[CCoE Notice] UH Cullen College of Engineering - Dean's Memo February 2021

[Knudsen, Rachel W]

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[Dean's Memo] <https://www.egr.uh.edu>

Dear Cullen College Faculty, Staff and Members of our Leadership Board,



I hope you are all doing well after last week's unprecedented winter storms and that you were not too heavily impacted. The UH campus experienced extensive utility outages, and many buildings lost heat and water. Luckily, our facilities did not incur any significant damage, and we have been able to use the last several days to get back on track.

Getting back to 'normal' has been a welcome relief, and I thank you all for your continued resiliency and support of the college. That being said, if you are currently experiencing hardship from the winter storms, do not hesitate to let your supervisor know and we will do whatever we can to help.

Storms aside, February has been very busy for us and we have received some good news. This month we saw new initiatives come to light, national recognition for our commitment to excellence in research, and much more.

TOGETHER WE RISE, TOGETHER WE SOAR



Earlier this month, the University of Houston released its new strategic plan<https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/>, “Together, We Rise. Together, We Soar.” The plan illustrates a blueprint for how we as a university will reach new heights in student success, nationally competitive research, social responsibility, and more. I encourage you to explore the strategic plan website<https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/> at your convenience. Our college will use these goals as a starting point in the formation of our new strategic plan, to be released in the near future.

NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS



I am thrilled to announce not one, but two of our faculty have received NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Awards, bringing our total number at the college to 21. Dr. Mehmet Orman, an assistant professor in the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, received his award to study persister cells. Dr. Kyung Jae Lee of Petroleum Engineering has also received notice of her award for her work in identifying a new source of lithium for sustainable and renewable energy storage.



Congratulations are also in order for Dr. Don Wilton, Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) as a new member for 2021. The college now has 14 NAE members among its faculty.



And lastly, three of our faculty, Drs. Hien Nguyen, Jeffrey Rimer, and Gangbing Song, were all elected to the NAI Senior Member Class of 2021.



Normally I would be excited to report any one of these milestones on their own, as each in of itself is a major accomplishment. The notification of 2 NSF CAREER Awards, 3 NAI Senior Members and a newly elected NAE member within a matter of weeks of each other is a true testament to just how talented and renowned our faculty are. I look forward to seeing how far this upward momentum will take us.



Please join me in congratulating Drs. Orman, Lee, Nguyen, Rimer, Song and Wilton on these marvelous achievements!

COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION



The University has launched a webpage<https://uh.edu/covid-19/information/vaccine/> exclusively for COVID-19 vaccine information. The page covers topics including UH vaccine planning efforts, local vaccination hubs, resources and more. The University of Houston’s Student Health Center was officially approved as a vaccine distributor in January. Please note that once the University begins receiving initial doses, the allocation is expected to be very limited in supply.



To learn more about distribution plans, priorities and more, please click here<https://uh.edu/covid-19/information/vaccine/>.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT



This month’s outstanding staff member is:

Lesley Sisk

Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs, Cullen College of Engineering

[Lesley Sisk]

Lesley Sisk got her start at UH in 1997 as an administrative assistant with the Moores School of Music. She joined the Cullen College in 2007, and has held a leadership position since 2015, first as a director and now as the executive director of undergraduate programs. Sisk’s role is no small feat. She is tasked with leading a team that oversees the entire lifecycle of our students’ academic journeys, from the time they attend their first orientation to when they walk across the stage with their diploma in hand. Under her leadership, and the guidance of Drs. JR Rao and Fritz Claydon, the college’s graduation rate is the highest it has ever been, and she has been instrumental in the successful development and launch of our new degrees and partnership with HCC at UH at Katy.



Leadership describes Sisk as being extremely organized and efficient — you cannot make her miss a single detail, no matter how hard you may try. She embraces new challenges, and the results of her hard work and determination will continue to elevate the college for years to come.



Sisk is also an accomplished opera singer and teacher (when time permits!), as well as a passionate volunteer of the Special Olympics.

I look forward to featuring more outstanding staff members in upcoming editions of this memo. Thank you, Lesley, for all that you do for our college!



Thank you all for your hard work and continued support of our college, and please continue to stay safe during these unusual times.

Warm regards,

[https://www.egr.uh.edu/sites/www.egr.uh.edu/files/enews/images/tedescosignature.png]
Joe Tedesco


COVID-19 UPDATES



•       Masks are required at all times on the University of Houston campus. Learn
more here<https://uh.edu/covid-19/return-to-campus-information/face-coverings-while-on-campus/>.
•       The Cougar Emergency Fund has relaunched to assist students facing unexpected financial hardships due to COVID-19. To support the Cougar Emergency Fund, click here<https://giving.uh.edu/gift/?allocation=HC61440RN>.
•       Click here<https://www.uh.edu/covid-19/> to learn how UH operations are being impacted.
•       All members of our community should familiarize themselves with the official positive case protocols, which may be accessed on the University’s website<https://uh.edu/covid-19/>.



You are encouraged to routinely check the University’s official health alerts webpage<https://www.uh.edu/covid-19/> for updates as this is a developing situation, or to reach out to coronavirus at uh.edu<mailto:coronavirus at uh.edu> with questions regarding the UH community.

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UH Cullen College of Engineering
E421 Engineering Bldg 2, Houston, TX 77204-4007

713-743-4200

The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.

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