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CSUN Engineering Dean Receives Honor from His Alma Mater

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., May 7, 2007) — Cal State Northridge College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean S.K. Ramesh last month was honored by his alma mater, the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (NITT) in India, as one of 23 Distinguished Alumni award recipients for excellence in their fields.

Ramesh, who earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in electronics and communication engineering from NITT in 1981 and his doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University, was recognized on "Alumni Day" for his contributions as faculty member, department chair and dean in a 20-year career, as well as for his leadership in professional societies such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. and Sigma Xi.

The dean also was cited for developing and offering engineering education workshops for high school teachers. Other alumni were recognized for corporate development, engineering and services, research excellence, public service, and entrepreneurial excellence.

"(The award) comes as a pleasant surprise and I am deeply humbled and honored by this recognition," Ramesh said. "I would not be in this position without the constant support and encouragement from my parents and my family, and the gifted faculty members who nurtured us during our formative years. They really ‘cared’ about developing every student, and that’s something that I have strived to emulate in my career."

Accepting the honors on the dean’s behalf was his mother, Saroja Sundaram, who accepted the award from Surjit Singh Barnala, governor of the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, where the institute is located. One of the country’s premier engineering schools, NITT serves more than 4,000 students.

Ramesh came to Northridge last year from Sacramento State University where he was chair of its Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at Northridge is home to several nationally recognized programs where students gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside faculty members and industry professionals on cutting-edge research. Most recently, the college is celebrating a $20 million renovation of its facilities, which feature 50 state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories that offer hands-on experience.