Alumni Spotlight

 

Dr. J. Greg Hanson has been selected as the UCF Alumni Association's 2006 Distinguished Alumnus. This is the highest annual award. Dr. Hanson earned his Ph.D in Computer Science from UCF in 1987. He is currently Assistant Sergeant at Arms & Chief Information Officer in the United States Senate.
Dr. J. Greg Hanson brings over 26 years of technology leadership experience to the United States Senate as the Senate's first Chief Information Officer (CIO). As CIO, Dr. Hanson is responsible for the technology vision and strategy for the Senate. The strategies include technology to support the business of the Senate and technology for security and emergency preparedness. This includes the threat of terrorists and hackers, plus biological threats and natural disasters.

 

Industry Advisory Board

 

Mr. Herb Gingold (center) is recognized for his outstanding work as 2005-2006 Chair of the School of EECS Industry Advisory Board and is presented with a plaque by EECS Director Issa Batarseh (left) and 2006-2007 IAB Chair Robert Franceschini (right). Herb Gingold has been instrumental in assisting the School in creating a combined IAB with representatives from CS, CpE, EE and IT companies.

 

On Friday, May 12, 2006, the School of EECS Industry Advisory Board met at the UCF Fairwinds Alumni Center for its spring meeting. At this meeting, the first of two for the year, the IAB focused on EECS curriculum in preparation for the 2008 ABET accreditation visit and with the goal of considering how to quickly update and improve the curriculum of all four degree programs.

 

The IAB is led by 2006-2007 Chair Robert Franceschini, who is from SAIC in Orlando. Robert served as co-chair the previous year and now moves up to chair the board. At the meeting, the board elected its '06-'07 co-chair, and Susan Mendez of Progress Energy Florida was selected unanimously for the position. In addition, last year's board chair, Herb Gingold, was honored for his dedication and hard work in 2005-2006, during which time he had the enviable task of merging three different industry boards into one, new IAB. Any UCF alumni or industry representatives interested in becoming a member of the School of EECS Industry Advisory Board may contact Michelle Jordan (michelle@cs.ucf.edu) for more information.