Ceccio Named Graduate Programs Chair

Many exciting things are happening in MEAM's graduate programs, and Associate Professor Steven L. Ceccio (BSE ME '85), the Department's new graduate programs chair, has a lot of ideas for keeping the momentum going.

When Ceccio became graduate programs chair on January 1, he stepped into one of the busiest times of year for the graduate programs—student recruitment. "I was very fortunate to inherit a smoothly running operation with an excellent staff and programs that are growing. We will continue to expand the intensive recruitment efforts and program improvements that have occurred under the leadership of (former graduate programs chair) Professor Christophe Pierre."

Ceccio plans to continue to focus on attracting and retaining the top students in the country, including enhancing MEAM's Prospective Graduate Student Weekend, further developing additional graduate fellowships and international student exchange programs, and improving the working environment for new graduate students.

He also plans to lead an effort to re-examine the role of MEAM's traditional Master of Science program. The goal is to look at how the current degree meets the needs of students and how it complements the newer Master of Engineering programs.

Ceccio has been on the MEAM faculty since 1990. He received his BSE in Mechanical Engineering from U-M and his MS and PhD, both in Mechanical Engineering, from the California Institute of Technology. His research interests focus on fluid mechanics. He was awarded the 1996 U.S. Department of Energy Young Scientist and Engineer Award­Defense Programs and the 1994 MEAM Excellence in Teaching Award.