Director's Message
Michael Cassidy
As Samer Madanat is on sabbatical leave for the coming year, I have the pleasure of stepping in—temporarily—as Acting Director of ITS. Notwithstanding Samer’s repeated claims (to me) that his big shoes are impossible to fill, the Institute continues to move forwar, and a number of very positive happenings have transpired in recent months. I’ll take this opportunity to report briefly on just a few of these: they concern additions in senior staff and our library.
As regards the first matter, I’m happy to announce that Tom West has joined the Institute as the new Director of CCIT. Tom comes to us with a distinguished record of service at Caltrans, particularly in the areas of technology application to transport systems. Most recently, he helped lead the Governor’s "Go California" initiative to develop forward-looking transportation and land-use policies for the state.
I’m also delighted to report that Laura Melendy has taken the helm as the new Director of our Technology Transfer Program. Laura too brings with her a rich background in transport. She is an alumnus of Berkeley’s graduate program in transportation, she has considerable management experience, and for the last three years she has been Tech Transfer’s Communications Director.
Finally, let me call attention to the fund raising campaign now underway for our Harmer E. Davis Transportation Library. Those of us connected in any way with the Institute know what a priceless resource we have in the library—and in its knowledgeable (and helpful!) staff. Perhaps less known to many of us are the library's ongoing efforts to enhance the accessibility of its collection by going digital. These efforts bring new challenges—and added expenses. Thus our fund raising campaign is a call to all of us who have benefited so much from the library: donations are needed now more than ever. (For information on how you can give, see the Library's donations page or the recent article in the ITS Review detailing specific library "wish list" items).
With the fresh perspectives and energies brought by our new center directors, along with the ongoing enhancements to our library, and combined with the continued support of our community at large, ITS is poised to continue its service long into the future. (This assumes, of course, that Samer Madanat doesn’t extend his sabbatical and leave me in charge for too long!)
Best regards,
Michael Cassidy