Alumni news  

• Introducing some exciting, new faculty members and announcing the "sad" departure of some "old timer", well known, faculty.
  August 2007

• EE Grad flies in space. On Sept. 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari (GMU BSEE, 1988) became only the fourth private citizen - and first such woman - to travel into space. The George Mason University (GMU) graduate, dressed in a blue jumpsuit decorated with several Russian space medals, spoke at the university on Feb. 20, 2007.

  Ansari paid $20 million to be sent into space aboard Russian Soyuz TMA-9. She spent 11 days in space, eight of them aboard the International Space Station 220 miles above the Earth.

  “She certainly holds the record for miles traveled by any of our graduates,” said Lloyd Griffiths, dean of GMU's Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering.

  Anousheh was born in Iran in 1967 and moved to the United States when she was 16. She learned English and earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering from GMU in 1988. Ansari later received a master's degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University and is seeking a master's in astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia.

  She co-founded Telecom Technologies Inc., which later merged with Sonus Networks. Ansari also is co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, a company that specializes in household technology.

  Ansari's family sponsored the $10 million Ansari X Prize, which gave a cash reward to the first nongovernmental organization to send a manned, reusable spacecraft into space twice within two weeks. Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne won the prize in 2004. October 2007

• ECE Department 20th Anniversary Celebration. On April 9, 2004 the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of the department. Alumni, present students and faculty were joined by George Mason University President, Alan Merten, Provost Peter Stearns and School of Information Technology and Engineering Dean Lloyd Griffiths. A "breakfast" reception for guests to meet and chat among displays of selected faculty research publications was followed by an interesting overview of the Department's history by Founding Chair Murray Black and past Chair Gerald Cook. ECE Chair Andre Manitius brought the attendees up to date with present activities and thoughts about the future of the Department. Five technical presentations by senior and junior faculty members (Professors Harry Van Trees, Kathleen Wage, Alexander Levis, Brian Mark and Kris Gaj) sampled the breadth of research and accomplishments of the faculty.
  
  A pleasant luncheon in the George Mason Center for the Arts lobby followed. Dr. Black and Dr. Cook entertained the attendees with interesting tidbits and pictures from the Department's past. Several past and present students talked about their experiences and memories of their time working toward their degrees within the Department. October 2004

• The ECE Department is happy to welcome back, Dr. Alexander H. Levis, University Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, and head of the System Architectures Laboratory of the C3I Center, who has been on leave from George Mason University for a three year appointment as the Air Force Chief Scientist.
  
  In this role, Dr. Levis provided independent, objective technical advice primarily to the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force but also to the senior leadership. He served as a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board Steering Committee and served as chair of the Air Force's chief scientists' group. Dr. Levis has held several appointments as member of the Scientific Advisory Board since 1990.
  
  The position of the Air Force Chief Scientist was created in 1950, and 30 Air Force Chief Scientists have held office since then. Included among them are two other members of the George Mason University community, Dr. Harry L. Van Trees, Distinguished Professor of Information Technology and Electrical and Systems Engineering and Director of the C3I Center, and Dr. Edwin B. Stear, Visiting Research professor with the System Architectures Laboratory.

• ECE students come through again! The ECE Department is proud to announce another recognition of the achievements of our students and alumni. At the Spring 2004 IT&E Awards Banquet, April 30, awards were presented to Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Jason Bales, (BSEE 2004); Outstanding Graduate Student, Smriti Kansal, (MSEE 2004); and (fourth year in a row!) Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Jeff Gravatte (BSEE 1988) Program avaiable at: http://ite.gmu.edu/forms/spring_awards_2004.pdf.    October 2004

• The ECE Department is proud to announce another recognition of the achievements of our faculty. At the Spring 2004 IT&E Awards Banquet, April 30, awards were presented to Dr. Kathleen Wage, Outstanding Teaching Award; Dr. Timothy Beatty, Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award; Dr. Janos Gertler, Outstanding Research Faculty Award; and Dr. W. Murray Black, Outstanding Faculty Service Award. Program avaiable at: http://ite.gmu.edu/forms/spring_awards_2004.pdf.    October 2004

• ECE students come through again! The ECE Department is proud to announce another recognition of the achievements of our students and alumni. At the Spring 2003 IT&E Awards Banquet, April 11, awards were presented to Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Timothy M. Brown, (BSEE 2003); Outstanding Graduate Student, Dr. Richard A. Echard, (Ph.D. in ECE 2002; MSEE 1991); and (third year in a row!) Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Lisa Jensen (BSEE 1986, MSSSE 1993). Program avaiable at: http://ite.gmu.edu/forms/spring_awards_2003.pdf.    December 20, 2003

• The ECE Department is proud to announce another recognition of the achievements of our students, alumni and faculty. At the Spring 2002 IT&E Awards Banquet, May 3, awards were presented to Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Sashisu M. Rajracharya, BSCpE student; Outstanding Research Faculty, Dr. Rao Mupluri; and Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Dr. Mark Willebeek-LeMair (BSEE 1985). May 25, 2002

• The ECE Department is very proud to share the news that Sue Davies, the ECE Department Laboratory Supervisor, was selected as a recipient of the George Mason University Outstanding Achievement Award. This award was presented to Sue by President Merten at a University ceremony on February 27, 2002.
  
  The citation read:

  "In her position as Lab Manager in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sue assumed responsbility for the laboratory orientation and equipment use training which afforded the faculty more time for research. She also designed an innovative system for lab monitoring during open lab time utilizing volunteers and the department's teaching assistants."

• You folks are doing us proud! At the April 19, 2001 George Mason University Alumni Association "Celebration of Distinction" two electrical engineerng graduates were recognized. Naveen Modi, BSEE 1998, a 3rd year law student in the GMU School of Law, was awarded the "GMU School of Law Alumni Chapter Scholarship". Anousheh (ne Raissyan) Ansari, BSEE 1988, was recognized as the "School of Information Technology and Enginering Outstanding Alumna in Entrepreneurial Excellence".

• The ECE Department is excited to boast the almost total sweep of awards at the Spring 2001 IT&E Awards Banquet. The Outstanding Undergraduate Student, A. Glenn Richardson, BSEE student; Outstanding Graduate Student, Marc Christensen, PhD in ECE student; Outstanding Teaching Award, Dr. Bernd-Peter Paris; Outstanding Adjunct Professor, Carl Schaefer; and the Outstanding Alumna in Entrepreneurial Excellence, Anousheh (ne Raissyan) Ansari, BSEE 1988, were all ECE Department nominees. March 2001

  Reminder! Don't neglect to check the General Announcements before you leave. The Department and faculty are doing some very interesting and exciting things. And please do drop us a note as you get involved in similar exciting activities so we can share your excitment and successes with you and with other alums.
  
  Update. A meeting of the ECE Alumni Association (to be renamed ECE Alumni Chapter) was held May 10, 1999. The revised Bylaws were presented and discussed. Brainstorming for plans for future events led to a preliminary plan to have a social/dinner event within the next 3-4 months. If you are interested and want more information or to ensure you are on the "mailing list" please contact Dr. Mulpuri (rmulpuri@gmu.edu)

  WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER YOU GRADUATE?
  Do you expect to graduate with an EE or CpE degree? Then, while you are enjoying that great salary you are earning, you might also be interested in the newly formed ECE Alumni Association (to be renamed ECE Alumni Chapter). This group of Alums intends to meet, network, socialize, and provide "real world" feedback and support to the ECE Department and programs (BS, MS, PhD). The "kick-off" meeting in Spring 1998 was attended by ECE Alums from 1983 through 1998. For additional information feel free to contact Dr. Mulpuri (rmulpuri@gmu.edu).