Welcome to Illinois Tech鈥檚 Armour College of Engineering. It is a great pleasure and honor for me to serve as the interim dean of Armour College of Engineering, comprised of distinguished faculty, motivated and determined students, and very successful alumni. Today every facet of human society is being affected by advancements in engineering and science. This rapidly shifting social order makes education and research in engineering more important than ever. Armour is currently home to five academic departments, about 85 full-time faculty, and more than 700 graduate, and 1,000 undergraduate students.
The curriculum offered by Armour College of Engineering provides solid knowledge of fundamentals, and, at the same time, introduces interdisciplinary, real-world examples while maintaining our focus on innovation, collaboration, and interprofessional and entrepreneurial team projects. Our curriculum also provides a greater understanding of the societal and environmental issues that enable our students to make intellectual choices, and to set a new standard of excellence in engineering education and research at Illinois Tech. We continue to launch new initiatives to attract more diverse students and faculty by creating a more welcoming and diverse community.
Research led by Armour faculty, together with students enrolled in our research-based graduate programs, is advancing fundamental discovery and yielding technological solutions to societal challenges. Our state-of-the-art Ph.D.-based research significantly contributes to advancing technology and to the creation of a pathway toward a sustainable society and economy. In addition, one of Armour鈥檚 primary research objectives is the expansion of research partnerships with other universities, industry, government, and research laboratories. Our master鈥檚 degree and certificate programs address the rapidly evolving technological landscape and serve as excellent opportunities for upskilling and reskilling.
Many faculty members have been recognized with national and international awards in their fields, including five current faculty members of the National Academy of Engineering, and six current faculty members of the National Academy of Inventors. Examples of successful alumni from Armour include Ed Kaplan, a pioneer in barcode technology; Marty Cooper, the inventor of the cell phone; Charles Pierce, the country鈥檚 first known African American degree-holding chemical engineer; and many more.
With the help of our outstanding faculty and students, and the support of our advisory board, alumni, and friends, I am confident that we will be able to ensure that Armour College of Engineering at Illinois Tech continues to provide an extraordinary experience in engineering research and education for current and future students.
Hamid Arastoopour
Interim Dean, Armour College of Engineering
Henry R. Linden Professor of Engineering
Director of the Wagner Institute for Sustainable Energy Research