IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine - Q1 2023 - 11

staff, alumni, and industrial partners. Plans must utilize
performance measures, have well defined milestones
and periodic reporting on progress.
I developed a complete framework for academic planning
and applied it to all the units I was privileged to
lead with gratifying results. As an example, in the position
of Vice-President and Provost of the University of
Toronto (1993-2002), the two rounds of academic and
budget planning and related private fund raising are
credited with enabling the University to successfully
cope with severe reductions in public funding in Ontario
in the 1990's. Indeed, University of Toronto went
on to become one of the leading public universities in
the world as measured by various international rankings.
Similar transformation happened to the Faculty of
Engineering at the University of Waterloo (2003-2012).
Serving in such major leadership roles while greatly
rewarding and satisfying it meant that unfortunately I
was no longer able to be a fully functioning faculty member.
In particular while I was serving as Provost and as
Dean, I was no longer able to conduct a substantial research
program and supervise graduate students.
However, when I was Dean of Engineering at Waterloo,
I taught one course a year. It was important that
the students knew that their dean was not a
mere bureaucrat.
My 25 years in academic leadership positions
provided me with immense satisfaction,
especially knowing that my service made a
positive difference to the units I led.
Question 6: You were made a Member of
the Order of Ontario in recognition of your
" seminal work which has resulted in major
developments in fields ranging from medical
technology to wireless communications "
in 2014. You also received many other recognition
and awards including the Frederick
Emmons Teman Award (1988), the IEEE education
medal (1996), the " IEEE Third Milennium
Medal " (2000), and the " Engineering
Medal for Excellence " (2002). Of all these
prestigious awards for your research work,
what is the achievement that you are most
proud of and why? Also, what advice do you
have for faculty members in the early stages
of their careers?
Prof. Sedra: First of all, it is always gratifying
to receive recognition and awards, and
we should all be cognizant of that and work
to nominate colleagues and peers who are
deserving of recognition. I am proud of my
FIRST QUARTER 2023
IEEE CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS MAGAZINE
11
achievements in teaching, research, and academic leadership
especially in terms of the individuals whom my
work has positively influenced.
In terms of impact, however, there is little doubt that
the Microelectronic Circuits textbook has influenced
more people than anything else I did. This book has
been around in eight editions and ten languages for
more than 40 years and sold millions of copies-worldwide.
Indeed, if you studied electrical engineering anywhere
in the world during the last 40 years, there is a
very good chance you learned some of your electronic
circuits from this book. Given how crucial microelectronics
has been to the development of almost everything
in our lives during this period, I feel very fortunate
that I was able to make this contribution.
As far as advice to people in early career stages, I
have three points to make: First, study and work on what
you love and don't be too concerned with how things
will turn out. Though I have always been big on planning,
almost all important turning points in my career
were not planned. Second, for new academics, approach
research and teaching as two sides of the same coin;
learning. Third, and perhaps, most important, look for
and identify good mentors at all stages of your career.
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IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine - Q1 2023

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