Dear Friends of the Cullen College of Engineering,

We stand at a pivotal moment in the evolution of engineering — where the intersection of technology, creativity, and responsibility shapes the path forward. At the Cullen College of Engineering, we embrace this challenge with purpose and pride.

Artificial intelligence has captured the world’s attention, and rightly so. However, behind every breakthrough in AI and every leap forward in engineering are the dedicated individuals driving change. In this issue’s feature package, “The Humans Behind the AI,” we highlight some of the remarkable work our faculty, students, and collaborators are doing to harness AI for good — from predicting pandemic patterns and fighting cancer to innovating in structural engineering and tracking climate change through glacier monitoring.

These stories transcend mere headlines; they serve as testaments to our core mission: addressing real-world challenges through interdisciplinary research, impactful education, and an unwavering commitment to innovation.

We take pride in recognizing our exceptional community. Faculty members Ben Xu and Gül Zerze have received the prestigious NSF CAREER Awards — which is one of the highest honors an early-career faculty can receive. A large number of our senior faculty have been recognized with national and international honors. As always, in our spring issue, we are proud to highlight two students who will be honored at the Spring Commencement — Outstanding Senior Parsa Tari and Outstanding Junior Jonathan Gaucin, who embody the excellence and potential of the next generation of engineers.

As we look ahead to the future of clean energy, biomedical breakthroughs, advanced materials, and smarter infrastructure, I am confident that the Cullen College will continue to lead. We are not just preparing students to succeed — we are preparing them to shape what comes next.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Sincerely,

Pradeep Sharma
Dean of the Cullen College of Engineering
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor