January 20, 2026
Ģý photo / Matt Wittmeyer
Dear members of the Hajim School community,
I am thrilled to announce a transformative gift from a couple with a longstanding relationship with the University that will help shape the future of the Hajim School and its leadership.
As part of,Trustee Emeritus John Bruning ’24 (Honorary), an optics and engineering leader and entrepreneur, and Barbara Bruning, a business and community leader, have committed $10 million to establish an endowed deanship. In the spring, following approval from the Board of Trustees,I will be officially named the inaugural John and Barbara Bruning Dean for theHajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
I am tremendously grateful to John and Barb for this incredible investment in our school, and I am beyond proud to be the first Bruning Dean. The Brunings model excellence—they live it, they embody it. They wholeheartedly believe in our mission. They share our values, and they steadfastly promote, support, and champion academic rigor. They are visionaries with big ideas, and I am confident that we—as a school, University, and broad community—will honor them by continuing to address some of our world’s biggest challenges and significantly advancing engineering, education, and research in the process.
Read more about this remarkable gift at the News Center.
ENTER THE ED AND BARBARA HAJIM ART OF SCIENCE COMPETITION
One of my favorite annual traditions, the Ed and Barbara Hajim Art of Science Competition, is now open for2026! Sponsored by the Hajim School and River Campus Libraries, this competition celebrates the artistic side of science, technology, and engineering.
The competition gives consideration to the artistic representation of science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainability themes. Entries with a focus on creativity and uniqueness will be favorably considered.
Submit your high-resolution JPEG entries byMarch 15, 2026, for a chance to win up to$1,000. Students are eligible for first, second, and third place prizes, and the People’s Choice award is open to students, faculty, and staff. . Email the competition committee with any questions.
MARC POROSOFF APPOINTED TO THE EARLY CAREER BOARD OF EES CATALYSIS
Congratulations to Associate Professorfrom the, whowasof the journalEES Catalysispublished by the Royal Society of Chemistry.EES Catalysisis a premier journal, publishing high-quality experimental and theoretical catalysis research for energy and environmental applications.
Marc leads a research program on catalyst development for sustainable conversion of CO2into value-added products. His group integrates synthesis andin situcharacterization with emerging techniques that leverage AI and novel mechanisms of energy transfer.
PRE-COLLEGE SUMMER COURSES GIVE A SNEAK PEEK AT CAMPUS LIFE
Photo courtesy of the Pre-College Summer Programs
Since Ģý’s began in 1990, the University has welcomed thousands of high school students to campus—from Los Angeles to New York, but also Bangladesh to Brazil, Morocco to South Korea, and Venezuela to Vietnam. It’s a chance to preview their future—and discover their path.
Zahali Vauclena ’27 (audio and music engineering) took two courses on the River Campus the summer before his senior year of high school—Careers in Engineering as well as Content Creation and World Building with. Read about how the Pre-College Summer Programs helped him and others find their path.
GIDS-AI RECEIVES RENEWED NSF FUNDING FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM
The (GIDS-AI), in partnership with the David T. Kearns Center, has received renewed funding from the National Science Foundation to continue its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, Computational Methods for Understanding Music, Media, and Minds. Led by PI and co-PI , this fully funded, 10-week summer program offers undergraduates hands-on research experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence, neuroscience, music, media, and public health, working closely with Ģý faculty and mentors.
The program is open to first- through third-year undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and those with varying levels of experience are strongly encouraged to apply. For full eligibility details, project descriptions, and application information, .
ENGINEERING ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS COURSE
Graduate students and advanced undergraduates are encouraged to consider registering for the course CHE 416: Engineering Economics & Financial Analysis. This graduate-level course integrates core principles of engineering economics with foundational and applied concepts in corporate finance. Students will learn to analyze project cash flows, make investment decisions under uncertainty, interpret financial statements, and understand valuation techniques for engineering-focused decision-making.
Although listed as “CHE” (Chemical & Sustainability Engineering), the course is open to all Hajim students. And while it is a graduate course, advanced undergraduate students who want to earn graduate credit are eligible to enroll.
SPRING MELIORA COLLECTIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM NOW OPEN
The Meliora Collective (TMC) Mentorship Program engages Ģý undergraduates, graduate students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff in a virtual experience designed to foster personal and professional growth. The program connects people who have travelled the path from Ģý to career success and with those seeking help with their own journey.
Becoming a mentor: Alumni, parents, faculty, and staffare welcome to apply as mentors. Mentors at all career stages and from all industries are encouraged to participate. Registration for mentors is January 12–February 8.
Becoming a mentee: Undergraduates, graduate students, and alumniare invited to participate as mentees. Registration for mentees is January 25–February 8.
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Have a great week!
Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman
