IMPACT Fall 2024 newsletter: Greetings from the dean

With only a few weeks remaining in the Fall 2024 semester, I am pleased to share a season of growth and momentum here in the Wayne State University College of Engineering. With the largest first-year class in our college’s history, we are achieving our goals in expanding student access and success, a direct result of our ongoing commitment to welcoming talented and driven students to Wayne State. Enrollment is not only up from last year but has grown by an impressive 8% since Fall 2021, reinforcing our place as an inclusive and vibrant home for future engineers and innovators.

We are also making tremendous strides in our research efforts. This fall, we celebrate a 15% increase in research expenditures from a year ago — an overall rise of 56% since 2021. These figures reflect our faculty’s commitment to meaningful research that drives impact in Detroit and beyond. From advancing sustainable energy solutions to enhancing biomedical technologies, the work underway here is reshaping our world.

Our strategic partnerships and applied projects are on a notable upswing as well. The Engineering Clinic is currently finalizing or negotiating eight new projects, offering our students hands-on experiences that bridge classroom theory with real-world applications. Additionally, three new student groups are developing commercialization projects with the Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute, an invaluable opportunity to transform innovative ideas into market-ready solutions.

Thank you for your continued support of the Wayne State University College of Engineering. Together, we are building a stronger future — one that champions education, advances research and fuels the progress of our community. I look forward to all we will accomplish in the coming months.

With all my best,

Ali Abolmaali, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Engineering

Wayne State University