Palais earns 1st Jankowski Legacy Award


The first Daniel Jankowski Legacy Award has been given to Joseph Palais, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering.

The award recognizes engineering school faculty whose contributions in teaching, research and public service are deemed meritorious and considered significant in advancing the mission of the school.

The award, which comes with a $2,000 prize, was established in 2001 to honor the distinguished academic career of Jankowski, who was a professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (now the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering) for 40 years until his retirement in 2004. He was associate dean of academic affairs for six years, leaving the position in 2001. He served as interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences for one year.

Palais, who has been at ASU since 1964, teaches and conducts research in the areas of fiber optic communications components and systems, as well as in holography. He is academic director of the online and professional programs for the engineering school’s Global Outreach and Extended Education office, and director of graduate studies for the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Palais is a Life Fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers and has received major awards from the organization for educational and research contributions.