Letter from the chair — Nov. 5, 2024

Dear ChBE colleagues, alumni and friends,

It has been a busy but exciting four months as I've settled into my role as department chair. I am happy to report that the department is thriving, thanks to our outstanding students, faculty and staff. 

We continue to climb in the rankings, now holding the #11 spot among public universities for both the graduate and undergraduate programs, according to U.S. News and World Report. Our research metrics suggest we’re performing even better than these rankings reflect. I encourage you to check out some recent accomplishments, accolades and other department news below.

While ChBE is in an excellent position, your support is critically important for maintaining this trajectory. As you are likely aware, higher education in the U.S. is reaching an important crossroads, and it becomes more difficult every year to maintain excellence based on tuition and state support alone. I understand you receive many appeals, so I apologize for sending one more, but if you would like to support the department’s efforts, the easiest way is to contribute to the Chair’s Excellence Fund, which we use to support summer research and professional development opportunities for students, as well as faculty research initiatives. However, I would also love to connect with you if you have other ideas for involvement.

Thank you for support—I am excited about the future of our department and look forward to staying closely connected with our vibrant community of alumni, students, faculty and staff.

Best regards,

Ryan Hayward
Department Chair
James and Catherine Patten Endowed Professor