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Yolanda and Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio embrace in their kitchen.
Dr. Edgar and Yolanda Sanchez-Sinencio | Image: Courtesy of the Sanchez-Sinencio family

Through the contribution of several benefactors, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University has established the Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio and Yolanda F de Sanchez Chair, named for Distinguished Professor and TI Jack Kilby Chair Professor Dr. Edgar Sánchez-Sinencio and his wife. 

A longtime mentor, Sanchez-Sinencio, director of the Analog and Mixed-Signal Center, has supervised 60 master’s and 58 doctoral students. He is the co-author of several books and many research publications. He has received numerous honors, among the highest being an Honoris Causa Doctorate by the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics, Mexico, as well as a Darlington Award for his work on high-frequency filters. An Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers Fellow and Life Fellow, Sanchez-Sinencio has stayed active in his field. His research interests include energy harvesting techniques, power management, and medical and environment applications.

Sanchez-Sinencio has been a professor and researcher in the Texas A&M College of Engineering since 1984. Lawrence Loh ’91, a contributor to the Edgar and Yolanda Sanchez Endowed Chair, said that he was different from most professors he encountered.

“Edgar’s style as a professor and advisor was very warm and kind.” Loh said. “He opened his home and family to his students, especially to those who were far from their own home. When we gathered in his small office, we were a family, and he was the head, leading us into excellence.” 

Yolanda Sanchez-Silencio reads her husband's words aloud to a listening group on the online platform, Zoom.
Yolanda Sanchez-Sinencio reads her husband's words to listeners during a live virtual event. | Image: Rylie Tieding

And that Sanchez-Sinencio did. Many of his advisees and students have gone on to be prominent members of the academic and corporate communities.   

“Dr. Sanchez has so many distinguished and high-achieving alumni willing to acknowledge his guidance and continue the tradition of excellence of this group by contributing to this gift, I hope he’s very happy,” Loh said. “I see this chair as an opportunity to share the benefits we received from Dr. Sanchez’s guidance. We want those benefits to be inherited in the Analog and Mixed-Signal Center by students, and in extension, by all of humanity through the discoveries they make there.”

Loh’s fellow classmate and contributor, Sterling Smith ’93 echoed this desire. “It is my hope that the Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio and Yolanda F de Sanchez Chair will carry forward long into the future the spirit of both teaching and research excellence, and the selfless love that Edgar and Yolanda have shared with their students and colleagues over the years,” he said. “They are a true embodiment of the Aggie spirit.”

Silicon Labs CEO, Tyson Tuttle
Silicon Labs CEO, Tyson Tuttle | Image: Courtesy of Silicon Labs

Another contributor to the chair is Silicon Labs, with whom Sanchez-Sinencio enjoyed a fruitful relationship for much of his career. “Silicon Labs is proud to support the Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio and Yolanda F de Sanchez Chair at Texas A&M,” said Tyson Tuttle, chief executive officer at Silicon Labs. “For over 15 years, we have funded Dr. Sanchez’s research in analog and mixed-signal circuits and have directly benefited from the talented engineers produced by Texas A&M. This chair honors Dr. Sanchez’s lifetime of research contributions and enables his legacy to continue in the electrical engineering department. We look forward to continuing our close relationship with Texas A&M.”

To celebrate his career and academic excellence, as well as the establishment of the new endowed chair, the electrical and computer engineering department held a virtual recognition event via Zoom. Over 180 friends and supporters attended the event. 

A screenshot of a 5x5 grid of video-callers on the Zoom online platform.
A few of the attendees at the virtual recognition event in honor of the Sanchez-Sinencios | Image: Rylie Tieding

Numerous former colleagues and students spoke at the event detailing their relationship with Sanchez-Sinencio and how his work affected them and other students during his tenure. Congratulations were echoed in English and Spanish.  

The event concluded with a toast by Dr. Miroslav Begovic, electrical and computer engineering department head, to Sanchez and his wife, who were given commemorative champagne flutes in acknowledgment of their contribution to the department. 

An endowed chair is the highest academic award the college can bestow on a faculty member and distributions from the Edgar Sanchez-Sinencio and Yolanda F de Sanchez Chair will be used to support the teaching, research, service and professional development activities of the holder.

In addition to the endowed chair, the Yolanda and Edgar Sanchez Endowed Scholarship was also established by former student Wenjun Sheng and another donor who wishes to remain anonymous. This endowment will be used to support students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

How to give

The College of Engineering is one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, ranking first in undergraduate enrollment and ninth in graduate enrollment. Faculty endowments encourage and reward faculty members who embody the passion for, and commitment to the education of engineering students. They bring years of rich experiences from the field and add tremendous value to the College of Engineering. If you are interested in supporting faculty or would like more information on how you can give, please contact one of our development officers.