Skip to main content

UTEP Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Named Community Champion by SPIE

Last Updated on July 06, 2021 at 12:00 AM

Originally published July 06, 2021

By Christina Rodriguez

UTEP Communications

Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ph.D., professor of electrical and computer engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, was recognized as a Community Champion among the scientific community for his multitudinous contributions as a longtime member of SPIE, The International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and George W. Edwards Jr. El Paso Electric Distinguished Professor in Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, was recognized as a Community Champion by SPIE, The International Society for Optics and Photonics, for his contributions as a longtime member.
Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and George W. Edwards Jr. El Paso Electric Distinguished Professor in Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso, was recognized as a Community Champion by SPIE, The International Society for Optics and Photonics, for his contributions as a longtime member.

Velez-Reyes, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and George W. Edwards Jr. El Paso Electric Distinguished Professor in Engineering, received the honor designated to only about 10 percent of its members each year. Community Champions are recognized for the work they do annually to both give back to the optics and photonics community and advocate for the organization.

The distinguished UTEP professor’s research interests are in integrating physical, statistical, and machine-learning approaches for information extraction using multi/hyperspectral remote sensing in earth and space sciences, and defense and security applications. Velez-Reyes has over 170 publications in journals and conference proceedings, has contributed to four books and holds numerous prestigious awards and honors for his work.

Velez-Reyes has been an active SPIE member for over 22 years. In 2009, he was elected Fellow of SPIE for his contributions to hyperspectral remote sensing. He currently serves as the chair of the SPIE Conference on Algorithms, Technologies, and Applications for Multispectral and Hyperspectral Imaging.

“I am honored by this recognition for my service to SPIE as this is awarded to less than 10 percent of its membership,” Velez-Reyes said. “I greatly appreciate it and value the opportunities given to me by SPIE to support the technical community and grow in the field.”