Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits.
I am writing to you on my first official day as the new interim dean of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and dedicated group of individuals.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Dean Rezac for her exceptional service to Voiland College. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping the college’s success, and we are truly grateful for the impact she has had on our community. Please join me, WSU Provost Chilton, and your fellow colleagues on Wednesday, February 21 in the Carpenter Hall Atrium for a farewell celebration in Mary’s honor. The program will begin at 4:30 PM.
As we transition into the coming year, I would like to reiterate that Voiland College’s mission remains unchanged. Our focus will continue to be:
- To conduct fundamental and applied disciplinary and cross-cutting research that leads to new knowledge, transformative technology, and innovative designs.
- To educate and prepare students through state-of-the-art programs, preparing them for professional careers and leadership in engineering and design professions.
- To engage people, industry, and communities to improve quality of life and enhance economic development.
On that note, I look forward to starting construction of our new student success building, Schweitzer Engineering Hall, later this spring. The faculty and staff on our design build team have been working hard to incorporate the feedback we received from everyone in the WSU community on what types of programming belong in the new building. Look for opportunities to see the building’s new design soon!
I also encourage you to “save the date” on two more upcoming college events: our Voiland College Student Excellence Awards on April 11, and our Voiland College Faculty & Staff Excellence Awards on May 8. These events are a great way to recognize those around us who are making our world better, and a chance to celebrate our collective success. Look for more details soon.
As someone who has worked at WSU for almost two decades, I understand how each one of you is contributing to our college, and I am eager to both celebrate our successes and collaborate with you in continuing to build upon the Voiland College’s achievement.
If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas that you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out. My door is always open, and I welcome your input.
Warm regards,
Partha Pratim Pande, FIEEE
Interim Dean and Professor
Boeing Centennial Chair in Computer Engineering
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Email: pande@wsu.edu