MSOE Dimensions Magazine - Fall/Winter 2022-23

CARING FOR KAREN

MSOE nursing student Jackie Lynchcares for “Karen,” a realistically proportioned 25-week preterm manikin that was developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics. All nursing students interact with Karen during Nursing Care of Clients with Complex Episodic Health Challenges. During this course, students focus on the care of critically ill clients of all ages— including premature infants.

It’s no secret that MSOE graduates are in high demand, no matter the state of the economy. The hands-on educational experiences we provide our students prepares them to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. Our reputation of preparing leaders is well known in industry. When I meet with corporate partners and industry representatives, I consistently hear stories about the value our graduates are delivering to their organizations—and they want to hire more of our students and alumni for internships and full-time positions.

I attribute this to the MSOE Mindset. We are committed to helping students develop the MSOE Mindset, which identifies graduates as leaders of character; responsible professionals; passionate learners; and value creators. The mindset is an assimilation of the Servant-Leader Mindset, the Entrepreneurial Mindset, and our mission, vision, values and commitments. The mindset was inspired by MSOE Regent Robert Kern. He led by example and embodied all these attributes. Dr. Kern passed away in November and while we are deeply saddened by this, we are proud to carry on his legacy. Read more about Dr. Kern and the impact he has made on page 4.

Our work is being recognized in many ways. In October I was proud to represent MSOE along with Dr. DeAnna Leitzke ’98, ’08 at the Servant Leadership Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Seton Hall University. There, the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership included MSOE in their inaugural class of inductees as a Servant-Led Organization. It was an honor to be inducted to this hall of fame along with Dr. Richard Pieper Sr., MSOE Corporation member, who was recognized for his commitment to placing a primary focus on the well-being of others. MSOE’s servant leadership e orts are made possible thanks to the Suzanne and Richard Pieper Family Foundation.

I am proud to be a part of this extraordinary university surrounded by bright minds and an inspirational community. I wish you all a happy and relaxing holiday season.

Sincerely,

JOHN Y. WALZ, Ph.D. President

Progress is underway on Raiders Field, the new home of MSOE’s softball team. Located on the site of the old “grass athletic field,” it is on track to open in spring. In addition to the upgraded space, students will still be able to use and enjoy the sand volleyball court, Frisbee golf holes, walking paths and green space. Raiders Field is being funded by a gift from Dr. Kathleen Ruehlow ’72, as well as gifts from Matthew ’99 and Jodi ’98 Burow, and Fiduciary Management Inc.

Dear Alumni and Friends,

OVERHEARD ...

BENJAMIN PAULSON, COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT AND UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FELLOW

FEATURES

6 Shifting into Semesters

A significant shift is occurring at MSOE—the university is transitioning from a quarter-based academic calendar to a semester model in fall 2023.

14 Research Revealed Undergraduate research at MSOE empowers students to achieve their dreams of making positive impacts in the community and industry.

At the Forefront

Around Campus

In the Community

Undergraduate research reveals new opportunities for students like Efrem Dana.

ON THE COVER: Sophomore Sierra Andrews discusses her undergraduate research project with friends in the new University Terrace.

“I’m looking forward to the connections I can build between students, faculty and entrepreneurs to promote a culture of ‘going beyond the classroom’ at MSOE.”

MSOE faculty, sta and students prepare for the upcoming transition from quarters to semesters.

The flagship publication of Milwaukee School of Engineering. With stories inspired by our mission and vision, Dimensions shines a light on our students, faculty, alumni and campus events, all while highlighting the values that unite us.

Editor JoEllen Burdue Managing Editor

Annette Pirrung

Creative Director

Kristin Dunn

Graphic Designers

Tyler Beaver, Peg Houghton

Production Manager

Leigh Ann Hass

Contributing Writers

Jillian Kokott, Rachel Schmidt, Colin Terrill, Dr. John Walz

Images

Cleveland State University Center for Human-Machine Systems, Front Room Photography, Haley Mac, Bryan Pechacek, Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, Tribute Film & Photo, Vecteazy.com

Use, reproduction or storage of the name, address or other information about any individual identified within this magazine is strictly prohibited and constitutes misappropriation of corporate property.

Address correspondence to Dimensions Magazine 1025 N. Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 marketing@msoe.edu or (414) 277-7117

Fall/Winter

HALL OF FAME

Servant-leadership strength

MSOE has been recognized as a Servant-Led Organization by the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership at Seton Hall University and is part of the inaugural group of nine inductees to the 2022 Servant Leader Hall of Fame. Also inducted to the hall of fame was Dr. Richard Pieper Sr., MSOE Corporation member. The hall of fame recognizes high-profile individuals and organizations that are committed to the well-being of others, resulting in benefits to individuals, communities, organizations and society. As a Servant-Led Organization awardee, MSOE was recognized for its solid track record of fostering a culture of servant leadership, has servant leadership reflected in its values and mission, and has robust volunteer and/or philanthropic initiatives and programs in support of communities it serves. President John Walz works to ensure these qualities are reflected in MSOE’s curriculum and culture.

Servant leadership has been a focus for MSOE since 2004 when the Pieper Family Foundation Endowed Chair for ServantLeadership was established. This summer Dr. Michael Sevier was named to this position, succeeding Doug Nelson. As chair, Sevier is responsible for developing future servant leaders in their chosen field to serve by exemplifying character and ethical values. Characteristics of a servant-leader include being selfaware, a community builder, and ethical—which all contribute to the development of the MSOE Mindset. He will work in close

collaboration with the CREATE Institute under Dr. DeAnna Leitzke’s ’98, ’08 leadership to promote the characteristics of servant leadership philosophy in the MSOE community through student programming, faculty development, and project-based experiential learning opportunities.

Sevier is an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He joined the MSOE faculty in 2016 after working as a senior project engineer at ATA Engineering in Los Angeles. He holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara.

Dr. John Walz and Dr. DeAnna Leitzke (center) accept MSOE’s Servant-Led Organization award from Reginald Lewis, executive director of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and Graham Honaker and Je Blade, Greenleaf Center trustees.

In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Kern

They were instrumental in the creation of MSOE’s MBA in Education Leadership and the Bachelor of Science in BioMolecular Engineering and its a iliated laboratories. They also supported the development of the CREATE Institute which encourages growth of the MSOE Mindset in undergraduates. The mindset is an assimilation of the Servant-Leader Mindset, the Entrepreneurial Mindset, and MSOE’s strategic plan, mission, vision, values and commitments. It identifies graduates as leaders of character; responsible professionals; passionate learners; and value creators.

As word spread of Dr. Kern’s passing, messages of condolence and tribute were shared by friends and MSOE alumni on the university’s social media channels.

Milwaukee School of Engineering is mourning the loss of MSOE Regent Robert Kern. Dr. Kern passed away on Nov. 8, 2022 at the age of 96. He served MSOE as a member of the Board of Regents since 1992. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the university and is a member of MSOE’s Athletic Hall of Fame. “Words cannot express how honored we are to have known Bob Kern and to have learned from and been inspired by him,” said Dr. John Walz, MSOE president. “Dr. Kern’s entrepreneurial values have been instilled in MSOE and live on in the MSOE Mindset due to the support he provided the university and the example he set throughout his lifetime. His and Patricia’s dedication has been transformational for our university, enabling us to o er our students world-class experiences both in and out of the classroom.”

Bob and his wife Patricia Kern founded Generac Power Systems in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1959 out of their garage with five employees and grew it into a 2,000-person operation with facilities in Wisconsin, the Midwest and overseas. The company produces generators for industrial and consumer markets. When the company was sold, they established the Kern Family Foundation.

The Kerns led the Kern Family Foundation for many years and are longtime supporters of MSOE and its scholarship programs. They were firm believers in fostering citizens of good character and supporting the well-being and development of students as a whole.

The Kern Family Foundation focuses on initiatives that have long-term systemic impact. The foundation helped establish Project Lead The Way, the nation’s leading K–12 STEM curriculum. The foundation also encourages engineering students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset through the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) at dozens of engineering schools (including MSOE).

The Kern Family’s support of MSOE was true leadership and foundational in the campus as I knew it and how others have for decades,” said Peter Feilen ’09. “Hats o to their leadership! May they rest in peace.”

Thanks to the Kerns’ generosity, MSOE built the Kern Center, a health, wellness, fitness and recreation facility. They also supported the construction of Pamela and Hermann Viets Field. These facilities are home to several of MSOE’s varsity, club and intramural sports teams and campus recreation.

“There were many things [the Kerns] did as well which made MSOE student life better, such as o ering tickets to the Generac race at Road America,” said Josh Luther ’10. “My sympathy to the Kern family and I hope that they are able to take peace in knowing that Dr. Robert Kern made a lasting impression on an incredible number of people.”

Recently, MSOE was able to completely renovate and expand one of its residence halls with support from the Kern Family Foundation. The facility was transformed

into a living-learning community (LLC) and reopened as Hermann Viets Tower. The LLC encourages academic success and gives students with similar academic, social and personal interests the opportunity to live together, collaborate and share experiences.

“The Kerns and the Kern Family Foundation have been instrumental in supporting the development and growth of new academic programs at MSOE as well as curricular and co-curricular opportunities for faculty and sta to foster the MSOE Mindset in our students through project-based experiential learning. We will always be grateful for the incredible impact that Dr. Kern had on MSOE’s academic enterprise,” said Dr. Eric Baumgartner, executive vice president of academics.

MSOE is forever thankful for the generosity and support of Drs. Robert and Patricia Kern and the Kern Family Foundation. Their impact is visible on campus in a major way:

•Kern Center (below)

•Pamela and Hermann Viets Field (below)

•Hermann Viets Tower (left)

•MSOE Annual Fund

•Kern Family Foundation Scholarship

•MBA in Education Leadership

•Bachelor of Science in BioMolecular Engineering

•Biomolecular engineering and chemistry laboratories

•CREATE Institute

•MSOE Mindset

CLASS IS IN SESSION

New academic o erings

In keeping with MSOE’s mission of being the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, the university is excited to announce new courses, certificates and degrees for fall of 2023. Among the new o erings will be an M.S. in Machine Learning and B.S. degrees in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Systems Management.

MSOE will increase accessibility to the Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning that launched in 2021 by o ering it online beginning fall 2023. It will be renamed the Graduate Certificate in Applied Machine Learning (to avoid confusion with the master’s degree). MSOE is partnering with a company called Everspring to help market this program throughout Wisconsin and beyond. A second Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning Engineering is also set to launch, in person and online. Students can apply these two graduate certificates toward the M.S. in Machine Learning.

New undergraduate minors include Business Analytics and Improvement, Business Entrepreneurship, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Finance, Gerontology, Management, and Supply Chain Management. Undergraduate certificates in German and Spanish will be added to the current o erings of Gerontology and Artificial Intelligence for Emerging Applications certificates.

MSOE also will launch new undergraduate research courses that will be available to students in any academic program. The 2023–24 Academic Catalogs will be published at catalog.msoe.edu in January.

(above) Drs. Robert and Patricia Kern at Viets Field in 2013.

Shifting into Semesters

AA significant shift is occurring at Milwaukee School of Engineering—the university is transitioning from a quarterbased academic calendar to a semester model in fall 2023. MSOE will o er a fall semester and a spring semester, and each will be 16 weeks long (15 week of instruction and one week for final exams).

The change was first brought forward as an idea during MSOE’s strategic planning process in 2017. After lengthy discussion, the strategic planning committee (comprised of a cross-section of MSOE faculty, sta , students, alumni and Regents) agreed to evaluate MSOE’s quarter-based academic calendar model as part of the university’s final plan. A task force was then convened to carry out this task, which also included evaluating additional models, to ensure that the chosen model would help students be successful in meeting their academic and professional goals while meeting the needs of MSOE’s employers, corporate partners and alumni.

Following a year of researching all aspects of several academic calendar models, and soliciting input from MSOE stakeholders through meetings, surveys and interviews, the task force recommended that MSOE change to a semester-based model based on their overall assessment that the strength of MSOE’s educational model operates independently of the calendar model. This recommendation was approved by MSOE’s Leadership Team and is supported by the Board of Regents.

Research showed that MSOE is part of a shrinking group of institutions that follow a quarter-based academic calendar. In the 1980s, about 25% of top-tier institutions were on a quarter system. By 2019, that number dropped to fewer than 10%.

The transition to semesters will further support student success, persistence and retention in a number of ways. Students will have greater opportunity to digest what they are learning and dive deeper into the course content. There will be more opportunity for high-impact educational practices and experiential learning. And when it comes to clinical experiences, internships, co-ops and industry-sponsored projects, the semester model better aligns with our industry partners’ needs—which will give students richer real-world experiences.

The semester model will o er greater access to student exchange and study abroad opportunities with most international universities following a traditional semester model. It also allows for a smoother transition and transfer of credits to MSOE for transfer students.

“I am so proud of and thankful for our faculty,” said Dr. John Walz, president. “They have spent countless hours preparing for this transition and reimagining the curricula. They have ensured that application-oriented, experiential learning remains the hallmark of an MSOE education.”

MSOE’s Strategic Plan is organized around three key commitments:

• Commitment to Engaging Our Community

• Commitment to Learning and Discovery

• Commitment to Being Extraordinary

Learn more about the semester conversion at msoe.edu/semester. View overall progress on the Strategic Plan at msoe.edu/strategicplan.

The new curricula will not compromise time to degree and students will not miss out on any learning opportunities—all subject matter has been incorporated into the new system.

Students enrolled at MSOE who are not graduating before fall 2023 will have an individualized transition plan that includes their time on the quarter calendar and remaining time on the semester calendar. To assist with the creation of these plans, Drs. Chris Taylor and Jim Lembke developed a sophisticated software platform called “Semester Transition Advising Tool” (STAT) with software engineering students Christian Doughty, Thy Le, Bilal Syed and Michael Zabrowski. Academic advisors simply upload each student’s course history and the system generates a table to show the student’s progress toward their degree and maps out which courses they need to meet graduation requirements in the semester system. The team also created how-to documentation and video tutorials on the software.

Throughout Fall Quarter 2022, academic advisors developed and evaluated these transition plans and reviewed them with students. Changing over to semesters involved more than rewriting the curriculum. Faculty and academic sta spent the 2020–21 academic year developing a new structure to guide the transition. This included writing guiding principles, rules for curriculum development, common courses, the academic calendar, general education framework, common learning outcomes, weekly schedule structure, common assessment tools, integrative learning guidelines, and academic policies.

Focus then transitioned to curriculum and 2021–22 was deemed the “Year of Curriculum.” Faculty worked on more than 1,000 courses and nearly 30 degree programs (and this does not include specializations, study abroad versions or articulation agreements within those programs). Additionally, 17 minors, 11 certificates, and transition courses and transition plans for each program were approved by MSOE’s Council for Academic Planning and Executive Educational Council.

Future Business Leaders made waves at nationals

MSOE students filled their trophy shelves with new hardware after competing at the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) National Leadership Conference in Chicago. Benjamin Kraft, computer engineering, took home first place in Computer Concepts and fifth place in Help Desk. Nathan Johnson, mechanical engineering, received second place in Macroeconomics, third in Project Management, and sixth in Microeconomics. And Alex Kuriatnyk, BBA accounting, earned tenth place in Accounting Principles. “This was the 17th year in a row that MSOE students qualified for the national conference,” said Dr. Trina Moskalik, Rader School of Business, who serves as both the MSOE chapter and Wisconsin state advisor for PBL.

SWEET RIDE

Fluid Power Vehicle secured the Design Award

A team of mechanical engineering seniors turned heads with their unique tilt steering and rowing machine design at the annual National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge in April 2022. Their unique design earned them the Judge’s Choice: Design Award along with a $500 student cash award. They were also recognized for their excellent team dynamics and presentation delivery and given honorable mention for the Team Award and Best Presentation Award.

The annual challenge requires the construction of a humanpowered vehicle that uses hydraulic components to convert the rider input into vehicle motion. MSOE’s team developed the RATT, or Rowing Actuated Tadpole Tricycle, to bring an innovative and unique approach to the annual competition. They combined numerous di erent novel solutions to create one of the most unique vehicles in the competition’s history.

The team was comprised of mechanical engineering seniors Jacob Beine, Darrian Garrett, Jason Herrera-Diaz, Matthew Shales, Jacob Sirny, Adam Aragon and advised by Dr. Luis A. Rodriguez, Mechanical Engineering.

GOING FOR GOLD

MSOE took first at SAE Formula Hybrid competition

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MSOE’s formula hybrid team took first place overall in the hybrid category at the 2022 SAE Formula Hybrid Vehicle Competition at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in May 2022. In addition to the first-place trophy, MSOE students also won the IEEE Excellence in Project Management Award. Competition scoring is equally split between team performance and vehicle performance. It came down to MSOE’s strong showing in the project management and design events, which led them to the win. The team consisted of approximately 40 students and was advised by Dr. Matt Schaefer, Mechanical Engineering Department.

This was the 17th year in a row that MSOE students qualified for the national conference.”

DR. TRINA MOSKALIK RADER

Faculty/sta achievements

The Johanna Seelhorst Werwath distinguished Sta Award was awarded to Marc Dannecker, Registrar’s O ice, and Je MacDonald, Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department.

Dr. Ruth Barratt, Rader School of Business, joined the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity (WCMP).

Dr. Amy Ketchum, School of Nursing, was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB).

Dr. Martha Libster, School of Nursing, authored a new book, Precision Nursing Science: Integrative Holistic Nursing with the Elements of Care.

Dr. RJ Nowling, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, received the 2022 Karl O. Werwath Research Award.

Colin Terrill, Athletics, was selected into the Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Program Class of 2022–23 through the College Sports Communicators.

Dr. Prabhakar Venkateswaran, Mechanical Engineering Department, was awarded the 2022 Regal Rexnord Educator of the Year Award.

Dr. Wujie Zhang, Physics and Chemistry Department, was awarded the 2022 Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award from the Engineering Division Councilors of CUR. Zhang also co-authored “Investigating the stabilization of IFN-ą2a by replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation” in the Journal of Molecular Modeling

MSOE’s RATT (Rowing Actuated Tadpole Tricycle) won the Judge’s Choice: Design Award.

AT THE

COMING UP

David Plowden: The Architecture of Agriculture

April 21–Aug. 20, 2023

The Grohmann Museum once again showcases the photography of David Plowden in honor of the artist’s 90th birthday. But instead of Plowden’s trademark work featuring railroads, bridges and heavy industry, this exhibition looks at feed mills, grain elevators, barns and the altered landscape of the Midwest and the Great Plains.

Over 50 years of photography is distilled in this collection of vanishing views of America’s past. As with much of Plowden’s work, many of the scenes captured are no more, existing only on film, in memory, or in scattered remains across the rural countryside.

A Time of Toil and Triumph: Selections from the Shogren-Meyer Collection of American Art

Through Feb. 26, 2023

For its 15th anniversary, the Grohmann Museum organized a blockbuster exhibition from one of the premier collections of American industrial art—The Shogren-Meyer Collection. Focused primarily on the art of the 1930s and ’40s, it also includes many fine examples from the surrounding decades, with many created during the depression era—a time of both toil and triumph.

(Clockwise from above) Edmund Lewandowski (1914–1998), The Waterfront (Buoy Tenders), 1935, Oil on canvas, 32 x 47 in.; Philip Pinner (1910–1977), Roof Tops, 1932, Oil on canvas, 24 x 17 in.; Jack Keijo Steele (1919–2003), The Sweeper, ca.1940, Oil on Masonite, 35 x 26 in.

David Plowden (b.1932), Carter, Montana—Street and Grain Elevator, 1971

CATCH IT BEFORE IT CLOSES!

Grohmann Museum Celebrates 15th Anniversary

1,700 works of art, 49 exhibitions, three floors, one rooftop sculpture garden, and 15 years of excellence. The Grohmann Museum is home to the world’s most comprehensive art collection dedicated to depictions of human work, and is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year with a blockbuster exhibition, Oktoberfest celebration and more.

The Grohmann Museum is named in honor of Dr. Eckhart Grohmann, an MSOE Regent, Milwaukee businessman and avid art collector who donated his collection to MSOE in 2001 and subsequently the funds to purchase, renovate and operate the museum. The original collection included 450 works of art and served as the foundation of the Grohmann Museum collection. Today that collection has grown to 1,700 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from 1580 to the present. They reflect a variety of artistic styles and subjects that document the evolution of organized work—from farming and mining to trades such as glassblowing and seaweed gathering. Thousands of visitors—both locally and from around the globe—visit the museum and enjoy the ever-growing collections and special exhibitions each year.

To commemorate this milestone, the Grohmann Museum hosted a 15th Anniversary Oktoberfest celebration of Grohmann on Oct. 1. The event included music, food, drinks, games, art and artisans, plus a special unveiling of a portrait of Grohmann. The portrait was painted by renowned painter Patrice Hudson and depicts Grohmann in his o ice within the top floor of the museum.

In its 15 years, the Grohmann Museum has seen endless growth and prosperity, hundreds of thousands of visitors and field trips of all ages. It serves as a cornerstone of campus, o ering space for classes, opportunities to integrate art into class projects, and houses the Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department. From gallery nights and artist visits, special events and rooftop gatherings, the Grohmann Museum provides a space for the community to gather, learn and enjoy world renowned artistry.

Three generations of Grohmanns with the new portrait of Eckhart Grohmann that was unveiled at the Oktoberfest celebration. Left to right: Erik Grohmann, Eckhart Grohmann and Tom Grohmann, Eckhart’s grandson and son.

Hanging out

Hammocks in the new University Terrace are the perfect spot to hang between classes.

CAREER CONNECTIONS

On the other side of the booth

The Fall 2022 Career Fair was abuzz with students bouncing booth to booth to meet with 363 employers, including MSOE alumni like Rock Boynton ’21. Boynton, a firmware engineer at Tesla, returned to MSOE to attend the Career Fair, this time on the other side of the booth.

“It was a bit surreal being on the other side—definitely a lot less nerves! But it was great being able to hear about all of the students’ experiences. It was especially fun to talk about projects I had also completed in my course work and learning what di erent students took away and learned from them,” said Boynton.

It was the first time Tesla attended the Career Fair. Boynton was excited for the company to meet and interact with MSOE’s talented students. Plus, it was a great chance for him to return to his home away from home.

“My main motivation to participate in the Career Fair was to try to give back to the university that gave me so much. While a smaller school, I know from experience that it is packed with talent and potential and

I wanted to do my part to bring that to light in a broader scope. I was also confident that we would be able to find great engineers who could help Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

Rock Boynton ’21

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning promise to significantly alter the management, delivery and trajectory of biomedical research and clinical practice. Dr. Andrew McAninch, MSOE and Dr. Fabrice Jotterand, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), co-organized a conference entitled “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care” in September. An interdisciplinary group of experts gathered to address the ethical concerns arising from the widespread use of AI in health care and to learn from students and researchers in this space. More than 200 students, educators and researchers attend the event, which was held at MSOE and MCW.

INNOVATION New cohort of University Innovation Fellows

MSOE’s newest cohort of University Innovation Fellows developed four new priorities and initiatives to strengthen and spread innovation and entrepreneurship across campus. The cohort is comprised of Bansari Modi, civil engineering; James Siedschlag, mechanical engineering, Benjamin Paulson, computer science; and Asher Sprigler, computer engineering. The group is excited to engage with others and make a positive impact on campus.

“I’m looking forward to the connections I can build between students, faculty and entrepreneurs to promote a culture of ‘going beyond the classroom’ at MSOE,” said Paulson. “Milwaukee and MSOE both o er incredible resources for MSOE students to become leaders.”

Supermileage vehicle finished in fifth

Students on MSOE’s SAE Supermileage team showcased their fuel-e iciency expertise at the SAE Supermileage Engineering Design Competition, where they took fifth place with 623 miles per gallon.

Although there were challenges along the way—including the hood of their car coming o on their first run—the students said that’s what competition is all about. “The competition isn’t easy and the unexpected hardships along the way are what make it di icult, but that is part of the challenge and a lot like reality in the engineering world,” said a team spokesperson.

Alexander Neuwirth ’21 presents his work, “Analysis of biomedical hyperspectral data using deep learning and high-performance computing.” Neuwirth’s research group included students, faculty and researchers from MSOE, the University of Houston and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

RESEARCH REVEALED:

WWhen you picture undergraduate research, you may envision students in white lab coats, elbow deep in bubbling test tubes and white boards filled with calculations. While this image may reign true for some, the opportunities for undergraduate research expand across programs and enable students to work on realworld projects that make real impacts in their communities and industry.

Sophomore biomedical engineering and computer science double major Sierra Andrews took her knowledge and passions to conduct undergraduate research through a 10-week summer program at Rehabilitation Engineering at Cleveland State University (RE@CSU), funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program during summer 2022. The program immerses undergraduate students in research projects that aim to improve the lives of people with movement disabilities. This initiative was especially close to Andrews’ heart as she was injured in a car crash her senior year of high school that severed her spinal cord. Now someone who uses a wheelchair, Andrews is determined to make a di erence in the lives of others.

“The research project I was selected for worked on bringing self-care robots into homes to help people with disabilities complete everyday tasks,” explained Andrews. “It focused on determining what changes needed to be made to the robots to ensure that they can be usable outside of a lab setting. I was particularly excited for this research as someone who is a part of the paraplegic community. People with any sort of paralysis commonly have di iculty doing everyday tasks, which is incredibly disheartening, and the possibility of helping create something that makes said tasks easier is an amazing opportunity and incredibly important to me.”

The everyday tasks Andrews’ group focused on included brushing teeth and eating. CSU developed a system that allows people to use their eye and head movements to select objects identified by computer vision software

SIERRA ANDREWS, SOPHOMORE

and have a robot interact with a selected object. Andrews’ group worked on transitioning this system from a controlled laboratory environment to a less predictable home environment. Andrews worked with another student to help design and test various tools the robot could potentially use in the future. She also conducted virtual interviews as well as visited participants’ homes to learn about their experiences with the robots. Her interview results were submitted to the principal investigator.

“The biggest reward was talking to the participants in this study,” said Andrews. “All of them were incredibly pleasant to talk to and they all gave me bits of knowledge and glimpses into their lives that I wouldn’t have previously guessed.”

Andrews’ work was submitted to the principal investigator of the project and was presented at the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference in Texas in fall, which Andrews was able to attend with the rest of her team.

Not only did the program empower Andrews to apply what she learned in her classes, it also made her dreams of helping others a reality.

“As someone who has some form of paraplegia, working to help develop technology that makes people who live with a similar condition to mine better is an unreal experience. As a kid growing up my answer (and I’m sure many other’s

“

I was particularly excited for this research as someone who is a part of the paraplegic community. People with any sort of paralysis commonly have di iculty doing everyday tasks, which is incredibly disheartening, and the possibility of helping create something that makes said tasks easier is an amazing opportunity and incredibly important to me.”

Sierra Andrews (front row, second from left) with her research group at the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference in Texas.

answers) to the ‘what do you want to do when you grow up’ question was some form of ‘I want to help people,’ and to be actually doing that is a great feeling. It gave me so much joy and satisfaction to be able to help with this project.”

While students like Andrews traveled to conduct research, MSOE also o ers opportunities to participate in Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) right on campus. Funded by the National Science Foundation, MSOE REU is a unique 10-week summer program that involves a broad mix of students conducting research, often in the fields of additive manufacturing or fluid power. It provides students with the opportunity to explore their hypothesis, learn from their mistakes, overcome challenges, network in professional environments and even have their work published.

Efrem Dana ’22 participated in REU in summer 2021, right before his senior year at MSOE. The mechanical engineering student’s research examined the creation of three-dimensional pedagogical models of genetic mutations.

“The purpose of my research was to develop new material mixtures and determine their mechanical properties for use at the MSOE Rapid Prototyping Center, as well as provide valuable insight into beta materials for use in the additive manufacturing industry,” said Dana.

Dr. Subha Kumpaty, Mechanical Engineering Department, served as Dana’s advisor. Together they co-wrote the paper, “Characterization of Additively

Efrem Dana ’22 presenting his research project at the 2022 National Science Foundation EEC Grantees Conference in Washington, D.C.

“

Conducting research gives students a chance to think critically and build analytical skills through hands-on learning”

EFREM DANA ’22

Manufactured Beta Materials,” which is being published in the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress.

“I have always wanted to write and make my work available for the public, and I’m glad it started with my research,” said Dana. “I honestly believe that my research idea could be implemented in other materials to increase material options for 3D printing. I also believe 3D printing is the future and having something to contribute toward this future makes me humble and happy.”

Dana had the chance to represent MSOE at the 2022 National Science Foundation EEC Grantees Conference in Washington, D.C. in October. He was one of ten students in the nation to represent their university and present their research at the conference. Being able to showcase these findings and connect with other professionals was a truly gratifying experience.

“My biggest reward was applying what I have learned in my classes into action and sharing my findings in di erent formal settings. I value the connections I made during REU and at the conferences I attended to present my work. I learned that since we (engineers) are working toward a sustainable future, additive manufacturing could be the future of the manufacturing industry for its ability to reduce material waste and more.”

For Dana, undergraduate research is a way to go beyond the classroom and delve deeper into the industry. “Conducting research gives students a chance to think critically and build analytical skills through hands-on learning. I enjoyed learning how far additive manufacturing has come. During its early stages, 3D printing was used for prototyping only, but today we can use it to print end-use products in di erent fields. I believe additive manufacturing could be the future of manufacturing.”

Whether it’s improving the lives of those with movement disabilities or advancing the world of additive manufacturing, both Andrews and Dana gained valuable experience that has the potential to impact the lives of others as well as mold the paths of their futures.

The REU program is one of many ways undergraduate students can get involved in research at MSOE. Currently an average of 5 to 10 students per year participate in the undergraduate

Efrem Dana ’22 conducting hardness testing on di erent materials for the Rapid Prototyping Center.

research course sequence, which includes basic and applied types of original research that can be aligned with any discipline taught at MSOE as well as be interdisciplinary.

MSOE’s strategic plan calls for the university to develop a nationallyrecognized, application-oriented undergraduate research program. A task force of faculty representing each of MSOE’s academic departments studied and benchmarked current practices at other institutions. They also developed recommendations for a proposed curricular structure for implementing an undergraduate research program at MSOE. With MSOE’s upcoming transition to semesters, there will be more opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in research, including a greater number of courses dedicated to undergraduate research. MSOE worked to revamp the undergraduate course sequence and laid the groundwork for program expansion in the future.

Global impact

MSOE’s impact spread across the globe this summer when faculty members visited Kalasalingam University, MSOE’s partner institution in southern India. Dr. Kelly Ottman, Rader School of Business cotaught a Strategic Management course to second-year MBA students with a “shadow” professor she has been collaborating with for the past year. She met with business faculty and research scholars, and introduced team-based applied learning pedagogy. Ottman and Dr. Sohum Sohoni, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, facilitated a three-day, intensive leadership development

program for university leaders. Sohoni also held workshops for students interested in pursuing higher education in the U.S. and for faculty interested in pursuing research in engineering and computer science education.

From the Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department, Dr. Patrick Jung taught a one-credit course on the Roots of Democratic Thought and gave two talks, “The Liberal Arts in the University Curriculum,” and “European History Since the French Revolution.” Sheetal Sohoni taught a one-credit course, Introduction to User Experience Design, to engineering students. She also conducted two workshops for faculty, “Application of Pedagogical Tools from Online Classes to In-person Classes,” and “Evolution of GIT Senior Project Course at Arizona State University.”

Additionally, Jung spent five weeks in London as a Visiting Research Scholar at the British Library capped o with a talk about his research as part of the Summer Scholars Speaker Series. The fellowship was funded by the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library. His research was on the British Empire in the western Great Lakes region of North America.

Dr. Jane Paige, School of Nursing, presented at the Sigma International Research Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland in July. The title of her presentation was, “Faculty Development for Simulation Educators: Use of the New World Kirkpatrick Model.”

Senior projects help overcome business challenges

Dakonte Product Group (DPG), a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of sewn and heat seal vinyl products, is one of many companies that sponsor senior design projects at MSOE. Over the last two years, three industrial engineering senior design teams have helped DPG overcome business challenges.

The first project focused on the production of clear vinyl partitions, which were a COVID-19 pivot product and in high demand at the time. Due to high demand, DPG needed immediate improvements to their cycle time. Students identified and eliminated bottlenecks through improved equipment, proper tooling and new procedures. Production time was lowered from 19 to eight minutes per unit, with six minutes being feasible after implementing additional recommendations. “We needed that new capability to pivot into making sneeze guard partitions to o set the loss of restaurant menu cover sales during COVID,” said Donald Hill, vice president of DPG. “It is di icult to

imagine how our small business would have survived the pandemic followed by the workforce challenges without the MSOE students.”

Last year, two student teams worked on the semi-automated packing machine and overall production floor organization and layout at DPG to enhance processes. They reduced the average production time by 3.7 minutes, manufacturing lead time by 20%, and travel distance on the floor by 34%.

If your organization would like to sponsor a senior project for the 2023-24 academic year, please reach out to the VP of Academics O ice at rome@msoe.edu.

From left: Dr. Kelly Ottman, Sheetal Sohoni, Dr. Sohum Sohoni

Positive environmental impact

Civil engineering master’s candidate Alexis Countryman received the Water Council’s Future Water Leaders Fund Student Pilot Project Award for her wastewater treatment project that she hopes will make a positive environmental impact on smaller communities. The project is a pilot test of two technologies for wastewater treatment in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It is a continuation of work by a previous master’s degree student, Jill (Vande Boom) Dam ’18. Countryman received assistance through industry partners including Lakeshore Burial Vaults, Knight Treatment Systems and First Supply.

“The goal is that the system can e ectively remove the nutrients in the wastewater before the wastewater is discharged,” said Countryman. Her award includes $5,000 that she plans to use to help fund the cost of sampling, which can be extensive and expensive to generate conclusive results.

CUTTING EDGE

Biomedical engineering students visit Medical Alley

In spring, 32 students and four faculty members from MSOE’s biomedical engineering program traveled to Minnesota to visit Medical Alley. Akin to Silicon Valley, Medical Alley is home to more than 600 major medical device companies and startups along a corridor that runs from Duluth, through the Twin Cities, and down into Rochester. The group toured companies including Boston Scientific and HLT Medical Inc. Tours were arranged by MSOE alumni David Elizondo ’90, Shannon Kimmes ’16 and Amy Alexander ’11, ’18. They also visited St. Cloud State UniversityPlymouth to learn about graduate programs that serve the medical device industry with Cathy Krier ’92, who directs two of the programs.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn about cutting edge research in the field, network with engineers from industry and academia, and see where biomedical engineers work,” said Amber Rothe, biomedical engineering senior.

They closed out their trip by attending the Design of Medical Devices Conference at the University of Minnesota, where three MSOE senior design teams presented posters and gave demos of their projects. The trip was made possible thanks to the generous support of MSOE alumnus David Elizondo, CEO of HLT Medical and a crowdfunding campaign established by MSOE’s O ice of University Advancement.

Planning is underway for a trip in spring 2023. For more information on how you can get involved or support the students, contact Dr. Je LaMack ’97, biomedical engineering program director at lamack@msoe.edu.

Men’s golf coach of 46 years passes the tee to his former athlete

After 46 years leading the MSOE men’s golf program, head coach Joe Meloy retired before the 2022-23 season, marking the end of an era.

“Joe has been a fixture in the greater Milwaukee golf community for decades and he has been an institution as the MSOE golf coach,” said MSOE Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Miller. “He has built champions, forged great alumni relationships, and been the face of MSOE golf since the beginning.”

Meloy was the first coach for men’s golf at the university when they started play back in 1976. During his tenure the Raiders won 15 conference championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2009, 2011 and 2013.

“When I started, golf wasn’t as competitive as it is today,” said Meloy. “High school teams were few and far between and the competition wasn’t the greatest. The level of play and involvement has grown so much so that these young adults have

Just being able to listen to them when they need to talk, to hear them out when they think they should be doing something di erent, really helps create those bonds that last well into the future.”

JOE MELOY

personal swing coaches, and it’s more about coaching them on the mental aspect of their game rather than the physical techniques to use during the 18-holes of play.”

Meloy acknowledges that being able to experience three NCAA championship tournaments was his greatest professional accomplishment as a coach. However, the bonds he formed while coaching is what he points to as his greatest personal accomplishment. Those bonds continue to this day as he is invited to weddings, takes phone calls on a regular basis, and still has relationships with former student-athletes who have gone on to retire themselves. This should come as no surprise. With a background in counseling, Meloy learned the best way to reach his players was through communication.

“Just being able to listen to them when they need to talk, to hear them out when they think they should be doing something di erent, really helps create those bonds that last well into the future. The 15th player on the roster should be treated no di erent than the top golfer. When you foster that kind of communication, you create a team atmosphere that allows you to do great things.”

Taking his place is new head coach Rick Leslie, an MSOE graduate from the class of 1993. Leslie, who played under Meloy from 1989 to 1993, is a certified PGA professional who has held teaching and director positions across the country including stops in Colorado and Wisconsin. Leslie also coached at Carthage College and Bryant and Stratton College. While at Carthage he led the women’s team to a 64–14 record, set a new school record for wins in a season, and guided them to a ranking of 33rd in the country.

Joe Meloy with his final team of seniors at MSOE. Left to right: Meloy, Garrett Schultz ’22, Cooper Harrison ’22, Anthony Koch ’22 and Josh Peterson ’22.

Donovan Carter: Basketball as a life tool

If someone were to walk past MSOE student-athlete Donovan Carter on campus, they’d see a young athlete ready to head to class or prepping to put up some shots inside of Hotchkin Arena. Those who have gone to any Raiders home games in the past two seasons have seen Carter out on the floor for the men’s basketball team, serving in any role that Coach Brian Miller has put him in. He is often in the weight room or taking shots in the arena, takes his studies seriously and enjoys hanging out with friends.

Carter’s family background is filled with athletic exploits, and he takes much pride in the fact that it has shaped the person who he has become today. The basketball and athletics lineage started with his great-grandfather Eldridge who was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters along with being a decorated Korean War hero who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His grandfather Donald was a three-year letter winner for the Kent State track team. His father Eldridge received a full basketball scholarship to NCAA D-I Holy Cross and was a key four-year contributor for the Crusaders. His mother Karen also had a background in volleyball and softball before meeting his father at Holy Cross and getting her graduate degree from Ohio State University. Much like Carter, his brother Garrison is a NCAA D-III basketball student-athlete at NACC rival Illinois Tech.

“My family’s history definitely influenced how I grew up and helped me to establish a mindset of always striving for success, even beyond athletics,” said the business administration major. “I’m more than an athlete and I take academics and other areas of my life just as serious as basketball. Doing the bare minimum was never an option, and although I’ve had my fair share of shortcomings, it’s always been expected of me to give my best.”

There can be challenges to being a minority, even in the sport that he loves, but he doesn’t see that as an issue at MSOE. “I think that MSOE has a lot of people who are respectful and welcoming of individuals from di erent backgrounds. My experiences with my peers, teammates, professors and coaches have all been positive.”

“Ultimately, my experiences as an athlete have allowed me to mature, develop and be able to better withstand various obstacles,” said Carter. “Discipline, competitiveness and perseverance are just some of the traits that I’ve strengthened because of athletics, and I use these in other areas including academics and career/professional development.”

Carter is on the Athletics and Academics Collaboration Committee (AACC) as a student-athlete representative. “Leadership roles like these allow me to voice ideas, concerns or questions that the team has and have conversations with the right leaders to bring about positive change.”

LEGENDARY CELEBRATION

MSOE Athletic Hall of Fame

Congratulations to the 2023 inductees:

• Logan Andryk ’16 (men’s soccer)

• Jimmy Banks, head coach (men’s soccer)

• Jerome Rhodes ’15 (men’s track and field)

• Austin Stueck ’17 (men’s basketball)

• Connor Toomey ’15 (men’s hockey)

• Sara Travia ’17 (women’s soccer)

Johnson Controls scholarship to support generations of MSOE students

“I love technology! Pursing a degree in computer engineering is the best of both worlds, as you get to learn software and hardware skills,” said freshman Samira Perez. As an only child born to immigrant parents in Milwaukee, Perez always dreamed of going to college.

Perez is one of 19 students who are fulfilling their academic dreams thanks to a generous gift from Johnson Controls. The company partnered with MSOE to design a new cohortbased scholarship model that provides students like Perez with tuition assistance, funds for on-campus housing, and stipends for professional development workshops, trainings and conferences. The amount of the award scales up each year, with senior students ultimately receiving $7,500 in scholarships and $1,000 for professional development.

Each year the number of students supported through this scholarship model will increase, making it the largest corporate scholarship gift to MSOE. When fully scaled, the Johnson Controls Scholars program will support 32 MSOE students every year.

“This new scholarship model underscores the significant value we can deliver to students and the broader talent pipeline when industry partners collaborate with MSOE,” said Je Snow, vice president of university advancement.

The program aligns with MSOE’s strategic commitment to providing resources to foster an inclusive community of experiential learners on campus.

Like Perez, sophomore Julia Neuberger of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, shares a love for learning in the field of biomedical engineering—a field she wouldn’t have been able to pursue without the Johnson Controls Scholars program. “Being selected for this has been a blessing for our family. It relieves the financial burden and stress so that I can focus on my studies,” said Neuberger.

“We are proud of our partnership with Johnson Controls and their commitment to supporting our students on both a professional and personal level,” said Kim Schultz, director of corporate and foundation relations at MSOE. “The new program is a prime example of how we aim to

Johnson Controls Director of Global Operations Brian Pfeifer ’10 gathers with Johnson Controls Scholars students on the Grohmann Museum rooftop.

Julia Neuberger and her parents beam with pride at the JCI Scholars Networking Reception at MSOE.

build sustainable, impactful partnerships with corporations across our region.”

MSOE’s O ice of Student A airs and Campus Inclusion is working with Johnson Controls alumni ambassadors to coordinate meetups with scholars, provide mentoring and facilitate connections with professional engineers. “As an alumnus of MSOE, Johnson Controls employee and adjunct professor at MSOE, I know how important it is to develop and cultivate relationships that can help you grow personally and professionally,” said Brian Pfeifer ’10, director of global operations at Johnson Controls. “By helping relieve not only the financial burden but also building a supportive network that encourages connections throughout their academic career, we are ensuring that the industry is getting a strong pipeline of talented, diverse and well-rounded engineers.”

Neuberger and Perez have already started making these connections as they navigate campus.

“Some of the highlights for me have been the connections I’ve made with my peers in biomedical engineering,” said Neuberger. “We have been able to work together closely in labs and have bonded outside the classroom, becoming a big, happy biomedical family.”

Both students are grateful to Johnson Controls and MSOE for making it all possible.

FACES OF PHILANTHROPY

Student vets y high with Lang Scholarship

Alvin (Al) ’65 and Carol Lang have pledged $25,000 to establish a scholarship supporting MSOE’s veteran students. The Langs want to honor the unique experiences and knowledge veteran students bring to engineering and to MSOE’s campus.

JULIA NEUBERGER, JOHNSON CONTROLS SCHOLAR

“I’m a commuter, so being part of this cohort has given me an amazing opportunity to connect and meet new professionals and students,” said Perez. “I come from a low-income family, so the selflessness of MSOE and Johnson Controls has allowed students like myself to pursue higher education at a university of their choice and fulfill a dream for their family. In four years, I’ll be the first-generation in my family to graduate with a college degree.”

“I am happy and pleased this MSOE scholarship will be used by a very deserving and qualified veteran,” said Lang.

A veteran himself, Lang graduated from MSOE in 1965 with an associate degree in fluid power engineering technology. He then enlisted in the Air Force in 1966. Because of his MSOE education, Lang was accepted into an education program o ered to enlisted Air Force personnel and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering. His resume includes working as a test engineer for NASA both at Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center where he worked on DOD satellite launches using the space shuttle and unmanned launch vehicles.

Molson Coors narrows gap for underrepresented students

A generous gift from Molson Coors will help more than a dozen deserving MSOE students make it to graduation. The $50,000 gift narrows the gap of unmet financial need for 14 students in their final term at MSOE. These awards were granted at the beginning of this academic year and prioritized underrepresented students. The gift to MSOE is part of the Molson Coors Project Justice Initiative, a $1.5 million commitment to address educational disparities in Milwaukee and in communities across North America to create a more diverse pipeline of future employees and leaders.

“ ank you, Johnson Controls and MSOE, for helping li the nancial burden on my family and helping me focus on building relationships with my professors and peers in a professional setting.”

Angelus Corporation powers world champions

As a member and now president of the Raider Robotics team for 2022, mechanical engineering student James Siedschlag recalls special moments over the past year. “One of the most inspiring experiences I’ve had with the team was traveling to the VEX U Robotics World Championship in Dallas in May.”

By the end of the week-long competition, the team took home the Design Award in the Technology Division, two online submission awards for their VEX pneumatic solenoid driver cable and custom 3D-printed traction wheel, and were finalists in three other online challenges.

“We were finally given the opportunity to prove our team is competitive at the highest level,” said Siedschlag. A generous gift from the Angelus Corporation made this experience possible. Angelus provides critical engineered products and services for the aerospace industry. The company is owned and operated by MSOE Regent Jim Gri in ’88.

Angelus Corporation’s gift to support Raider Robotics enabled Siedschlag and his teammates to travel, meet and compete against robotics teams from around the world. It also provided them with the funding to ensure their equipment would be hard to beat.

“Thanks to Angelus, we were able to purchase advanced sensors to delve into the world of AI (artificial intelligence). We developed an AI-based computer vision model utilizing an Intel RealSense Depth Camera,” said Dylan Powers, computer science major and teammate of Siedschlag.

Alumnus and former Raider Robotics president Nathan DuPont ’22 also credits Angelus’ support for playing a role in his successes since graduating from MSOE in May. “Being a part of Raider Robotics gave me tons of practice and skills with project management and complex real-time software development. I wouldn’t have gotten my role at SpaceX as a software engineer without the experience I gained through this program,” he said.

In September the Raider Robotics team invited Vince Balistrieri ’85, ’98, vice president of engineering and operations at Angelus Corporation, and members of his team to the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE to share highlights from the competition and get a sneak-peek of plans for the upcoming year.

“We were really excited to give them a live demonstration of our advanced autonomous pathing system,” said Siedschlag.

Meeting members of the team and hearing about their success was a highlight for Balistrieri. “The excitement and passion the team members have for their work is o the charts! What’s more impressive is the thought they put into the structure, how they operate and how they sustain the level of innovation required to compete and stand out at this level of competition each year. On behalf of the Angelus team and Jim, our owner, it is an honor to support such a tremendous learning experience for these students. As an alumnus, I’m proud to be a small part of their success,” said Balistrieri.

President of MSOE Raider Robotics James Siedschlag (second from right) shows Vince Balistrieri ’85, ’98 (center) and members of Angelus Corporation the fourth prototype of the di erential swerve drive module, something the team has been developing since 2020.

Balistrieri also learned how much the team appreciated the company’s support.

“Angelus’ support is helping Raider Robotics continue our mission of pushing the bounds of technology and giving us the opportunity to learn about advanced ideas, compete at a high level and realize how much value we hold outside the classroom,” said Siedschlag.

To learn more about supporting scholarships or how you can make an impact at MSOE through philanthropy, contact Greg Casey, senior director of development, at casey@msoe.edu.

The team demonstrates their autonomous pathing system, which allows them to draw paths for their robots to follow using a web dashboard.

The MSOE RAIDER Robotics team poses with their awards at the VEX U Robotics World Championship in May. In the center is Nathan DuPont ’22, former team president and founder.

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

Legacy Award recognizes those who overcame cultural diversity norms, removed obstacles, and/or created inclusive opportunities as a student or an alumnus/a of the university. The first recipient(s) will be chosen in 2023. To learn more about MSOE Alumni Awards and nominate fellow alumni, visit msoe.edu/alumni-awards.

1980s

Dr. Joseph Rencis 80 ABCET received the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Mechanical Engineering Division Ralph Coats Award.

David Lintz 83 AE

senior architect, McMahon Engineers/ Architects, Neenah, Wis.

1990s

Mark Joppru 92 ME, vice president of sales, Americas, MiR Robots Americas Inc., Atlanta

Dr. Christopher Raebel P.E., S.E. 94 AE, vice president of engineering and research, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago

Chad Hanstedt 96 MET, 98 MFG co-authored a children’s book titled “Stanky & Cece: Break the Rules.”

Benjamin Gover 97 ME, 02 MSEM, chief operating o icer, Glenn Rieder Inc., West Allis, Wis.

Je rey Reiman 97 EE, electronics and communications system designer, Watlow Electric Manufacturing, Winona, Minn.

2000s

Michael Peterson 02 ME, vice president, Climate by Design International, Owatonna, Minn.

Lindsay Cabel 07 AE/CM, planning and scheduling manager, Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis

2010s

Brian Schumacher 11 EE earned a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona in May 2022.

Ally Brehm 17 AS, received the Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society designation. She is an actuary at Allstate and serves on MSOE’s Actuarial Science Industrial Advisory Board.

2020s

David Friend 20 MBAEL, director, Rocket Academy, Cedar Grove, Wis.

Sabrina Mierswa 20 EE was selected to receive a Tau Beta Pi Fellowship for graduate study. She is pursuing a graduate degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California Davis.

Je rey Gardon 21 MBAEL, assistant principal and activities director, Berlin Middle School, Berlin, Wis.

Matthew Aleck 22 CS, technologist/ engineer I, FIS Global, Milwaukee

Daniel Anderson 22 SE, software engineer, Direct Supply Inc., Milwaukee

Zachary Barrow 22 CM, project engineer, Greenfire Management Services, Milwaukee

Seamus Barry 22 ME, technical solutions engineer, Epic Systems Corporation, Verona, Wis.

Juan Bautista 22 EE, controls engineer, PPG Industries, Oak Creek, Wis.

Austyn Bella 22 ME, sales engineer, Exact Metrology, Brookfield, Wis.

Kyle Blake 22 ME, mechanical engineer, Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis.

Jackson Bleeke 22 BBA, supply analyst, HUSCO International Inc., Waukesha, Wis.

Noah Blue 22 BME, patent engineer, Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee

Christopher Botzoc 22 CS, IT developer, Scot Forge, Spring Grove, Ill.

Marissa Bousk 22 ME, mechanical engineer, Navistar Inc., Lisle, Ill.

Trenton Bowser 22 CS, software engineer, Epic Systems Corporation, Verona, Wis.

Joseph Bunales 22 SE, technologist/ engineer I, FIS University Program, FIS Global, Milwaukee

William Busch 22 CS, associate application developer, Progressive Insurance, Mayfield Village, Ohio

Cameron Carpenter 22 CE, firmware engineer, Brady Corporation, Milwaukee

Richard Castro 22 EE, electrical engineer I, Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis.

Tyler Christensen 22 CE, technology development program associate, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Madalyn Cincotta 22 NU, registered nurse, NICU, Ascension, Milwaukee

Thomas Crivello 22 AS, actuarial analyst, Transamerica, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Grace Cushing 22 CVE, environmental engineer, Arcadis, Milwaukee

Zachary Demeyere 22 BME, quality engineer, Nextern, Maple Grove, Minn.

Kiel Dowdle 22 CS, software engineer, Boeing Company, St. Louis

Daniel Drzewiecki 22 IE, lean facilitator, Andis Company, Sturtevant, Wis.

Nathan DuPont 22 CS, software engineer, SpaceX, Hawthorne, Calif.

Brendan Ecker 22 SE, android developer, Cognizant, Dallas

Hello Alumni and Friends,

My name is Jessica Tedamrongwanish and I am the new director of alumni relations and annual giving. I have worked in the O ice of University Advancement at MSOE for more than four years, and I’m thrilled to connect with our incredible alumni network in this new role. We’ve been working hard on some exciting developments to better serve our alumni community, including hosting events in Milwaukee and across the country, reinvigorating the Alumni Association Board and adding the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Legacy Award.

Additionally, we rebranded Alumni E-News and renovated our alumni web pages to better highlight the incredible people who make up our network. You can see these updates and so much more at msoe.edu/alumni.

I hope to see you and your family at one of our upcoming events! If you have questions, suggestions or want to get involved at MSOE, please contact me at tedaj@msoe.edu.

Sincerely,

Jessica Tedamrongwanish Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving tedaj@msoe.edu

Noah Ernst 22 SE, associate software developer, Uline, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Italia Fields 22 ME, designer, ALMACO, Nevada, Iowa

Sean Finneran 22 BIOE, bio manufacturing specialist, Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Madison, Wis.

Jack Flitcroft 22 CS, data scientist, GE Healthcare, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Caleb Foster 22 ME, reliability engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Cody Friso 22 CS, software engineer, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Fla.

Ryan Gallagher 22 ME, design engineer, new product development, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Darrian Garrett 22 ME, lean engineer I, Pentair, Ashland, Ohio

Adam Graham 22 BME, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Kyle Grimm 22 ME, application engineer, Dynamic Ratings, Sussex, Wis.

Jorge Gutierrez 22 ME, design engineer–process, Seiberling Associates, Beloit, Wis.

Cooper Harrison 22 IE, manufacturing engineer, Wacker Neuson Corporation, Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Michael Henning 22 BME, electrical project engineer, Konecranes, New Berlin, Wis.

Ethan Hindes 22 CS, software development engineer, Amazon Robotics, Boston

Gabrielle Ho man 22 BME/EE, electrical engineer–hardware, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis.

Peter Holtzen 22 ME, design engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Christopher Hubbell 22 SE, technician, engineer I, FIS Global, Milwaukee

Steven Imp 22 BIOE, project engineer, Aquarius Technologies LLC, Saukville, Wis.

Jude Ingham 22 BIOE, process scientist I, DiaSorin Inc., Stillwater, Minn.

Kyler Johnson 22 EE, associate engineer, We Energies, Milwaukee

Nicholas Johnson 22 CS, associate software engineer, Cognex Corporation, Milwaukee

Daniel Kaehn 22 CE, embedded software engineer, Plexus Corporation, Neenah, Wis.

Matthew Kindred 22 CM, project engineer, Power Design Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.

Lauren Kirsch 22 CVE/MSCVE, civil associate engineer–bridges, Michael Baker International, Milwaukee

Drew Knuth 22 IE, operations management engineer, Medline Industries Inc., Northfield, Ill.

Anthony Koch 22 BME, application engineer, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Waukesha, Wis.

Rachel Kohl 22 ME, engineer, Delta Airlines, Atlanta

Seth Kooiker 22 CE, firmware engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Nolan Kozinski 22 ME, associate systems engineer, Harley-Davidson Motor Company Inc., Milwaukee

Benjamin Krause 22 AS, associate actuarial analyst, Branch Insurance, Columbus, Ohio

Fahim Mahmood 22 EE, electrical engineer, Wi-Tronix, Bolingbrook, Ill.

Zaiba Malik 22 CM, project engineer, CG Schmidt Inc., Milwaukee

Ron Marchionna 22 ME, ELDP I, BAE Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Desmond Marhal 22 ME, technical solutions engineer, Epic Systems Corporation, Verona, Wis.

Nicholas Marinello 22 SE, associate software engineer, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee

Maque Mathison 22 BME, project manager/software engineer, Ancilla Partners, Milwaukee

Kara McKenna 22 BME, business and integration arch analyst, Accenture, Milwaukee

Hannah Michelson 22 CS, software engineer, Unified Information Devices, Lake Villa, Ill.

Donovan Miller 22 ME, application engineer, Konecranes, New Berlin, Wis.

Lucas Miller 22 ME, mechanical design engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Nathan Mueller 22 ME, associate engineer, Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill.

Joshua Navin 22 CE, electrical engineer I, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Cody Nettesheim 22 CE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Ally Niven 22 NU

, public health nurse supervisor, Florence Health Department, Florence,

Wis.

Carly O’Brien 22 NU, registered nurse, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Samuel Oehmcke 22 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Elizabeth Ostendorf 22 SE, web developer, Ancilla Partners, Milwaukee

Collin Ostrowski 22 ME, post-op quality engineer, Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee

Jack O’Sullivan 22 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Stian Owens 22 BBA/CM, project engineer, Selzer-Ornst Construction Company LLC, Milwaukee

Kevin Pezzopane 22 ME, digital application engineer, RE3DTECH, Libertyville, Ill.

Gianni Rago 22 CE, system analyst/dev ops, E80 Group, Skokie, Ill.

Andrew Ramirez 22 CE, application engineer, B&R Industrial Automation, Milwaukee

Nicole Ratts 22 BME, test engineer, Plexus Corporation, Neenah, Wis.

Steven Raymus 22 CM, estimator, Lippert Flooring and Tile, Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Chase Readnour 22 EE, controls engineer, Temple Control Systems, Cudahy, Wis.

James Rector 22 CE, associate engineer embedded software, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Alexander Reid 22 ME, customer success engineer, Ghost Robotics, Philadelphia

Carl Reifsteck, III 22 BME, quality/ regulatory engineer, BioRESEARCH Associates Inc., Brown Deer, Wis.

Michael Rinaldi 22 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Paul Rinaldi 22 SE, developer consultant, Thoughtworks, Chicago

Hazel Melanie Ringpis 22 ME, manufacturing engineer, Briggs & Stratton, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Paul Rizza 22 ME, technical sales support specalist, Alfa Laval, Kenosha, Wis.

Kyle Rodrigues 22 CS, application developer associate, Progressive Insurance, Mayfield Village, Ohio

Reaching new heights

Morgan Balog ’21

Morgan Balog ’21 was in her eighth grade Spanish class when the idea hit her to do something special upon her college graduation: hike the Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain. Fast forward nine years and one pandemic later and her dream was shot. Little did she know the change in plan would result in something much bigger.

She shifted her plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,650-mile-long trail spans the distance of three states, Washington, Oregon and California. Balog had some previous backpacking experience, but nothing to this extent.

“MSOE taught me how to learn, apply what I’ve learned and how to think critically, which prepared me for the massive problem-solving strategies the trail would require. The trail pushed me to problem solve even if there seemed to be no answer. This thinking has helped me be a better engineer.”

Now a new product development electrical engineer at Milwaukee Tool, Balog hopes to tackle the Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail next. Read more at baloghikes.com

Christiana Roebke 22 ME, product development engineer, mechanical engineering, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, Franklin, Wis.

Jackson Roels 22 BME, technical solutions engineer, Epic Systems Corporation, Verona, Wis.

Bryan Roob 22 IE, industrial engineer, Plexus Corporation, Neenah, Wis.

Emma Ruder 22 IE, operations management development program, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis.

Connor Sadowski 22 ME, test engineer, Hayes Performance Systems, Mequon, Wis.

Luke Schlavensky 22 CE, software engineer I, Astronautics Corporation of America, Oak Creek, Wis.

Garrett Schultz 22 IE, supply and operations leadership development program, Pentair, Brookfield, Wis.

Harlan Schwanebeck 22 ME, mechanical engineer, BW Papersystems, New Berlin, Wis.

Egor Shalamov 22 AE, virtual architectural designer, C.D. Smith Construction, Milwaukee

2022 Wall of Distinction

OOn Nov. 4, 2022, Gary E. Armstrong ’73, William E. Edstrom Jr. ’84, Dr. Daniel J. Moceri ’76 and David R. Tucholski ’89 were inducted into the Wall of Distinction, the most prestigious honor one can receive as an MSOE graduate. We asked them to share how MSOE influenced them:

How did MSOE play a role in your career success?

Gary Armstrong ’73 (GA): MSOE gave me the technical skills for an engineering analysis background, but also the non-technical skills to work with people and ask questions of myself and others. I received the education needed to be successful in my career and life.

William Edstrom ’84 (WE): The science, math and technology I learned have been the foundation for understanding how things work throughout my life.

Daniel Moceri ’76 (DM): MSOE was a huge influence on my career and my ability to help others. MSOE sparked the entrepreneurial spirit that allowed me to start a company and grow it into an international success.

David Tucholski ’89 (DT): MSOE provided me with the solid foundation to build my career as an engineer. The hands-on education from professors with industry experience fostered my desire to conduct applied research and testing in various fields.

What advice would you give a current MSOE student?

GA: In life there are ups and downs. When a setback hits you, never give up. Have an option or work around it. Never let the “can-nots” win.

WE: Science, technology and inventiveness are the foundations to an engineering career. However, communication, leadership and project management skills will be the keys to greater opportunity.

DM: MSOE is an incredible place—cherish every moment. Work hard at academics and take advantage of the multitude of activities outside the classroom. Learn to collaborate and work as a team player.

DT: Take a class slightly outside of your comfort level. For me, that was Third World literature. Of all the non-engineering classes I took at MSOE, that is still one of my favorites. What is one of your favorite memories/moments at MSOE?

GA: Freshman year I made friendships with five other students. Their friendship and laughter helped me through the next four years. At graduation we went our separate ways but reunited at MSOE in 2018. The six of us never forgot our bond and life at MSOE.

WE: I was at MSOE in the early 1980s—this was pre-internet. I was fascinated by programming and several of us became obsessed with programmable calculators and wrote all kinds of scripts on Hewlett-Packard HP41 devices. I learned as much from the other students as I did in the classroom.

DM: I loved the lab work. I developed many great relationships as a senior resident advisor and had the opportunity to work closely with the second president of MSOE, Karl Werwath.

DT: During the first semester of my freshman year, I was in a lab and had no idea what was going on. I turned to the guy behind me to express my frustration. He laughed because he was feeling the same. From that point forward we became friends. Thirty-seven years later we are still friends, and still laugh about that encounter.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR 2022 WALL OF DISTINCTION INDUCTEES VISIT MSOE.EDU/WALL-OF-DISTINCTION.

Matthew Shales 22 ME, automated driving systems evaluation engineer, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Jacob Sirny 22 ME, junior account executive, Convergint Technologies, Portland

Joseph Skubal 22 SE, software engineer, Summa Financial Technologies, Milwaukee

Michael Spence 22 ME, dyno systems support technician, Harley-Davidson Motor Company Inc., Milwaukee

Caitlyn Spreitzer 22 BME, manufacturing engineer, Heraeus Electro–Nite, Hartland, Wis.

Brandon Stoller 22 AS, actuarial analyst, Optumas, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nicholas Stricker 22 EE, electrical engineer II, Baldwin Vision Systems, Waukesha, Wis.

Nicholas Tomaso 22 AE, assistant project manager, WDS Construction, Beaver Dam, Wis.

Marriages

Jolisa Gold 11 CM and Zachary Ptasienski 17 ME were married on Feb. 22, 2022.

Morgan Traughber 22 EE, project engineer, Layton Construction, Salt Lake City

Brandon Turer 22 BBA, hockey operations assistant, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas

Nicholas Udell 22 ME, process engineer I, Plymouth Tube Company, East Troy, Wis.

Tanner Vaculik 22 ME, design engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Jared Waller 22 CE, software engineer, Astronautics Corporation of America, Oak Creek, Wis.

Gavin Watson 22 EE, associate digital engineer, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Zachary Wehner 22 ME, project manager trainee, Pieper Electric Inc., New Berlin, Wis.

Joseph Weller 22 CS, associate software engineer, Kohl’s Department Stores Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Benjamin Westendorf 22 EE, electrical engineer I, Astronautics Corporation of America, Oak Creek, Wis.

Christopher Wiemer 22 UXCD, associate salesforce developer, Penrod, Milwaukee

Riley Wikel 22 SE, front-end developer, Cognizant, Plano, Texas

Alexander Wilas 22 ME, mechanical engineer, Navistar, Lisle, Ill.

Jerred Wilhelm 22 ME, junior project engineer, WSP, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Grant Wilk 22 CE, software engineer, NVIDIA, Santa Clara, Calif.

Cole Wilson 22 AE, assistant project manager, Hunt Electric Corporation, Papillion, Neb.

David Yang 22 SE, software engineer, Cognizant, Irving, Texas

Twenty-seven MSOE alumni helped Garrett Farin 15 ME and Morgan Traub 15 IE celebrate their marriage in Milwaukee on Feb. 12, 2022.

In Memory

Dorothy (Moha) Dernehl 41 NU

Kenneth Joy 50 EE

W. David Bryant 55 EE

Victor Fox 55 NRTT

Omer Baer 56 NRTT

Alex Seizew 57 ME

Thorvald Brink 58 ME

Cletus Harry 58 EE

Roger Rehfeld 58 EE

Robert Ginnow 59 ME

Roy Oberle 59 EPT

Austin Cappon 60 EE

William Eberle 61 CT

Frederick Olson 61 EE

Robert Wolter 61 ECT

Jerry Reno 63 ME

William Rissman 64 EEP

Donald Chisler 65 EE

John Nyhuis 65 ME

Kenneth Jensen 66 ME

Gary Smith 66 EE

Therese Hooks 70 NU

Robert Hu 71 ME

James Martin 71 EPET

George Les 72 EE

James McAdams 74 EET

Gary Goedde 80 EET

Richard Lokken 86 EET

Curt Peterson 89 EET

Loni Skubal 92 AE

Kenneth Neuman 01 ME

Professor Emeritus Frank Evans passed away Sept. 21, 2022. Evans taught in the computer engineering program at MSOE from 1981 to 1999.

John Kettula passed away May 14, 2022. Kettula taught at MSOE for 15 years from the late 1970s to early 1990s in the electrical engineering program.

Tom Wanke CFPE ’75, ’78 MET, ’89 MSEM, director of MSOE’s Fluid Power Industrial Consortium and Industry Relations, passed away June 21, 2022. Wanke was instrumental in establishing the Fluid Power Industrial Consortium in 2016 and in 2017 was named director of the FPIC and industrial relations.

In addition, he served as an adjunct associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Wanke spent nearly 50 years at MSOE building strong relationships with partners in the fluid power industry. He was the first recipient of MSOE’s Karl O. Werwath Engineering Research Award in 1989.

Wanke also was part of the inaugural class of inductees to the International Fluid Power Society Hall of Fame in 2019. He received the Fluid Power Champions Award in 2015 and the Outstanding Service Award in 2014 from the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA); and the Service Award from the International Fluid Power Association in 2011. Wanke’s family has established the Tom Wanke Legacy Fund at the NFPA to support fluid power education.

https://bit.ly/tom-wanke

Dr. Dennis Wanless passed away June 18, 2022. Wanless was a professor of business and management systems at MSOE and taught in the Rader School of Business from 1990–2001.

HOMECOMING

Students were all smiles at the Homecoming pep rally in 1996. Pictured here (from left) with Roscoe Raider are MSOE cheerleaders Sara Lazar, Najwa Walls and Porsche Carmon.