From the Dean: April 2021 Addendum
Dear Purdue Engineering Community,
American higher education was transformed, toward the end of WWII, by a broadening of access and the mission of impactful research. From the late 1950s through the 1960s, federal investment into R&D further amplified the roles of research universities.
In 2021 and in the next several years, two overarching trends are transforming American universities in magnitude not seen in more than half a century: (1) society’s demand for innovative learning during and beyond the college age in a post-pandemic world and (2) a tremendous renewal of federal, state and private sector investment in critical technologies.
Through this crucial period, Purdue University has the opportunity to become the most consequential public university in the United States. The strategic initiatives announced by President Daniels and the Board of Trustees this month coincide with the focus on technology innovation by the State of Indiana and with the nationwide, bipartisan support for research advance and a vibrant talent pipeline.
Starting May 1, I am honored to serve in the additional role of Purdue University’s Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, reporting to President Daniels. I will be collaborating with colleagues from across the University system and from Purdue For Life Foundation and Purdue Research Foundation. Initial focus includes the initiatives in Purdue’s Next Moves, as described by the University on April 9, and the “Innovation Campus,” consisting of the Discovery Park District and Zucrow Aerospace District.
Simultaneously, I will continue to serve, alongside an amazing team of colleagues, as the Dean of the College of Engineering. With Pinnacle of Excellence at Scale, Purdue Engineering is serving more students than any other engineering school ever ranked in the country’s top five. As the upward momentum of our College continues, thank you and Boiler Up!
Mung
Mung Chiang
John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering
Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue University