The transmittal of intellectual energy from one generation to the next, from one colleague to another, takes place continually at the Whiting School of Engineering. Such couplings began nine decades ago with Engineering’s founding at the Johns Hopkins University. Our historical piece in this issue focuses on a remarkable professor whose Hopkins career spanned almost 50 years: mechanical engineer Alexander Graham Christie. He inspired “the same keen interest in power generation which he himself possesses,” wrote John I. Yellott ’31, ’33 M.E. about Christie in the November 1948 Johns Hopkins Alumni Magazine. For Christie, “The most enduring compensation of those who teach is the satisfaction derived from the achievements of their pupils,” Yellott wrote. Learn more about this modest, civic-minded professor in the article in history feature article.
For a contemporary example of how each bright Hopkins Engineering generation transmits energy to the next, consider Meredith Bauman and Kelly Hardesty, both of whom are PhD students. Last fall, they were honored as the first two Schwarz Instructors, and will be teaching the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Laboratory. We featured Hardesty in the Summer/Fall 2003 issue in our series on scholarship/fellowship students. You’ll meet Bauman in a Making Waves profile of three women doctoral students who have become close friends.
As we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, the Hopkins community has been remembering the brightness, the promise, the smile of Linda Trinh, whose life was tragically taken on January 23 in her apartment across from the Homewood campus. A Biomedical Engineering senior in the Whiting School, she conducted research with Hai-Quan Mao’s group in Materials Science and Engineering, as well as with Hongjun Song’s lab in the School of Medicine’s Institute for Cell Engineering. “Not only was she an accomplished student—twice on the dean’s list—but she also was a wonderful person,” noted Nicholas P. Jones, dean of the Whiting School, in his letter to the School’s faculty, students, staff and friends. The University in late January launched a multi-faceted effort to address security concerns.
Since rejoining the Whiting School last summer, Nick Jones has been been getting re-acquainted and exploring new partnerships for the Whiting School. In “Winds of Change,” he discusses improving undergraduate education, strengthening interdisciplinary research, encouraging diversity, involving alumni and friends, and leading through innovation. Be sure to introduce yourself if you spot the new dean at an event.
Each issue of the Johns Hopkins Engineer can feature only a few of our faculty, students, and alumni whose projects can take them around the globe. However, you don’t have to travel far to find the dynamic exchanges that take place whenever Hopkins engineers gather. Last October, for example, at the Society of Engineering Alumni (SEA) picnic on campus, more than 60 of our graduates from across the generations had a chance to find out firsthand about the exceptional students the Whiting School attracts. Another ideal atmosphere for such networking occurred at the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems student mixer last fall.
Whether you graduated decades or months ago, do come back to campus, become active with the SEA, or invite a student to intern in your company. Discover for yourself the vitality of Hopkins Engineering. We especially look forward to seeing you at the Hopkins Engineering/Whiting School’s 90th/25th anniversary festivities this year. Keep the flow going!