Yannis Tsividis, Educator

The great universities offer more than a collection of excellent courses and research achievements. A unique culture - a personality - characterizes the institutions that consistently bring out the best in their students and earn their loyalty after graduation. Like-minded faculty and administration can develop this personality in an emergent process, but a consistent, dedicated voice is most effective in shaping it and preserving its fundamental character while letting it evolve with the times and the students. Yannis Tsividis has been that voice in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University for almost 40 years. Today, the entire Engineering School is enjoying a burst of innovation, with Yannis leading its efforts in education.