Welcome!

Congratulations to all the participants of the 2024 NextProf Nexus Future Faculty Workshop! On behalf of the University of Michigan, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, we are pleased you are joining us for this year’s workshop. 

Over the last several years, our globally interconnected society has faced an unprecedented number of crises. Challenges such as the recent pandemic, global warming, and social unrest threaten our health, safety, and well-being. The scale and complexity of these challenges require multi-faceted engineering solutions, making the mission of NextProf Nexus – to diversify the next generation of academic leaders in engineering – more important than ever.

Academia is a profession of great opportunity and rich reward. As a faculty member, you will shape the lives around you, as well as the world in which we live.

There are many compelling reasons to consider an academic career. The academic environment creates an extraordinary opportunity for cross-disciplinary thinking and curiosity-driven research, in addition to individual and societal impact and intellectual freedom. In this workshop, you will learn the ins and outs of being a faculty member from those who know it best: professors. We hope this insider’s look will show that academia is a fantastic career option for you.

Discussions will also include efforts to increase diversity, advance equity, and foster inclusion. You will be able to ask questions and learn about these efforts at our three universities and initiatives across the country. Just as important, there will be time for you to network and meet other colleagues outside your own institution.

We are confident you will find the next few days informative and inspiring. Many opportunities await you to teach and inspire the next generation of engineers while conducting research with global impact. We hope you will enjoy the workshop and leave with a greater understanding of the depth and breadth of the academic profession.

Sincerely,  

Karen A. Thole, Ph.D.
Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Professor, Aerospace Engineering
University of Michigan

Tsu-Jae King Liu, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Engineering
Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering
Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
University of California, Berkeley

Raheem A. Beyah, Ph.D.
Dean and Southern Company Chair
College of Engineering
Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology