Collaborative innovation is pervasive in the OSU College of Engineering. Student teams thrive in our culture, and they often bring home trophies. Creative energy crosses disciplines as the greatest minds in the nation unite to take on some of society’s biggest challenges: today we are poised for tremendous impact on multiple aspects of energy independence and engineered sustainability.
Collaborative innovation happens easily here, but not without the influence of leadership. Leadership provided when a special person comes along with an idea and a vision, a person who just seems to stand out above the rest. Someone who sees what could be and devotes the energy, the hope, the enthusiasm and the leadership it takes to create a new and better future. Martin Kelley was such a person.
As much as we believe in the power of collaborative innovation to develop great engineers and solve big problems, sometimes we also need to stop and recognize the leaders who can make such a profound difference in our colleges our universities and our nation. In this report, you’ll read more about Martin and the impact his vision and leadership have had on the College of Engineering. Martin passed away last summer, but he will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Martin’s historic gift of $20 million in 2000 was a tipping point in the history of our college. It wasn’t just the money. It was his vision of what could be and his energy in helping to bring others on board, to instill the belief that we really will deliver the impact of one of the nation’s top engineering programs. That donation has already helped to stimulate another $100 million in private gifts and led to many amazing results.
Our faculty has created significant research programs, including the National Tsunami Wave Basin, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute and the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center. They’ve launched 11 new companies based on their research results, and those companies have already attracted another $85 million in private investments.
College of Engineering research on aging bridge structures helped save Oregonians $500 million in bridge repair work — and what we’ve learned will aid crumbling infrastructures all over the nation. The total renovation of Apperson Hall — soon to become Kearney Hall — is nearing completion. The number of top high school graduates entering the college has nearly tripled since Martin’s gift. Our students are winning national design competitions, such as the first-place entry in the 2008 Mars Rover event. The drive is gaining speed.
As you read this report, you’ll find many examples of advanced engineering research at OSU. Our progress and building momentum are a tribute to a great engineer and a man with vision. A man who, like many of us, was proud to call himself an alumnus of the OSU College of Engineering.
With best wishes,
Ron Adams, Dean of Engineering |
