Dean's Message

Reflecting on the Cohon Era

Jared Cohon will be stepping down as president of Carnegie Mellon on June 30 after 16 years of service.

It's remarkable how the School of Computer Science has flourished during that time period. Our total student enrollment, including undergraduate, masters and Ph.D.'s, has almost doubled to its current level of 1,600. Our research budget has nearly tripled, to its current level of $110 million.

We have greatly expanded our physical footprint as well with the opening of Newell-Simon Hall, the Gates and Hillman Centers, and several renovated office buildings near the Pittsburgh campus on Craig Street. President Cohon has been an enthusiastic supporter of computer science throughout his tenure.
 
By all indications, Subra Suresh will be a strong supporter of computer science. Suresh comes to us with impressive credentials, including his current position as director of the National Science Foundation, and before that dean of the College of Engineering at MIT. We look forward to welcoming him as the ninth president of Carnegie Mellon University on July 1.

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Photo: The university's new president received an enthusiastic welcome on Thursday. Among those greeting Subra Suresh and his family in the University Center's Rangos Hall was the Home Exploring Robot Butler, or "HERB," a Robotics Institute creation designed to help people with physical challenges live independently at home.

Suresh is former dean of engineering at MIT and currently serves as director of the National Science Foundation. Ray Lane, chairman of CMU's board of trustees (far right), calls Suresh "uniquely qualified" to lead the university in part because of his commitment to technology research and education.

Also shown are Suresh's wife, Mary Delmar, the former director of public health for the town of Wellesley, Mass., and their daughters Meera and Nina.

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For More Information: 
Jason Togyer | 412-268-8721 | jt3y@cs.cmu.edu