Dear Colleagues,
Another busy school year has finished, the end-of-the-year sprint is done, and the campus is quiet and beautiful. I now have a little time to reflect on the many successes of the past year.
Most importantly, we had the privilege along with family and friends to watch our Voiland College students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas last month. These students should be especially proud of their difficult journey as their college years included studying and learning during an unprecedented global pandemic. With more than a third who are the first in their families to attend college or who come from historically underrepresented groups, it is especially gratifying to see them reach such an important milestone for their future. I’m thankful, too, for the hard work of our faculty and staff who worked tirelessly to support them. Our club activities, tutoring, internships, and research opportunities are all critically important in engaging students and getting them to the finish line.
I am also happy to report in this newsletter on recent research breakthroughs and faculty successes. Diane Cook was named to the AIMBE College of Fellows, Kristina Borrman received a prestigious Huntington Library Fellowship, and Mani Venkatasubramanian and Anamika Dubey received dual awards from the IEEE Power & Energy Society. Our research expenditures are continuing to grow as we move forward with exciting interdisciplinary initiatives and programs in cybersecurity, ceramic materials, clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Finally, I’m excited to announce that we will hold a groundbreaking celebration for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on September 22. The building is a first step in transforming the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture’s district located on the WSU Pullman campus and will be the central hub and welcoming front door for the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.
Philanthropic support made the critical difference in allowing us to move forward with development of Schweitzer Engineering Hall, including naming gifts from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Ed Schweitzer, the Boeing Company, Navin Dimond, and many, many other Voiland College alumni and friends. With the recent approval of $40 million in state support, we are moving forward with design and construction and honing our program and final designs. How exciting to think that our students will be able to open doors to the new building by fall of 2026.
I’m proud of the groundwork that we have laid for Voiland College’s future with our efforts. We continue to build on the public and private partnerships to revitalize our engineering and design district to meet the needs for today’s students and industries. I hope you can join us as we celebrate with a groundbreaking event on September 22.
Go Cougs!
Mary Rezac
Dean, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99163
mary.rezac@wsu.edu
509-335-5593