| From
the Dean
As I sit in my office, working on this final column for Earnest,
I’m surrounded by cardboard boxes of files, papers, photographs
and memorabilia from my tenure as Dean. When I was packing, I ran
across a copy of Clemson Engineering, the precursor to Earnest,
which announced my appointment as Dean of the College of Engineering
in August of 1992 (see related story this page).
It was interesting to take this little stroll down memory lane.
I read that one of my goals at that time was to create an educational
experience for our students that would help them compete competitively
in a global marketplace. I thought we could best accomplish that
by forming educational relationships with international partners
– particularly those with operations in South Carolina. Over
the past 14 years, we’ve undertaken a number of initiatives
that are helping us give our students the tools they need to be
successful in the worldwide marketplace. The most recent and the
most dramatic example is the collaboration that has given rise to
Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research.
It was also interesting to note that I felt we needed to “get
students from different engineering disciplines interacting with
one another. . .to have them comfortable working in interdisciplinary
teams.” Cross-collaboration has become a way of life –
not just across disciplines within engineering and science, but
across colleges and universities as well. That sort of interaction
has become vital in attracting top faculty, students and research
funding.
I have always felt that the dean’s role is to create an environment
that enables the college’s faculty, staff, and students to
excel in those activities that advance the college. If one measures
success in terms of advancement, then CoES faculty, staff and students
have been enormously successful over the past 14 years. I have a
great deal of admiration, respect and fondness for the faculty and
staff that I’ve worked with here, and the students I’ve
had the pleasure to teach and to know.
I suppose it’s natural to feel a little nostalgic at a time
like this, and I have given myself two or three minutes to reflect,
but that’s all I’ve had time for! Our new Dean, Esin
Gulari, assumed her duties on July 5, and Provost Helms has asked
that I provide some assistance on several projects. So, it doesn’t
look like she’s going to let me go riding off into the sunset
just yet.
I have enjoyed an enormously wonderful career here, and I look forward
to continuing to help advance the College of Engineering and Science,
and Clemson University in any way I can.
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