Interim chair appointed in ECE department

Gonzalo Arce has been appointed interim chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), replacing Neal Gallagher, who has resigned, effective July 30, to become dean of engineering at Colorado State University.

According to Andras Szeri, interim dean of the College of Engineering, "Prof. Arce, who joined the University of Delaware faculty in 1982, has served as associate chairperson for the department over the last two years, so that I anticipate a very smooth transition of leadership. I look forward to working with him in his new position as interim chairperson."

A national search will be conducted to identify a new chairperson for the department. Chin-Pao Huang, civil and environmental engineering, will chair the search committee, which includes Kenneth E. Barner, Guang R. Gao and James Kolodzey, all electrical and computer engineering, and Abraham M. Lenhoff, chemical engineering.

Gallagher came to UD in July 1994 to chair what was then the Department of Electrical Engineering. Under his leadership, the department has recorded many significant accomplishments. In 1996, the department's name was changed to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), reflecting the implementation of a new

undergraduate degree program in computer engineering. This new degree option, together with revisions to the existing baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering, attracted increasing numbers of students.

During Gallagher's tenure, the department has grown from 14 to 19 faculty. ECE faculty have received CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation and one received a PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers). The Office of Naval Research presented three of its Young Investigator Program awards to ECE faculty. In addition, the state of Delaware awarded an Advanced Technology Center grant, creating the Center for Nanomachined Surfaces within the department. Meanwhile, increased faculty size and level of research resulted in additional research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students and more than a tripling of research expenditures over the past five years.

Arce currently is a professor and associate chair in ECE. His research and interests include robust and nonlinear signal processing; digital image and video signal processing; robust methods in communications; tomographic imaging algorithms; and tactile imaging.

He earned his doctorate in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1982.

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