Alfonso Ortega is in the vanguard of researchers seeking to solve the increasingly complex problem of cooling electronics integral to daily life—laptops, mobile devices, and data centers. And beginning in August, he becomes integral to the School of Engineering at SCU—as the new dean and John M. Sobrato Professor. He arrives at SCU from Villanova University, where he established the National Science Foundation Center for Energy Smart Electronic Systems, forged deep relationships with the U.S. electronics industry, and served as associate VP for research and graduate programs. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from Southern Arizona Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) for his contributions to the math and science development of Southern Arizona’s underrepresented middle and high school students and their teachers—an award that now bears his name. He succeeds Godfrey Mungal, who served as dean for the past decade and brought SCU’s engineering programs unprecedented national recognition.

From Scratch

The new leader of SCU’s adolescent mental health concentration wants to design better mental healthcare delivery systems to help more kids, now.

Green Is the New Black

Leaders in sustainable fashion shared career advice with student designers at SCU’s popular EcoFashion Show.

Hop 2 It

How do you get from hops to beer? Sustainability interns found out by turning hops grown at SCU’s Forge Garden into “Forge Ahead,” an English-style pale ale.

Racking Up

Tess Heal ’26 is nabbing awards left and right thanks to a stellar freshman year with Santa Clara women’s basketball.