Noel Schulz, a professor in WSU’s school of electrical engineering and computer science, has been named as the first Schweitzer Chair.

Schulz said the primary responsibilities of her position, the Edmund O. Schweitzer III Chair in Power Apparatus and Systems, is to work with students and connect them to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), as well as work on research related to the industry.

She said her goal is for students to have industrial experience through internships or tours of facilities. She wants students to gain exposure to engineering outside of the classroom.

“Another goal is to have them go to a conference and interact with professionals,” she said.

Schulz said she will be working with the SEL to accomplish those goals.

Dave Whitehead, SEL chief operating officer, said funding for the endowed chair is a part of the SEL’s value of giving back to WSU.

Whitehead said the endowed chair was a $1.5 million gift to WSU from Edmund and Beatriz Schweitzer as well as SEL employees.

Mary Rezac, dean of WSU’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, said the funding Schulz receives as Schweitzer Chair will allow her to work with students and conduct experiments to increase the likelihood of receiving funds from the federal government.

Schulz said Women in Engineering on the Palouse held their first meeting a few weeks ago. The club includes SEL engineers, as well as WSU and University of Idaho faculty members. They came together to talk about creating networking and partnership opportunities for female college students.

“It’s very important for all students to see how something in the classroom might relate to what they might do when they graduate,” she said.

Schulz said she hopes to work with the school of electrical engineering and computer science and eventually with the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.

“SEL could not be more happy to have Noel as Schweitzer chair,” Whitehead said.

Schulz said she will work with Rezac and Partha Pande, director of the school of electrical engineering and computer science, to see how they can work together to increase the amount of student interaction with SEL.

“Since I’m the first person in this position, it’s pretty much an open slate,” she said. “We get to decide how to use this to advance WSU.”