SEAS Colonial Cable

Message from Dean Timothy Tong

I look forward to sharing our SEAS news with you throughout the year and hope to see as many of you as possible at our various events and activities.

Sincerely,

Timothy W. Tong, Ph.D.
Dean

• Introducing: SEAS Alumnus, John Sporidis
• SEAS Alumna Anousheh Ansari To Be First Female Space Tourist
• Professor Zara Receives Biomedical Engineering Research Grant
• SEAS Alumni Host NY, Connecticut, and NJ-area Receptions
• SEAS Freshmen Attend New Student Getaway 2006
• You're Invited! Join Us For the GW Angels Seminar and CET2C Reception
• Save the Date! - The Frank Howard Distinguished Lecture Series
• Save the Date! - Dinner to Honor Professor Raymond Pickholtz
• LinkedIn

SEAS Alumnus Spotlight: Mr. John Sporidis

John Sporidis (BS '74, MS '81) understands the power of engineering to make a difference in people's lives-but more importantly, he understands the power of people to make a difference in one another's lives. Sporidis returned repeatedly to both themes during a recent discussion in his Fairfax, Virginia office.

Sporidis studied electrical engineering at SEAS and embarked on a career that has taken him around the country and overseas to work on a variety of projects that he believes have benefited many people. When asked about interesting projects on which he has worked over the years, Sporidis immediately recounted his part years ago as the project electrical engineer for an ambulatory care research center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "As a young engineer, I didn't understand the significance of what I was working on. I was designing electrical systems for buildings. But being part of that project has stayed with me to this day. That facility has saved the lives of many, many people-including someone who is very near and dear to me."

Sporidis also worked for the Department of Defense in Europe, designing medical facilities for the Army and the Navy. "I enjoyed my years in the international business, because it gave me the chance to travel and see the world," he says. His work with the new U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia also stands out in his mind, as it was a very large project undertaken by the U.S. government in a new and unusual relationship with private developers.

Now a senior vice president of Syska Hennessy Group, an engineering and construction firm, Sporidis focuses on the importance of relationships, networks, and people helping each other. He tells one of his favorite stories, about being nominated for the engineering fraternity Tau Beta Pi. "When I was nominated, I didn't realize how important it was. I received the letter, but it asked for $40, and I didn't have $40 to give. So I went to someone I consider my mentor-another GW electrical engineer-and said, 'Nick, I got this letter. I don't know what it means, but they're asking for $40.' He said, 'Are you crazy? I'll give you the $40 to join Tau Beta Pi.' This shows why you need mentors, and why I feel mentoring is so important."

Living by his word, Sporidis served for three years as the president of the ACE Mentoring program's board of directors. ACE Mentoring provides opportunities for high school students to spend time with mentors to learn about opportunities in architecture, construction, and engineering. Sporidis also has spoken to SEAS students at a career fair and says that he has enjoyed the chance to reconnect with SEAS in recent years. Sporidis chose to study at GW, in part, because of relationships and networks (family friends were students and faculty members), and he continues to keep in touch with and rekindle personal and professional relationships with GW friends and colleagues even now.

In 2003, John Sporidis received the Engineer Alumni Association Achievement Award. He is also a supporter and member of the SEAS Dean's Excellence Fund.

SEAS Alumna Anousheh Ansari To Be First Female Space Tourist

SEAS alumna Anousheh Ansari (M.S. '92) will soon become the first woman - and only the fourth person - to become a space tourist. She will accompany a new U.S.-Russian crew to the International Space Station and currently is at the Cosmonaut Training Center outside of Moscow to prepare for the scheduled launch on September 14.

Earlier in her career, Ansari made her fortune in telecommunications and has since funded her passion for space exploration and other world-changing technologies. The 38-year-old, Iranian-born engineer and businesswoman has dreamed of space exploration since childhood and is spending more than $20 million for her 10-day trip to the International Space Station.

"I was born in Iran, and I have sentimental attachment to that country," Ansari says. "But if it wasn't for all the opportunities and education I received in the United States, I wouldn't be here today."

Ansari immigrated to the United States when she was 14. She received a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University and a master's degree in electrical engineering from The George Washington University. She currently is working toward a master's degree in astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia.

"Anousheh Ansari is a bright and shining example of what a person can accomplish when she has a passion for her field and is willing to work hard and attain the education and training necessary to reach her goal," said Timothy Tong, dean of GW's School of Engineering and Applied Science. "All of us here at the school are very honored that she is one of our alumni, and we are exceedingly proud of her achievements and her commitment to furthering space tourism."

Ansari and her family already have encouraged space tourism by helping to endow the so-called "X Prize," a $10-million cash award for the first non-governmental organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks. This feat was accomplished in 2004 by legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan.

Ansari now is part of a large team working on the development of a new kind of spacecraft to open up space tourism to more people by making it more affordable. She also is the chairman and co-founder of Prodea Systems, a digital home and multimedia management technologies firm.

Congratulations and godspeed, Anousheh!

Professor Zara Receives Biomedical Engineering Research Grant

Jason Zara, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been selected to receive the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Early Career Translational Research Award in Biomedical Engineering. He is one of this year's 23 researchers selected from a nationwide pool of applicants for the award.

"We are honored to have Professor Zara's cutting-edge research housed here at SEAS," said Dean Timothy Tong. "Professor Zara is one of our many talented faculty, and we are proud to have his work recognized by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation."

Zara will conduct the funded research at GW on microfabricated optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging probes. OCT is an optical imaging technique similar to an ultrasound; Zara is working to further develop an "optical biopsy" using OCT to detect precancerous and cancerous conditions in vivo without surgery. Zara's primary areas of research focus on the applications of Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems actuators in medicine and high-resolution medical imaging. His current work includes the development of new instrumentation for high frequency ultrasound and infrared optical coherence tomography. He is also exploring all areas of medical imaging, primarily focusing on the development of new imaging instrumentation. Zara received a Ph.D. degree from Duke University, and has been a faculty member at GW since 2002.

"I am pleased to be a recipient of this prestigious award," said Zara. "Receiving this important funding will assist my efforts to develop new technologies for optical imaging that can be used in the clinic to improve the diagnosis of life-threatening diseases and ensure timely treatment."

Congratulations to Professor Zara.

SEAS Alumni Host Dean Tong in New York and New Jersey

Dean Tong presents a gift to hosts Jon (BS '79) and Robyn Halpern	Dean Tong presents a gift to hosts John (MEA '78) and Sara O'Brien

In early August, SEAS alumni and friends in the New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey areas gathered for two events: one on Long Island, and the other in Short Hills, New Jersey.

On August 1, Jon (BS '79) and Robyn Halpern hosted a gathering at Café Testarossa in Syosset, New York, and on the following day, John (MEA '78) and Sara O'Brien, hosted an event in their home in Short Hills, New Jersey. Approximately 40 SEAS alumni, parents, current and incoming students, and friends attended the events.

Everyone mixed and mingled at the two events, and alumni were glad to have the opportunity to meet each other and network. Dean Tong welcomed the incoming students who attended and met their parents and the parents of current students, as well. He then gave an update on GW and SEAS and their recent accomplishments.

Dean Tong and the SEAS advancement team hope to have more events like these in the New York Metropolitan area in the future.

To see more photos, please click here.

SEAS Freshmen Attend New Student Getaway 2006

On Monday, August 28, approximately 100 members of the Class of 2010 boarded buses bound for Oak Hill, West Virginia and the SEAS New Student Getaway.

This year, as in previous years, SEAS hosted a weekend retreat for the incoming class of freshmen and transfer students to allow them to begin to form friendships with their classmates, meet some of the faculty, and learn more about the school-all in a fun outdoor setting.

Joining the new students were 18 upper class mentors and several faculty and staff members. During the three-day retreat, the students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a number of teambuilding and outdoor activities such as white water rafting, mountain biking, canoeing, paint-balling, and hiking. They also spent time with the mentors and faculty learning about the various student services and student activities available for them at the school and the university.

SEAS is proud to announce the GW Engineering group on LinkedIn, an independent, commercial, online networking tool.

SEAS has partnered with LinkedIn to provide this service for SEAS alumni, students, faculty, and staff, and we invite you to join the GW Engineering group. We hope that you will find it a useful tool for business networking, job searches, or simply for locating other members of the SEAS community.

To join the GW Engineering group, just click here and complete a LinkedIn member profile. Access to the group is free, completely optional, and is available only to members of the SEAS community.

About online business networking: You can use LinkedIn to expand and track your network in an organized and systematic way. The GW Engineering group on LinkedIn provides an ideal starting point, and it also provides a point of contact for people outside the SEAS community who are connected to your fellow GW Engineering group members.

About privacy: Please read the LinkedIn privacy policy to answer any concerns about privacy.

Upcoming SEAS Events

GWAngels and CET2C Reception

On Thursday, September 7, 2006, SEAS will host two events related to entrepreneurship, and venture and angel investing , and we cordially invite you to join us.

VC/Angel Investors Workshop:

This event is a free mini-workshop on venture capital and angel investing, led by regional experts and members of the SEAS Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer and Commercialization. This workshop is being offered as part of the Council's mission to create an alumni angel investment group to invest in GW and area start-ups.

To RSVP for the VC/Angel Investors workshop, please e-mail seasalum@gwu.edu (please indicate VC/Angel Investors Workshop in the subject lineor call 202-994-8474.

CET2C Reception:

Please mark your calendar for our reception to announce the creation of the Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer and Commercialization (CET2C), and to introduce our Council members to the greater GW and local investor communities. SEAS has established CET2C to help foster an entrepreneurial environment within the School and to enable opportunities for our alumni to create and fund SEAS-affiliated, or other area, start-up companies.

To RSVP for the CET2C reception, please e-mail seasalum@gwu.edu (please indicate CET2C Reception in the subject line) or call 202-994-8474.

THE FRANK HOWARD DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

Sponsored by
GW School of Engineering and Applied Science
GW Engineer Alumni Association
GW Alumni Association

ROBOTIC EXPLORATION OF THE MOON: PREPARING THE WAY FOR HUMAN RETURN

Dr. Paul D. Spudis
Applied Physics Laboratory

The new vision for space exploration calls for humans to return to the Moon sometime in the next decade. Visiting the Moon extends human reach beyond low Earth orbit and offers new material and energy resources for creating new space faring capabilities. In several future missions, robots will collect knowledge and create infrastructure on and around the Moon. The robots will orbit and land on the Moon and focus on its poles, which contain volatile substances of great value and an energy-rich, benevolent environment in near-permanent sunlight. Robotic missions to the Moon are crucial to gathering information about how people and machines can be utilized to explore and utilize planetary surfaces.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, October 4, 2006, to SEASALUM@gwu.edu (please indicate Frank Howard Lecture in the subject line and include the names and number of people in your party), or by phone to the SEAS Advancement and Alumni Programs Office at 202-994-8474.

Dinner to Honor Professor Raymond Pickholtz - Save the Date!

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for a special dinner on the Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, DC to honor recently retired Professor Raymond Pickholtz for his distinguished 30-plus year academic career at The George Washington University.

Professor Pickholtz was a primary player in the creation and cultivation of strong programs in telecommunications, computer networking, and communications theory at SEAS. In addition to a strong reputation for his research, Professor Pickholtz has shown great care over his career as a teacher and mentor to many appreciative students. He has authored or co-authored several hundred technical papers and holds six U.S. patents. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Professor Pickholtz received the IEEE Centennial Medal in 1984 and the IEEE Millennium Medal in 2000.

We will be inviting former students of Professor Pickholtz, as well as his friends, family, and colleagues from academia and industry. At this dinner we will present the first recipient of the Raymond L. Pickholtz Graduate Scholarship in Communications Engineering, established by a lead gift from Professor Pickholtz and contributions from some of his faculty colleagues and former students. More information on the scholarship may be found at: www.seas.gwu.edu/ifaf/pickholtz_scholarship.php.

For additional information or to receive a formal invitation to the Pickholtz dinner, please contact the SEAS Office of Advancement at 202-994-8474 or via email at seasalum@gwu.edu - please provide your full name, GW degree(s) and year(s), and contact information (mailing and email address).

We look forward to having you join us to honor Professor Pickholtz.

GW Colonial Cable

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