The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association                                                                          May  2017
Letter from the Editor
Badri Roysam,
University of Houston
Dear ECEDHA Members, Industry Partners, and Colleagues,

The National Academies just released a thought provoking, timely, and significant new report (free PDF download) titled "Information Technology and the U.S. Workforce: Where Are We and Where Do We Go from Here?" In fact, this report goes beyond Information Technology (IT), and includes a sweeping discussion of the societal impact of the broader constellation of ECE technologies including Automation, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It pointedly discusses the (remarkably stubborn and widening) digital and economic divides that continue to deprive numerous citizens of the potential benefits of these world-changing technologies.  It also discusses the impact of the ever-flattening world and globalization that inflict disruptive, unequal, and confounding impacts.

>>  Read more
A Message from the Guest Editor
George Pappas,
University of Pennsylvania

The ECEDHA Community Working Group in collaboration with the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) have developed a series of visioning white papers that collectively propose a national research agenda for intelligent infrastructure. While infrastructure is emerging as a critical national priority, these visioning efforts make a strong case for investments in Intelligent Infrastructure. Intelligent Infrastructure will provide a foundation for increased safety and resilience, improved efficiencies and civic services, and broader economic opportunities and job growth for our nation.

The white papers were written by research leaders in our community and provide a research roadmap that requires advances in numerous ECE fields like cyber-physical systems, data analytics over internet of things, wireless networking, security and privacy, and data-driven decision support. There is one overview paper that addresses cross-cutting challenges across different infrastructure domains, followed by domain specific infrastructure challenges in different infrastructure sectors (energy, transportation, etc).

>>  Read more
ECE in the News
Athina Petropulu Honored at ECEDHA 2017

Athina Petropulu, Professor and Past Chair at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, was honored with the Diversity Award at the 2017 ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECE xpo in Miramar Beach, Florida this past March.

The award is given in recognition of proactive efforts to increase cultural, ethnic, and gender diversity within the ECE student body and among ECE faculty, that go well above and beyond the normal institutional recruiting practices.

Athina has been a champion for diversity in Electrical and Computer Engineering for many years. It is not one initiative, but a variety of programs that she has led. Most recently, Athina led a bold effort called the iREDEFINE ECE, a $100k NSF proposal for a Workshop on Improving the Diversity of Faculty in Electrical and Computer Engineering. This grant funded a dedicated workshop at this year's ECEDHA Annual Conference and provided the opportunity for more than 45 students to gain insights into future careers in academia with perspectives from female and minority leaders in ECE. Athina is most deserving of this prestigious award for her past and continuing efforts to make ECE a more diverse field.

Above (from left to right): Khalil Najafi, ECEDHA President, Athina Petropulu, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and Zhihua Qu, ECEDHA Awards Committee Chair

Conference Corner
Corporate Features
ECE Insights

ECE Insights offer in-depth interviews with leading industry executives.

Featured ECE Insights:
In This Issue
Calendar of Events
June 8, 2017
Sponsored by COMSOL

October 5-6, 2017
SWECEDHA Regional Meeting
Hosted by the University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
October 22-23, 2017
CSECEDHA Regional Meeting
Hosted by South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
November 17-19, 2017
WECEDHA Regional Meeting
Hosted by the University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
November 17-19, 2017
WECEDHA Regional Meeting
Hosted by the University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
March 16, 2018
ABET Workshop
Presented at the ECEDHA Annual Conference
Hyatt Monterey - Monterey, CA
March 16-20, 2018
ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECE xpo
Hyatt Monterey - Monterey, CA
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by National Instruments
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by Keysight Technologies
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by National Instruments
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by Quanser
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by COMSOL
On Demand Webinar
Sponsored by National Instruments
ECEDHA News
Renew your 2017 ECEDHA Membership today!

2017 ECEDHA membership renewal for ECEDHA department heads is now underway.  Renew your membership today to keep receiving ECEDHA membership benefits, including: 
  • Access to the ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECExpo
  • Complimentary registration for ECEDHA's ECE Webinars
  • The opportunity to participate in the ECEDHA Annual Survey, a valuable tool in benchmarking your organization in lab and office space, faculty and department head salaries, research budgets, student retention, graduation rates, and much more.
  • Complimentary job posting service via the ECEDHA website
  • And much more!

For questions, please contact Megan Bekolay at [email protected] or 312.559.3724
Ideas/Comments/Suggestions?

We're interested in hearing from you!

We welcome all feedback - drop us a line at:
ECEDHA Member and Partner News
2017 IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB) Seeking Nominations for IEEE Representative on the ABET Board of Delegates (BoDel)

The IEEE EAB is seeking individuals with substantial experience in engineering, computing, and technology (ECT) education in one or more of the areas in which IEEE is associated within ABET. These areas include, but are not limited to Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology.

Nominations (including self-nominations) should be sent to [email protected] by May 17, 2017. Please put "IEEE ABET BoDel Rep Nomination" in the subject line.

Deadline: May 17, 2017

THE BRIDGE Magazine of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)

The magazine of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu is THE BRIDGE, which publishes a variety of features and content relevant to ECE students, faculty, and professionals. The magazine is electronic and open access with PDF versions of the current and prior issues.

Issue 1 of THE BRIDGE 2017 is available now! The theme of this issue is "Outreach and Impact."


At the ECE Source, we strive to cover topics that are relevant and timely to ECE  department heads.  We welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions of topics t o cover in our next issue.  Thank you.