This informal session is intended to highlight the position of department head (chair) and its relationship to upper administration, faculty, staff, and students. The afternoon is intended to elicit discussion and sharing of best practices that may be of particular interest to new department chairs/heads. The discussion will be led by two chairs that have combined over 25 years of experience leading their respective departments.
John Papapolymerou
Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Michigan State University
John Papapolymerou’s research interests are in the areas of RF/microwave/mm-wave/THz circuits, antennas and packaging for wireless communication systems, sensors and radars. His current projects include the utilization of additive manufacturing techniques for three-dimensional RF circuits and modules, the development of cost effective packaged RF modules for high power applications, as well as the development of thin nanomagnetic materials for high frequency applications. He served as the Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters from 2012-2015.
Hulya Kirkici
Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of South Alabama
Hulya Kirkici is Professor and Chair of ECE at the University of South Alabama. She received B.S. and M.S. in physics from Middle East Technical University (METU); and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University (currently NYU), NY. Previously, Dr. Kirkici was Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Auburn University, faculty Fellow at AFRL– Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and visiting scientist/engineer at NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. She is a Fellow of IEEE and sits on the IEEE-HKN Board. She was the 2019 IEEE Vice President – Publications and President of IEEE DEIS (2009-2010), among other volunteer services.
Noah Schmitz
Director of Americas University Development
Keysight Technologies
Noah graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Oklahoma with a BS in Engineering Physics and holds an MS degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. His technical articles have been published in EE Times, Wireless Systems Design, Microwave Products Digest, and Electrical Design News China. With deep application knowledge in the areas of wireless communications, power and energy, and optical electronics, he has been invited to speak at technical symposia including Semicon Singapore, Test and Measurement World Korea, and the European Space Agency Power Conference. Noah is a lifelong learner passionate about education and committed to empowering the next generation of engineers, scientists, and research professionals. His academic accolades include selection as a National Merit Scholar, the Most Outstanding Graduate of the OU College of Engineering, and a member of the PE-ET University Top 10 Honor Society..
Marco Rolandi
Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering
UC Santa Cruz
Marco Rolandi, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Marco received his PhD in Applied Physics from Stanford University and a LEAD Certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of business. His research focuses on bioelectronic systems and devices, biological control in regenerative medicine and synthetic biology, and their translational applications. His work on bioelectronic transistors and shark electrosensors has been highlighted in The New York Times, the Washington Post, New Scientist, MRS 360, IEEE Spectrum, Materials Views, Engadget, Popular Science, and several others. He is also interested in visual communication in science and engineering and his essay on how to prepare scientific figures was the most downloaded article in Advanced Materials during the fall of 2011 (> 10,000 times).