Join us for a week-long celebration April 20-24, 2026 dedicated to showcasing the remarkable achievements and innovations of our engineering students. Highlights include a block party sponsored by our world-renowned International Engineering Program, research showcase, college picnic (RSVP required), inspiring talks, capstone design showcase, and more!
E-Week 2026
MONDAY, APRIL 20
Undergraduate Research Showcase | 1:00-3:00 PM | FCAE Toray Commons Discover what engineering students are working on! From first-year researchers in the URISE program to seniors pushing the boundaries of innovation, this showcase highlights a wide range of projects spanning multiple disciplines. Come and be inspired by the next generation of engineering leaders!
Graduate Research Showcase | 3:30-5:00 PM | FCAE, Toray Commons Explore the cutting-edge research conducted by our graduate students. Engage with poster presentations and dynamic 3-minute talks across diverse engineering disciplines.
Endowed Professor Plenary Lecture| 5:00-6:00 PM | FCAE 010/025 Join us for an engaging lecture from one of the college’s esteemed endowed professors. Reception to follow.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
IEP Block Party | Engineering Quad (rain date Monday 4/27) Celebrate E-Week with the International Engineering Program (IEP) at this lively event for all engineering students, faculty, and staff! Enjoy lawn games, create your own grab-and-go snack packs (while supplies last), and even hang out with the URI therapy dog. Plus, enter the raffle for a chance to win an IEP T-shirt!
RAMS Soda Bottle Rocket Competition | 3:00-5:00 PM | Engineering Quad
Design, build and launch a soda bottle rocket and compete against Dean Marchese to see whose rocket can fly the farthest. This exciting event will feature student-built rockets blasting into the sky, showcasing creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills in action.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
College of Engineering Picnic | 11:30-1:00 PM | Engineering Quad Get ready to soak up the sun (fingers crossed!) and enjoy time filled with fun, food, and festivities at our Annual College Picnic on the Quad! This cherished tradition brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College for a memorable outdoor gathering that celebrates the spirit of our engineering community. RSVP here.
RISICA Lecture and Reception | 4:00-5:00 PM | Toray Commons, FCAE (Reception immediately following the lecture) We are honored to welcome Electrical Engineering alumnus Steve Mullaney as our distinguished speaker. His talk, “Creating New Categories: 40 Years of Lessons Learned from Silicon Valley Startups and Incumbents,” will reflect on four decades of leadership and innovation in the technology sector.
Steve Mullaney is a retired Silicon Valley executive with more than 40 years of experience in network infrastructure and security. He most recently served as President and CEO of Aviatrix, retiring in 2023. He now serves as an independent board director and startup advisor on the East Coast.
Previously, Steve was CEO of Nicira, leading the company through its $1.26B acquisition by VMware in 2012. He later served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of VMware’s Networking and Security Business Unit. He also held leadership roles at Palo Alto Networks and other major technology firms, helping pioneer the next-generation firewall market.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
College of Engineering Advisory Council Meeting | 8:00-4:00 PM | Bliss Hall 410 (not open to the public) The College of Engineering Advisory Council convenes for its biannual meeting to discuss strategic initiatives, academic and research programs, industry partnerships, and the future of engineering. Their insights and recommendations play a key role in shaping the direction of the college and enhancing its impact on the engineering community.
Capstone Design Showcase | 12:00-4:00 PM* | Toray Commons, FCAE Prepare to be inspired at the Capstone Design Showcase, where graduating engineering seniors present their year-long design projects in an interactive exhibition. *Mechanical Engineering is from 12:00-3:00 PM; all other programs will run from 1:00-4:00 PM See this year’s projects!
Join Us! Most events take place in The Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering (FCAE) located on the URI Kingston Campus. Visitors should park at the Welcome Center (GPS address: 75 Briar Lane, Kingston, RI 02881) and register your vehicle by selecting “Campus Tour Parking Pass Lot 1” (no charge). Campus Map and Directions.
Questions? Please contact Rosetta Spino at rosetta.spino@uri.edu