Dear Friends and Colleagues of SSE,
I hope this message finds you well. We have just wrapped up a wonderful Homecoming weekend that began with an investiture ceremony recognizing our outstanding faculty and donors and ended with a Green Wave victory. It was a joy to see so many SSE alumni, parents, and students at our tailgate tent.
As I listen to stories, my heart is filled with gratitude for what Tulane has meant to so many, and for the role a Tulane SSE education has played in their lives. For many families, the chance to come to Tulane on a scholarship and receive a nurturing education changed their trajectory for generations. To me, that is one of the clearest ways we live our promise of *Science and Engineering for Better Lives*.
As we get ready to admit the next class for fall 2026, the need is real. There are brilliant young people who can thrive here only if we can meet their financial needs. I am asking for your help in providing scholarship opportunities so that the next generation of science and engineering leaders can say, “Tulane changed my life.”
Student success is also front and center this year. Our world is changing quickly, and new opportunities are emerging for our graduates that did not exist when they first arrived on campus. In response, we are focusing on three major efforts in your school.
First, each SSE department is reviewing its curriculum to keep it forward-looking and nimble, aligned with the 1,000 Days Plan that positions SSE at the heart of Tulane’s work in health, energy, climate, space, and AI.
Second, we are deepening our work on student success and career outcomes. This fall, we held our first school-wide SSE Career Fair. More than 30 employers came to campus, and over 350 students participated. It was a powerful reminder that when we bring students and employers together, doors open. We plan to build on this success with two events each year: a fall fair focused on internships and a spring fair focused on full-time positions. The second annual SSE Career Fair will be held on Monday, September 21, from 12 - 4 pm.
Third, we are expanding research and innovation opportunities for all SSE students. Building on the Tulane Research and Innovation Award (TRIA), which places first-year students directly into research labs, we are broadening the program to include more lab placements, collaborative projects, and structured mentorship. This year we welcomed the largest TRIA cohort in our history and hired our first staff member dedicated to making undergraduate research a defining part of the SSE experience.
I have two specific requests of you in this regard. First, please encourage employers in your network to attend our next SSE Career Fair on September 25, 2026, so that our students can see the range of paths ahead of them. Second, help us create the support structures that enable student success through our emerging SSE Career Fair efforts.
Tulane is a great research university, and since my arrival last year I have been continually amazed by the creativity of our SSE faculty, students, and staff. Our community is helping lead a historic federal investment as part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, developing imaging systems that will allow surgeons to see residual cancer cells in real time during surgery. Our researchers are testing rapid “drop-of-blood” diagnostic tools for trauma patients, tackling energy challenges through collaborations that span art to engineering, and launching new courses in technology ethics that bridge science, business, and the humanities.
To sustain this momentum, SSE has welcomed 24 outstanding new faculty members since 2024, bringing strengths in areas such as AI, psychology, and environmental science. They are already expanding opportunities for our 2,600+ undergraduate students and contributing to more than $28 million in new research grants.
But we cannot do this alone. Your support is crucial. This holiday season, I invite you to join us in shaping the future of the School of Science and Engineering. By contributing to scholarships, student success, and research, you will help open doors for students who might not otherwise afford Tulane, and you will fuel discoveries that change lives far beyond campus.
Let us give thanks for the incredible community we share. Your generosity has been the foundation of our success, and with your help, we can do even more. Wishing you and your loved ones happy holidays.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Hridesh Rajan, PhD
Dean, Tulane University School of Science and Engineering
P.S. While I will continue to provide periodic updates on the school’s activities, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn for more frequent updates: https://linkedin.com/in/hrideshrajan.
