Greetings, friends and alumni of Iowa Engineering!
I am excited to bring you this year’s issue of Iowa Engineer!
My first year as dean has been filled with many new experiences. I took part in my first College of Engineering Welcome Fair where I interacted with our engaged and entrepreneurial students, met with student organizations, and saw firsthand the dedication of our faculty and staff to enhancing the student experience across the college. I have toured our research centers and learned of the ways in which we are transforming the lives of Iowans as well as innovating in ways that will have an impact across the country and around the world. I have met with faculty and staff across all of our academic departments, learning about their cutting-edge research projects and their commitment to creating a dynamic teaching and learning experience. Most importantly, I have seen how this college can come together as a community to recognize and celebrate our achievements and foster the welcoming environment that we value.
As collegiate stakeholders, you have long known about our strengths in environmental health, transportation, healthcare, and intelligent systems. In these articles, you will see our excellence in each of these areas through groundbreaking projects, national and international awards, and hands-on student experiences that position our undergraduate and graduate students to become leaders in each of these areas.
I am also eager to see how our college can address pressing issues in society through engineering innovation and education. We will find new ways to deploy automation to make transportation safer and human-machine interfaces more responsive. We will utilize AI to improve healthcare assessment and delivery and will use systems engineering to make the healthcare system more efficient and responsive. We will develop new materials that can be applied to naval technology in support of industry and government agencies. We will advance our understanding of environmental contaminants to improve quality of life and further sustainable practices.
Our College of Engineering has an exciting future ahead of it. I look forward to spending more time hearing how we have transformed the lives of students, learning about the impact of our distinguished alumni, and listening to the needs of stakeholders who are as invested in this college and its successes as we are.
Thank you for being a part of our Iowa Engineering family.
Ann McKenna
Dean, College of Engineering
Roy J. Carver Professor of Engineering