S.K. Ramesh, (SM’ 93) joined California State University, Northridge, as Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2006. At CSUN his vision and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Energy Research Center. He serves on numerous Boards emphasizing job creation and the growth of the high technology sector in the region; presently leading the steering committee to establish a satellite clean tech incubator at CSUN. Dr. Ramesh has served the IEEE at increasing levels of responsibility at the Section, Region, and National levels and presently serves on the IEEE Educational Activities Board where he chairs the Pre-University Education Coordinating Committee. He is a member of the Lambda Beta Chapter of IEEE-HKN and serves on the IEEE-HKN Board of Governors. Dr. Ramesh also serves ABET as an electrical engineering program evaluator representing IEEE.  In 2013 he was elected as one of the IEEE representatives to the ABET Board of Directors.

Under his leadership, CSU Northridge was recognized by ASEE as the fastest growing undergraduate engineering school in the US in 2008 and the college continues to grow with over 3,900 students in five departments. Among the unique interdisciplinary programs that he has helped develop at CSU Northridge is a Master’s degree program in Assistive Technology Engineering. Graduates from the program help design and create products to serve persons with disabilities. Dr. Ramesh serves on the Strategic Planning Council of CSUPERB representing the CSU system wide engineering deans. CSUPERB promotes research and education in biotechnology. He is also the PI of a five year, $ 5.5 Million grant from the US Department of Education to support and graduate underrepresented minorities in engineering and computer science. Prior to joining CSU Northridge, Dr. Ramesh served as a Professor of Electrical Engineering at CSU Sacramento and was Department Chair from 1994 to 2006.  During that time he was also the President of the CSUS Sigma Xi Chapter, and served on the Board of Capital Public Radio. He has been recognized with several awards for innovative teaching, scholarship and service to the profession and the community. In 2012 he was recognized with the “John Guarrera Engineering Educator of the Year” award by the Engineers Council. He continues to volunteer his time to support and improve engineering education in India by offering classes and webinars online under the auspices of the IUCEE – Indo US Collaborative for Engineering Education. His professional interests and contributions span Optical Engineering and Fiber Optic Communications and he has several publications to his credit. Dr. Ramesh received his PhD degree in 1986 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.