THE ASU STUDENT BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS (IEEE)

The ASU Student Branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was chartered in early 1983 with Dr. Robert Engelken as the Faculty Counselor. Dr. Engelken, Director and Professor of Electrical Engineering, continues in this role, and has coordinated 25 years of IEEE students and activities. However, all of the ASU electrical engineering (EE) faculty members and many ASU EE students are active members of IEEE. IEEE is one of the largest professional organizations in the world, with over 300,000 members worldwide and numerous societies, publications, and conferences that span the diverse panorama of electrical, computer, and related areas of engineering and science. Membership is open to essentially all engineers and scientists whose professions overlap the broad areas of electrical, electronic, computer, electromagnetic, and optoelectronic engineering, science, and technology.

The Branch sponsors a variety of student activities that complement the total education and professional development of its members. These include Branch meetings and meals, seminar speakers, visits by alumni and regional IEEE members, and fundraisers. IEEE student members regularly assist the EE Program and College of Engineering with a variety of activities such as conducting Preview Days for prospective students, serving as student members on the ASU Engineering Advisory Council, providing input and making presentations on the annual student infrastructure fee equipment requests, recruiting of high school students, etc.

The Branch is affiliated with the Memphis, Tennessee Section and Region 3 of IEEE, and interacts with such. For example, ASU IEEE members attended the March 2008 Student Professional Awareness Conference (S-PAC) held in Memphis. The Branch is also very near the boundary between IEEE Region 3 and Region 5 (which divides Arkansas) and, hence, has some student members who, after graduation, affiliate with the Little Rock, Arkansas IEEE Section and Region 5.

Officer positions in the Branch are Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. In 2007/2008, these positions were held, respectively, by Paul Minor, Brian Hacker, Clark Marler, Michael Sattler, and Joshua Hager. Elections for such are held annually very early during the fall semester. The officers work closely with Dr. Engelken in coordinating Branch activities.

Branch members also occasionally assist in joint projects and competitions with other ASU engineering student branches such as those of ASME and SME. The balance between friendly competition and warm camaraderie between the branches yields a vigor and enthusiasm within the College of Engineering’s student body and further broadens the perspective of all engineering students.

Nearly all ASU EE alumni are still active members of IEEE, and have found that their student memberships were invaluable in preparing them for their careers. Most are still supportive of the ASU IEEE Student Branch in a variety of ways such as making monetary contributions, serving as seminar speakers, advising the EE Program of internship and employment opportunities in their organizations, and serving as industrial members on the ASU Engineering Advisory Council.

The Branch strongly encourages all ASU EE majors, and other interested students, to join IEEE just as early as possible, preferably during their freshman years. It is definitely a “win-win” opportunity for all involved. For more information on membership, contact Dr. Robert Engelken, LSW 130D, at (870) 972-3227 or bdengens@astate.edu, or see the national IEEE website at www.ieee.org.