Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and mechanical, biomedical engineering researcher, was recently named Google Endowed Dean by Florida A&M University. (M Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU Engineering)
Florida A&M University (FAMU) recently named Suvanu De, the Dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, with the prestigious “Google Endowment” designation.
It is the first Google deanship endowed to FAMU and is a testament to the college’s drive to attain Carnegie Research I status.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this honor,” De said. “Google is investing in the future achievements of our brightest young scholars and advancing the capabilities of our workforce with new, underrepresented talent who will bring new ideas to the tech world.”
Google donated $5 million to FAMU in 2021 to facilitate scholarships, upgrade technological infrastructure and introduce career readiness programs that enhance the curriculum. Google’s investment has already established four endowed professorships in computer engineering and computer science at the joint college.
Shonda Bernadin, Ph.D., a FAMU Google Endowed professor and associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, said, “Through these various programs, Google is providing exciting opportunities for us to strengthen our research capacity in many areas including generative AI, cybersecurity and cloud computing among others. It also provides unique opportunities for academic and career development for our students and faculty.”
Google has offered over $1 million in financial support for scholarships in computer science and computer engineering. In addition to supporting engineering students at the joint college, the financial support is helping the university move forward in improving and designating infrastructure changes for the Computer Information Sciences department (which houses FAMU’s computer science program) and student laboratories. The new facilities and upgrades will enhance the college’s ability to recruit world-class faculty and high-achieving students into STEM programs.
Dean De serves as the joint college chief academic and administrative officer, overseeing academic affairs and research, including centers, institutes and academics. He works with university deans, faculty and administrators to advance the mission and strengthen the institution’s state, national, and international reputation. As FAMU’s first “Google Endowed Dean,” De’s recognition is the latest achievement for the esteemed scholar and innovator.
De is the recipient of the ONR Young Investigator Award (2005), the Rensselaer School of Engineering Research Excellence Award (2008), the James M. Tien ’66 Early Career Award for Faculty (2009), the Rensselaer School of Engineering Outstanding Research Team Award (2012), the J. Tinsley Oden Medal of the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (2019) and the Edwin F. Church Medal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2022).
De currently serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals and scientific committees of numerous national and international conferences. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), serving as Vice-Chair (Awards) of the IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics and leads/co-leads several committees of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and elected fellow of four professional societies.
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