School of Engineering Dean Jeffrey L. Duerk and Nord Professor of Engineering Norman C. Tien were among a small group of deans from the country’s leading engineering schools who attended The White House Engineering Education Reception Feb. 8 to hear about the creation of a partnership to measure, evaluate and celebrate excellence in retention, graduation and diversity in engineering education.
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Intel CEO and President Paul Otellini, senior White House officials, and members of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, the American Society of Engineering Education and the National Science Foundation all took part in the event. The event celebrated engineering deans for their excellence and commitment to educate and graduate more engineers.
After comments from Otellini and John P. Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the event, where he met with engineering deans—including Duerk and Tien—from across the country.