curriculum to reflect the rise of e-commerce.
In addition, Kelly Caine and Bart Knijnenburg, both from the School of Computing, are working with the College of Education to teach K-12 students in a rural school district about cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, with the aim of helping them manage their online presence, and Tom Sharkey, a professor of industrial engineering, is collaborating with several academic, nonprofit and law enforcement partners to help disrupt human-trafficking networks.
This issue also highlights some of the awards that underscore the excellence of our college’s faculty and students. Jesus M. de la Garza, Delphine Dean, Stephen Foulger, Oliver Myers and Rajendra Bordia are faculty members who have been recognized by their peers for their achievements. These awards reflect not only the esteem afforded them by their respective engineering and science communities but also the level of leadership they bring to the college. In addition, Venkata “Anish” Chaluvadi, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering, is the first Clemson student and one of only 24 nationwide to win the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship, one of the highest honors a student can receive.
These success stories and our college’s wide-ranging impact are possible only because of you, our alumni and friends, and your generous support. If you wish to make a contribution to help us continue our efforts to address today’s vital issues, you can click the “Make a Gift” button at the bottom of this newsletter. Know that, as always, your support is deeply appreciated.
Please stay safe and healthy,
Anand K. Gramopadhye, Dean