There’s a new face being backed by one of the largest endowments at Iowa State.

S.S. “Mani” Venkata, professor of electrical and computer engineering, was chosen as Palmer Chair on Jan. 1.

James Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, along with a group of faculty members, evaluated his work and determined he was the best fit for the position.

As Palmer Chair, Venkata will receive 5 percent of a $2 million endowment each year. He will choose how to use the money and plans to push the vision of the Palmers for the position.

James and Barb Palmer established the Palmer Chair in 1986. Both graduated from Iowa State, and James Palmer began his career at C-Cor Electronics in 1955 and retired as the company’s chairman and president in 1985.

The Palmers saw the importance of endowed chairs to attract and retain scholars, Melsa said.

“He is an outstanding researcher in the area of power systems and has established an excellent international reputation,” Melsa said.

He will use the money for his research, assistants and equipment.

“I would like to use the chair as a vehicle to promote and bring international visibility to Iowa State,” Venkata said.

Venkata’s research specialty is electric energy and power systems, and within this area he focuses on power delivery systems. Within these systems, he concentrates on various aspects of planning and operation.

Venkata teaches a class in electric energy distribution systems and a graduate-level course in the same subject manner.

Before becoming Palmer Chair, Venkata had been chairman of electrical and computer engineering since coming to Iowa State in 1996. He had the choice of keeping his previous position or becoming Palmer Chair.

He said he was pleasantly surprised when he was nominated because the Palmer Chair is a prestigious position and he accepted the position at the end of fall semester, he said.

Venkata is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and received its 2000 Third Millennium Medal. IEEE named him as Outstanding Power Engineering Educator in 1996.

Last year he was also awarded the Warren Boast Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award. He is also a member of the American Society of Engineering Education and the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology.

Loc Pham, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, is a research assistant for Venkata. He said Venkata pushes students to work hard and do research on their own.

“He directs students to the right track and guides them along the way,” Pham said.

The first Palmer Chair, William Lord, held the position until last year when he retired.

Venkata will remain Palmer Chair for five years, when his performance will be reviewed and he will be able to renew his position.