It is with great pleasure that I announce that Albert Pisano has accepted the appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as the new Chair, effective July 1st 2004. I look forward to working with Al and hope you will join me in congratulating him on this new responsibility.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karl Hedrick for the
excellent service he provided to the College and to Mechanical Engineering as your Chair. Over Karl's tenure there have been many very positive developments in the Department, not the least of which has been the new strategic plan, the increased emphasis on micro- and nano-related mechanical systems, Mechanical's central role in the CITRIS initiative, and a number of very strong recruitments that will serve the Department and the College very
well in the years and decades to come. The consequence of these efforts has been a strong growth in the demand for ME, which has compensated in part for the recent drop in demand for EECS at the undergraduate level. Personally, it has been a real pleasure to work with Karl. His collaborative approach and his tough but fair stand on your behalf has certainly served you very well in challenging times for us all. Karl's dedication and many accomplishments have been very much appreciated.

A. Richard Newton
Dean, College of Engineering and
the Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering