Riverside, Calif. (Oct. 7, 2015) – Dr. Anthony Donaldson, dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, has been named this month's Mayor's Innovation Honoree.

The Mayor's Innovation Honoree Program is designed to recognize people or groups in the City of Riverside that exemplify its motto as a "city of arts and innovation."

"Your leadership and focus on academic excellence has created a world-class, accredited engineering school which delivers critical-thinking graduates to our community," Mayor Rusty Bailey wrote to Donaldson to notify him of the award. "The commitment you've shown toward city initiatives…continues to be an inspiration for improved collaboration among government, education and private industry stakeholders."

Donaldson received the award at the city council meeting Oct. 6. He briefly addressed the council and thanked his wife and staff and faculty for their support.

Donaldson came to CBU in 2006 as the founding dean of a new school of engineering. The program has grown from 53 students in the fall of 2007 to more than 575 students by the fall of 2015. The College of Engineering now offers 10 majors along with two graduate level programs.

Donaldson has made a career of innovation and creativity. He moved his family to Bangalore, India, the "Silicon Valley of Asia," in 1994-96, where he raised venture capital for a native Indian's vision and started a consulting business in telecommunications.

In graduate school at Texas Tech, Donaldson worked on the "Star Wars" pulsed power project. His research in modeling electrode erosion in high-energy pulsed switches won critical acclaim and resulted in more than 40 peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations as well as a patent for a new type of material.

"All creativity comes at the intersection of who we are and who we meet," Donaldson said.

Bailey voiced admiration for Donaldson at the meeting.

"God bless you and your family," said Bailey. "Thank you for the inspiration you and CBU bring to our community."