S. K. Ramesh, FIEEE
Nominated by the IEEE Board of Directors
Director SfS2 (SECURE for Student Success) Program
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
California State University (CSU), Northridge
Northridge, California, USA
S. K. Ramesh is an engineering educator with almost four decades of service as a dean, department chair, and faculty member. As dean, he established innovative programs to serve industry in renewable energy, assistive technology, and advanced manufacturing. The IEEE Learning Network (ILN) that he championed as Vice President of Educational Activities is a model for collaboration across IEEE.
Ramesh is an IEEE Fellow recognized for “contributions to entrepreneurship in engineering education”, and has created internationally recognized programs that attract and support underrepresented students in engineering. He served as 2022-2023 ABET President broadening engagement globally. His recognitions include the John Guarrera Engineering Educator of the Year, William Johnson International award for “leadership and contributions to the profession”, and IEEE Region 6 Community Service award. Ramesh has served on the Boards of IEEE, HKN, and ABET, strengthening diversity, inclusion, and collaboration between volunteers and staff, with financial transparency and measurable outcomes.
Meet Ramesh by watching a brief video.
We live in an era of rapid technological development where change is constant. My leadership experiences of four decades across IEEE and ABET have taught me some timeless values in this rapidly changing world: To be Inclusive, Collaborative, Accountable, Resilient and Ethical. Connection and community make a difference. IEEE’s mission is especially important, as the pace of change accelerates with advances in AI, Robotics and Biotechnology. I offer leadership that inspires others to believe and enable that belief to become reality. “I CARE”!
My top priority is to serve our members and empower our technical communities worldwide to create and advance technologies to solve our greatest challenges.
If elected, I will focus on three strategic areas:
Member Engagement:
- Broaden participation of Students, Young Professionals (YPs), and Women in Engineering (WIE).
- Expand access to affordable continuing education programs through the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).
Volunteer Engagement:
- Nurture and support IEEE’s volunteer leaders to transform IEEE globally through a volunteer academy program that strengthens collaboration, inclusion, and recognition.
- Incentivize volunteers to improve cross-regional collaboration, engagement and communications between Chapters and Sections.
Industry Engagement:
- Transform hybrid/virtual conferences, and open access publications, to make them more relevant to engineers and technologists in industry.
- Focus on innovation, standards, and sustainable development that address skills needed for jobs of the future.
Our members are the “heart and soul” of IEEE. Let’s work together as one IEEE to attract, retain, and serve our diverse global members. Thank you for your participation and support.
(S’79-S’84-M’85-S’85-M’86-SM’93-F’15)
Ramesh has made impactful leadership contributions to advance IEEE’s mission for over four decades. Key leadership positions include Vice President Educational Activities, President IEEE-HKN, and ABET President. Spanning the gamut of IEEE activities, his leadership on several major IEEE Boards and committees has strengthened collaboration, and improved member engagement through innovative programs. Recent highlights:
- Restructured IEEE Educational Activities with a diverse team of volunteers and staff, resulting in financial transparency, accountability and inclusive excellence (2016-2017)
- Championed the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) in collaboration with all OUs as a one-stop shop for IEEE continuing education (launched 2019)
- Championed and implemented the Try Engineering Summer Institute and Try Engineering Together e-mentoring program (2017)
- Enhanced EPICS in IEEE program with an MOU with Purdue University promoting project-based learning and faculty professional development (2016-2018)
- Increased industry support, and expanded IEEE-HKN globally (2016)
- Broadened engagement through the UN Global Compact and improved the quality of technical education worldwide as ABET President (2022-2023)
IEEE Activities (select leadership positions):
- ABET President (2022-2023), Board of Directors (2013-2015, 2019-Present), Board of Delegates (2015-2019)
- Chair, IEEE Hearing Board (2022)
- IEEE Board of Directors (2016-2017)
- Vice-President IEEE Educational Activities, (EAB Chair – 2016-2017, Past – 2018-2019)
- President, IEEE-HKN, 2016 (Elect – 2015, Past – 2017)
- Chair, IEEE-HKN Development Committee (2018-2022), Madni Award Committee (2020-2022)
- Fellows Committee (2018, 2021-2022)
- Publication Services and Products Board (2020-2021), TAB/PSPB Products & Services Committee (2022-2024)
- Treasurer and Trustee, IEEE-HKN Board of Governors (2012-2014)
- IEEE Awards Board (2010-2013, 2021-2024), APPRC (Vice Chair – 2020, Member – 2021-2024)
- IEEE Educational Activities Board (Pre-University Education Chair, 2014-2015, Awards and Recognition Chair, 2010-2013, 2021-2024)
- IEEE Exhibits Program Strategic Summit, Chair (2015)
- Associate Editor-in-Chief e-Learning Library (2012-2013)
- Region 6 OpCom, Central Area, Chair, (2001-2004), Student Activities, Chair (1994-1995, 1998-2000)
- Sacramento Section, Chair (1992-1993)
- Photonics Society, Sacramento Chapter, Chair (1989-1993, 2004-2007)
- Student Branch Counselor, CSU Sacramento (1990-2006)
S. K. Ramesh is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at California State University, Northridge, where he led the College of Engineering and Computer Science as dean from 2006-2017. He is also the Director of SECURE for Student Success, supported by a US Department of Education grant. As dean, he recruited over 35 new faculty, doubling enrollment in the college to over 4,900 students, with several ABET accredited programs and active interdisciplinary research centers. He founded and led CSUN’s AIMS2 program that has been internationally recognized for supporting underrepresented students in engineering. Earlier he was Professor of Electrical Engineering at Sacramento State, serving as department chair from 1994-2006.
He has served IEEE and ABET in several leadership roles, notably as ABET President, VP IEEE Educational Activities, and President, IEEE-HKN. Ramesh is an IEEE Fellow recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship in engineering education. His areas of interest are Optical Engineering, Photonics, Communication Systems, Analog IC Design, and Engineering Education. He has received over $ 15 Million in research grants and developed and taught over 20 courses while supervising several graduate students during his four-decade career. Ramesh is a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta, and ASEE.
Ramesh has received several awards for innovative teaching, scholarship, and service to the profession and community. He championed the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) that is a model for collaboration and has grown to serve 321,000 learners with 1400+ courses from 44 partners today. He is an IEEE Fellow and has served on the Fellows Committee, and IEEE Publications Board.
Notable awards include:
- Outstanding Faculty-Phi Beta Delta (2016)
- John Guarrera Engineering Educator of the Year (2012)
- Distinguished Alumni-NIT Trichy (2007)
- IEEE Region 6 Community Service (2004)
- IEEE LEOS Sacramento Chapter – Most Improved (2005-06), Membership (1992-93)
- Sacramento State Student Branch – Membership (2002-03)
Ramesh created a unique interdisciplinary Master’s degree program in Assistive Technology Engineering at CSUN blending human factors, robotics, smart materials, sensor integration, and lean manufacturing. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy invited him to host one of the four national White House STEM workshops at CSUN in 2014 emphasizing “Connections to Industry and Careers”. Under his leadership as 2022-23 President, ABET strengthened its commitment to sustainability by joining the United Nations Global Compact. Ramesh chairs the inaugural ABET-Lemelson Foundation Sustainability Award committee.
He has received over $15 Million in research grants from the US Department of Education to broaden participation in STEM disciplines, and support women and underrepresented students in engineering.
Recent recognitions include:
- 2021 UEDA (University Economic Development Association) Award of Excellence
- 2021 Inspiring Program in STEM (Insight into Diversity)
- 2019 National Example of Excelencia
- 2015 White House Bright Spot in Hispanic Education.
Ramesh’s research has garnered $3 Million in equipment grants from industry (HP, INTEL, Level One Communications, Coherent, Grass Valley Group, ILX Lightwave) and the government (NSF and Department of Defense). He has over 50 publications and research reports to his credit, and has delivered 100+ invited talks, keynotes/workshops worldwide.
