Creating impact through alumni connections
Winter 2022 News
Dean’s Message Alumni Connections In March 2021 I received an inquiry from an alumnus whose company is involved in the development of sustainable and high-performance textiles. He explained they were actively working on the research and development of alternatives to plastics that would biodegrade in the environment; however, limited facilities for testing and validating biodegradability created a challenge. He was aware of UMassD’s expertise in marine sciences and engineering and asked if we could build a facility that would test product biodegradability as well as educate future scientists and engineers to address the significant challenge of plastics and their persistence in our environment. Six months later we celebrated one of the most prestigious awards of the year for our campus; a commitment from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for a plastics biodegradability laboratory. The opportunity to merely compete for funding, let alone win the award, would not have been possible without the initial investment from alumnus Michael Joyce. Read on to learn more about Mike and our state-of-the-art laboratory, scheduled to be unveiled this spring.
Dean Jean VanderGheynst and Diane Phillips ‘84, co-creators of the College of Engineering & WID—GBC “Empowering Women in Science & Engineering” event.
Contents Facts & Figures
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PrimaLoft Partnership
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Massachusetts Technology Collaborative grant
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Women in Science & Engineering
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Corsair Network
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Dolphin Sonar Study
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Suemy Moeira Joins ES3
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Scholarships & Awards
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CONTRIBUTORS
PHOTOS
Adrienne N. Wartts Joshua Sylvester Ryan Merrill Kristle Blais
Mike Joyce Mary Avery Karl Dominey
Designers Liana DePillo Kevin DeAquair
Our students are committed to addressing complex grand challenges that require innovative thinking, teamwork and a dedication to learning new things. It is no surprise our graduates are successful. They are also grateful for the education they received from the college and want to give back. Our alumni contribute in countless ways, including financially supporting new teaching and learning spaces and equipment, raising funds for scholarships for students, sponsoring capstone design projects, serving as professional experts in guest lectures, judging and providing feedback on student projects, and serving as mentors for our students. Alumni engagement with me, our students and faculty is one of the reasons why UMass Dartmouth is number one for social mobility among universities in New England with a nationally ranked college of engineering. So, this newsletter celebrates our alumni and their contributions to our mission. I look forward to connecting our new and continuing students with more of our outstanding alumni in the future.
Jean VanderGheynst
Facts & Figures Best Undergraduate Engineering Program U.S. News & World Report, 2022 College Rankings
Top 1%
in engineering of institutions nationwide awarding doctoral degrees to women – ASEE (2021)
84%
of full-time undergraduates who apply for financial aid receive it
96%
of 2020 graduates from the College of Engineering are either employed or attending graduate school
>$66,000 average entry-level salary for 2020 graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering
160 #1
internships completed by 2021 engineering seniors at companies such as Titleist, Bose Corporation, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, National Grid, and Pratt & Whitney
for social mobility among universities in New England with a nationally ranked college of engineering - 2022 U.S. News & World Report
$106M
UMass Dartmouth students receive approximately $106 million total in scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans
15 Ranked in the top 15 schools nationwide for master’s degrees in physics among institutions granting the MS – American Physical Society
#4
as a best value Massachusetts college for in-state students – Payscale
180+
student organizations, including numerous engineering-specific clubs that connect students with science and engineering professionals umassd.edu/engineering
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Mike Joyce ‘85 and UMassD partner to bring
PRIMALOFT’S BIODEGRADABILITY RESEARCH TO UMASSD When Mike Joyce’s team at PrimaLoft, Inc. needed a way to test its new biodegradable, recycled insulation and fabric, he knew just where to go—UMass Dartmouth, an institution that has been on the cutting edge of textile technology since 1895. As a 1985 graduate of UMass Dartmouth and a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board, Joyce, president/CEO of PrimaLoft, an advanced materials company, focuses on textile fibers and materials found in the insulation and fabrics used in more than 900 brands globally, including Patagonia, Canada Goose, Lululemon, New Balance, Adidas, Nike, and L.L. Bean. Joyce was already familiar with the research initiatives in the areas of sustainability and the Blue Economy
that would make his alma mater the ideal place to launch a testing facility for PrimaLoft’s new biodegradable products. He pitched the idea of creating a lab at UMass Dartmouth that would benefit his company, students, the region, and the environment. The result will be the spring 2022 opening of the UMass Dartmouth Plastics Biodegradation Laboratory financed by PrimaLoft’s $450,000 investment, paired with a $740,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. “This partnership gives us an opportunity to not only provide testing capabilities for PrimaLoft, but also additional opportunities for research in sustainable products and biodegradation,” said Joyce. “I believe it could be a magnet for future investment and research dollars to the study of biodegradation of synthetic materials.” The new lab will be located in the School for Marine Science & Technology to leverage existing facilities, including controlled seawater systems, analytical instrumentation, and water quality and microbiology expertise. “This is a natural fit for PrimaLoft, UMassD, and the SouthCoast, with its history of textiles and marine science research,” said Joyce. “My passion wasn’t for textiles, but what I’ve developed over the years is a commitment to doing things the right way for the environment. That allowed me to take all my experiences from UMass Dartmouth and my career and turn it into something positive.”
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Winter 2022 news
UMass Dartmouth awarded nearly
$1.2M for new Biodegradable Plastics Lab
Announcement of a new $739,936 award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support the development of a new research and development laboratory to study biodegradable and ocean-safe plastics. Pictured: Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives Michael Goodman, Dean of the College of Engineering and Interim Dean of SMAST Jean VanderGheynst, Chancellor Mark Fuller, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Vice Provost for Research & Academic Affairs Ramprasad Balasubramanian, Director of the Innovation Institute at MassTech Pat Larkin, and Representative Paul A. Schmid III
UMass Dartmouth recently celebrated the announcement of a new $739,936 award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support the development of a new research and development laboratory in New Bedford to study biodegradable and ocean-safe plastics. The state grant was awarded by the Collaborative Research and Development Matching Grant program, an effort managed by the Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), and will be paired with $1 million in match funding, more than $450,000 from private industry partners, including leading advanced materials companies such as PrimaLoft. The launch of the new lab will advance UMass Dartmouth’s research in advanced materials and the Blue Economy and make needed testing capabilities available for Industry. The new Plastics Biodegradation Laboratory will enable efficient testing of plastic biodegradation, helping address the significant waste caused by traditional plastics used in textiles, packaging, and other products that accumulate in the ocean and other water resources.
“We are pleased to make investments across the state to support projects like this, which are addressing critical demands for new, innovative products,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This investment in new research infrastructure at UMass Dartmouth will further strengthen Massachusetts’ Blue Tech sector, working collaboratively with the private sector to create innovative products and grow jobs here in the Commonwealth.” “Institutions like UMass Dartmouth play a critical role in preparing Massachusetts’ students for their future careers, teaching them how to tackle major global challenges such as plastic waste,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, who chairs the Commonwealth’s Seaport Economic Council. “This new lab, and the partnerships with leading organizations in manufacturing and research, will solidify the Commonwealth’s role as a global leader when it comes to R&D in the Blue Tech sector.”
umassd.edu/engineering
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Empowering women
in science
& engineering
Left to right: UMassD College of Engineering & WID—GBC scholarship recipients Raena Gaston, Kelley Chanaphay, Lois Konadu, Tabitha Aguiar, and Erika Caushi.
Five UMass Dartmouth undergraduate students have been awarded the College of Engineering & Women in Defense—Greater Boston Chapter (WID—GBC) 2021 scholarship. The awards are given to students who have an interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense and/or are affiliated with the UMass Dartmouth Women in Engineering Engagement Community. “These scholarships encourage young women to dive headfirst into fields that need more female leaders, such as STEM-based industries like tech, defense, security, and the many fields of engineering,” said Dr. Jean VanderGheynst, dean of the College of Engineering. In 2019, VanderGheynst co-created the College of Engineering & WID—GBC “Empowering Women in Science & Engineering” event with UMassD alumna Diane Phillips ‘84, vice president of Boston Operations
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for JRAD, to help support female students seeking to enter the US STEM workforce. Each recipient was honored at the Empowering Women in Science & Engineering” event on Tuesday, October 26. UMassD alumnae and industry professionals discussed engineering-based work, technologies, and career opportunities in the defense industry, shared their career advice, and made connections with each of the students during a speed networking session. In addition to receiving a $1,000 scholarship, Innovation Women, a speaker’s bureau for entrepreneurial, technical, and professional women, provided 5-year scholarships for all the winners. “The basic challenges associated with gender bias in the workplace still exist,” said Phillips. “By showcasing positive role models and creating paths for females to excel, I hope we can overcome these obstacles for all.”
Above Alumni returned to UMass Dartmouth to share their experiences as professional engineers, network with students, and help raise funds for scholarships. (l to r): Laurra Winters ’98, director of the Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility; Abigail Keith ‘20, electrical engineer 2 at Raytheon; Melissa Pijoan ‘18, logistics engineer & software depot activation lead for Applied Research Solutions; Jean VanderGheynst, dean of the College of Engineering; Diane Phillips ‘84, vice president of Boston Operations for JRAD; ML Mackey, CEO and co-founder of Beacon Interactive Systems; & Patricia Eno, engineering manager, from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Right Laurra Winters ’98, director of the Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility, coaching students during a speed networking session.
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UMassD Corsair Network UMassD launches a new platform that builds networks between our students and alumni.
One of the most rewarding aspects of graduating from college is that graduates always have another home to return to, a way to remain connected to their alma mater, and an opportunity to support new generations of students who will join the alumni family. Through the UMassD Corsair Network, our alumni help make a difference in the lives of students by volunteering their time to serve as mentors and connecting students with professional job opportunities. This past semester, the Corsair Network teamed up with the College of Engineering to provide students with an opportunity to interview with UMassD alumni. “The purpose of the project was to connect current College of Engineering freshman with successful College of Engineering alumni utilizing the Corsair Network,” said Joshua Sylvester, director of Alumni Relations at UMass Dartmouth. “We created 14 opportunities for students to interview engineering alumni,” said Sylvester. Students then submitted a written discussion of the interview’s content and what they learned. “The hope is that first-year
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Winter 2022 news
engineering students learn about what engineers do and the numerous pathways engineering graduates have available to them. We want students to also learn what it takes to be successful and that a career in engineering can be very rewarding,” said Dean VanderGheynst.
A special thanks to the following alumni who were interviewed by freshmen engineers. John Cordasco ‘13, Civil Engineering Vinith Nayak ‘88, Computer Engineering Andrew Vieira ’12, Computer Engineering David King ’79, Electrical Engineering Jocelyn Damgaard-Ensinger ’06, Mechanical Engineering Tiffany Cordeiro ’15, Bioengineering Kevin Akin ’85, Electrical Engineering Lorie-Lyn Fernandes ’11, Computer Science Daniel Kelleher ’11, Physics Gordon Barber ’00, Electrical Engineering Rich Madsen ’00, Civil Engineering Atul Mistry ’89, Electrical Engineering Daniel MacLeod ’20, Mechanical Engineering Mitchell Winkler ’80, Civil Engineering
UMassD alumni, we invite you to become part of our Corsair Network. Join us at corsairnetwork.com.
the study of dolphin sonar Biologically-inspired research to advance alumni in our 4+1 B.S./M.S. programs and blue economy technology. Dolphins and porpoises exploit their natural sonar – called echolocation – to move in complicated underwater environments, even in low visibility conditions. They transmit short high frequency clicks, then listen for the returning echoes to avoid obstacles, find their prey, and sometimes even return sunglasses that human trainers have lost in the water.
combines noninvasive brain imaging techniques, animal behavior experiments and signal processing models to gain a better understanding of how the animals use echolocation to gather information about their environment. The UMass Dartmouth portion of the project creates acoustic signal processing models for the information in marine mammal sonars. The project also investigates how maximizing the information gain guides the animals’ search strategies.
The animals often find objects faster and more reliably than manmade sonars, suggesting that they extract information from sound more efficiently than engineering systems. Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor John R. Buck is part of a five-university team led by Carnegie Mellon University that recently received a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) grant from the Office of Naval Research to study the echolocation strategies of marine mammals. The project
Graduate students working in Dr. Buck’s lab are already implementing biologically-inspired search algorithms on the iRobot Create, the educational version of the popular Roomba cleaning robot. Abigail Keith ‘20 recently defended her MS thesis, including search experiments with the robot that demonstrated the dolphin inspired algorithms are faster on average than other common search algorithms when the object searched for is difficult to detect. The insights gained from this research will ultimately lead to better manmade sonars to allow underwater robots to navigate more safely and locate objects in difficult conditions, such as around oil platforms or crowded harbors.
Suemy Moreira joins ES 3 advising team Engineering Student Support & Services (ES3) serves the needs of students by empowering them to achieve success through the development of educational plans. Meet Suemy Moreira, the College of Engineering’s newest addition to the ES3 team. Suemy is a recent graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she earned her MS in College Student Personnel and joined the College of Engineering as an ES3 academic advisor this past fall. “My role is to assist students and faculty in-person or virtually navigate academic challenges; and help plan their academic, personal, and professional goals while giving experiential learning opportunities.” As a first-generation college graduate, Suemy says she understands the myriad of challenges that can accompany working toward completing a degree.
“I want students to know that I am here to guide and support them in many facets of their college experience. The ES3 team and I want to see students become successful in whichever way they identify success. Our goal is to ensure students graduate as well as build interpersonal connections and set realistic career goals for your future,” she says. ”Whether an academic or personal challenge, my door is always open for visits and conversations.” Services are available Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm. Email coesupport@umassd.edu to make an appointment.
Email coesupport@umassd.edu to make an appointment.
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2022 ScholarshipS One of the most impactful ways our alumni and friends give back is through scholarships for students. We are grateful for the scholarships and awards listed below that allow students to focus on courses and other enrichment activities that support student development.
Alexander T. and Jan K. Andreassen Memorial Scholarship To support a sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled in the College of Engineering or minoring in Sustainability. William Anderson Memorial Scholarship To support a junior or senior in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need. John I. Babbitt Scholarship To support juniors with a high GPA and who demonstrate financial need.
Raymond F. Curry Memorial Scholarship To support an entering freshman from the greater Fall River area majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Henry F. Cygan Memorial Scholarship To support an undergraduate student majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Harold S. Bannister Scholarship To support a student who is majoring in Bioengineering, preferably from the greater Fall River area.
Dean’s Scholarship To support a student majoring in one of the undergraduate degree programs in the College of Engineering.
Bertram Berger Boston Society of Civil Engineers Scholarship To support a junior or senior majoring in Civil Engineering.
Sean D. Duarte Memorial Scholarship To support a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in Civil Engineering.
Catlow Family Scholarship To support a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Edmund Dupre Scholarship To support entering freshmen or upperclassmen in good academic standing.
Chancellor’s Centennial Engineering Scholarship To provide scholarship support for full-time students who are pursuing their master’s degree at the College of Engineering and demonstrate excellent academic standing in their chose field of study.
Scott C. Faulkner Scholarship To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior in the College of Engineering. Student(s) will have financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office and preference will be given to Bioengineering majors.
Lester Cory Scholarship To support a sophomore or junior majoring in engineering. Preference will be given to a student majoring in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
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Cranston Print Works Scholarship To support entering students or students currently enrolled in the Bioengineering Department.
Winter 2022 news
Charles W. Fifield Jr. Co., Inc. Scholarship To support graduate or undergraduate students in the Bioengineering Department.
John A. Freeman Scholarship To support a full-time junior or senior in the College of Engineering who has financial need and preference will be given to residents of Fall River, Massachusetts. Brenda Karnasiewicz Freese Scholarship To support a junior or senior, with preference given to a female student majoring in Electrical Engineering. Guimond Family Scholarship To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior in Electrical or Computer Engineering with high academic standing and demonstrated financial need. Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation Scholarship To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior in the College of Engineering who has financial need and the preference will be given to residents of Brockton, Framingham, and Boston. Edward Hartley Scholarship To provide scholarship support for a deserving full-time Bioengineering major. Joseph Houth Scholarship To support graduate or undergraduate students majoring in Bioengineering. Dr. W. John Howard Scholarship To support upperclassmen majoring in Computer Science or engineering who graduated from New Bedford High School or Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Learn more at umassd.edu/engineering/student-success
Boleslaw Mikolajczak Memorial Scholarship To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior in Computer Science with high academic standing and demonstrated financial need. Gene & Ruth Mogilnicki Scholarship To support a student in the College of Engineering, with preference to students involved in extracurricular activities.
Everett S. Johnson Scholarship To support juniors with a high GPA and with demonstrated financial need. Michael & Lisa Joyce Scholarship To support full-time sophomores, juniors, or seniors with financial need enrolled in the College of Engineering, with preference given to students majoring in Bioengineering.
Gerhard Neumann-C. L. Chang Scholarship To support a master’s degree candidate in the Computer Science Department. Rego Family Engineering Scholarship To support a student majoring in Civil Engineering. Nicholas L. & Ada A. Scarpitti Scholarship To support an undergraduate or graduate student matriculated in the College of Engineering.
Gertrude M. Keigher Memorial Scholarship To support an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in either engineering (odd years) or mathematics (even years).
Professor Louis S. J. and Margaret Simeone Scholarship To support fully matriculated undergraduate engineering students (even years) or mathematics undergraduate students (odd years).
Frederick S. Lebow Scholarship To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior College of Engineering major with demonstrated financial need.
Sluter Family Engineering Scholarship To support a full-time student (12+ day credits per semester) enrolled in the College of Engineering. Preference will be given to a student who has entered the University through the College Now/ START program.
Albert Malick Scholarship To support a junior and senior majoring in Bioengineering with demonstrated financial need. Mata Sugni Devi Scholarship To support a sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering with an extremely high need. The McCoy Family Scholarship To support a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in Bioengineering with demonstrated financial need. Robert A. Melendes Memorial Merit Scholarship To support undergraduate students who demonstrate a gift for the study of Physics.
Brian Franconi Smith Memorial Prize To support students in the Computer and Information Science Department. William F. Sullivan Scholarship To support an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Bioengineering. Tacy Engineering Scholarship To support two female students in engineering who reside in southeastern Massachusetts and are the first in their families to attend college. A. Ira Tepper Memorial Scholarship To support a junior or senior majoring in Bioengineering.
Textile Veterans Association Scholarship To support an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Bioengineering. Robert W. Thompson Memorial Scholarship support students from the greater New Bedford area pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any engineering field. Doug Wagner Memorial Engineering Scholarship of Excellence To support a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior who has demonstrated financial need and good academic standing in the College of Engineering. Hank Walker Scholarship To support a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who is a United States citizen or permanent resident, and enrolled in engineering. Preference is given to Veterans and returning students after an absence of at least five years. Donald Watson Scholarship To support a junior majoring in engineering, including Computer Science and Physics. Wilkens Bioengineering Freshmen Scholarship To support full-time incoming freshmen majoring in Bioengineering with demonstrated financial need. Women in Defense, Greater Boston Chapter Scholarship To support full-time female UMass Dartmouth Engineering undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. Recipients must be US citizens and residents of New England (MA, RI, CT, VT, NH, ME). Preference will be given to students who have an interest in pursuing a career related to national security or defense and/or are affiliated with the Women in Engineering Engagement Community (WIE). James M. Zeiba ‘90 Memorial Scholarship To support full-time undergraduate students majoring in Mechanical Engineering who are in their sophomore, junior, or senior year.
umassd.edu/engineering
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