Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Receives Three Endowments Worth $225,000
LUCERO FIERRO | October 29, 2018
Three endowments have been established for the benefit of students and faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Terry L. Henderson, Ph.D., established one of the endowments in the name and memory of UTEP professor Carlos McDonald. McDonald positively influenced innumerable students during his tenure at UTEP. He had a passion for teaching digital system design and worked in the Schellenger Lab with weather rockets and telemetry.
The “Professor Carlos McDonald Memorial Endowed Scholarship” has a value of $25,000 and will be used to provide annual scholarships to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. Students may be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or international students, be enrolled full-time, and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
“The scholarship endowment in his name will ensure that Dr. McDonald will be remembered not only for his accomplishments but also for his absolute commitment to UTEP’s mission,” said Benjamin Flores, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Studies for the College of Engineering.
Henderson received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UTEP in 1964, a master’s degree from Harvard University in 1966, a Master of Defense and Strategic Studies from UTEP in 2016, and his doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin in 1969. He is a senior engineering scientist in the Applied Research Laboratory at UT Austin, where he has been working in developing sonar and other underwater acoustics technology . Dr. Henderson was with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, where he directed research and drafted workplace standards related to occupational noise and its effects upon hearing and health. He was also a staff engineer at the UTEP Schellenger Research Laboratory.
The “Dr. Joseph H. Pierluissi Graduate Fellows Endowment” was established by Joseph H. Pierluissi, Ph.D., with a donation of $100,000. Pierluissi is an Emeritus Professor and former Schellenger Professor in Electrical Research at UTEP. This endowment will be used to provide fellowships to students pursuing a doctorate in electrical engineering. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be chosen based on their academic excellence, research, and leadership activities. Students with financial need will be given preference and will be known as Joseph Pierluissi Fellows.
Dr. Pierluissi retired from UTEP in 2015 after a career that spanned 46 years of service to UTEP. He served in multiple administrative positions from associate chair to interim dean of the graduate school. His accomplishments were many in these positions. He led the efforts for the second doctoral program at UTEP, in electrical and computer engineering.
Pierluissi’s professional career includes positions at the Radio Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico; General Electric Research Laboratory in Syracuse, New York; and a joint appointment with Schellenger Research Laboratory at UTEP.
“Dr. Pierluissi was an outstanding educator and mentor. Former students describe him as a strict and engaging professor always bringing practical experiences into the classroom. Some describe his tests as ‘more than tests but a learning experience.’ Others describe his relationship with students as that of a ‘tough drill instructor with his recruits.’ All, however, agree on his care for their success in the classroom and in their professional lives,” said Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
The “R. Noel and Julianna Longuemare Professorship” was established by R. Noel Longuemare, Jr. and his spouse, Julianna Longuemare, with their donation of $100,000. The holder of the professorship will be chosen based on his/her accomplishments, and it will be used to support research-enhancing activities of the holder.
Mr. R. Noel Longuemare received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UTEP in 1952 and was recognized as a Gold Nugget in 2005. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and President of Longuemare Consultants, Inc. His multiple notable professional achievements include serving as U.S. Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, U.S. Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, and vice president and General Manager of the Systems Development and Technology Divisions at the Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a fellow in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS).
“The ECE Department is thankful to our donors for their commitment to our institution. These endowments will contribute to student success and to attract faculty of the highest caliber to our Department,” Velez-Reyes said.
Theresa A. Maldonado, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering adds, “Dr. Henderson and Mr. Longuemare represent outstanding and accomplished alumni, who have had extraordinary careers rooted by their preparation in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. at UTEP. And Dr. Pierluissi had an exceptional, impactful career at UTEP, touching the lives of hundreds of students and faculty. I am most grateful to all of them for their thoughtfulness and their generosity to our students and faculty.”
