My Education

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 1977, and my master’s and doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 1981 and 1984, respectively.

My Passion

As an academic, I have been blessed with a long and exciting career  in five great US Universities. Driven by curiosity, I served in many academic roles over the years but my true passion was always research and education. 

Since the late 70’s when I started my graduate work at UCLA and until 2010 my research focused on the design of high-frequency electronic circuits for radar and wireless communications systems. 

With my graduate students we demonstrated that three-dimensional integration and packaging in circuits can be achieved in high frequencies with high performance and low cost. We applied these ideas to micro-machined circuits for high-frequency applications and to the development of frequency and time-domain methods for the theoretical design and characterization of these integrated circuits today know as SoC (System on a Chip). 

Our work has led to 19 U.S. patents, 10 book chapters and over 700 refereed publications in technical journals and symposia proceedings.

During the past decade, I became intrigued by the idea of making those circuits not only compact, efficient and of high-performance but also intelligent. Today my research team is focusing on the design of intelligent Electromagnetic Sensor Platforms. More information on this topic you will find under Research.

My Students

Despite all the recognitions I have received  as a Scientist, an Engineer and an Educator, my biggest accomplishment today has been my students.

I was very lucky to find myself among brilliant young minds, exceptional students who joined my group for their Masters and Ph.D. degrees and for the postdoctoral studies.

So far, 70 students have graduated from my group over a period of 38 years. The majority of my  Ph.D. students have become faculty in research universities in the United States and abroad and together have graduated over 150 students.  Their work and that of their students has been recognized broadly.

My Career

  • In October 2019, I joined the faculty of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Texas A&M University as a Distinguished TEES Chair Professor where I will be launching an initiative focusing on Embodied Intelligence for Electronics.

  • From August 2009 until August 2016 I served as the Chancellor of the University of California Davis. Since August 2016 I have been a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chancellor Emerita at the same University.

  • From April 2006 until August 2009 I served as the Provost at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

  • From January 2001 until April 2006 I served as the John Edwardson dean of Engineering at Purdue and a Professor of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

  • From August 1984 until December 2001 II was a Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. During the last four years at the university I served as the Associate Dean of Engineering for Graduate Programs and subsequently the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

    Recognitions and Awards

  • The National Academy of Engineering Ramo Simon Founder’s Award, October 2015

  • Honorary Degree, The American College of Greece, June 2014

  • Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Feb. 2013

  • California STEM Learning Network (CSLNet), Leading Women in STEM Award, Oct. 2012

  • Elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2011

  • Greek America’s Best and Brightest Stars (GABBY) Education and Academia Award, June 2011

  • Rudy E. Henning Distinguished Mentoring Award, IEEE, April 2011

  • Aristeio Award in Academics, American Hellenic Council of California, 2010

  • Chair of the President's Committee for the Medal of Science (2006-2010)

  • Chair of the Secretary of Commerce Committee for the Medal of Innovation and Technology (2005-2010)

  • Fellow of the of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2007

  • Elected Member of the National Academy of Engineering, 2006

  • Distinguished Educator Award, IEEE MTT-S, Seattle, WA, June 2002

  • Third Millennium Medal, IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society, June 2000