Dean Julio M. Ottino, Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (McC)

Dear Alumni:

At the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (McC), we are preparing our students for a world that is increasingly connected, where our greatest challenges will be linked along multiple dimensions. Engineers will play a major role in solving some of the most important issues facing the world — energy and sustainability, global health and epidemics, pressures on the world’s financial systems — all of which have ethical, economic, technical, and legal considerations, and all of which require integrated solutions.

Recently, the McCormick School has taken on many exciting initiatives and received national recognition for our faculty.

Here are a few highlights:

• The newly named Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) was created to evolve engineering beyond the applications of the sciences and empower McCormick students to be successful entrepreneurs. 

• A new undergraduate option, the Architectural Engineering and Design Program, was recently created to prepare students for careers in the building industry. 

• We partnered with the Kellogg School of Management to offer a joint certificate undergraduate program in managerial analytics, announced in conjunction with a financial economics certificate program for Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences students.

• The Segal Design Institute, founded by Crate and Barrel co-founders Gordon and Carole Segal, was developed to significantly expand the University’s existing undergraduate design curriculum.

• A five-story addition, the Engineering Life Sciences Facility, is being added to Tech for the study of engineering life sciences programs at McCormick. 

• The NU solar car team finished in 13th place at the North American Solar Challenge — a 2,400-mile race from Plano, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta. 

You as alumni help make these accomplishments possible, and you can continue to do so by getting involved at the Northwestern Alumni Association or staying connected through McCormick activities and publications. As drivers of innovation, you can also drive Northwestern’s and McCormick’s success by helping maintain our reputation as a world-class institution and research center with outstanding programs. I encourage you to stay involved through mentorship, participation in clubs and reunions, and financial support.

Sincerely, 

Julio M. Ottino
Dean, Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

Read more messages from your NAA and University Leaders.

Posted April 15, 2009.