President's Message

April is an exciting time of the year. In the southern hemisphere, first-year undergraduates have started classes and eagerly look ahead to a year of new ideas, brainstorming, laboratories, and homework. They are thinking about their future as they start a long journey of study in math, science, computer programming, general studies, and engineering. Over the next year, they will continuously remind themselves that these late nights of study will mean something in four years. On the other hand, students in the northern hemisphere are within weeks of finishing that same journey. They are at the other end of that long road toward a better life. As commencement ceremonies near, the job hunt is on and the focus has turned away from classes toward salaries, the length of the work week, vacation days, and the other benefits offered by potential employers. I have been mentoring students as a university professor for twenty-eight years, but I still get excited every time a student comes to my office to tell me about the job they have accepted. That moment matures them in my eyes past the apprentice they have been into the successful professional I know they will become.

As an educator, I look at these mileposts of the undergraduate educational road and reflect on how important our job is to the future of our apprentices. When they enter as freshmen, milepost zero is surrounded by fresh faces waiting for guidance. They expect to be challenged with critical thinking problems, treated with respect and mentored in the theories and practices of their chosen field. When they step past milepost four and leave the university as alumni, they carry a part of our mentorship with them to every product they design, every meeting they attend, and every work-related decision they defend. I encourage you to also reflect on the academic journey this April. Your role as an educator is noble because the mentorship you provide shapes the future skillset and character of your students.

As members of the IEEE Education Society, you have access to a broad set of learning materials to help you continue developing in your profession. The Society provides three quality journals that publish the latest research and practice papers in engineering and computer science education. Five flagship conferences around the world offer the opportunity to network, collaborate, and learn from other educators. Social media channels allow you to build a peer network of like-minded educators. And, Society sponsored webinars, workshops, and local chapter activities also provide unique opportunities to engage in face-to-face learning with respected experts in engineering and computer science education. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities and to participate fully in our community.

Inside this newsletter you will find a list of newly elevated IEEE Education Society Fellows, an update from our Standards Committee documenting the first IEEE Standard created by the Society, an article the new ABET Criteria for Cybersecurity Engineering programs, and a message from the Vice President of Publications updating you on trends in the publication industry. You will also find the list of upcoming Society conferences, a Call for Awards nomination, a link to the latest issue of the IEEE HKN Bridge magazine, and an IEEE wide announcement about a new product, called IEEE DataPort, that offers data set storage and retrieval to researchers. I hope you enjoy the first Society newsletter of 2019. Check it out!

Russ