It’s a great time to be on Rocky Top and an even better time to be an Engineering Vol.
The best day on the job for me is graduation day, when I get to see so many happy new alumni and families. Sitting up on stage gives me a chance to look out at the faces of so many students, families, and friends and reflect on the tremendous honor and responsibility all of us in the Tickle College have. At the end of the day, our job is to provide a world-class education to those that entrust their future careers to the quality of education we provide. I continue to be inspired by the talent, creativity, and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. This year, TCE again broke records for research expenditures, enrollment in both undergraduate and graduate programs, incoming GPA, and patents filed and issued. Many of our faculty continue to win prestigious external recognition for their work as well.
As we seek to continually improve the quality and value of our education and research, I am especially excited to announce new departments and programs that have been approved to launch. With the approval of a new Department of Applied Engineering and Technology and a stand-alone Department of Biomedical Engineering, the college continues to think big about how to elevate our programs and better engage students. Both departments are scheduled to launch in fall 2025. Other new degree programs include a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, and a doctor of engineering program out of industrial and systems engineering that is designed for working professionals.
The college’s ability to develop and inspire internal leaders was on display this spring with the hiring of two new departments heads. UT-ONRL Governor’s Chair Brian Wirth will be taking over in the role for the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Professor Garrett Rose will be leading the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Both have already contributed greatly to the college over the years and will help accelerate our growth with their innovative visions.
One strategic area that the college has invested in is hypersonic flow. The university’s new 500-KW pulsed arcjet tunnel is being upgraded to a continuous flow facility, which is extremely rare in the academia community, and serves an important niche in the community.
The relationship between TCE and startup companies is flourishing on many levels as we seek creative ways to enhance the value we provide to our partners in industry and to the economic development of our region. The TN-MADE facility is specifically designed for co-habitation with industry. This unique facility is poised to become an incubator for startups, providing them a foundation to flourish and move into the market to help grow East Tennessee’s economy. In addition, the Spark Scholars Program, which matches early-stage tech companies and undergraduate engineering students, is providing a pipeline of talent for new businesses while giving students on-the-job education and training in cutting edge technology fields.
As we wrap another successful semester, I think back to sitting on stage and seeing the graduating students. They are why we are here, and why the college is committed to ensuring the absolute best experience for everyone who puts their trust in the Tickle College of Engineering for an education or a career.
Thank you for your support of the university and college and Go Vols!
Matthew Mench
Dean and Wayne T. Davis Chair
Tickle College of Engineering
Follow me on Instagram @deanengtce