Johns Hopkins Gazette: August 22, 1994

Charles Westgate Named Associate Dean of Engineering
By Ken Keatley

As an amateur bicyclist, Charles R. Westgate pedals as fast
as he can during sprints around Lake Montebello. 
    He's not one to coast on the job, either, especially now
that he's added new administrative responsibilities to his
teaching and research duties.
    Last week, Dr. Westgate--the William B. Kouwenhoven
Professor of Electrical Engineering--was named associate dean
for academic affairs for the School of Engineering, effective
Sept. 15. He replaces Ross Corotis, who is leaving Hopkins to
assume the position of dean of engineering and applied
sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
    "It's an opportunity to make a contribution in an area
that I care about," Dr. Westgate said. "But it requires
partitioning your time. Ross Corotis was very efficient at
doing that, and I hope I can do it as well."
    A member of the Hopkins faculty since 1966, Dr. Westgate
has also maintained an appointment on the principal
professional staff of the university's Applied Physics
Laboratory. That experience, and prior stints as associate
dean for the part-time engineering graduate program and
chairman of the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, made him the best choice for the position, Dean
Don Giddens said.
    "I believe Professor Westgate will bring a strong and
active commitment to undergraduate and part-time education,"
Dr. Giddens said. "His administrative experience gives him
the background that will enable him to move quickly in
assuming a leading role in academic affairs for the school."
    Dr. Westgate is especially interested in two projects he
will tackle in his new job: expanding the curricula for the
part-time program's continuing education students, and
distance learning (using telecommunications technology to
teach students away from a classroom).
    Dr. Westgate also hopes to expand the Engineering
School's international programs, and will soon meet with
representatives from the United Kingdom to discuss new
exchange programs.
    "So many firms now operating at an international level
need engineers who feel comfortable in various cultures and
languages," Dr. Westgate said. 
    Despite the new chores, Dr. Westgate doesn't plan to
relinquish his current course load. "These are courses that I
love to teach, although I may have to cut back some next
year."  
    Nor will he abandon the six doctoral candidates he
currently oversees, or give up his research projects in
high-speed microwave circuitry. "It's important--even for
academic administrators--to balance teaching with research,
if they can," he explained. 
    Dr. Westgate has received numerous commendations from
engineering professional societies, and has often been lauded
for his teaching. He twice has been named outstanding
professor by the Hopkins chapter of Tau Beta Pi, and received
the George Owen teaching award.
    "I'm equally as proud of my teaching awards as the
number of Ph.D.'s I've produced," said Dr. Westgate. "But
that's certainly not unique among Hopkins professors."

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