SUNY New Paltz School of Engineering welcomes new faculty members

NEW PALTZ — The SUNY New Paltz School of Engineering is proud to welcome Yaser Khalifa and Mohammad Zunoubi into the faculty.

“The Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering at SUNY New Paltz is fortunate to have Mohammad Zunoubi and Yaser Khalifa join the department as assistant professors within the past academic year,” said John P. Harrington, dean of the School of Physical Sciences and Engineering.

Khalifa, assistant professor of computer engineering, received his bachelor of science degree from Alexandria University in Egypt in 1992 and his doctorate from Cardiff University of Wales, UK, in 1997. Before his arrival in the United States, Khalifa taught at the Computer Engineering Department at Girne American University in Turkey. In 1998, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of North Dakota. He joined the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at New Paltz in January.

Khalifa’s primary research interests are in the applications of evolutionary algorithms in the design optimization of analog and digital circuits, artificial intelligence and evolutionary robotics.

“I am happy to be here at New Paltz,” said Khalifa. “I am currently working with the faculty to redesign our microprocessor’s laboratories and courses to keep them up-to-date with the rapidly changing technologies of our age.”

Zunoubi, assistant professor of electrical engineering, earned his bachelor and master of science degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mississippi at Oxford, and a Ph.D from Mississippi State University. He served as a Research Fellow and a visiting lecturer in the Center for Computational Electromagnetics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1996-1999. Prior to joining the faculty at New Paltz, he was an assistant professor at Lake Superior State University in Michigan from 1996-2001. Zunoubi joined the New Paltz faculty in the fall of 2001.

“Being a part of SUNY New Paltz has been a true joy for me,” said Zunoubi. “I get the opportunity to teach, interact closely with students, and conduct scientific research. This is what I cherish about my professional life.”

Zunoubi’s research expertise is in the general areas of computational electromagnetics, microwaves and antennas. He has published numerous journal and conference papers and has presented his work at national and international conferences.

“The arrival of Khalifa and Zunoubi will help broaden the scope and activities of the department by providing our students with expanded opportunities to explore the many fascinating and exciting areas of electrical and computer engineering,” said Harrington. “Their presence will also augment the development and expansion of the master’s program in Electrical Engineering.”