AMD Jerry Sanders Chair Emeritus in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advanced Micro Devices, a global supplier of integrated circuits, announced in October [2001] that it is providing a $2.5 million gift to ECE in the form of an endowed chair. Named for the company's cofounder and ECE alumnus, the W.J. "Jerry" Sanders III-Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Endowed Chair will support the scholarly and research activities of a world-class faculty member.

"Every chair brings honor to the department and to the chair holder, and the Sanders-AMD chair is no exception," said ECE Head Richard E. Blahut. "To have the names Jerry Sanders and Advanced Micro Devices tied to our department in this way brings prestige and establishes an enduring relationship."

Sanders (BSEE '58) worked for Douglas Aircraft and then for Motorola before joining Fairchild Semiconductor in 1961. Sanders eventually became head of Fairchild's worldwide sales and marketing. In 1969, he and seven former colleagues from Fairchild founded Advanced Micro Devices. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of the company for 33 years from its inception until his retirement as CEO in 2002.

AMD has become a leading U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer. The Wall Street Transcript named Sanders the Best Chief Executive Officer in the semiconductor industry for the years 1983, 1984, and 1985, and runner-up in 1991. Sanders received the Robert N. Noyce Award, the industry's highest honor for leadership, from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in 1998, and in 2001 he joined a select group of high-tech leaders who have received the Medal of Achievement from the American Electronics Association, the nation's largest high-tech industry association.

Faculty:

Wen-mei Hwu, AMD Jerry Sanders Chair Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering