The American Electronics Association Honors Dean Alexopoulos with an Engineering the Future Lifetime Achievement Award

Alexopoulos recognized at the 15th Annual AeA High-Tech Innovation Awards

Nicolaos G. Alexopoulos, Ph.D., dean of The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, was presented with a prestigious Engineering the Future Lifetime Achievement Award during the 15th Annual American Electronics Association (AeA) High-Tech Innovation Awards Dinner and Technology Showcase, in honor of his numerous contributions made in education, research, investment, and innovation.

“It is a privilege to be recognized by AeA Orange County for my contributions to engineering science and to the community,” said Alexopoulos. “This award essentially recognizes the importance of The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and its impact to the technology business sector, not only in Orange County, but also across the nation and the world.”

Alexopoulos joined the UC Irvine faculty in 1997 as engineering dean and professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  Under his leadership, 61 faculty members have joined the School, totaling 105, and student enrollment has grown from 1,160 undergraduate and 340 graduate students in 1997-98, to 2,215 undergraduate and 893 graduate students in 2007-08.  Overall research expenditures have also increased from $7.7 million during 1997-98 to $21.9 million in 2006-07, and the Samueli School endowment has grown from $1.54 million in 1997-98, to approximately $60 million (adjusted for revenue and pledges) in 2007-08.  The Samueli School has added 14 endowed chairs, 10 members of the National Academies, and has risen in the U.S.News and World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings from 49th in 1997-98 to 37th in 2007-08.

Alexopoulos was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 for “contributions to microwave circuits, antennas, and structures for low observable technologies, and for contributions in engineering education.”           

Recently, he was honored with the Forum for Corporate Directors Chairman’s Award at the 13th Annual Director of the Year awards event hosted by the Forum for Corporate Directors, a group comprised of directors and executives of private and publicly held companies who strive to obtain ideas and information that promote board leadership and enhance the overall effectiveness of the board.

Together with engineering faculty and colleagues, Alexopoulos has supported the creation of numerous school and campus advancements, including the establishment of the National Fuel Cell Research Center in 1997, the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility in 1998, establishing the first “named” school on the UC Irvine campus in 1999, and the Center for Pervasive Communications and Computing in 2000. He also initiated and supported the establishment of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at UC Irvine in 2000, as well as the development of a new Biomedical Engineering Department in 2002.  In 2006, he led the creation of a Center for Engineering Science in Design, and in 2007, The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology was established with a $5 million gift from Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.

“Dr. Alexopoulos has brought depth to the tech industry in Orange County with his contributions in education, research, investment and innovation,” said Don Hicks, executive director, AeA Orange County Council. “We are proud to count him among the AeA family that is helping to ‘advance the business of technology’ in Southern California through engineering at UCI.”

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping members’ top line and bottom line. AeA does this in partnership with their small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs.