Published: April 22, 2020

Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering becomes second named department

The highly ranked mechanical engineering department at CU Boulder has been named after Colorado philanthropist and businessman Paul M. Rady, thanks to his generous support of the college.

Rady has committed $15 million in philanthropy to CU Boulder, most recently with the goal to initiate and grow an engineering partnership program between CU Boulder and Western Colorado University. A majority of Rady’s giving is designated to expand and upgrade facilities for use by CU Boulder’s mechanical engineers. In recognition of Rady’s generosity and support, the university has named the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in his honor.

Mechanical engineering is ranked No. 15 for undergraduate education and No. 18 for graduate education in the nation among public university mechanical engineering programs. The department is also one of the largest in the college and has strength in many areas, including materials, thermos/fluids, controls and mechanics. Groundbreaking research by mechanical engineering faculty has applications in human health, security, energy and environment, air quality, quantum devices, and robotics. 

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering becomes only the second named engineering department at CU Boulder, joining the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, which was named in 2017.