Diversity and Outreach
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EECS commemorates Juneteenth with event celebrating excellence and diversity in tech
Over 200 community members came together for the department’s 5th annual Juneteenth celebration, featuring musical performances, presentations by students, talks by distinguished alumni, and local Black-owned food trucks.Family Fun Night celebrates the wonders of ECE research, community
The event featured interactive research stations, student team demos, and carnival attractions, including the chance to dunk a professor.EECS community comes together to commemorate Juneteenth
The department’s annual Juneteenth celebration featured remarks from community leaders and emphasized the importance of diversity in STEM.Olivia Lee awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for brain-machine interfaces that could improve control of robotic prostheses
Lee designs implantable and wearable electronics to help restore movement to those who have lost limbs or have been paralyzed.Johanna Mathieu awarded 2023 IEEE PES Wanda Reder Pioneer in Power Award
Mathieu is a national leader on research to reduce the environmental impact, cost, and inefficiency of electric power systems.Team working to reduce energy burdens in Detroit recognized with Michigan Difference Student Leadership Award
PhD students Joshua Brooks, Xavier Farrell, and Madeline Miller are part of an NSF Smart and Connected Communities project that partners with local Detroit organizations to reduce household energy insecurity.Aayush Sujit Rajankar awarded the Michigan Difference Student Leadership Quiet Influence Award
Rajankar has played a big role in ensuring that ECE functions effectively and efficiently through his work in the copy room, and his commitment to DEI has helped ensure that ECE’s PhD Visit Day was inclusive for all.Christopher Rutledge honored with the 2023 Willie Hobbs Moore Distinguished Alumni Lectureship
Rutledge shared his journey from growing up in rural East Texas to becoming a Distinguished Engineer at Verizon, one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world.Streamlining home assessments for energy justice
In a partnership with Ecoworks, Pecan Street, and Jefferson East, Prof. Johanna Mathieu is helping create a better process for Detroit homes to benefit from decarbonization, electrification, and renewable energy integration.The ethical implications of tech, and why it matters for engineers
Through the Ford School’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, ECE PhD student Trevor Odelberg is studying how engineers can take better responsibility for the way their research impacts society.Community-builder Leon Pryor takes Detroit’s FIRST Robotics program to new heights
Having excelled in careers at Microsoft, Amazon, and now Meta, the alum and renowned video game engineer co-founded The Motor City Alliance to make Detroit a powerhouse for FIRST Robotics teamsECE alum Dave Babicz pioneered the lab kits that became a staple for at-home engineering courses
The lab kits used in our Analog Circuits course during the pandemic were created by Babicz, Director of Engineering at Analog Devices Inc., and fellow colleagues back in 2015 for the purpose of improving equity in engineering education.High School students discover “The Joy of Coding” in new ECE online course
In a new online course designed to improve access to engineering education for all, students learn how coding powers apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Siri.African research engagement program expands, resumes in-person format
Founded in 2019, the African Undergraduate Research Adventure Program is growing to impact the lives of more young engineers.Katie Bouman talks legacy of the black hole imaging project and favorite U-M memories
Before Bouman became the face of the project that brought us the first ever image of a black hole, she was wowing ECE professors with design projects and hoarding Domino’s pizza with her HKN family.Kathryn Beeman named Irma M. Wyman Scholar for her efforts supporting women in STEM
Beeman, an Electrical Engineering undergrad, serves as the External Vice President for the Society for Women Engineers at U-M.U-M Society of Women Engineers honored with top awards at national conference
ECE leaders and members in SWE share their favorite parts of the conference, including taking home three awards for the U-M chapter.Dr. Donnell Walton honored with the 2021 ECE Willie Hobbs Moore Distinguished Lectureship
Walton spoke about his career path and his current role as the director of the Corning Technology Center Silicon Valley.New collaborative project for advancing energy justice in Detroit
In partnership with Detroit-based community organizations, Prof. Johanna Mathieu co-leads a team of researchers working to reduce disparities in household energy insecurity for low and moderate income households.Three members of ECE will represent U-M at the 2021 Rising Stars in EECS Workshop
PhD students Sijia Geng, Bahareh Hadidian, and Nasimeh Heydaribeni will participate in the intensive workshop that brings together outstanding women and gender minorities interested in pursuing academic careers in EECS.Herbert Winful receives University Diversity and Social Transformation Professorship
Winful is recognized for promoting the university’s goals around diversity, equity and inclusion.
Educating a quantum workforce with QuSTEAM while opening doors to a broad and diverse range of students
Michigan is part of a multi-institution effort to create new flexible courses for undergraduate students interested in being part of the second quantum revolutionECE’s Culture Club brings the (virtual) community together
Each event is led by an ECE student, staff, or faculty member and showcases the different traditions, languages, food, crafts, history, etc., of their home country or region.Herbert Winful awarded the 2021 Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award
Winful is recognized for his decades of outstanding leadership and commitment to developing a culturally and ethnically diverse University of Michigan community.
Twelve students inducted into the 2021 Excellence in ECE Honor Roll
This Honor Roll was created to recognize students who go above and beyond for our community by volunteering outside of academic, professional, and student club commitmentsADHD in engineering: Improving education for neurodiverse college STEM students
The researchers look to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce.
New “Women in ECE” organization provides professional development and community
WECE is a student-run, diversity-focused organization dedicated to the personal and professional growth of those committed to innovation and excellence in electrical and computer engineering fields.
Jule Schatz receives WISE Aspire, Advance, Achieve Mentoring Award
Jule is active in teaching and outreach activities to help broaden participation in the field of computer science and engineering.
New online education program brings high-demand topics in technology to the world
Continuum offers courses in machine learning, linear algebra, and coding for everyone from high schoolers to engineers already established in their careers.
Inclusive teaching sessions underway at CSE
Over 200 student instructors and teaching assistants who teach classes in the computer science and computer engineering curricula are being trained in inclusive teaching.
Prof. Tara Javidi awarded ECE’s Distinguished Educator Award for her excellence in information and system theory education
Javidi is a professor of ECE at the University of California, San Diego, where she specializes in Communication & Information Processing Systems and Networks, and works to empower engineering students of all backgrounds.
‘Solving for equity’: A Michigan Robotics course flips the script on engineering ed
ASEE Prism magazine explores how linear algebra could level the playing field.
ECE students, faculty recognized with 2021 MLK Spirit Awards
The award celebrates those who have gone above and beyond to service and support social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
U-M, community partners tackle energy insecurity in three Detroit neighborhoods
Johanna Mathieu is one of four principal investigators on a project to improve home energy efficiency and to lower monthly utility bills.
Three members of ECE will represent U-M at the 2020 Rising Stars in EECS Workshop
PhD students Behnoush Rostami, Zhanni Wu, and Xueru Zhang will participate in the intensive workshop that brings together outstanding women interested in pursuing academic careers in EECS.
The Renaissance of the American City
Improving the lives of others has remained a consistent, fundamental value across the entirety of Dr. Wardell’s career.
EECS Juneteenth celebration features song, readings, and a proposal for change
In observance of the holiday that marks the end of chattel slavery, faculty, students, and alumni performed music, shared personal stories, and presented a proposal to the EECS chairs for initiatives to enhance diversity and equity and realize systemic equality in the department.
Technology that serves all: a single step could pave the way
A Q&A with Chad Jenkins.
ECE Stands with Black Lives Matter
Members of our community share their stories, their fears, and their hopes for a more inclusive, just future.
EECS Stands Against Racism
This message was sent to the entire EECS community on Tuesday, June 2 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Herbert Winful named Joseph E. and Anne P. Rowe Professor of Electrical Engineering
Winful has made fundamental contributions to nonlinear optics and the physics of tunneling, while also championing an inclusive department.
Alumna Prof. Adrienne Stiff-Roberts honored with the Willie Hobbs Moore Distinguished Lectureship
The Duke University Professor delivered a virtual talk on enabling hybrid thin films for optoelectronics and shared her memories of Michigan.
Optics Society wins Elaine Harden Award from College of Engineering
From outreach programs for local kids to events that bring the U-M Engineering community together, the Optics Society exemplifies leadership and service.
Tiana Brandon: Building a Bridge to Success for Students in CS
Tiana loves CS and considers herself a supporter of CSE. She shares her experiences, struggles, and thoughts as a first-generation student.
ECE students, staff, honored with MLK Spirit Awards
For “exemplifying the leadership and vision of Dr. King,” three members of ECE were honored as part of U-M’s annual MLK symposium.
Team receives award for diversity leadership
Co-chaired by Dr. David Chesney, the team was formed to address how disabled students experience campus.
Creating a place where kids of all abilities can play together
Prof. Hun-Seok Kim helped design iGYM, an augmented reality system that allows disabled and able-bodied people to play physical games together.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers makes connections, builds relationships at annual convention
At the largest convention for Hispanic STEM students and professionals, U-M students attended career panels and workshops while networking with a variety of big-name companies.
Institution partnerships offer best of both worlds
ECE helped host faculty from Morehouse College and Prairie View A&M University to explore cross-collaboration opportunities, which allow students and faculty to experience the cultures of both Historically Black Colleges & Universities and U-M.
ECE honors Spirit Day 2019
Faculty, students, and staff came together in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community for the world-wide anti-bullying campaign.
Two members of ECE will represent U-M at the 2019 Rising Stars in EECS Workshop
The intensive workshop brings together outstanding women who are graduate students or postdocs interested in pursuing academic careers in electrical engineering and computer science.
ECE hosts first Grad School Workshop to showcase benefits of an advanced degree
The workshop attracted students from all over the country and demystified the ECE graduate school experience.
Electrify goes to Detroit
Electrify hosted its first Detroit Tech Camp at the Michigan Engineering Zone this summer to give Detroit-area students greater access to engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Visiting students celebrate experiences, projects
Ten students from Ethiopia have completed a new summer-long exchange program in engineering at the University of Michigan.
Building community through clean energy
From Long Beach, CA, to a Nepalese national park and world heritage site, undergrads Ashley Gee and Camille Burke came away with unforgettable experiences and a greater appreciation for how engineering can change the world for the better.
Encouraging careers in research
Organizers hoped to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully apply to a graduate program.
Teaching science with sound waves
The classes got to learn about cybersecurity, the physics of sound waves, and how to beam music a long distance like a flashlight using ultrasound.
Bertacco recognized for efforts to bolster diversity
Bertacco is a key leader in efforts to improve the representation of women in computer science and develop more extensive cross-cultural connections within the department.
Training student instructors for inclusive teaching in intro CSE courses
The initiative has tackled courses that make up the core curriculum for first- and second-year CS and CE majors.
Student receives GSI Award for innovative work as educator, promoting diversity
Burdick has done extensive work as an instructor in EECS courses and promoter of diversity in the department.
Black Engineers convention comes to Detroit and ECE is there to welcome the record-breaking 14,000 attendees
At this year’s convention for the National Society of Black Engineers, U-M professors, students, and alums came together with the other attendees to share experiences, offer career advice, and explore how to improve society.
Women Engineers lift up next-generation
The Society of Women Engineers took students to the Women Engineers conference, where engineers from diverse backgrounds shared their stories to inspire and encourage young engineers to break barriers and advance the field.
ECE Community takes a stand against bullying
Spirit Day activities look to make ECE and U-M a more compassionate, inclusive place.
Alumna Rhonda Franklin honored for her accomplishments with the Willie Hobbs Moore Award
From blowing up microwaves to inspiring a new generation of microwave engineers, Professor Franklin shares her research, insights, and thoughts on the future of women in engineering.
Michigan CS makes waves at Tapia 2018
Eight students from CSE traveled to the conference this year, marking a new highpoint in attendance.
ECE Family Fun Night draws over 500 attendees
Attendees explored engineering teams, labs, and projects with demonstrations and games.
Google award to introduce women to computer science research
Mihalcea and Wendlandt believe a key strategy to increasing the number of women in computing research is to introduce them to the research process early on.
STEM Education: A taste of research for K-12 teachers
The REACT workshop pairs U-M researchers with K-12 science educators to introduce primary school teachers to new laboratory science and classroom-friendly activities.
Installing an alternative on spring break
Students put up solar power systems and learned the local issues of a Native American reservation while on spring break.
Inaugural ECE Willie Hobbs Moore Alumni Lecture: Dr. Isaac R. Porche III
Porche discussed the changing definition of war and how information is playing a greater role than ever.
The art of cyber war with Isaac Porche
Porche shares the global state of cyber warfare, and how his time at Michigan led him to the front lines.
Ada Lovelace opera and lightning talks highlight women’s contributions to computing
The event featured eight TED-style computer science talks by female faculty and an opera performance.
CS kickStart wants first-year women to succeed in computer science
CS KickStart is a free week long summer program for incoming first-year students that aims to improve the enrollment and persistence of women in U-M’s computer science program.
High School Students Experience High Tech and Michigan’s Electrify Camps
A select group of high school students spent a week in classes and labs as they participated in the Electrify Tech Camps to learn just a few things that go on in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The Aptitude Academy: student’s instructional YouTube channel tops 6 million views
Dsouza’s lessons have gone viral, his channel now has over 109,000 subscribers who tune in for Dsouza’s lessons and life updates.
Peter and Evelyn Fuss endow ECE chair
Believing in the power of creativity and quick action, the Fusses wanted to give the department maximum flexibility to respond to new initiatives and special needs wherever and whenever they arose. They are especially interested in expanding student diversity.
Tony England receives Susan B. Anthony Campus Award
Dean England of U-M Dearborn has been particularly good in helping women faculty and students achieve success.
Celebrating the Persian new year at ECE’s Nowruz event
A celebration with traditional food, calligraphy, and musical performances.
For Black History Month, CSE Spotlights Faculty and Alumni in Academia
In this article, we profile three CSE faculty and three of our alumni.A Q&A with Rhonda Franklin – connecting diverse students
Franklin believes the best research results are achieved from a diversity of backgrounds, something she learned as a graduate student at Michigan and fosters in her own research group at Minnesota.
Mingyan Liu receives CoE Monroe-Brown Foundation Service Excellence Award
Prof. Liu helped implement a diversity incentive program that led to a record number of newly-admitted underrepresented PhD students in 2016 while overseeing the merger of two graduate programs.
ECE team receives Distinguished Diversity Leaders Team Award
This team has spent countless hours planning and executing outreach activities to make our highly diverse and international student body feel welcome, and to expand its diversity in key areas.
Inspiring a new generation of women engineers in Liberia
The students traveled from the University of Liberia and St. Clements University College as representatives of their own SWE chapter, Liberia SWE (L-SWE).
Liz Dreyer earns an outstanding Collegiate Member Award for years of SWE leadership
Liz Dreyer works with Prof. Steve Rand to understand how a new interaction between light and matter can generate electricity.
Having fun with ECE
The event highlighted the projects and work of several student teams and labs, giving kids and adults alike a chance to see ECE’s ingenuity in action.
CS KickStart gives incoming freshmen an introduction to computer science
The event took place August 28th to September 2nd on North Campus, and included programming labs, CS lab tours, field trips to local tech companies, and social events to get the participants acclimated to U-M and computer science.
Dragomir Radev coaches US linguists in competition at 2016 International Linguistics Olympiad
The IOL has been held annually since 2003, and each year teams from around the world compete to solve the world’s toughest puzzles in language and linguistics.
Summer Bootcamp prepares undergraduates for work with big data
The Big Data Summer Bootcamp is a six-week interdisciplinary training and research program at the University of Michigan.
CSE kicks off another summer of MiBytes Computer Camps
MiBytes was created to provide high school students with a hands-on introduction to computer science.
CSE sponsors TechTwilight to support young people in STEM
TechTwilight provides companies and student groups with the opportunity to celebrate and share their innovations in a festive environment of discovery.
Students make connections at NSBE National Convention
The convention hosted more than 100 major companies, and offered students career workshops on interviewing, networking, and general industry know-how.
Girls Encoded motivates students to study CS
The all-day event consisted of hands-on activities, a panel discussion, and lab tours to show students the different aspects of CS.
Prof. Leo McAfee: Impacting Diversity - Changing Lives
History was made January 1971 when newly-minted PhD graduate Leo McAfee was hired as an assistant professor in the College of Engineering.Willie Hobbs Moore (1934–1994): A First in EE and Physics
The first Black woman at Michigan to earn a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering ('58 and '61), and first in the country to earn a PhD in Physics (1972)Volunteers bring M-HEAL solutions to Peru
Each day the students set up a mobile clinic with a doctor from a partner organization, reaching as many 600 community members while in Cusco.
CSE at South by Southwest
Students highlighted a number of projects from CSE in the U-M booth at the show.
ArborHacks formed to increase access to and participation in computer science
The group will hold a once-a-year hackathon for local high school students in addition to other events.
Better gender balance goal of latest MHacks hackathon
MHacks: Refactor, v7 of the nationally-renowned U-M hackathon, drew many more women, underrepresented students and first-timers.
MHacks: Refactor to focus on gender inclusivity and hacker empowerment
This semester the creators are focusing less on numbers and more on the experience.
Valeria Bertacco receives U-M Sarah Goddard Power Award
The award recognizes unwavering commitment to the betterment of women, and clear record of success and significant achievement in research and scholarship, distinguished leadership, and mentoring women.
Three Michigan universities receive Pacesetters Awards to attract more women to computer science
Programs will be developed under the grant to foster inclusiveness and to provide support.
A journey from the Ibn Sina School to Graduate School at U-M
The School helps to prepare undergraduate students in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for successful careers in computer science research.
ECE celebrates Diwali
Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.
Garlin Gilchrist II: Innovation for the People
Garlin Gilchrist II set out on a lifelong mission to bring engineering solutions to communities in need.
Engineering a better future for Ethiopia
Prof. Hofmann’s students felt they gained a lot from the course. Several of them will likely go on to teach control courses in coming semesters.
Electrify Tech Camps offer high schoolers an electrifying summer
In ECE’s first-ever Electrify Summer Tech Camps, students gathered for three five-day sessions to learn the basics of electrical and computer engineering.
Dragomir Radev Coaches US Linguistics Team to Multiple Wins at IOL
The International Linguistics Olympiad been held annually since 2003, and Prof. Radev has coached teams each year.
EECS students make career connections at NSBE conference
55 U-M engineers attended the convention, themed “Reimagining Your Future,” and developed vital connections in their field.
Over 140 Students attend 2015 MiBytes Computer Camps
High school students were able to learn about mobile app development, hacking and building, and game design and development.
Michigan Light Project: Shining a light on optics
The MLP seeks to provide outreach and education about the world of optics in general, and the optics industry in Michigan specifically.
Miss Wayne County Inspires Young Girls to Pursue Computer Science
She hopes that by exposing young girls to coding through her outreach efforts, and by being a role model, she will provide inspiration and give them confidence to pursue computer science.
Introducing the Ensemble of CSE Ladies
Members will hold get-togethers, study sessions, talks, and workshops. They will also be piloting a new mentoring program.
ECE alumna Ruba Borno to join Cisco’s new executive team
The young executive has an extensive history in both the business and tech worlds.
Alyssa Kody earns NSF Fellowship for research in energy harvesting and wireless sensing
The small-scale embedded wireless systems Alyssa works with are used in a variety of applications spanning many fields; from structural to ocean engineering.
Cameron Polack and BLUElab India – engineering winners
Cameron is intent on using her major to benefit others as directly as possible.
Lynn Conway Receives 2015 IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Medal
The James Clerk Maxwell Medal is one of the highest awards presented by IEEE.SWE Hosts Girls Night Out to Teach Young Girls about Engineering
The event was designed to give middle school girls a glimpse of what the world of engineering, including computer science, is all about.
Over 100 High School Girls Explore Computer Science at Girls Encoded
The attendees were able to learn from hands-on activities, guest speakers, panel discussions, and projects
Students host event inspired by study abroad experience
Students worked on a GIEU program in Amritsar, India, where they participated in langar events at the Golden Temple.
Dragomir Radev coaches high school linguists in competition at International Linguistics Olympiad
The 12th International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) was held in Beijing, China from July 21 through 25th, 2014.
Alumni explore lots of EECS-related engineering with their kids
Three hundred and eighty alumni and children stretched across North Campus, dabbling in drones and bones, rockets and radioactives.
EECS students attend National NSBE Convention – Come back psyched
The Convention offers leadership development, internship opportunities, networking activities, and professional workshops.
gEECS hosts high school students at {Girls Code}
Called {Girls Code}, the workshop taught the girls the basics of Arduino—open-source electronics prototyping platform.
SWE Hosts G.R.E.A.T. Day for Girls
G.R.E.A.T. Day is designed to open up young girls’ minds to the possibility of engineering as a career path.
Dragomir Radev Coaches High School Linguists to Multiple Wins in International Competition
The 10th International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia from July 29th to August 4th, 2012.
Graduating Students Make their Marks Locally, Globally: A Michigan engineer pays it forward
“Chris has always been interested in helping others discover their passions and dreams.”
Fikadu Dagefu receives 2011 Lincoln Lab Fellowship
The applications Dagefu’s research include wireless channel characterization, radar through-wall imaging, and distributed sensor networks.
Xueyang Duan receives first prize for research in soil moisture sensing
Duan’s research has important applications in global climate change studies and weather forecasting.
Iverson Bell awarded NSF Fellowship for Research in Space Propulsion
Bell is investigating how to use an electrodynamic, propellantless propulsion concept to push against the Earth’s magnetic field in order to maneuver satellites and counteract drag.
Tanya Das earns Poetry Prize
Tanya said she believes engineers have a unique perspective on the world because of their training, making it natural to draw analogies between humans and science.
Engineers rebuilding Liberian universities and infrastructure
Through visiting professorships, summer programs and more, the U-M community will contribute to the revitalization of the nation.
Student team tests remote stethoscope in Guatemala on spring break
Sonal Verma receives Microsoft Scholarship
Verma’s work aims to marry low-power sensing with the mobile phone’s computation, communications, and display technologies.
Luis Gomez receives 2009 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to investigate a new treatment for neurological disorders
Gomez is investigating a new technique that is receiving widespread attention for treating depression, Alzheimer’s, and other brain conditions.