I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with you some of the progress the department has made this semester.

Once again, we completed a very successful faculty recruitment season. This fall, three new faculty will join our department: Dr. Manoj Franklin (Ph.D., Wisconsin University, Assistant Professor, Clemson University) will bring additional force to our activities in computer architectures; Dr. Diana Marculescu (Ph.D., University of Southern California) will strengthen our expertise in CAD for VLSI circuits, especially for low power and embedded systems; and Dr. Haralabos (Babis) Papadopoulos (Ph.D., MIT) will add to our already strong signal processing activities, especially for applications in wireless systems.

The department hired three new staff members: Karen Thornton, as Coordinator for Personnel and Research; Julie O’Donnell, as an Account Clerk II in our business office; and Robyn Isom, as an Administrative Assistant II in the undergraduate office.

The department’s proposal to the National Science Foundation for establishing a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site was successful. This summer, we will launch the Research Internships in Telecommunications Engineering (RITE) program, a project designed to give undergraduate students a chance to engage in cutting-edge research. Students from the University of Maryland, Carnegie Mellon University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania State University, and George Washington University will participate in this exciting program beginning in June. The 11-week program will include eight research projects in the broad area of telecommunications. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in several field trips to industry and government laboratories, and will receive guidance in career planning and graduate school preparation.

The department opened the AlliedSignal Computer Classroom this semester, a state-of-the-art instructional facility that allows both the instructor and students to work in a fully computerized environment. In addition, we will begin construction of two new facilities this summer: the Tracor Computer Engineering Research and Instructional Facility and the Jasmine International Telecommunications Laboratory.

Two more companies, TELOGY Networks and Radio Dynamics joined the department’s Industrial Affiliates Program, both considerable additions to this vibrant program. Hughes Network Systems renewed its minority scholarships for the 1998-99 academic year, and Bay Networks pledged additional support for undergraduate scholarships.

Our faculty continued to distinguish themselves this semester. Prof. Shuvra Bhattacharyya received the NSF CAREER Award. Prof. Victor Granatstein received the Robert L. Woods Award. Profs. Kawthar Zaki and Chia-Hung Yang received the Celebrating Teachers Award, and Prof. H. C. Lin was a finalist for the Office of Technology Liaison’s Invention of the Year Award.

Ms. Barbara Aycock retired in March, after 28 years of dedicated service to the department and the university. Ms. Aycock was a significant contributor to the department’s activities. Her warmth, class and commitment will be missed.

The Clark School of Engineering is now home to the fastest climbing school in the country in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate program rankings (see article on page 8). We are proud of this accomplishment, and of the department’s contributions to this distinction.