Message from the Department Chair: December 2017 Newsletter

Dec. 11, 2017
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Dear CHEE alumni and friends,

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to take account of what we’re thankful for, and express gratitude to the people who enrich our lives. Thank you for being part of the CHEE story, and for staying connected with us by reading the newsletter, submitting class notes, mentoring senior design and attending events. We value our alumni, faculty, staff, students, industry partners and friends more than I can express.

It was great to see a showing of CHEE alumni at the 54th Engineer’s breakfast, and I know several of you stopped by the College of Engineering tailgate tent during homecoming. There are some great photos from the tailgate party.

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Bob Arnold Retiring

Professor Bob Arnold is retiring after 31 years of service. Bob has been a professor at the UA since 1986, and his first appointment was in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Bob helped create and develop the environmental engineering graduate program, and his leadership and guidance were instrumental in the decision to merge with the chemical engineering programs to create the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering in 1992.

CHEE is one of only three combined chemical and environmental engineering programs in the United States.

Bob’s leadership helped create a strong and vibrant graduate program over many years, and with his support and encouragement, we’ve been able to launch a new bachelor’s program in environmental engineering. The foundational coursework for environmental engineering is closely aligned with chemical engineering, and the combined CHEE department has proven to be of great benefit to students. The first students will graduate this coming spring.

Bob is known around here for his easygoing and engaging personality, and for having a level head. More than that, he is known for his tireless efforts to mentor and support students and faculty, and inspire both to creatively solve the environmental problems we face.

His efforts were honored this year when he received the Southern Arizona 2017 Educator of the Year Award. Bob’s expertise is in oxidization of hazardous compounds, water chemistry, water reuse and wastewater treatment. He has been a valued collaborator with faculty on and off campus and across Arizona communities. Take a look at some of his work at the STAR School, a charter school just west of the Navajo Reservation near Leupp, Arizona.

We are inspired by Bob’s legacy, and we’re sad to see him go. He’s led the effort to build a co-operative learning program for CHEE undergraduates, and we’re hoping that when he’s not bicycling around Europe, he’ll stay involved and help us get the co-op off the ground.

Seeking Mentors for Senior Design

Thank you to those of you who mentored senior design last spring. It’s that time again, and mentoring is a great opportunity to get involved and share your experience with students. If you are interested, please contact Kim Ogden at ogden@email.arizona.edu.

Best wishes for the holiday season and beyond. I hope you are able to spend some quality time with family, friends and of course your CHEE pets.

Warm regards,

Anthony Muscat
Professor and Department Chair
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
The University of Arizona
muscat@email.arizona.edu

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