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I am pleased to announce NanoEngineering Professor Darren Lipomi as the new Associate Dean for Students at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Jacobs School of Engineering as of July 1, 2022.

At the same time, I'm most honored to thank Computer Science Professor Christine Alvarado and recognize her extraordinary service as our outgoing Associate Dean for Students here at the Jacobs School. As she concludes her time in this role, the Â鶹´«Ã½ community is fortunate that Professor Alvarado has accepted a new role as the inaugural Associate Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education at Â鶹´«Ã½.

Professor Lipomi just completed his first full year as Faculty Director of the IDEA Engineering Student Center here at the Jacobs School. In that time, Lipomi and the IDEA Engineering Student Center team oversaw the transition back to predominantly in-person programming; launched the GEAR Summer (Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research) summer program for undergraduates; strengthened efforts to provide student scholarships; created the IDEAs in STEM Ed podcast; and much more.

At this time, the Faculty Director of the IDEA Engineering Student Center position will merge with the Associate Dean for Students role. In parallel, we are creating an Executive Director for Student Success position that will report directly to the Associate Dean for Students. The person in this new position will work with the IDEA Engineering Student Center and other Dean's office educational initiatives; and with people from all across the Jacobs School to ensure student success. Job posting is here.

At the Jacobs School, Professor Lipomi is known for his ability to create inclusive research and learning environments for his students inside and outside the lab. In 2017, he received a campus Diversity Champion award. He has extended his ability to facilitate important STEM conversations and empower students and other early-career researchers here at Â鶹´«Ã½, across the nation, and around the world through his podcast, which is called "Molecular Podcasting with Darren Lipomi."

In terms of research, Professor Lipomi is a world leader in thin film electronic materials, whose applications include solar energy and artificial touch. Like many high-impact engineering professors, he engages in the virtuous cycle between fundamental and applied research. He is the recipient of the Air Force Young Investigator Award, the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and an NSF BRITE award.

I look forward to working with Professor Lipomi in his new capacity as Associate Dean for Students. Please join me in welcoming Professor Lipomi to his new role.

Sincerely,
-- Al

Albert ("Al") P. Pisano, Dean and
Walter J. Zable Distinguished Professor
Jacobs School of Engineering
University of California San Diego