The Magazine of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu October 2017 - 40

Doug Tougaw
MeMber Profile

Doug Tougaw received his B.S.E.E. from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1991,
his M.S.E.E. from Notre Dame in 1994, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Notre
Dame in 1996. At that time, he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering at Valparaiso University, where he has taught for 21 years; he currently
serves as Richardson Professor of Engineering and Department Chair.
Dr. Tougaw received his MBA from Valparaiso University in 2005, and his Master of
Higher Education degree from North Park University in 2013. His scientific research
interests focus on Quantum-dot Cellular Automata, a novel nanoscale computing
architecture. He is also very active in IEEE and in ASEE, where he is serving as the VicePresident of Finance.
Why did you choose to study the
engineering field (or the field you
studied)?

Epsilon Eta Chapter

Engineering allows me to apply my love of
math and science to solve problems and
help make the world a better place. Having
an opportunity to tackle interesting and
challenging problems is great, but knowing
that the solutions to those problems will
help improve the lives of other people
makes it all worthwhile. My favorite part
about being an engineer is facing a problem
that I know no one has ever solved before,
and working to solve it. In that moment
when I first solve the problem, I know that
I am the only person in the history of the
world to understand the solution. That is
a very powerful feeling.
What do you love about the industry?
I love how rapidly it changes. Seeing how
technology improves every year, I am able
to update my courses and teach students
new things that literally didn't exist the
last time I taught the course. I love seeing
emerging technologies and looking forward
to what a great impact they will have on
society once they are adopted.

What don't you like about the
industry?
Since it is so rapidly changing, much of
what I have learned is now obsolete.
That's a shame, because those tools were
really interesting, however, they have now
been replaced by something newer and
better. As I progress into the second half
of my career, I also realize how hard
I have to work to continue to keep my
knowledge current.
Whom do you admire (professionally
and/or personally) and why?
I admire anyone who dedicates their
life to serving others. Whether as a high
school teacher, a nurse, a fire fighter, or a
stay-at-home parent, I have the greatest
admiration for people who put the
interests of others ahead of their own. The
world gives us all an opportunity to be of
service, and I admire those who answer
that call with their whole heart.
How has the engineering field
changed since you entered it?
In one word, computers. When I was a
student in the 1980s, computers were
tools that were sometimes helpful in
solving very intensive problems. Today,
computers are the essential tool for
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Magazine of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu October 2017