Industrial Advisory Board Meeting & the Future of ECE

Bill Forman, Rob Saracino, Pamela Abshire, Lav Varshney, Leon Shterengas, Wendy Tang, Fang Luo, Emre Salman, Jennifer Becker, Chantalle McKim, Diego Cuji Dutan, and Adam Naseem Ortiz

Faculty, industry advisers, and alumni gathered on December 15, 2025, to review the state of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and plan for its future. The Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) meeting began with Chair Pamela Abshire welcoming board members and outlining current enrollment trends, program updates, and the department’s strategic priorities for growth.

Department Updates and New Initiatives

During the opening remarks, the department shared highlights on student enrollment, faculty expertise, and research activity across ECE. The discussion also included department strengths and challenges - from maintaining strong undergraduate demand to navigating changes in international enrollment and the federal funding climate. Faculty leadership noted that research excellence remains central to building departmental reputation and expanding student opportunities.

Engaging industry partners

Board members contributed perspectives on the evolving workforce needs in engineering and the importance of aligning curriculum with real-world demands. The conversation emphasized strengthening pipelines for U.S.-citizen hiring needs, increasing systems engineering exposure, and accelerating industry-aligned innovation in areas such as AI, semiconductors, and next-generation design workflows.

Advancement and partnerships

Representatives from Stony Brook’s advancement and development teams shared updates on university-wide momentum and new opportunities to streamline corporate partnership development. The group discussed how strategic industry collaborations can support research, student engagement, and long-term investment in emerging centers and initiatives.

Dinner fosters collaboration

Following the afternoon meeting, IAB members and faculty gathered for dinner at Pasta Pasta in Port Jefferson, a local favorite on East Main Street. The relaxed atmosphere allowed colleagues to build relationships and continue conversations from the day. Attendees included Lav Varshney (Della Pietra Infinity Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Director, AI Innovation Institute), Adam Naseem Ortiz (Department Coordinator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Bill Forman (President and CEO, North Atlantic Industries), Leon Shterengas (Interim Department Chair and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Diego Cuji Dutan (Post Doctoral Affiliate and Lecturer, Stony Brook University), Wendy Tang (Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Jennifer Becker (Director of Development, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences), Emre Salman (Professor and Industry Liaison, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Chantalle McKim (Department Manager and Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Fang Luo (Empire Innovation Associate Professor and Director, Spellman High Voltage Power Electronics Laboratory), Pamela Abshire (Chair and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), and Rob Saracino (C4ISR, Tactical Systems Technical Director, BAE Systems). Discussion topics ranged from AI-enabled education and research funding to future industry partnerships and talent pipelines.

Looking ahead

The 2025 Industrial Advisory Board meeting underscored the department’s dedication to research excellence, interdisciplinary education, and industry engagement. With growing partnerships and ambitious initiatives in AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors, Stony Brook’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department is positioned to expand its impact. The IAB dinner provided a fitting conclusion—reinforcing the collaborative spirit and shared purpose of faculty and industry partners working together to shape the future of engineering education and innovation.