The newly appointed chairs of departments are Dr. Robert E. Palazzo, Dr. Donald Siegel, Dr. Michael Century, Dr. Selmer Bringsjord, and Dr. Donald Drew, who will represent biology, economics, arts, cognitive science, and mathematical sciences, respectively.

The emotions of the new chairs range from elation to nervousness as they look to fill the void in a range of needed areas from establishing first-rate Research and Design and developing a Ph.D. in cognitive science, to expanding and integrating technology and the arts in the growing curriculum of electronic arts at Rensselaer, to research conducted in conjunction with scientists at the Wadsworth Center.

Palazzo, who is new to Rensselaer and its culture, is very excited about the immense potential to do great things while working with the faculty and scientists of the soon-to-come building dedicated to the study of biotechnology and interdisciplinary sciences and the Wadsworth Center, respectively.

“Life sciences have developed to a point where interactive cross-disciplinary collaborations are becoming more and more important. Translational research, the application of what has recently been discovered, is a key area for development in this age, particularly for an institute with RPI’s traditions,” said Palazzo.

“I view this as a potential strength at RPI,” he concluded.

“Biotechnology is a major focus of The Rensselaer Plan and we are most fortunate to have recruited someone with Dr. Palazzo’s talent to lead biology, the core of that thrust,” said Joseph Flaherty, dean of science.

In keeping with the goals of The Plan and all it hopes to accomplish, Bringsjord describes his new position as “energizing.”

Bringsjord, a Rensselaer faculty member in the Cognitive Sciences Department for 14 years, specializes in the logico-mathematical and philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence.

“The faculties are remarkably talented and we plan on hiring more first-rate minds. The immediate priority for the department is to establish first-rate R&D in conjunction with establishing a new Ph.D. in Cognitive Science. We will be at or above the level of departments of cognitive science, which sometimes goes by slightly different names, seen at MIT and Johns Hopkins,” commented Bringsjord, regarding his plan for the department.

Drew hopes to continue to raise the math department’s visibility, while maintaining the current brain trust of the department.

“I want the name Rensselaer on the lips of every technologically cognizant person in the world when they think of applied mathematics,” said Drew.

“It is an excellent group of people: faculty, staff, grad students, and undergrad students. The group is involved in scholarship at a very high level, pushing the boundaries of mathematics and its applications in an environment that demands high productivity in teaching and research,” he added.

Drew has been a Rensselaer faculty member for nearly 30 years. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in mathematics all from Rensselaer.

Century assisted in the design of Rensselaer’s Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). As chair of the Arts Department, Century’s responsibilities will include further expanding and integrating technology and the arts in the growing curriculum of electronic arts at Rensselaer.

Siegel, also an advisor to the National Academy of Sciences committee, is happy to start his tenure here at RPI. His research interests are: the economics of technological change, university technology transfer, productivity analysis, and corporate social responsibility.