▶ UCSD Welcomes Albert P. Pisano as Dean of Jacobs School of Engineering

On Sept. 1, UCSD welcomed Albert P. Pisano, a noted mechanical engineer, educator, entrepreneur and administrator as the new dean of Jacobs School of Engineering.

Pisano previously served 30 years at UC Berkeley as professor of mechanical systems and director of the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center.

He received the school’s highest honor, the Berkeley Citation, for his contributions to science and technology.

During his time at UCSD, Pisano hopes to expand undergraduate programs that give students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the engineering field.

“I’m working with everybody — the community, the companies, the faculty and the students — to really take this up a notch and really make an engineering degree from the UCSD Jacobs School not only a degree of deep engineering fundamentals but also of strong engineering application,” Pisano said in an interview with Jacobs School of Engineering.

▶ UCSD hosts National Engineering Forum

On Oct. 10, UCSD partnered with the National Engineering Forum to hold collaborative discussions where engineers could address persistent problems in their field.

The forum brought together industry, government, media and academic leaders to San Diego to evaluate how the United States’ engineering programs compete with those of other nations.

“UC San Diego is working to ensure our next-generation leaders have the knowledge, skills and visionary leadership to tackle complex global challenges and increase our competitiveness on the world stage,” UCSD Chancellor, Pradeep Khosla said.

In the upcoming months the NEF will continue to meet in top schools around the nation to discuss the solutions to problems that modern engineers face.

▶ Chancellor Khosla reassures students of the affordability of college

Last week, UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla visited Clairemont and Mission Bay high schools in an effort to reassure students of the affordability of college.

His visit was part of the second annual “Achieve UC” event, a program that encourages students from lower income backgrounds to attend UC schools. During his speech Khosla told students that UCSD provides about $350 million to those who are in need of financial assistance.

Khosla hopes to encourage more students to attend college throughout the year by expanding the Chancellor’s Associates Scholar Program, a program that provides needy students with up to $40,000 over four years.

“We should be sending every qualified kid to college, period, regardless of which family they come from,” Khosla told U-T San Diego on Oct. 17.

▶ William Ogdon, founding chair of the music department dies at the age of 92

Composer William Ogdon, the founding chair of UCSD’s department of music died at the age of 92 on Oct. 6. Ogdon often encouraged students to deviate from earlier 20th century music and explore their own ideas.

Under his direction, the department received an international reputation for being a center for experimental music.

His legacy continues to thrive as former students distinguish themselves in their educational and compositional careers.

He is survived by his wife Beverly, daughters Bethany and Erica and son Benjamin. In honor of professor Ogdon’s memory, UCSD will hold a memorial concert on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. at the Conrad Prebys Music Center.