More than 100 engineering alumni, faculty and University officials attended the December 7 holiday reception at the historic Hartford Club. The evening event afforded alumni the opportunity to chat with faculty about cutting-edge research and to network with fellow graduates from across the decades. In his welcoming remarks, Interim Dean Erling Smith invited attendees to do two things. First, he asked alumni to thank the professors for their dedication and rigorous teaching, explaining that “Having former students thank us, often years later, is the most gratifying part of being a professor.” Second, he asked attendees to bring a fellow alumnus to next year’s event so more alumni can get involved.

University Provost Peter Nicholls offered a vision of the University’s fundamental goals and mission and introduced Board of Trustees Professor Bahram Javidi, professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, who presented an overview of his 3D object recognition research.

The School of Engineering was well represented by Associate Deans John Bennett and Mehdi Anwar, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education Marty Wood, new Director of Engineering Development Joe Hanrahan, Department Heads and engineering faculty members, as well as Engineering Alumni Society President Lisa Bongiovi. The event was judged an overwhelming success, and alumni and faculty, alike, look forward to the opportunity to sharing another evening in 2007.