FROM THE DESK OF DEAN AMY S. FLEISCHER

The Challenge of Our Times

Unprecedented times, pivot, pandemic, unchartered territory, social distancing, shelterat-home, masks, ventilators, flatten the curve, quarantine, COVID-19.

These words were not a part of the daily vocabulary when we started the stories for this year’s Engineering Advantage.

Times have certainly changed.

In March, when we were just about to send this edition of Engineering Advantage to press, our campus was teeming with activity, as engineering faculty and students worked together to solve technical challenges — including many with important, real-world ramifications.

Now, as we continue our COVID-19 safeguards, I can no longer walk across campus and witness the Learn by Doing collaborations I have seen in the past. However, now connected to each other through the virtual world, I marvel at the resilience and the creativity of our students, faculty and staff more than ever. The widespread disruptions have affected our lives, but as engineers, we are continuing to brainstorm, collaborate and solve the world’s most complex problems as we Learn by Doing.

The photos throughout this edition are a reminder that things have changed. But they are also a reminder that our students, faculty and staff are doing amazing things, even during these unprecedented times — proving their preparedness and adaptability. As you look through the pages, you will find our special CENG & COVID-19 section that highlights some of the tremendous work our faculty, students and alumni are doing, and throughout the magazine, you will see updates related to COVID-19, virtual learning and collaboration.

I hope this edition, and the good news shared throughout the issue, will offer many reasons for you to be proud as an alumni or friend of Cal Poly’s College of Engineering.

Amy S. Fleischer Dean, College of Engineering

During the shelter-in-home order, Dean Fleischer enlisted the help of her daughter Katie Fleischer to capture the perfect working remote photo.

Join Dean Fleischer on social media: Instagram: dramyfleischer Twitter: @amyfleischer LinkedIn: Amy Fleischer

AERO students Alyssa Ralph, Lauren Fukaye and Alex Nikolaev check out the glow of splitting oxygen molecules in the Material Atmospheric Experimentation Chamber (MAX) in the Thermodynamics and Space Environments Lab.

EMPOWER THE FUTURE

As we adapt to offer remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, please help support the college’s discretionary fund, which is currently providing money for online coursework.

Please contact Amy Blosser Spikes, assistant dean of advancement, at spikes@calpoly.edu or 805-756-2163