Jacobi takes position of MechSE Department Head

Today is a landmark day for the department, as Richard W. Kritzer Distinguished Professor Anthony Jacobi takes the reins as new Department Head for Mechanical Science and Engineering at Illinois.

 

"I want to begin my service by expressing how deeply honored I am to have been named the next head," he said in a message to the department's faculty and staff. "I believe we have a truly great department, reflecting the talent and commitment of our faculty, staff, and students, along with the excellent leadership of my predecessors." 

 

He took over this role from Tungchao Julia Lu Professor Placid Ferreira, who had served as Department Head since August 2009.

 

“Please join me in thanking Placid for his service to the Department and the College,” said Dr. Andreas C. Cangellaris, the Dean of the College of Engineering,” and congratulating and welcoming Tony as MechSE’s next department head.”

 

A Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (2009) and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2011), Jacobi has been an Illinois faculty member since 1992 and has been honored with numerous faculty teaching and research awards within the College and the MechSE Department. 

 

Since 2001, he has shared his effective leadership talents as co-director at the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC), overseeing a multidisciplinary research program involving more than a dozen faculty members, 60 graduate and undergraduate students, post-doctoral and visiting scholars, and companies from around the world.

 

The ACRC is the largest center in the nation devoted to research in heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration; its research program is supported by approximately 30 industrial sponsors.

 

Jacobi also served as MechSE’s Associate Head of Graduate Programs from 2008 to 2011 and for the 2014-15 academic year. 

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