Message from the Chair - Spring 2024
Photo: Vicky Karanikola, assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering, works in the KORES Lab.
Dear alumni and friends,
I hope you and those close to you are doing well. As spring continues and we begin the final phase of the academic year, it’s my pleasure to reach out with the latest CHEE department updates.
UA Fiscal Rebalancing
Many of you are aware of the fiscal challenges we are working through at the UA. I want to reassure you that CHEE is in an excellent position to weather the storm without compromising our teaching, research and service missions -- and without losing any of the dedicated faculty and staff who make our department great. The combination of a few retirements and a sufficient rainy-day fund will ensure the fiscal health of our department as the larger UA system rebalances. We have set a goal of doubling the number of undergraduates in environmental engineering over the next two years to further stabilize the department’s financial outlook and create more opportunity for promising students.
I am grateful we have such a strong and cohesive team to ride this wave together and greatly appreciate the support and engagement of CHEE’s alumni and friends.
New Safety Lab to Launch Fall Semester
Thanks to your generous donations during CHEE’s crowdfunding campaign, we have ordered a bomb calorimeter – the basis for a new safety experiment for chemical engineering seniors. We expect the equipment to arrive within a few months, and the instructors intend to build the experiment during summer break.
Monica Titus, associate professor of practice, says she looks forward to updating the unit operations curriculum. “This invaluable safety learning opportunity will ensure our graduates are equipped with the hands-on practice and knowledge to tackle real-world engineering challenges,” she said.
Banner Year for Research
CHEE’s research expenditures exceeded $7 million in 2023 -- the highest amount in the department’s history -- including major grants to several of our faculty. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s biggest stories.
Ogden Leading $70M Project for Renewable Rubber Products
Karanikola Working on $2M Grant to Support Tribal Community Projects
Printz Leading DOE Early Career Research Program
Achilli Leads $4M Sustainable Water Use Consortium
Celebrating our Graduates at CHEE’s 66th Annual Convocation
Do you remember the excitement of your graduation? On Saturday, May 11, 19 graduate students and 65 undergrads will walk across the stage to be recognized for completing degrees in chemical engineering and environmental engineering. Students will gather with family, friends, faculty and staff to celebrate this meaningful time of endings and beginnings -- the culmination of years of hard work and the readiness for new jobs, graduate school and other adventures. We couldn’t be prouder of the graduating class of 2024!
I look forward to connecting this summer with more department news.
Warm regards,
Kimberly Ogden
Professor and Department Chair
Chemical & Environmental Engineering