Dean James H. Aylor

Thomas Jefferson was a practical man. If you share his belief in human progress, then democracy, a form of government that engages the skills and talents of all citizens and not the privileged few, is the most efficient choice. And if you wish to maximize the potential of these citizens, the logical solution is a system of universal education, especially one that culminates in an institution — the University of Virginia — dedicated to what he called “the useful sciences.”

In Jefferson’s time this practical approach was
revolutionary. In our time it’s a matter of necessity. If the United States is to successfully manage the challenges that already impact our way of life — global competition for scarce resources, climate change, economic volatility and political instability — it will require that citizens across the spectrum of professions have a deepseated understanding of science, mathematics and engineering. And thanks to Jefferson’s revolutionary yet practical vision, no school is better positioned than the School of Engineering and Applied Science to produce these citizens.

When our undergraduates leave us, they possess excellent quantitative skills, a thorough grasp of the fundamental principles of science and in-depth knowledge of their major. They know how to approach problems and organize information in ways that lead to solutions, having worked together on design exercises. In addition, they have an understanding of how technology intersects with social, economic, political and ethical issues, the result of courses we offer through our Engineering Business Minor and our Department of Science, Technology, and Society, as well as from the life-changing experiences they gain through our Science and Technology Policy Internship Program.

Moreover, they have the resources of one of the best public universities in the nation at their disposal — and they take advantage of them. Many of our students, for instance, double-major in courses outside the Engineering School. As a result, our students graduate with an unusually broad perspective, ready to make contributions to the host of professions our nation will need to flourish.

One sign of the success of these efforts is the reception our students receive. This year, the Center for Engineering Career Development’s annual Spring Career Days, February 18–21, brought 80 organizations to Grounds, many for the first time. These recruiters recognize that engineers in the Jeffersonian tradition are critical to their future success and will be critical in transforming challenges into opportunities that benefit us all.

JAMES H. AYLOR
Louis T. Rader Professor of Electrical Engineering
Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science