Ashfaq Khokhar, chair of Iowa State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was officially named Palmer Department Chair at the College of Engineering Medallion Presentation Ceremony on March 30. Dean Sarah Rajala and Associate Dean Arun Somani presented the official medallion to Khokhar.
“These medallion ceremonies have become a special tradition at Iowa State, as we formally install new holders of named faculty positions and present them with medallions to symbolize this honor,” Rajala said, before awarding Khokhar his medallion. “We cannot achieve our land-grant mission of providing a high-quality education, conducting groundbreaking research that addresses society’s greatest challenges and serving Iowa and the world without having outstanding faculty leaders.”
The title Palmer Department Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering began as the Palmer Professorship, established in 1986 through a $1 million gift from Barbara and James Palmer who both graduated from Iowa State in the 1940s, with James earning a degree in electrical engineering. In 2010, that professorship was expanded to the chair position with additional earnings from the endowed faculty position.
“Endowed chairs and professorships are key to our academic excellence,” Rajala said. “They allow us to recruit and retain outstanding faculty members like Ashfaq Khokhar, who help us achieve the level of excellence for which we strive. The title of Palmer Department Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering is a mark of distinction and an endorsement of Dr. Khokhar’s outstanding leadership skills and academic credentials.”
Khokhar’s appointment at Iowa State began at the first of the year. Previously, he was chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology since 2013. Before that, he was a professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Khokhar was named an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow in 2009.
Find more information on the Palmer Department Chair here.