Swanson School of Engineering explained

Swanson School of Engineering
Head Label:	Dean
Head:	Sanjeev Shroff (interim)
Country:	US
Campus:	Oakland
Undergrad:	2,764^[1]
Postgrad:	834^[2]
Faculty:	216 (tenure and non-tenure)^[3]
Free Label:	Endowment
Free:	$197.2 million (2016)^[4]

The Swanson School of Engineering is the engineering school of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846, the Swanson School of Engineering is the second or third oldest in the United States.^[5]

History

The Swanson School of Engineering evolved out of the Western University of Pennsylvania, the former name of the University of Pittsburgh, offering specialized engineering subjects to students, although they were still required complete their classical requirements. The first graduates in these engineering subjects were Isaac Morley and J. B. Stilly in 1846.^[6] Separate degree programs in mechanical and civil engineering were announced in 1868, and four year degrees resulting in separate engineering degrees were first implemented in 1870.^[7] The school was the university's response to the years surrounding the Civil War that transformed Pittsburgh's industrial base from regional to international.

Degrees in civil engineering and mechanical engineering were offered beginning in 1868. Mining engineering was added in 1869 and Electrical Engineering in 1890. In 1909, the metallurgical engineering department was established, followed by the chemical engineering department and the world's first petroleum engineering department in 1910, with its first degree conferred in 1915.^[8] The undergraduate cooperative education program was also initiated that year. The industrial engineering department was established in 1921 and the safety engineering program in 1930.^[9] The bioengineering department was added in 1998.^[10]

In 2007 the school was renamed to the Swanson School of Engineering after John A. Swanson, founder of the computer software firm ANSYS, donated $41.3 million to the school.^[11]

Academics

The Swanson School of Engineering offers undergraduate, graduate degrees, and doctorates in 6 academic departments:

• Bioengineering
• Chemical and petroleum engineering
• Civil and environmental engineering
• Electrical and computer engineering
• Industrial engineering
• Mechanical engineering and materials science

Academic programs offered by the school include bioengineering, chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, civil engineering, mining engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, engineering science, industrial engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineering.

Research centers housed in the school include:

• The Center for Energy
• The Center for Research Computing
• The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
• The Petersen Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering
• The Lubrizol Innovation Laboratory (a partnership of the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department and Lubrizol)^[12]

Center for Energy

The University of Pittsburgh Center for Energy is a research center housed in the Swanson School of Engineering that is dedicated to improving energy technology development and energy sustainability.^[13] Comprising more than 70 faculty members and 200 students and postdocs, the center was scheduled to be housed on a floor of Benedum Hall undergoing a $15 million renovation.^[14] The center was created in 2008 to bring together energy innovators across a range of engineering and academic disciplines. It also sought to develop stronger collaborations with energy industry partners in the Western Pennsylvania.^[15] The center's faculty focus on five key areas of research that include energy delivery and reliability, carbon management and utilization, high-temperature and other advanced materials, energy efficiency, and unconventional gas resources.^[16]

Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

In 2003, through funding from Jack Mascaro, the Heinz Endowments, and the George Bevier Estate, the Swanson School of Engineering established the Mascaro Sustainability Initiative, resulting in the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI).^[17]

Deans

Ten individuals have served in the position of the Dean of the School of Engineering over its history.

Deans of the Swanson School of Engineering^[18] Years Dean 1882–1908 Daniel Carhart 1910–1927 Frederick L. Bishop 1927–1950 Elmer A. Holbrook 1951–1963 G. Raymond Fitterer 1965–1973 Harold E. Hoelscher 1973–1985 Max L. Williams 1986–1993 Charles A. Sorber 1994–1996 H.K. Chang 1996–2018 Gerald D. Holder 2018–2022 James R. Martin II 2022–2024 Sanjeev Shroff (interim) 2024– Michele V. Manuel^[19]

Current Department Chairs

• Bioengineering - Mark Redfern (interim) ^[20]
• Chemical and Petroleum - Steven R. Little^[21]
• Civil and Environmental - Radisav Vidic^[22]
• Electrical and Computer - Alan D. George^[23]
• Industrial - Lisa Maillart (interim)^[24]
• Mechanical and Materials Science - Brian Gleeson^[25]

Current Associate Deans^[26]

• Academic Affairs - Mary Besterfield-Sacre
• Faculty Excellence - Anne Robertson
• Graduate Education - Robert Parker
• International Initiatives - Minking Chyu^[27]
• Research - David Vorp
• Strategic Initiatives - Heng Ban

Notable alumni and faculty

• Wanda Austin, PhD (MSCE ′77, MS Math ′77) – retired president and CEO, The Aerospace Corporation^[28] and interim president of University of Southern California^[29]
• Anna Balazs (faculty) - Distinguished Professor and John A. Swanson Chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Donna Blackmond, PhD (BSCHE '80, MSCHE '81) – professor of chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute and member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Erik Buell (BSMechE '79) - founder, former chairman and Chief Technical Officer of the Buell Motorcycle Company and founder of Erik Buell Racing
• John Choma (BAS ′63 BSEE ′64, MSEE ′65, PhD ′69) – professor and chair of electrical engineering-Electrophysics at the University of Southern California^{[30] [31]}
• Bob Colwell (BSEE ′77) – electrical engineer who was the chief architect on the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, and Pentium 4 microprocessors
• William Hunter Dammond (BSCE 1893) - first African-American graduate of the university and inventor of railroad safety systems^[32]
• Reginald Fessenden (faculty) – inventor and sonar pioneer who developed insulation for electrical wires, built first wireless telephone, and transmitted the first audio radio broadcast
• Joseph A. Hardy III (1948) – Founder and CEO of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.^{[33] [34]}
• Michael Lovell (BSME ′89, MSME ′91, PhD ′94) – president of Marquette University
• Jay Nunamaker, PhD (BSME ′60, MSIE ′66) – Regents and Soldwedel Professor of MIS, Computer Science and Communications, University of Arizona
• John A. Swanson (PhD ′66) – founder of the computer software firm ANSYS, Inc., member of the National Academy of Engineering, and recipient of the John Fritz Medal
• Bryan Salesky (BSCoE '02) - founder and CEO of Argo AI
• Savio L-Y Woo (faculty) - Distinguished University Professor and recipient of the 1998 Olympic gold medal for Sports Science^[35]

See also

• Department of Industrial Engineering's Manufacturing Assistance Center

Further reading

Book: George Raymond . Fitterer . Tim . Palucka . A history of the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering 1846-2004 . 2004 . Cathedral Publishing . Pittsburgh, PA . 1-887969-13-6.

External links

• Homepage of the Swanson School of Engineering
• Center for Energy
• Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

Notes and References

1. Web site: University Fact Book: Student Information . Office of Institutional Research . University of Pittsburgh . 8 August 2022.
2. Web site: University Fact Book: Student Information . Office of Institutional Research . University of Pittsburgh . 8 August 2022.
3. Web site: University Fact Book: Faculty and Staff Information . Office of Institutional Research . University of Pittsburgh . 8 August 2022.
4. Web site: Swanson School of Engineering 2016 statistical summary by PITT | SWANSON School of Engineering . 274 . issuu . February 14, 2017 . June 24, 2017.
5. Book: Alberts, Robert C. . Pitt :the story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1987 . University of Pittsburgh Press . Pittsburgh, PA . 1986 . 403 . 0-8229-1150-7 . August 12, 2010.
6. Book: Starrett, Agnes Lynch . Through One Hundred and Fifty Years: The University of Pittsburgh . Schools of Engineering and Mines . 309 . 1937 . University of Pittsburgh Press . Pittsburgh, PA . October 13, 2010.
7. Book: Starrett, Agnes Lynch . Through One Hundred and Fifty Years: The University of Pittsburgh . Schools of Engineering and Mines . 310–311 . 1937 . University of Pittsburgh Press . Pittsburgh, PA . October 13, 2010.
8. Web site: Petroleum Engineering. Britannica. February 3, 2012.
9. News: 71 TO STUDY SAFETY. June 24, 2017. news.google.com. The Pittsburgh Press. October 19, 1930. 11.
10. Web site: SSOE - History. Pitt Swanson Engineering.
11. News: Pitt engineering school renamed for alumnus giving $41.3 million . David . Templeton . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Pittsburgh, PA . December 6, 2007 . October 13, 2010.
12. Web site: Joe Miksch . Pitt Engineering Develops Strategic Alliance With Lubrizol | University of Pittsburgh News . News.pitt.edu . August 12, 2014 . June 24, 2017.
13. Web site: Center for Energy: About Us . University of Pittsburgh . 2010 . February 9, 2012.
14. Web site: The Center for Energy's Future Home . University of Pittsburgh . 2010 . February 9, 2012.
15. Pitt's Center for Energy shines spotlight on sector; Alstom Grid of France moves in . Deb . Smit . . Issue Media Group, LLC . March 2, 2011 . February 9, 2012.
16. News: Bullish on Energy: Pitt Center for Energy at Forefront of Critical, Specific Energy Challenges . Bates . Daniel . Pitt Chronicle . University of Pittsburgh . October 17, 2011 . February 10, 2012.
17. Web site: Robert Hill . Pitt School of Engineering Announces Creation of New Sustainability Initiative | University of Pittsburgh News . News.pitt.edu . October 9, 2003 . June 24, 2017.
18. Book: Swanson School of Engineering Statistical Summary For the 2010 Academic Year . University of Pittsburgh . 2010 . 4 . October 11, 2011.
19. Web site: McCarthy . Joseph . Announcing the Appointment of the New Swanson School of Engineering Dean . University of Pittsburgh . Office of the Provost . 28 May 2024.
20. Web site: Professor Mark Redfern Appointed Interim Department Chair of Bioengineering . Swanson School of Engineering Virtual Newsroom . 28 May 2024.
21. Web site: Steven Little . Swanson School of Engineering . 10 October 2018.
22. Web site: Radisav Vidic . Swanson School of Engineering . 10 October 2018.
23. Web site: Alan George . Swason School of Engineering . 10 October 2018.
24. Web site: Building for the Future: Lisa Maillart named Interim Chair of Industrial Engineering . Swanson School of Engineering . 8 August 2022.
25. Web site: Brian Gleeson . Swanson School of Engineering . 10 October 2018.
26. Web site: Office of the Dean - Associate Deans . Swanson School of Engineering . 27 April 2021.
27. News: Coyne . Justine . Pitt's Swanson School names Chyu to lead international initiatives . 27 April 2021 . Pittsburgh Business Times . 6 August 2014.
28. Web site: Dr. Wanda M. Austin Biography . NASA . June 10, 2015 . 10 October 2018.
29. News: Ryan . Harriet . USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias' departure . 10 October 2018 . Los Angeles Times . 2 August 2018.
30. Web site: A True Inspiration, Professor John Choma, In Memoriam . USC - Viterbi School of Engineering . August 22, 2014 . June 24, 2017.
31. Web site: John Choma, Jr. Obituary - San Dimas, California - Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries - Covina Hills FD 1150 . Forestlawn.tributes.com . June 24, 2017.
32. Web site: Barksdale-Hall . Roland . William Hunter Dammond: a Man of Firsts (excerpts) . University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute . February 19, 2021 . 13 August 2021 .
33. Web site: Building a Business. Pitt Magazine. Robert. Mendelson. 2016-06-23. 2016-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20130714004102/http://www.pittmag.pitt.edu/spring2004/feature3.html. 2013-07-14. dead.
34. News: Joe Hardy, the 84 Lumber magnate, dies on his 100th birthday. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. January 7, 2023. January 7, 2023.
35. Web site: Chan Saw . Serena . Dr. Savio L-Y. Woo Is Awarded Gold Medal . MSRC Orthopaedic Bioengineering Lab . 13 August 2021.