Dear Lyle School of Engineering Family,
I am thrilled and honored to welcome you to the start of a new semester as the Mary and Richard Templeton Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering. Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of engaging with our remarkable faculty, dedicated staff, and talented students, and I am truly inspired by the boundless potential that resides within our community.
As we embark on this journey together, I would like to take a moment to share some of the exciting initiatives that are already underway and those that we are poised to embrace in the coming months.
- Cultivating Innovation in Research and Transformative Industry Partnerships: We are committed to fostering a culture of innovation that transcends the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Company-backed research fuels progress and connects exceptional students with industry insights. In line with this commitment, we are dedicated to establishing a new center focused on Digital and Human-Augmented Manufacturing. This center, previously known as the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing, will further enhance our capacity to drive innovation and empower our students to shape the future of engineering.
- Empowering Student Leadership and Enriching Learning Environments: At SMU Lyle, we are committed to ensuring that every student emerges as a confident leader. Our graduates are renowned for seamlessly engaging with customers and taking charge of teams from the onset of their careers. Through personalized leadership assessments, dedicated one-on-one mentorship, and immersive entrepreneurial ventures, we are working hard to offer each student a unique opportunity to cultivate essential leadership aptitudes.
- Leading Digital Innovation in Education and Research: SMU Lyle is poised to pioneer digital transformation in engineering education. Our innovative approach using LyleAnywhereTM platform, our overarching brand name for SMU Lyle graduate learning modalities, offers students the flexibility to learn in-person or remotely, in real-time or asynchronously, catering to diverse learning styles and circumstances. Beyond the classroom, our students will be able to engage in impactful research projects, often in collaboration with industry, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies.
- New Leadership Team in Place: I am proud to introduce our new leadership team, a diverse group of individuals who bring a wealth of expertise and innovation to our school. Together, we are dedicated to leading SMU Lyle to new heights of excellence. For more information, see my email announcement from earlier this summer.
- Aggressive Faculty Hiring Plan: To realize our ambitious goals, we’re launching an aggressive faculty hiring plan and embracing a collaboration-centered, thematic approach over the next two to three years. Our focus will be on sustainable energy, AI-driven engineering, and quantum science. Opportunities for tenured roles, including esteemed endowed chairs and professorships, are open at Associate and Full Professor levels. Ideal candidates will lead globally recognized, funded research programs that align with our ongoing efforts. This pivotal effort will establish centers of excellence through collaboration. Tenure appointments will thoughtfully match candidates to Lyle’s departments or broader SMU areas. For more information, see the email I sent earlier this summer.
- Executing the Bold Vision of Lyle Digital Innovation Initiative: Our proposed Lyle Digital Innovation Initiative aims to attract esteemed faculty, postdocs, and promising PhD students. This dynamic synergy taps AI and human-augmented systems for a smarter future. With digital transformation and innovation, we’re readying Lyle and DFW’s tech landscape for the future.
As we move forward, I am eager to collaborate with each and every one of you to shape the future of SMU Lyle School of Engineering. Together, we will build upon our legacy of excellence, embracing change and innovation to create a brighter future for our students, our community, and the world at large.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Your dedication and passion are what make SMU Lyle truly exceptional. I am excited to see where our collective efforts will take us.
Warm regards,
Nader Jalili, Ph.D. ASME Fellow
Mary and Richard Templeton Dean
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
