C. L. Max Nikias
Encyclopedia
Chrysostomos L. "Max" Nikias (born September 30, 1952 in Komi Kepir, Cyprus
) is the current President of the University of Southern California
(USC). His term as the 11th president of the university began on August 3, 2010.
. There, he attended the Famagusta Gymnasium and graduated with honors. He married his wife Niki c. 1976, and the couple have two daughters, Georgiana and Maria. He received a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens
in 1977, and has an academic interest in Athenian drama
and democracy
. Nikias earned an master's degree in 1980 and a Ph.D. in 1982 in electrical engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo
. (His predecessor as USC president, Steven Sample
, is likewise an electrical engineer, and served as president of SUNY-Buffalo from 1982 to 1991.) Nikias lived on the Palos Verdes
Peninsula, an area southwest of Los Angeles, with his wife and two daughters. Following his inauguration as president of USC, he and his family moved to San Marino, located closer to both USC campuses.
from 1982 to 1985, and at Northeastern University from 1985 to 1991; he became a U.S. citizen in 1988.
He joined the USC faculty in 1991, the same year that Sample became the university's president. From 2001 to 2005, he was dean
of USC's Viterbi School of Engineering
. From 2005 to 2011, he served as provost. During his term, he launched the Visions and Voices program, which offers arts and humanities events for students. He has also led enhancements to the Keck School of Medicine
, including management changes. Since 2008, he has held the Malcolm R. Currie Chair in Technology and the Humanities. On March 11, 2010, he was chosen by a unanimous vote of the university's board of trustees to succeed Steven Sample
as president.
. Some of his other research interests have included radar
and sonar
technologies. He has consulted with corporations and the U.S. government
. Nikias is a member of the National Academy of Engineering
, and has won various awards for his work.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
) is the current President of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC). His term as the 11th president of the university began on August 3, 2010.
Personal life and education
Nikias was born in the Mediterranean island nation of CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. There, he attended the Famagusta Gymnasium and graduated with honors. He married his wife Niki c. 1976, and the couple have two daughters, Georgiana and Maria. He received a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens
National Technical University of Athens
The National Technical University of Athens , sometimes simply known as Athens Polytechnic, is among the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions of Greece....
in 1977, and has an academic interest in Athenian drama
Theatre of Ancient Greece
The theatre of Ancient Greece, or ancient Greek drama, is a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC. The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political and military power during this period, was its centre, where it was...
and democracy
Athenian democracy
Athenian democracy developed in the Greek city-state of Athens, comprising the central city-state of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, around 508 BC. Athens is one of the first known democracies. Other Greek cities set up democracies, and even though most followed an Athenian model,...
. Nikias earned an master's degree in 1980 and a Ph.D. in 1982 in electrical engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
. (His predecessor as USC president, Steven Sample
Steven Sample
Steven Browning Sample was the 10th president of the University of Southern California . He became president in 1991 and was succeeded by C.L. Max Nikias on August 3, 2010.-Background:Sample holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D...
, is likewise an electrical engineer, and served as president of SUNY-Buffalo from 1982 to 1991.) Nikias lived on the Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes is a name often used to refer to a group of coastal cities in the Palos Verdes Hills on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, within southwestern Los Angeles County in the U.S...
Peninsula, an area southwest of Los Angeles, with his wife and two daughters. Following his inauguration as president of USC, he and his family moved to San Marino, located closer to both USC campuses.
Faculty experience
Nikias was appointed to the faculty at the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
from 1982 to 1985, and at Northeastern University from 1985 to 1991; he became a U.S. citizen in 1988.
He joined the USC faculty in 1991, the same year that Sample became the university's president. From 2001 to 2005, he was dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of USC's Viterbi School of Engineering
Viterbi School of Engineering
The Viterbi School of Engineering is located at the University of Southern California in the United States. It was renamed following a $52 million donation by Andrew Viterbi...
. From 2005 to 2011, he served as provost. During his term, he launched the Visions and Voices program, which offers arts and humanities events for students. He has also led enhancements to the Keck School of Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of USC
The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California is a major center of medical research, education and patient care. Founded in 1885, the Keck School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in Southern California.Located on the university’s Health Sciences campus three miles ...
, including management changes. Since 2008, he has held the Malcolm R. Currie Chair in Technology and the Humanities. On March 11, 2010, he was chosen by a unanimous vote of the university's board of trustees to succeed Steven Sample
Steven Sample
Steven Browning Sample was the 10th president of the University of Southern California . He became president in 1991 and was succeeded by C.L. Max Nikias on August 3, 2010.-Background:Sample holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D...
as president.
Research
Nikias gained acclaim for his research in the fields of digital signal processing and communications, digital media systems, and biomedicineBiomedicine
Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that applies biological and other natural-science principles to clinical practice,. Biomedicine, i.e. medical research, involves the study of physiological processes with methods from biology, chemistry and physics. Approaches range from understanding...
. Some of his other research interests have included radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
and sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
technologies. He has consulted with corporations and the U.S. government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. Nikias is a member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, and has won various awards for his work.
Publications
- Nikias, Chrysostomos L and Min Shao. Signal processing with alpha-stable distributions and applications. New York: Wiley, c1995. xiii, 168 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. ISBN 0-471-10647-X
- Nikias, Chrysostomos L. and Athina P. Petropulu. Higher-order spectra analysis : a nonlinear signal processing framework. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : PTR Prentice Hall, c1993. xxii, 537 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. ISBN 0-13-678210-8