Dear Friends:
Greetings from the Physics Department. September 9, 1994 was a very special day for us, a day for which many of us had waited for a long time. The newly renovated and expanded building was formally reopened by Chancellor Daniel Ferritor. The Chancellor, in his address, said that we do not celebrate buildings; we celebrate people who work in the buildings. No one could have said it better. This was indeed a celebration of the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and the improved facilities will simply allow them to do even better in the future. These accomplishments, even just during the past few years, have been substantial indeed. To name just a few, Professors Harter and Hobson have been elected Fellows of the American Physical Society, Professor Salamo was awarded Alumni Distinguished Service Award for Research and has been appointed a University Professor, Professor Xiao was awarded the prestigious NSF Young Investigator Award, and Professor Sheng has received over 20 patents in superconductivity. Alumnus Robert Maurer was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for co-inventing the telecommunications grade optical fiber. The Department's externally funded expenditures have grown to about $1.5 million per year. Moreover, we can look forward to continued progress, since our faculty is very young. We have filled seven tenure-track positions in the past six years. We are grateful to an administration that recognized our potential and has provided the necessary support.
After serving two three-year terms as chair, it is time for a change for me as well as for the Department. I am stepping down on June 30 to spend full-time on research and teaching. The past six years have been rewarding at times and difficult at other times. However, the support I have received from a very special faculty and staff has made even the difficult times rewarding. I know that the Department will benefit from the new ideas and enthusiasm that the new chair will bring. My best wishes to my successor in handling the challenges that lie ahead.
Finally, I thank all of you who have written, called, come by to visit, or contributed funds to the Department. We value your friendship, so please do keep in touch.
Raj Gupta, Chairman