Celebrating 40 Years of Leadership, Innovation, and Collaboration with ECEDHA

In 2024, ECEDHA marks its 40th Anniversary of the ECEDHA Annual Conference. We are proud to celebrate this significant milestone that celebrates four decades of commitment to advancing the field of ECE education, research, and collaboration. Since its foundation, ECEDHA has grown from a small group of department heads to a robust community that encompasses hundreds of leading academic institutions. Its mission to foster excellence in ECE education and research has never been more relevant, as the association has played a pivotal role in shaping the engineers who drive innovation in our world. Through our annual conference, workshops, publications, and online resources, ECEDHA has facilitated the exchange of ideas, curriculum advancements, and best practices among its members.

ECEDHA's commitment to fostering a collaborative environment to address opportunities and challenges is evident in recent webinars and discussions, engaging in subjects like semiconductor design, the role of generative AI in ECE, and the implications of the CHIPS Act. ECEDHA continues to innovate and meet the needs of its members. This year, ECEDHA launched the T.I.M.E.E. Working Group, which brings together educators, lab professionals, maker space leaders, and industry partners to share innovative teaching methods. ECEDHA continues to be a driving force in bringing together ECE leaders to advance our discipline.

Samantha Fontaine

Director of Technology

for Social Impact

Analog Devices

Q. Tell us a little about Analog Devices (ADI), its history, mission and products.

A. Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) is a global semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. Founded in 1965, ADI combines analog, digital, and software technologies into solutions that help drive advancements in digitized factories, mobility, and digital healthcare, combat climate change, and reliably connect humans and the world.

Q. Tell us about your responsibilities as ADI's Director of Technology for Social Impact and how you draw on your previous experiences at ADI.

A. As a social impact strategist, I'm responsible for helping to bridge the gap between academia and industry, drive innovation through collaborative education, and empower the next generation of engineers and scientists to solve the world's toughest challenges. I'm focused on connecting, elevating, and scaling our academic relationships and expect this to come to life in a variety of ways, including supporting technical content and educational hardware needs, and to build an active community of learners excited to support each other's growth.

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Q. How is ADI responding to—or participating in Digital Health?

A. Some healthcare systems are reforming to be more accessible, affordable, proactive, and patient-centric. As the role of technology in healthcare continues to grow, it has become critical that some solutions need to move from large, complex, and centralized to small, wearable, and decentralized. Thus, enabling safe, streamlined data collection to enhance care team workflows and effectively make personalized, preventative medicine scalable to improve outcomes.

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Q. What advice do you have for students, especially if they are interested in a career with ADI?

A. Ambiguity is okay, you'll never have all the information. Be decisive and trust your inner compass (your values) and you'll never go wrong. Remember no matter how much time, money, or energy you've committed it's never too late to change. Lastly, feedback is a gift! Seek it out and build your network.

If you're interested in enriching lives and the world around you, please explore ADI's culture and community networks, life@ADI, and career opportunities on our careers page.

Wencong Su

Professor and Chair

University of Michigan - Dearborn

I assumed the role of ECE Department Chair at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Fall 2022, joining the same institution in Fall 2013 after graduating from North Carolina State University. While I had limited experience in administration initially, I am a quick learner. :)

Q. What inspired you to take on the role of department chair?

A. My decision to become the department chair was inspired by the people at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

1. ECE faculty are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of research excellence, despite resource constraints.
2. We have a significant number of non-traditional students, allowing us to make a meaningful impact on the Southeast Michigan community.
3. The strong support from our senior leadership and upper units fosters a collaborative environment, even when opinions differ.

Q. In your role as department chair, what did you find to be the most surprising or unexpected?

A. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I am fortunate to have received robust support from the ECE faculty, staff, students, as well as from the college and the campus at large.

Q. What are your immediate prioritites and goals for your department?

A. Our ECE department’s research activities are at an all-time high. My top priorities include faculty retention and recruitment, academia-industry collaboration, enrollment management, program marketing, and ensuring student satisfaction.

Q. What do you belive is the most essential trait for a department chair to possess, and how do you plan to cultivate that trait? 

A. A humble listener, a diplomatic intermediary, a solver of all sorts of NP-hard problems, and a facilitator of excellence.

Q. What do you most look forwared to in participating as an ECEDHA member?

A. ECEDHA offers me a valuable opportunity to engage with colleagues who possess significant administrative experience. I am humbled by the chance to learn from our peers.

Q. What is a fun fact about yourself? 

A.Balancing administrative duties, research productivity, and family commitments can be challenging, but it's a task I navigate with enthusiasm. My life is enriched with joy and occasional mischief, thanks to my "little troublemakers," Carson, Cayden, and Cara, and of course, my wife, who is certainly not the least among them.