Message from the Dean

I am pleased to introduce you to the first exclusively online version of the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SOECS) magazine, The Rock. I celebrated my first year at Pacific in July and am proud to share highlights of our progress and updates on exciting plans on the horizon.

We are especially proud to highlight the Makerspace, a new facility designed to transform the student experience. The Makerspace will be a nexus for exploration, creativity and teamwork, and its impact will extend beyond the campus to our partner organizations and the communities we serve.

I have enjoyed connecting with alumni as part of a “listening tour” to discuss their perspectives on the school. One of my visits was with the first female engineering student at Pacific: Charyl Butterworth ’68. Charyl is spotlighted in our feature on female alumni, along with several highly successful recent female graduates following in Charyl’s path.

Our donors are making a significant difference. Leading gifts from the Fletcher Jones Foundation and Regent Janet Spears launched plans for the Makerspace. A generous family established the new Strategic Innovation Fund, providing resources for creative new programs serving our students. And alumnus Rodney Amen '82 established an endowment to advance diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at SOECS. Their compelling stories are told throughout this issue.

I have facilitated a comprehensive vision and planning process that involved input from faculty, staff, students and alumni. This work is continuing and will ultimately lead to the development of a new mission statement, along with updated strategic goals toward a five-year horizon.

I hope that this issue demonstrates the extraordinary progress being made and that it inspires you to share your time, talent and philanthropic support.

Dr. Elizabeth Orwin Dean School of Engineering and Computer Science