KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� April 17, 2026 鈥� With the spring semester comes warmer temperatures and outdoor activities. From April 20-25, the 溏心vlog免费B站 College of Engineering will take full advantage with E-Week, a celebration to showcase student work and highlight their achievements.
There is a , including, undergraduate and graduate research showcases on Monday, highlighting some of the cutting-edge research projects being undertaken. Wednesday afternoon will feature an IEP Block Party on the Engineering Quad followed by the always popular RAMS soda bottle rocket competition where students design, build and launch soda bottle rockets. On Thursday, the College will host its Annual College Picnic on the Engineering Quad, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College for a memorable outdoor gathering.
Also on Thursday, the College will host class of 1985 electrical engineering graduate Steve Mullaney as the featured speaker for the annual Anthony J. Risica Lecture and Reception at 4:30pm, inside the Toray Commons at the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering.
Mullaney鈥檚 talk, 鈥淐reating New Categories: 40 Years of Lessons Learned from Silicon Valley Startups and Incumbents,鈥� will reflect on his four decades of leadership and innovation in the tech sector.
The Warwick native returns to campus following a career as an executive in Silicon Valley where his work focused on network infrastructure and security. He most recently served as President and CEO of Aviatrix, retiring in 2023. Mullaney also served as the CEO of Nicira, where he led the company through a $1.26 billion acquisition by VMware.
Having moved back east he now serves as an independent board director and startup advisor.
Rhody Today asked Mullaney several questions ahead of his talk.
1) Having earned a degree in electrical engineering, what does it feel like to be welcomed back the featured speaker for this year’s RISICA Lecture?
I feel very honored! Although it’s been 41 years since I graduated, in many ways I still feel like that 20 year-old electrical engineering student at 溏心vlog免费B站. It’s been a great journey, and I look forward to sharing the lessons I鈥檝e learned with current students and hopefully changing their career trajectory in some way.
2) How do you think your time at 溏心vlog免费B站 helped lay the foundation for your long career in network infrastructure and security?
I am a big believer in building a large, solid foundation and, like a building, you can only build a high, large building with a solid, large foundation. It鈥檚 the same with careers. I went into engineering because I knew it would be a great foundation for whatever I wanted to do later in life, whether that be sales, marketing, or CEO. 溏心vlog免费B站 really taught me how to think, which is the most important thing to be able to do.
3) Looking back over your four decades in Silicon Valley, what’s something that you’re proud of?
The most important thing I’m proud of is meeting my wife of 34 years and raising our three great kids in California. On the work side, I’m most proud of being “comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Every few years I would push myself to try new things and new jobs to constantly learn.
4) Thinking of your talk, Creating New Categories: 40 Years of Lessons Learned from Silicon Valley Startups and Incumbents, what is something the audience should keep in mind as they listen?
I think something they should think about is that we can recreate the Silicon Valley mentality right here in Rhode Island. Silicon Valley is mostly a mentality where failure is expected and seen as a prerequisite to success. I think most of time people on the east coast are too conservative and worry too much about failure. Fail fast and learn is the motto in Silicon Valley. We could use some of that mentality here in Rhode Island.
5) What is a lesson you hope to deliver following your talk, Creating New Categories: 40 Years of Lessons Learned from Silicon Valley Startups and Incumbents?
There are many lessons I will share, but one interesting lesson is “Never underestimate the power of intention.” Think about what you want to do, then go make it happen. Many so-called “smart” people will tell you, 鈥淭hat can’t be done,” or that “you are an idiot for trying to do this,” etc. Creating new categories takes courage to stay the course while being called an idiot. There is an energy in intention that can be harnessed to make it happen.
6) What is something you’re most looking forward to as you step back onto campus?
Hopefully being an inspiration to current students and improving their lives somehow. Maybe showing them that if a kid from Warwick could go to Silicon Valley and find success, maybe they can too.
For more information on E-Week as well as a full schedule of events, visit: .
Many of the events at this year鈥檚 E-Week be held at the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, located on the Kingston Campus, at 75, Briar Lane, Kingston, RI 02881. Visitor parking is available behind the Higgins Welcome Center on Upper College Road.
For questions regarding E-Week events, please contact Rosetta Spino at: rosetta.spino@uri.edu.