It is with great sadness that we share with you that our dear friendand colleague, Scott Wills, died on the morning of Friday, December 2 after along, brave battle with melanoma.

Known for his great enthusiasm and passion for his students and loveof learning, Dr. Wills joined the faculty of the School of Electrical andComputer Engineering (ECE) at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991. Hetaught in the area of computer engineering, including the introduction to computerengineering course and courses in mechanisms for computing systems, computerarchitecture, and embedded video surveillance.

A very popular, award-winning teacher, Dr. Wills taught almost 2,900students in 83 classes. Most recently, in 2009, he was honored with the GeorgiaTech Outstanding Innovative Use of Education Technology Award, which hereceived with his wife and collaborator, Linda Wills, and the School of ECE Richard M. Bass/Eta Kappa Nu OutstandingTeacher Award, which is determined by a majority vote of the ECE senior class.

Dr. Wills’ research interests were in the areas of embedded surveillancesystems, portable image processing architectures, and supercomputerinterconnection networks. He and Dr. Linda Wills co-led the Mobile Vision Embedded Systems(MOVES) research group. During his career, Dr. Wills graduated 23 Ph.D.students and seven master’s students and supervised over 24 undergraduateresearchers. One-third of his doctoral students are in university positions andtwo-thirds have joined leading electronics companies, including Intel,Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Sarnoff Corporation.

A passionate advocate for engineering education, Dr. Wills was aleader in defining the new computer engineering curriculum within the School ofECE. He was also a leader in education on the Institute level, serving on theInstitute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee from 1999-2005 and as its chairfor two years, 2003-2005, and he served on the Institute Graduate CurriculumCommittee, 2005-2007. He also served on the Joint College of Computing/Collegeof Engineering committees that formed the Computational Science and EngineeringProgram and the Software Engineering certificate.

One of Dr. Wills’ students once said of him, “I don’t know of anyother person who has better infused in students the passion for the subject thathe or she possesses.” Dr. Wills’ personal concern for students and hisunselfish efforts to creating classes with appropriate, innovative uses ofmodern IT have been inspirational to students and faculty alike.

MemorialService Information

Funeralservices for Scott Wills will be held on Monday, December 5 and also onTuesday, December 6. On December 5, the service will be held at 3 p.m. atDuluth First United Methodist, 3208 Duluth Highway 120, Duluth 30096. Churchinformation and directions are also available at http://www.duluthumc.org/ and directions http://www.duluthumc.org/home.aspx?igid=50652

On December 6, a funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. at the Catholic Churchof Saint Monica, 1700 Buford Highway, Duluth. The family will receive guestsafter the Mass in the church hall. Church information and directions are alsoavailable at http://www.saintmonicas.com/and http://www.saintmonicas.com/Parish%20Info/Directions.htm

Donations may be sent to AIM at Melanoma, 3217 Bob O Link Court, Plano, TX75093.

The family will receive friends on Sunday December 4 from 4-7 p.m. at Bill HeadFuneral Homes & Crematory, Inc at 3088 Highway 120, Duluth, GA. Directionsmay also be found at http://www.billheadfuneralhome.com/page6.htmland click on Duluth chapel option.

Scott meant a great deal to all of us, and he, his contributions, and hispresence will be missed very, very much. Please continue to show your supportfor his wife, Linda, and her family and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.