Veena Misra has been named as the permanent head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at North Carolina State University. Misra, who was selected after a nationally competitive search, has served as interim department head since July 1, succeeding Dan Stancil.
A three-time graduate of the department, Misra is an M.C. Dean Distinguished University Professor in ECE and is the founding director and lead principal investigator (PI) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center on Advanced Self-powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) led by NC State. Founded in 2012, ASSIST is developing wearable, self-powered devices that provide continuous monitoring of the wearer’s health as well as the surrounding environment. Serving as director and lead PI, Misra led many aspects of the center’s work, including building an interdisciplinary team, conducting ground-breaking research, and creating a robust educational pipeline and industry partners program, all while establishing a welcoming, inclusive environment.
As interim department head, Misra has continued to build on the momentum established during Stancil’s tenure in research; academics and student experience; industry and alumni relations; diversity, inclusion, and well-being; and faculty and staff talent recruitment and retention.
Misra is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and served as general chair of its International Electron Device Meeting in 2012. Her awards and honors include an NSF CAREER Award and NSF Award for Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education, a Department of Education GAANN Electronic Materials Fellowship, and a NASA Team Excellence Award. Her awards from the College of Engineering and NC State include two Alcoa Foundation Engineering Research Awards, the R.J. Reynolds Award, an Office of Research Innovation Fellowship and the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence.
“I am honored to be selected as the department head of electrical and computer engineering at NC State University,” Misra said. “I look forward to working with ECE faculty, staff and students and the College of Engineering to take ECE to the next level through cutting-edge impactful research, excellent student experience, and a thriving and inclusive environment.”
She will lead one of the largest and most accomplished departments of its kind in the country as the tenth head of the department since 1908. NC State ECE is ranked as a top-15 department globally by the Shanghai Rankings and has led two NSF ERCs at once ⎯ ASSIST and the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center. In recent years, department faculty members have helped establish and lead an IBM Innovation Center in quantum computing and Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS), a Department of Defense regional innovation hub.
“I am excited to have Veena continue her leadership of the ECE department and I am looking forward to partnering with her as the department continues to expand and excel,” said Jim Pfaendtner, Louis Martin-Vega Dean of Engineering at NC State.