It is my pleasure to report that Prof. HC. Gea of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has accepted the position Director, Packaging Engineering Program. HC joined Rutgers in 1993 after education at the National Taiwan University, the University of Southern California, and the University of Michigan. He currently serves as Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Program of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. HC has served as The Hai-Tian (sea-sky) Scholar of the Dalian University of Technology and Chair Professor in University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu.

HC’s research in the area of design and optimization has twice been recognized by best paper awards from Design Engineering Technical Committee of the ASME. He has also been recognized by Lilly Fellowship Award for excellence in teaching. HC has served in a range of editorial and conference organizing positions including Executive Committee Chair of the ASME Design Automation Division. His design and optimization background and industrial experience complements the packaging engineering curriculum.

I look forward to working with HC and Rutgers Engineering alumni and industrial partners to build on the history of the Packaging Engineering Program. Please join me in congratulating HC on this appointment.