Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association | | | |
Letter from the ECEDHA President
A New Academic Year, A Stronger ECEDHA Community
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Michael Wu
Department Head University of Arizona
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Dear ECEDHA Community,
As a new academic year begins, ECE departments are welcoming students back to campus, advancing new programs and research, and preparing for another year of opportunity and change. It is also an important time to reconnect with the community and resources that help us lead our departments forward.
For more than four decades, ECEDHA has provided a trusted network where ECE leaders can exchange ideas, learn from peers, and build connections across academia and industry. That community is especially valuable as departments navigate rapid advances in AI and emerging technologies, evolving workforce needs, enrollment and student success, curriculum innovation, and the changing landscape of higher education.
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ECEDHA membership supports your entire department year-round. From the Summit Series and peer-to-peer exchange to industry engagement, leadership resources, working groups, and the Annual Conference & ECExpo. ECEDHA provides opportunities to discover new approaches, share successful practices, connect faculty with colleagues and industry partners, and bring valuable ideas and resources back to your institution.
As we begin this academic year, I strongly encourage you to renew your institution’s ECEDHA membership for 2026–2027 and actively engage your colleagues in the opportunities available throughout the year. The more broadly our departments participate, the stronger our community and the greater the value we can provide to one another.
We have an exciting year ahead, culminating with the 2027 ECEDHA Annual Conference & ECExpo in Silicon Valley. I look forward to connecting with many of you along the way.
Best Regards,
Michael Wu
President
ECEDHA
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ECE AI Summit Recap - Watch Now On Demand
Future of ECE Fundamentals
By: Elizabeth Hibbler
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into engineering practice, electrical and computer engineering departments face an important question: What does every ECE graduate still need to know?
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That question was at the center of ECEDHA’s July ECE AI Accelerator Summit, Future of ECE Fundamentals in the Age of AI. Academic and industry leaders came together to discuss how AI is changing engineering education, what employers increasingly expect from graduates, and how departments can embrace new skills without losing the technical rigor at the heart of ECE.
The discussion featured Dr. Ghassan AlRegib of Georgia Tech, Dr. Ken Connor, Professor Emeritus at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Bob Pisani, Chief Technology Officer at Addepar, bringing perspectives from engineering education, hands-on learning, AI education, and industry.
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A Space Ecosystem on Campus: Interdisciplinary Laboratory Broadens Auburn's Space Research Capabilities
By: Joe McAdory
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Auburn University researchers are expanding the university's presence in the space sector.
The Auburn Space Technology and Research Applications (ASTRA) program, an interdisciplinary hub for satellite development and space systems engineering, brings together satellite design, spacecraft testing, ground station operations and space technology.
“My goal is to establish a space ecosystem here on campus,” said Mark Adams, the Godbold Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and ASTRA principal investigator. “This is about much more than satellites. It's about creating the capability to communicate with spacecraft, conduct experiments and develop technologies that support future missions.”
Previously named the Auburn University Small Satellite Program, ASTRA will reflect its expanded scope beyond satellite building, though satellite development remains a cornerstone focus. The team has already launched four satellites and is preparing for future missions, including a planned partnership with the Department of War (DOW) expected to involve building multiple satellites over the next five years. The spacecraft will serve as testbeds for government-provided payloads and emerging technologies.
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UC Davis Infrared Sensor Opens New Possibilities for Medicine and Industry
By: Matt Marcure
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Infrared, or IR, sensors do more than detect heat energy. They help spot wildfires, monitor air pollution and detect signs of disease. However, many of the most advanced IR sensors must operate at sub-zero temperatures, adding cost and complexity to the systems that rely on them.
In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the University of California, Davis, detail a cutting-edge IR sensor they created that works at room temperature. The work was led by electrical and computer engineering professors J. Sebastian Gomez-Diaz and William Putnam.
“With this technology, we overcome the need to operate IR sensors at very low temperatures,” Gomez-Diaz said. “We open a new avenue for achieving high responsivity that was not possible before.”
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UMaine-led Team Uses AI to Strengthen Electric Grids Against Cyberattacks and Extreme Weather
By: Heather Johnson
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Researchers led by the University of Maine are developing artificial intelligence technology that could make electric grids more resilient to cyberattacks, equipment failures and extreme weather, improving the reliability of power systems in vulnerable communities.
Led by UMaine’s Prabuddha Chakraborty, multidisciplinary teams across four states will advance smart and secure grid technologies. A smart grid uses sensors, software, communications technologies and AI to make real-time operating decisions, while a secure grid can continue operating during cyberattacks, poor-quality data, equipment failures or disrupted communications.
Together, these technologies can improve the reliability, affordability and security of electric service while helping utilities operate more safely and efficiently.
Each jurisdiction brings unique expertise to the research team and will address a different cybersecurity barrier to adopting AI, including hardware security, anomaly detection and forecasting, self-healing systems and microgrid simulations.
The UMaine team plays a central leadership role by connecting the research themes into a broader framework, rather than treating them as separate technical efforts.
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Seeing AI and Its Power Constraints in a New Light
Northeastern Professor Yongmin Liu Develops Optical, or Photonic, Metasurfaces that Can Control Light
By: Cyrus Moulton
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Many environmentalists see electrical power as one of artificial intelligence’s major constraints, as processing data, running complex software models and cooling a data center requires a continuous, high-density flow of electricity.
Northeastern University engineer Yongmin Liu sees power and AI in a different light. Quite literally.
“We really want to develop new optical devices that use light to manipulate and to detect, transmit, and also to do some processing,” said Liu, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering and electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern.
“By using light, we can do machine learning and deep learning with extremely low power consumption,” Liu said.
Liu develops optical, or photonic, metasurfaces that can control light. These surfaces include a human-made array of nanostructures, extremely miniscule structures measured in nanometers and that are not visible to the naked eye.
| | | Corporate Member Spotlight | | |
Q. Can you share the role your organization plays in advancing the ECE industry?
Keysight helps engineers and scientists turn emerging ideas into working, trusted technologies. Our design, simulation, test, and measurement solutions support innovation from early research through commercialization. That gives us a unique perspective on advances in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, 6G, cybersecurity, and grid modernization.
Universities are central to that mission. They are our research partners, our customers, and the source of many of the engineers who will drive our next generation of innovation. Through the Keysight Education Program, we bring together education, research collaboration, talent acquisition, and industry engagement so that students can work with relevant tools and develop the technical judgment, creativity, and curiosity needed to solve problems that do not yet have established answers.
Q. From your perspective, what does a strong industry–academia partnership look like, and how is your organization working to support or strengthen that relationship?
The strongest partnerships need to be more than transactional. It’s important to create a continuous exchange: universities expose industry to new thinking, while industry helps educators connect theory to the tools, constraints, and problems engineers encounter in practice. I remember a research professor once telling me, “The best model for collaboration is not Fund and Forget. Money is great, but time and guidance are even better.”
At Keysight, we have explored many collaborative models, including research grants, curriculum input, equipment and software sponsorships, industry student certification programs, internships, senior design capstone projects, and participation in engineering advisory boards. We have even designed a series of courseware development kits that ECE departments can implement to elevate hands-on learning experiences in the fields of RF/Microwave, IoT, and Semiconductor Design.
| | | New Regional Leader Spotlight - Central Region | | |
Q. Introduce yourself and tell us about your current role and institution
I’m Gary Christensen, Departmental Executive Officer and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Iowa. I joined the University of Iowa College of Engineering in 1997 and became DEO of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2024. My teaching and research interests span computer engineering, signal and image processing, medical imaging, and applications that improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
I’m also pleased to serve as the ECEDHA Regional Leader for the Central States Region.
Q. What are some of the key opportunities or challenges you are seeing across ECE programs in your region?
We also need to be thoughtful about how AI is incorporated into the curriculum, both in what we teach and in how we teach it. I see this as an opportunity to prepare students more intentionally for the rapidly changing engineering profession. That thinking led me to develop a mission statement for our department that reflects the qualities I believe our graduates will need to succeed: To graduate electrical and computer engineers who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, AI-competent engineers, and experts in their field of study.
Another challenge is the uncertain federal research funding environment at agencies such as NIH, NSF, NASA, and DOE. Funding uncertainty affects our ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty and graduate students. It also requires us to reconsider how we evaluate faculty productivity and research trajectories in tenure and promotion decisions when factors outside an individual faculty member’s control significantly affect research funding.
| | | Association Announcements | | |
2026-2027 ECEDHA Board Officers Announcement
ECEDHA is pleased to introduce the 2026–2027 Board Officers, who will help guide the association and advance its mission of supporting ECE leaders, departments, and the broader academic community.
Led by President Michael Wu, University of Arizona, this year’s leadership brings valuable experience and perspective from across the ECEDHA community. Together, the Board will continue to strengthen opportunities for collaboration, professional connection, and the exchange of ideas while helping ECEDHA respond to the evolving needs of ECE education.
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Past President
Mark McKinney
Professor and Department Head, Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Citadel
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President
Michael Wu
Head, School of Electrical, Computing, and Software Engineering, Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair, and Professor
University of Arizona
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Vice President
Deidra Hodges
Associate Professor, Electrical
and Computer Engineering
Florida International University
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Secretary/Treasurer
Lynne Silvovsky
Chair, Computer Engineering
California Polytechnic University
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Join the 2027 ECEDHA Program Committee
Help Shape the Conversations Driving the Future of ECE
Contribute your ideas and perspective to help inform conference themes, timely discussions, and engagement opportunities for the 2027 ECEDHA Annual Conference & ECExpo in Silicon Valley.
Collaborate with peers across the ECEDHA community to help identify emerging topics, strengthen industry and academic connections, and enhance the conference experience for attendees across ECE.
Contact information@ecedha.org to learn more and join the committee.
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Upcoming ECEDHA Community Summit
Strategic Priorities and Resource
Decisions for ECE Departments
Wednesday, September 16, 2:00 - 3:00 pm CT
| | | As ECE departments expand into high-demand areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and energy, leaders face increasingly complex decisions about where to invest people, funding, and infrastructure. This session explores how departments are setting priorities, allocating resources, and balancing emerging opportunities with existing needs. Participants will hear how peer institutions are making strategic investments to support growth and position their departments for the future. | | | | | ECEDHA is pleased to provide a platform for members to post job announcements | | | |
Featured Job Posting
University of Pittsburgh
- Professor, Department Chair (posted 7/23/26)
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Louisiana State University (posted 6/24/26)
- Research Associate 5 (two positions available)
University of Portland (posted 6/24/26)
University of Wisconsin, Platteville (posted 8/13/26)
- Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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ECEDHA Community Summit
Master's Pathways and Retaining
Top Talent in ECE
In this session, we will explore Master’s pathways and other innovative models designed to retain top talent in ECE and accelerate degree completion. We will examine how institutions are aligning undergraduate and graduate curricula, strengthening advising and mentorship, and creating streamlined pathways that encourage students to continue into advanced study and leadership opportunities in the field.
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ECEDHA TIMEE Summit
Hands-On First: Building Practical Engineering Skills Early
Hackathons and maker-driven learning have proven highly impactful for ECE students, helping them move beyond theory to hands-on problem-solving, rapid prototyping, and creative experimentation. This session offers a firsthand look at how universities and industry partners are using these experiences to accelerate student learning, boost engagement, and prepare graduates for modern engineering workflows, including the growing use of AI-assisted coding and hardware-software co-design.
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ECEDHA Community Summit
Preparing Power Engineers for an AI-Enabled Energy Future
As AI accelerates change across the power and energy sector, ECE programs are rethinking how they prepare students for the workforce. This session brings together academic and industry leaders to examine how AI tools and concepts are being incorporated into power and energy curricula to meet evolving industry needs.
| | | A Little Engineering Humor | | |
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