Prof Named Chair of AVS Board for 2018

Dr. Amy Walker, professor of materials science and engineering (MSE), has been named Chair of the American Vacuum Society (AVS) Board of Trustees for 2018. The Trustees are an elected committee which oversees the awarding of all the professional and student awards as well as the AVS Society Honors, such as Fellow of the Society.

“This is one of the most rewarding positions at AVS since we, the Trustees, learn about all the wonderful activities of AVS members, which is a true honor,” Walker said.

Walker, like many MSE faculty at UT Dallas, has a history of deep involvement with AVS. She was previously elected to the Trustees in 2016 before becoming appointed to be Trustee Chair for 2018 by the AVS President, Dr. Lisa Porter of Carnegie Mellon University. In 2017, she was the Program Chair for the 64th AVS International Symposium and Exhibition. The Symposium is the premier meeting of the AVS, and has more than 2,000 attendees each year. She has also been on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Applied Surface Science Division, among other positions.

In her new position, Walker follows fellow UT Dallas professor and MSE department head Dr. Yves Chabal who was the Chair of Trustees in 2016.

“This is highly unusual. It’s not often that two faculty from the same school – and department – are elected to the same board and also become its Chair,” Walker added.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science has a large presence of AVS Fellows: Dr. Yves Chabal, who has also been the Chair of the Surface Science Division; Dr. Bob Wallace;Dr. Larry Overzet, who is head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Dr. Matt Goeckner, who was the Chair of the Plasma Science and Technology Division. Many other UT Dallas faculty have worked on AVS Conference Programs, and other activities.

According to Walker, the Jonsson School also has one of the largest AVS Student Chapters.

“AVS is one of the most supportive and friendliest professional societies in the area of materials, interfaces and thin films. It has provided me with countless professional leadership opportunities but perhaps more importantly I’ve met many people along the way who are now friends,” Walker said in regard to the benefit of involvement with AVS. “I think AVS also provides a natural platform to promote our students, faculty and school on both a US and international level.”