Chairman's Corner

---

Since assuming the role of department chair this January, I have been extremely impressed with the quality and energy of our faculty and staff, their commitment to our students, and their collective desire to move the department forward. I am eager to build on our department's many strengths and leverage them further in order to move the Chemical Engineering Department into an elite status among its nationally-recognized peers.

My priorities include:

•  increasing the visibility of our department on a national and international level;
• deepening our networks with employers and alumni; and
• improving the department's infrastructure and capabilities through expanded and modernized laboratories and facilities.

This facility expansion is particularly important as we plan on hiring five new faculty members within the next several years. These positions will be focused on interdisciplinary areas at the forefront of chemical engineering research.

In order to achieve this ambitious agenda, the department needs your active participation and support. We will be having two chemical engineering alumni open house events each year; I hope you are able to visit us during one of these events. If you can't make it to either of these "official" events, please stop by the department and visit us anytime you are in the Gainesville area; I would like to meet you and hear your valuable input. Also please continue to stay connected with us through e-mail (chemical@che.ufl.edu), letters (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116005, Gainesville, Florida 32611-6005) or phone calls (352-392-0882).

I look forward to working with you to continuously improve the quality of education for our students. All our best to you. Go Gators!