IMPACT 2021

IMPACT The official magazine of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

SMALL WONDERS

NANOTECHNOLOGY COULD BE THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING INNOVATION

2021

ONLINE ENGINEERING EDUCATION

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• Architecture • Construction Management Technology • Electrical and Computer Engineering • Electrical Engineering Technology • Engineering Sciences • Fire and Emergency Management • Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology • General Engineering • Industrial Engineering and Management • Material Sciences and Engineering • Mechanical Engineering Technology

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College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

IN THIS ISSUE

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Plus …

Another Perspective CEAT’s faculty and staff come from all walks of life.

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Exploring Venus Partnership with Jet Propulsion Laboratory setting the stage for NASA mission.

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3

Dean’s Letter

61

Alumni Spotlight

66

CEAT By the Numbers

68

Hall of Fame

72

Donors

78

Top Honors

79

In Memoriam

42 DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

Paul Tikalsky, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, F.ACI, EACR

Nano Particles The future of science, engineering and technology could come in the form of nanotechnology. (Cover story)

MARKETING MANAGER

Kristi Wheeler LEAD WRITER

Jeff Hopper WRITERS

Jordan Bishop, Mack Burke, Dakota Keith, Kaitlyn Mires, Kristi Wheeler

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Full Charge Dr. Ömer Çapraz leads a team of chemical engineering researchers developing new battery technology.

EDITOR

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Jordan Bishop ART DIRECTOR

Dave Malec GRAPHIC DESIGN

Ben Champlin, Codee Classen, Paul Fleming ILLUSTRATION

Dr. Ömer Çapraz

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeff Hopper, Dakota Keith, Gary Lawson, Phil Shockley, Kristi Wheeler, Curious Courtney’s Photography, Magna Photography

Changing Lives OSU architecture students help a community in South Africa overcome a complicated past.

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IMPACT is a publication of the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and is designed to provide information on college activities and accomplishments while fostering communication among the CEAT family and friends.

CEAT.OKSTATE.EDU The office of publication for IMPACT is 307 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024. © 2021, IMPACT. All rights reserved.

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies.

Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Jan 2022/job #9224.

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READY TO MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT? ORANGE IS THE ANSWER. YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AT OSU!

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Your philanthropy helps the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology educate and produce the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers. They will create solutions to the challenges that affect our communities, nation and world.

Visit OSUgiving.com

PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

From the Dean

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ear Friends and Alumni, The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology is continuing its transformation as a leading innovator in education, research and extension services. Our ENDEAVOR, EXCELSIOR and North Campus labs have become launching points for hands-on interdisciplinary education, driven by faculty and student efforts.

Our faculty are engaged at the cutting edge of energy, aerospace, computing, sustainable building technologies and our nation’s future, and they are building on a long-established land grant university mission of profession-oriented education that also educates the broader person to enable our graduates to lead the industries and communities of the 21st century.

OSU continues to lead the way in aerospace within our state. This year we launched the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education to drive Oklahoma’s aerospace industry needs, bringing the state’s aerospace innovation economy together under one umbrella. In this edition of IMPACT we will cover this initiative. You will be introduced to some of our diverse faculty members and the impacts they are making in the field of engineering, architecture and technology, from nanotechnology to the research faculty and students are doing with NASA, to an impactful project our students are working on to better the lives of a community in South Africa.

We awarded 966 degrees this year and have worked with students, administration and alumni to continue delivering world-class engineers and design professionals. By expanding our facilities and our undergraduate research opportunities, we are pushing forward in creating leaders for the next generation of industry.

The college could not be at the forefront of innovation without the accomplishments and investments of alumni, friends and industry partners in scholarships, internships, equipment and faculty support. In the coming year, we will be adding a Center for Competitive Leadership that will push our students even further into innovation with partner companies. The renovation of Engineering South is underway. When it is complete, it will house the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

We continue to need the help of alumni and friends to invest in the next generation.

Consider a $1,000 donation to the CEAT Scholarship fund, and it will be matched by the OSU Foundation for Engineering or the ONEOK Scholarship for Equity to give OSU students the best chance to change the world. You might also consider the CEAT Dean’s Club, which recognizes distinguished supporters who have given $2,500 or more annually to the CEAT Designated Endowment Program Fund or CEAT Scholars Program Fund. I hope you enjoy the IMPACT of OSU. GO POKES!

Paul Tikalsky Dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Oklahoma State University

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Nick Copeland

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Former W.W. Allen Scholars — Where Are They Now?

Each year, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University awards W.W. Allen scholarships to top students who are destined to be tomorrow’s leaders in business and industry worldwide.

The W.W. Allen Scholars Program provides unequalled opportunities for students focused on education, training and leadership in preparation for professional careers in business and industry. The program is designed to stimulate intellectual growth, accelerate professional and leadership development, develop interpersonal skills, and develop global awareness and cultural perspectives.

This year, the staff of IMPACT caught up with a couple of former scholars to find out where they are and what they’re doing today.

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Traveling the World

CEAT graduate Copeland helps with sustainability around the globe

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ick Copeland was a W.W. Allen Scholar from 2009-2012. He graduated from OSU in 2012 and then graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2013.

As an undergraduate student at OSU, Copeland majored in civil engineering with an environmental option focusing on water. As part of the W.W. Allen Scholarship program, Copeland had the opportunity to earn his master’s degree at Cambridge, majoring in engineering for sustainable development.

Copeland is from Shawnee, Oklahoma. Growing up, he lived close to his grandparents in Altus, Oklahoma, where they own a farm.

“Just seeing their farm and always hearing about the different delivery on the Altus reservoir, I was always quite interested in water,” Copeland said.

“Especially hearing about all of the water problems that Texas had with their severe droughts, and seeing that it’s going to be more and more of a problem all the time.”

Receiving the W.W. Allen Scholarship was a blessing for Copeland

STORY KRISTI WHEELER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

and for his parents. Copeland has a twin brother, and his parents are school teachers.

“It was amazing to have the extra scholarship as an undergrad,” Copeland said. “I had two unpaid internships during my undergraduate studies, and I never would have been able to participate in them without the scholarship.”

One of the internships was with an organization that provides engineering support in developing countries. They partnered with another organization and traveled to West Africa for engineering projects. The following summer, Copeland interned in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. “These internships were stepping stones to broaden my horizons to prepare me for my master’s degree at Cambridge in a way,” Copeland said.

“The D.C. internship really opened my eyes to a lot of things and got me really curious about sustainability and looking at ways I can use my engineering. Along

with water, air pollution was something I was quite interested in too.

“I’m sure there are different master’s programs out there that focus on what my program at Cambridge focused on, but I think it was quite unique in that it focused on policy, engineering and business. I didn’t realize that these all kind of go together. In some ways, people consider my master’s degree a little bit on the softer side, but in the end, it taught me to be able to think about the bigger picture of the problem rather than just focusing on only the problem. I think the whole Allen scholars program encourages this, to step back and look at the bigger picture and broaden our mindset.”

Copelands master’s program had a business component to it, as well, where he worked on a business project with a company called Arup, which is where Copeland is today.

“I really liked everything about the company. They’re not very big in the U.S., but they are one of the top engineering companies in the world,” Copeland said.

“The headquarters is located in London

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and they are quite unique because they are employee owned. They reinvest a lot of the profit back into research funds.”

Copeland was working on a research funded project and at the time, he had a cousin, also an OSU alumnus, who lived in Bath, England.

“I thought, ‘Wow! This is a really great company who is working on award winning projects! Why not apply for a job?’ I could work here and be close to family,” Copeland said. “So I applied, got a job, and nine years later, I’m still working for them. The group I worked with was amazing.

“I was working on flooding projects in Cardiff [Wales]. Instead of just focusing on the flooding, we stepped back, and looked at the bigger picture, the bigger problem. We’re not just going to build traditional big storage tanks and big pipes and push a couple downstream.

We’re going to solve the problem at the source.”

They focused their attention on the green infrastructure — called Queen Mary’s Walk — and over the eight years Copeland was there, he was working on a hydraulic watering design that fixed

the whole city’s sewer problems and flooding problems, which has been an award-winning project.

Copeland met his wife in Cardiff and now has a son who is almost 3. They live in Toronto.

“Toronto is really picking up on the green infrastructure,” Copeland said.

“They are bidding on work and want me to help grow the team there. When I started in Cardiff, I think there were only about 30-40 employees, but now there are around 150. They want me to help grow the team in Toronto, which now has around 20-30 employees.”

Arup has locations all across the United States, including Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Boston, New York and in Oklahoma. In Tulsa, they are developing the Museum of Popular Culture. Along with building numerous bridges and a lot of buildings, they are also credited for designing the Sydney Opera House, using pre-stress concrete, which is one of the things they are known for.

Copeland credits the Allen Scholars Program with the leadership skills he developed while in the program. He is

now able to step back and look at the bigger picture of working toward a more sustainable future.

“I was fortunate and got to meet Mr. Allen,” Copeland said. “I don’t think that the younger scholars get the same opportunity now. Karl Reid, who was the dean of CEAT, was leading the program at the time and it was just such a good experience to learn from them about the different professional skills and get that mentoring that you can’t really get anywhere else.

“The life stage I’m in at the moment, having a family and having kids, I just look back at the experience I had from the W.W. Allen Scholars program and realized it was more about the relationships I developed. That’s the biggest thing really. It set me up for so much.” ■

Making a Difference CEAT graduate Beem helps teach engineering in Africa

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eather Beem was a W.W. Allen Scholar from 2003-2008 majoring in mechanical engineering.

Beem grew up in Oklahoma and was excited to come to OSU because of the CEAT Scholars Program.

“Graduating high school, I figured out that engineering was something I wanted to do, but when I saw that OSU had the CEAT Scholars Program, that was pretty unique,” Beem said. “I saw that it had an international component to it, which really got me interested and cemented my decision to go to OSU.”

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Being a CEAT scholar and a W.W. Allen Scholar really opened her eyes to a world view. This meant she was able to travel to Washington, D.C., and to Japan to see a lot of really interesting engineering work being done in different contexts.

“Being an Allen Scholar meant I got to meet with Mr. Allen once a year, and he would tell us stories about his career,” Beem said. “Through that, I really got to see an example of somebody who had built a really interesting engineering career. He really highlighted how much the international component of his work

impacted his life. That gave me a picture for the first time of a successful engineer, who had built this interesting career by explicitly seeking out international experiences. That planted a seed for me, that I could do something interesting as an engineer and inspired me to also seek out international opportunities.”

After graduating from OSU, Beem was fortunate to get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for graduate school and pursued a direct Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, bypassing her master’s.

Heather Beem

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Karl Reid, who was the dean of CEAT at the time, was instrumental in her decision to apply to MIT and supported her in the application process.

Reid was also a graduate of MIT and enjoyed comparing stories with Beem about their experiences there.

About halfway through her degree, Beem felt compelled to find something as a side project that she could do in addition to her normal research that could have some sort of impact in the world.

Fortunately, at MIT, there are a lot of programs and initiatives going on, so she started looking around and found herself drawn to a program called D-lab, which is a really popular program at MIT that works with people around the world to develop and advance collaborative approaches and practical solutions to global poverty challenges.

Beem was instrumental in starting one of the classes in the D-lab, which included engineering students working on projects in the developing world.

“Prior to that, I didn’t really know that as an engineer, I could apply my technical skills to help people with real pressing problems they are facing in their daily life,” Beem said. “I sort of gravitated toward that program and tried to figure out what else I could do. Which aspect of what they are working on could I try and plug into? I realized that I was really interested in education.”

As a mechanical engineer, Beem did a lot of hands-on, project-based learning and felt the personal impact of that. As she was working on experiments and projects in the lab, she really connected with engineering at a much deeper level.

She became more interested in it, and felt like she understood more of what was happening.

“I started to ask myself what it would look like to help students in other parts of the world to have that same experience of hands-on, project-based learning,” Beem said. “Was it possible for students who are living in the hardest parts of the world to actually

access that? What would it look like for a student in a remote village in Africa to really have an experiential, hands-on learning experience as they grow up?”

Thanks to some connections through the D-lab program, Beem and some other MIT students were able to reach out to a few schools in Africa.

Beem called some schools in Africa and asked them if they were interested in having MIT students come over and try out some engineering projects with their students. The school that they were able to connect with and was most receptive to the idea was in Ghana.

“I went there for about two weeks that summer, in the middle of my Ph.D. program, and it was a totally new experience in every possible way,” Beem said. “Everything was different, the weather, the food, the way people interact with each other. It was completely different. It was a very impactful experience for me.”

While there, Beem was welcomed into the home of the vice principal of one of the high schools, who hosted Beem for the 10 days she was there. They were very welcoming and eagerly took her to their school room they called a lab.

“On the first day that I was there, I kind of waited patiently while some students eventually filed in,” Beem said.

“I was really excited to meet them, and they were really excited to see what was going on. This was during their summer vacation so normally the students were not at school. They would have been helping their families sell a few things in town to make money for the day, but they were intrigued by something new, that something interesting might happen.

“As they slowly arrived into the room, I asked them if they were interested in doing some engineering projects. I asked them what kind of things they would like to work on, and they sort of flipped it back on me and said, ‘Anything you want. Whatever ideas you have, we want to try.’”

Beem asked them what types of materials they had to work with. Her

plan was to use the materials on hand to see what projects she could come up with. The tone in the room went from excitement to disappointment and shame because they didn’t have any materials.

“I looked at them and told them that maybe there were objects in this room that we can start with and we will see where we go from there,” Beem said.

“There was a young boy in the group who found a bucket. He brought me this bucket and asked me if we could use that. Everyone was laughing, but I said, ‘OK, let’s see what we can possibly do with this.’ There was no electricity in the school, so we decided to try to generate electricity and would use the bucket to make a wind turbine.”

Over the next few days, they were able to use the bucket as the base of the wind turbine. Beem guided the students who cut it in half. Using the two halves of that bucket, they put it together in a way that formed what they call a savonius wind turbine. Beem then had the students gather scrap wires and collect magnets from old computers.

Slowly but surely, they built a wind turbine from scrap materials that were found in their environment.

“The experience was really powerful for me because I could see, as soon as the students started engaging in this, it was like the world was opening before their eyes,” Beem said. “I could tell that prior to this, they never felt like they themselves were able to do anything like this. They were creating something that could provide real value to them.

It wasn’t generating a huge amount of electricity, but enough to charge a phone or something like that, and that was really exciting for them.

“I was at the school for only 10 days, but we made that wind turbine and did a couple of other projects. When I went back to the U.S., I kept thinking about them and realized that I was one of a very select few people in the world that had the opportunity to do hands-on engineering project work. For the vast majority of kids around the

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world, having a hands-on experience is something that they typically don’t have in their education.”

The sort of statistics that Beem had read about the developing world and poverty really became real for her based on that experience in Ghana. They no longer were statistics. They were real people that she had interacted with.

This is when Beem became fixated on how to figure out what she could do to address this challenge.

When she returned to MIT, she realized she would be there another several years and started thinking about what she could do within her own environment to make an impact in education globally. This led her to partner with the D-Lab program to create a brand-new course on education so that in addition to teaching students about how they can support sanitation, health and energy efforts in other parts of the world, there would also be a class where students could learn how to interact with the community partners in education initiatives.

“I’m happy to say that this class is still ongoing to this day,” Beem said.

“There have been around 100 students that have gone through the class and have all engaged with real communities in different parts of the world. This is what I did in my own environment, based on my very powerful experience I had in Ghana.”

During the remainder of her graduate studies, Beem kept in touch with the people in Ghana and at some point realized what she really hoped for and wanted to see was a large scale, hands-on education that would be available to students in schools, that they would have the opportunity to do experiments and activities and build projects.

“Everywhere around the world, kids are going to school, at least through elementary school in those countries, and even at that level they should start to experience and have access to hands-on education,” Beem said. “As that sort of crystalized for me that was a vision for what I hoped to see in the world. That drove me to dig deeper into these conversations with the people in Ghana, and I started asking myself what it would take to make something like this really happen.

are limited. Training programs are also minimal for teachers.

Over the next year and a half, Beem continued to fly back and forth between Boston and Accra so she could train more teachers in Ghana. The teachers who attended the first training were starting to go out and train other people.

No one was getting paid, they just did it because they realized that this was something that really needed to be done.

“Seeing that level of commitment from people on the ground made me realize that there is something real going on here,” Beem said. “It’s hard to make change in the developing world, but if this kind of thing is happening, then that seems to be a sign that this is hitting a real spot, and this is something that people are looking for.

“After a lot of prayer and soul searching, I decided to move full time to Ghana in 2016 and for the last five years, I have been living there and building a nongovernmental organization, building a team that is working to scale hands-on teacher training as far as we can in Ghana and hopefully throughout the entire West African region in the years to come.”

Beem is the founder and CEO of Practical Education Network (PEN).

She and her team have trained 3,500 teachers, most of them are all from different schools. PEN has seven master trainers and another 90 trainers. PEN has impacted over 600,000 students.

The classrooms are packed. Each teacher is teaching 50 to 60 kids at once and some teach multiple classes of students.

Beem plans to implement this in other countries in the future.

“The goal is that something should be made available to as many students on the continent as possible,” Beem said. ■

“For the vast majority of kids around the world, having a hands-on experience is something that they typically don’t have in their education.”

HEATHER BEEM

“I was having these conversations while I was doing my thesis work. Then the conversations led me and the other stakeholders to realize that if we could focus on teachers, that would make a big difference. If we are trying to see something change in the school systems, the teachers have to be involved. The teacher is the one who controls what goes on in the class.”

Beem decided to try a teacher training pilot to see what it would be like if they helped teachers find ways of repurposing materials in their own environments to do hands-on activities for their students.

After finishing her thesis in late 2014, Beem flew to Accra, the capital of Ghana, and did the first teacher training pilot for about two dozen science teachers and coordinators. The response she received was very positive. They loved having ideas for how they could use materials that they never really thought of as teaching tools because resources

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The Next Generation

2021 Allen Scholars and Boys & Girls Club Scholars excited to begin college career

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ncoming students Keshawn Wallace and Grace Hendrix were named the 2021 recipients of the W.W. Allen Scholarship.

The Allen Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University offers engineering students more than $135,000 in scholarship and enrichment.

For two students each year, the program offers industry networking, study abroad, mentorship, an annual scholarship of $8,500, plus full tuition and housing for a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge.

Grace Hendrix, an incoming freshman majoring in industrial engineering and management, grew up in Morrilton, Arkansas.

Hendrix was heavily involved during high school and was the president of Beta Club, Math Club and Student Council.

“Grace immerses herself into her community and she advocates for her peers,” said Jamie Mullens, math teacher at Morrilton High School. “She is trustworthy, intelligent, attentive, personable and seeks to learn more every day.

“Most teachers are not fortunate enough to have a student for multiple years and I have had the privilege of teaching Grace for five years. I have watched her develop into a mature and successful young woman who will accomplish many great things in her lifetime. She is an enormously talented and diligent individual. I am beyond proud of her as a student but more importantly, I am encouraged by her as a person.”

The Boys & Girls Club Scholarship Program is one of the programs provided by W. Wayne Allen through OSU. It was designed to benefit a person who was an active member of a Boys & Girls Club while in high school, and who wishes to pursue educational goals in the field of engineering.

This is an OSU exclusive scholarship program, awarding $15,000 per year to an incoming freshman for up to four years of study toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering, as well as enrichment activities and international travel.

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Wallace — an incoming freshman majoring in chemical engineering — grew up in Paris, Texas.

While a student-athlete, Wallace focused on his STEM-related classes and his involvement with many school clubs and activities.

Wallace was originally interviewed for the Boys & Girls Club Scholars Program — but ended up being selected as a W.W. Allen Scholar because Wallace impressed the scholarship committee and donor. Due to this, he will be receiving annual scholarship funding from the Boys & Girls Club scholarship while still receiving the full benefits of the W.W. Allen Scholars Program.

In high school, Wallace was involved in Ignite Ministries, as well as a member of the student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his school’s athletic program. Wallace also had significant involvement with the Boys & Girls Club throughout his life.

“My involvement with my local Boys & Girls Club began with my intentions to play football in the third grade,” Wallace said. “I loved playing for this organization so much that I decided to play basketball and indoor soccer for them and eventually ended up attending their summer and after-school programs.

“This went on for three years until I had to move to another city. During those three years, I led my football team to our Super Bowl twice, scoring the game-winning touchdown both times. As a student, I helped tutor those in the grades below me that also attended the after-school program. This sparked the beginning of my helping nature that was further molded by the men who worked for the club.”

Wallace started his freshman year at OSU this fall. After graduation, Wallace plans to get his master’s degree from the University of Cambridge and go on to become a prosthetics engineer.

Incoming aerospace engineering freshman Jack Chartier was selected as the 2021 Boys & Girls Club Scholar.

STORY KAITLYN MIRES | PHOTOS PROVIDED

The Allen Scholars Program at Oklahoma State University offers engineering students more than $135,000 in scholarship and enrichment.

Grace Hendrix

Keshawn Wallace

Chartier grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended Paradise Valley High School. During his time in high school, Chartier was a part of his school’s Link Crew, an opportunity to be a mentor to incoming freshmen, and drama shows.

Chartier was also involved with the Boys & Girls Club throughout his childhood.

“From my time in the Boys & Girls Club, I learned many useful skills still applicable in my life today,” Chartier said. “I attended the after school Boys & Girls Club for two years, and over time became an apprentice to one of my mentors. The longer that I spent at the club, the more responsibility I accumulated, and with this strengthened many of my relationships.

Jack Chartier

“The core values of the Boys & Girls Club are inclusivity and cooperation, and in my case, the club portrayed exactly that. Every day I got to participate in activities that allowed me to socialize with my peers and learn what it was like to be part of a true team.

“Alongside this, I met many of the mentors who still have an impact on my life today. These people have taught me how to lead, listen, cooperate and have responsibility that many teenagers never get to experience. I am still in contact with many of the leaders there who hosted activities, ran the various snack bars and performed upkeep on the club, and thank them for instilling many beneficial qualities in me.” ■

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Thornton, Vance Named Goldwater Scholarship Recipients

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wo Honors College students from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology won Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, the prestigious undergraduate award for outstanding students who seek research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to

serve as a memorial to honor Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona.

Collin Thornton is a senior from Duncan, Oklahoma, and is double majoring in computer engineering and electrical engineering. Thornton was an inaugural member of the Oklahoma State Scholars Society, one of 20 incoming freshmen selected for their leadership, service and academic potential. He was also a CEAT Scholar

and a Freshman Research Scholar as well as a recipient of the Wentz Research Scholarship in both his sophomore and junior years.

Thornton has been engaged in extensive research projects on OSU’s autonomous golf cart and unmanned aerial systems, mentored by Dr. He Bai in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Thornton also was president of OSU Mercury Robotics and a team lead for the Space Cowboys program. He participated in an internship for Tinker Air Force Base. Thornton is on track to complete the Honors College degree, and he plans to pursue a doctorate in controls engineering. He hopes to conduct research professionally in the automation and control of unmanned vehicles.

“I’ve had amazing support from OSU and my mentors over the past two years,” Thornton said. “The Goldwater application process is an intensely introspective task, often demanding answers to questions about my goals that I hadn’t yet asked myself. Having been a nominee for OSU twice over, I can safely say that the knowledge gained from applying is worth as much as the award itself. I cannot encourage future applicants enough: Give it a shot.”

“My congratulations goes out to Collin on winning the prestigious Goldwater scholarship,” Bai said. “I have had a great experience working with him since his freshman year. He has shown very strong motivation and capability in conducting research in robotics and control systems. Because of his commitment and excellent technical and management skills, Collin was able

Collin Thornton

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STORY KRISTI WHEELER | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

to make contributions to a number of our research projects, including the autonomous golf cart, control of the Baxter robotic arm, and UAV swarm simulations. I see great potential in him becoming a top-notch researcher in the future.”

Alexis Vance is also a senior. Vance is triple majoring in chemical, mechanical and aerospace engineering. She is the first OSU student to combine all three programs at the undergraduate level.

She has supplemented her coursework with an extensive history of research projects under the mentorship of Dr. Jamey Jacob and Dr. Brian Elbing in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. A junior from Leawood, Kansas, Vance is a W.W. Allen Scholar and a Wentz Research Scholar.

She has performed atmospheric monitoring of infrasound, led a team of students designing a spacewalk tool as part of a NASA design challenge and served on a research team working with OSU’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute. Most recently, she coordinated solar balloon flight testing through a NASA PSTAR grant — a collaboration between the Jet Propulsion Lab, Sandia National Labs and OSU. She also has completed four separate work tours with NASA’s Pathways Program, including spacecraft thermal design, life support systems, flight control and spacewalk execution. Vance plans to pursue a doctorate in aerospace engineering and conduct research in spacecraft development for deep space exploration.

“I owe a great deal to the mentors that I have had throughout my undergraduate research career,” Vance said. “From the very beginning of my freshman year, they have been challenging me to take on projects and leadership roles that I had thought were beyond what I could do. It is my greatest hope that I can one day return the favor by supporting future students and mentees in my research career as they have supported me.

Alexis Vance

“This scholarship is very impactful to me, as it opens up a world of career opportunities that will allow me to have a meaningful impact on the scientific research community. I look forward to tackling the great engineering challenges of my generation’s future with the skills I have gained at Oklahoma State.”

“Alexis serves as the epitome of what a great student leader is capable of,” Jacob said. “Working with NASA scientists and engineers, she has led teams of students to design and test systems for the International Space Station, tracking tornados using their acoustic signature, and interplanetary

solar balloons for flight on Venus. She never quits and never gives up. When she found her passion in aerospace engineering, instead of switching majors to make it easier on herself, she decided to complete her chemical engineering degree and graduate with three degrees instead.”

Thornton and Vance are two of OSU’s 29 Goldwater Scholars. They were selected from a pool of 1,256 applicants from 438 institutions across the country.

OSU has produced eight Goldwater scholars in the past three years. The Goldwater Scholarships are valued at up to $7,500 per year. ■

O S U C E AT 13

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Worldwide Prestige Architecture 5117 Urban Studio become finalists in 3 international competitions

O

ver the past year and a half, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Architecture 5117 Urban Studio has placed in three international design competitions.

The international competitions include the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central States Competition, Tactical Urbanism NOW! Competition, and Future Public Space.

At the AIA Central States Competition, the studio took two of the top three places. The competition, held on Sept. 21, 2020, sought proposals for a section of the riverfront in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Twelve teams representing architecture programs in the Central States Region, including two Oklahoma State University teams, participated in the annual event seeking architectural design solutions.

Both teams were expected to create a different design plan for the riverfront.

Seung Ra, associate professor for the School of Architecture, helped his team place second overall in the competition.

“We don’t know where or what the project is before the start,” Ra said. “We joined at 8 a.m., the organizer explained the project and objectives, and

we had 12 hours to finish the project. It is a very intense design competition.”

The competition was held virtually because of COVID-19, however, the OSU teams were still successful.

Nathan Richardson, who is also an associate professor for the School of Architecture, helped his team place third overall in the competition.

The competition this year was held virtually at each team’s respective schools. Although this was a major change for the teams, both advisors agree that the hardest part of the competition was completing the assignment within the 12-hour time limit.

“The hardest part about it is taking a team of four students and working on a project from start to finish in 12 hours,” Richardson said. “Even though you know you are only going to have 12 hours to develop a proposal, it is very difficult to continue to move forward and develop a design that is presentable.”

The Tactical Urbanism NOW! Competition is a worldwide contest for all ages and experience levels. The idea of tactical urbanism is short-term and low-cost solutions to cities where public space goes beyond traditional aspects such as parks and town squares.

The finalist group from OSU had the opportunity to transform the city of Dharavi in India.

Students Hope Bailey, Scott Cornelius and Devin Weddle were part of the team that developed Basin, a combined sanitation and public space.

Through rainwater collection, a single basin provided sanitation needs for 40,000 people and a lounge/gathering space for citizens.

“We were challenged in this competition to generate ideas for a city where the design went beyond traditional notions,” Ra said. “The goal was to explore and conduct

The competition was held in a virtual format over Zoom.

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experiments with new urban scenarios. Our design studio focused on how architecture engages the city in the course of myriad encounters: new challenges, new possibilities and new configurations.

“Ultimately, students were challenged to view and study public space by developing an innovative and contemporary relationship between architecture and the city.”

The research put in by the design studio explored urban scenarios, which can help promote things such as social exchange, community activities and citizen interaction through the use of multifunctional designs.

“We encourage students to study issues that are very important to them,” Richardson said.

“Throughout the studio, we have a lot of students looking at a wide range of things that interest them.

The finalist group of this competition was really focused on water quality.”

Future Public Space is hosted by Non Architecture, a company with a mission to reinvent spatial design by questioning the base, fundamentals and conventions of an architect’s work. With an international team and a design community of thousands of people, Non

Architecture develops initiatives, mediums, and projects to explore innovative design solutions and experimental collaboration models.

The urban studio also placed finalists in this competition, which encourages participants to come up with visionary concepts for an alternative public space that embraces today’s challenges.

Only two drawings are allowed to be submitted.

Participants are asked to propose conceptual ideas for the public space that will populate future cities.

“I am proud of our students for taking the lead and encouraging their peers this year,” Ra said. “They have been very engaged, flexible and innovative during the circumstances this year.

This is an international audience, so they get to reach way beyond OSU. “Their courage and go-getter attitude made our season worth it.” ■

O S U C E AT 15

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FACULT Y HIGHLIGHTS

From All Over CEAT’s faculty and staff bring diverse viewpoints to the classroom

Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than just words to aspire to, and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University continues to elevate those values.

Through focused efforts, CEAT looks to recruit and retain students from all walks of life who dream they can change the world. CEAT continues to seek and hire educators and researchers with diverse knowledge bases and varying perspectives that enhance their skills as engineers, architects and technologists and better reflect the student body they serve.

IMPACT takes a look at these remarkable professors throughout OSU CEAT.

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STORY CEAT MARKETING | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND GARY LAWSON

SCHOOL OF

ARCHITECTURE Sarah Ra, assistant professor for the School of Architecture, is from Mustang, Oklahoma. She attended OSU for architecture and graduated with honors in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture.

Ra then went on to graduate school at Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied adaptive reuse and graduated in 2005 with honors, earning a Master of Interior Architecture.

Her graduate studies allowed her to focus on the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and the creative reimagining of places. She is a licensed architect in Oklahoma (AIA) and a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Ra also had the opportunity to practice in New York City, where she was able to work on the Seagram building.

Ra has always had an interest in architecture, a love for drawing and travel. She is fascinated by architecture unique to different countries.

OSU’s established and respected architecture program drew Ra to Stillwater. Its long history, which is balanced by change and progress, was another factor. She also saw an opportunity for positive contribution and growth in her field.

Since expanding the travel abroad program, she has become a co-leader of the program to Asia. She also serves as faculty advisor and helped launch a new student organization, NOMAS (the National Organization for Minority Architecture Students).

Recently, she was awarded the 2021 CEAT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Faculty of the Year Award.

Ra’s research centers on the architecture of Northeast Asia with a focus on contemporary applications of traditional vernacular approaches to design.

“It is particularly important to cultures around the world to maintain their identity while also engaging current technological advancements in order to produce a sustainably built environment,” Ra said. “Globalization has posed unique challenges to cultural identity (such as homogenization of place), but much is to be gained by sharing what makes us and our architecture unique.”

Ra revived the “History of Asian Architecture” course, a unique offering among schools of architecture. John Bryant, former head of the school in the mid-1970s, pioneered this offering and upon his retirement in 2002 it too was retired.

It hadn’t been taught at OSU again until Ra came along. Ra was Bryant’s TA for the course when she was a student.

She and her husband, fellow CEAT faculty member Seung Ra, created and led an Asian study abroad trip for CEAT students that is very popular.

Sarah Ra

They have designed programs for students to see and experience Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Singapore and Hong Kong.

“I like to provide opportunities for my students to apply the principles they learn in class to speculate on potential contemporary applications of these traditional approaches for the built environment,” Ra said.

Assistant Professor Keith Peiffer received the national Emerging Faculty Award from the Building Technology Educators Society, for new faculty who demonstrate excellence and innovation in teaching building technology subjects.

Peiffer teaches Architectural Keith Peiffer Materials, Criticism and Theory, as well as Design Studios for second- through fourth-year students, where he exhibits his love of the making of architecture.

Peiffer is a licensed architect with more than a dozen years of professional experience on the East Coast (with several award-winning projects too) before joining OSU. O S U C E AT 17

SCHOOL OF

BIOSYSTEMS and AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Dr. Saleh Taghvaeian is originally from Iran.

His grandfather was a farmer in northeast Iran, where water scarcity is the main challenge in producing agricultural crops.

When the time came to decide about a major in college, Taghvaeian went with irrigation engineering, because he was interested in developing and implementing engineering tools to improve water availability and food security.

The applied aspect of an engineering degree and a focus on irrigation technology would allow him to be involved in tackling the challenging problem of feeding a growing population with declining water resources and to have an impact on the quality of life of many people in his home country and around the world.

Taghvaeian received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Iran and then moved to the U.S to pursue his doctorate in Irrigation Engineering at Utah State University. After graduation, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University, where he was involved in several projects on balancing competing water demands of agricultural crops and rapidly growing urban populations.

Taghvaeian has been with the School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at OSU since 2013.

“I was extremely honored to be offered a position here. This university and department has a long, well-respected history in designing and developing innovative engineering approaches to solve complex agricultural and natural resources issues,” Taghvaeian said. “After joining OSU, I discovered that the strong academic programs here are accompanied with a unique sense of family and warm hospitality that transforms this place beyond just a workplace.”

Taghvaeian’s current research is focused on improving the productivity of agricultural water consumption to ensure the financial viability of farming communities while preserving precious water resources for other critical uses.

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Dr. Saleh Taghvaeian

Water is the most limiting agricultural input, especially in western parts of the state where surface water resources are limited, groundwater resources are declining, and droughts are common.

Using advanced sensor technologies and computer models, Taghvaeian aims to reduce irrigation losses and increase the amount of crop produced per every drop of water used.

Accomplishing this goal requires collaborating with engineers and scientists from diverse disciplines.

“Minimizing potential adverse impacts on the environment is another main aspect of my research,” Taghvaeian said. “In addition, as an extension specialist, I work closely with our farmers from across the state to understand their water challenges. I then design and modify my research to address these challenges and take the findings back to stakeholders to share and seek their feedback.”

SCHOOL OF

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Dr. Mohammed Al Dushaishi is an assistant professor in the School of Chemical Engineering.

He grew up in Saudi Arabia, and later attended college in the United States. Al Dushaishi attended Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, master’s degree in petroleum engineering and a doctorate in petroleum engineering.

Before coming to OSU, Al Dushaishi was an assistant professor in the School of Engineering at Texas A&M International University for three years. Throughout the three years he was there, he taught multiple courses including engineering graphics, statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, engineering project management, system engineering capstone design and drilling.

In that time, he also averaged an overall student teaching evaluation of 4.6/5. His decision to join OSU in January 2020 was heavily influenced by how prominent OSU is in the world of research.

“As a Tier 1 research institution, OSU provides ample research opportunities and the privilege to work with highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students. Another important aspect that attracted me to OSU was the highly qualified faculty that I get to work with,” Al Dushaishi said.

Although young and still fairly new at OSU, Al Dushaishi has proven to be a prominent researcher in petroleum engineering and is making a huge impact on the world of engineering. His research is focused on the aspects of subsurface drilling operations to optimize drilling efficiency and reduce non-productive time. Within that research area, he has specifically been working on characterizing and modeling drillstring natural and induced vibrations, as well as their overall impact on drilling performance.

He is a sub-recipient of a $1.1 million Department of Energy grant addressing drilling optimization for deep geothermal wells, where his main contribution to the project is characterizing drillstring vibrations and their effect on drill bit dynamics.

Recently, Al Dushaishi has been awarded a grant by the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC/DOE to evaluate and enhance the drilling performance of two recently drilled geothermal wells for the Utah Frontier

Dr. Mohammed Al Dushaishi

Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) project sponsored by the DOE. The objective of this grant is to use modern rate of penetration models, specifically designed for hard rock geothermal drilling, and deliver a drilling optimization program to be used to drill new planned wells in the same area.

Al Dushaishi has published 10 peer-reviewed journal papers and 20 conference papers. His research interests include drilling fluids and hydraulics, lost circulation events and treatments, bit rock interactions, fluid-structure interaction, wellbore integrity, and data analytics. Al Dushaishi hopes that through his research the cost of subsurface energy extraction will be reduced, creating an opportunity for more affordable energy.

At OSU, Al Dushaishi has taught three courses so far — two undergraduate and one graduate — where he averaged 4.9/5 on an overall teaching evaluation. He is a technical reviewer for several high-impact factor journals, such as the Journal of Natural Gas Science & Engineering, SPE Journal, and Energies and Materials Journal.

O S U C E AT 19

SCHOOL OF CIVIL and ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella is an assistant professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and joined CEAT in Fall 2020.

Originally from Mexico City, environmental engineering caught his attention right before he started college, as he saw multiple opportunities to learn and apply topics that he was attracted to — such as chemistry, mathematics, environmental sciences, biology and design — so he could prevent and remediate contamination.

“I truly enjoy outdoor activities, and environmental engineering offered multiple opportunities to apply technical concepts while giving back to nature,” Gonzalez-Estrella said.

Gonzalez-Estrella has a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Veracruz in Mexico; a master’s degree in environmental sciences with a focus on environmental engineering from the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosi in Mexico; and a doctorate in environmental engineering from the University of Arizona.

After Gonzalez-Estrella graduated from the University of Arizona in 2014, he worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in a project focused on waste-to-energy funded by the Department of Defense.

In 2017, he joined the University of New Mexico as a postdoctoral research associate and continued working as a research assistant professor until the summer of 2020. At UNM, Gonzalez-Estrella’s research activities were part of the METALS Superfund Research Center, the Center for Water and the Environment, and the UNM Center for Native Environmental Health Equity.

“I chose OSU because it is an ideal university to establish a research group,” Gonzalez-Estrella said. “At OSU, we have ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, state-of-theart facilities and research centers, and plenty of opportunities for professional growth.

“My research group — The Gonzalez-Estrella Environmental Engineering (GE3) Research Group — is focused on three main areas: fate and

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Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella

microbial toxicity of priority pollutants in water and soil, (bio)transformation of perseverant pollutants, and (bio)remediation of contaminants.”

His research group investigates biological and physicochemical mechanisms driving degradation processes, mobility and effects of contaminants on water and soil to advance knowledge and develop transformative technologies.

“Our current projects are funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS),” Gonzalez-Estrella said. “Our goal is to understand generation mechanisms of microplastics in remote and underserved communities as well as the occurrence of microplastics in freshwater systems of Oklahoma.

“Our research informs the general public, government entities and the scientific community about potential effects of microplastics on the environment and human health.”

DIVISION OF

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Dr. Hitesh Vora was born in Gujarat, India. His parents migrated to neighboring Mumbai looking for better educational opportunities for their two sons.

Vora, who was inquisitive by nature and loved problem solving, was drawn to engineering. He completed his bachelor’s degree in production engineering from the University of Mumbai in 2006 and was encouraged by a mentor to pursue graduate studies.

Vora came to the United States to pursue his master’s degree in mechanical engineering technology and then his doctoral degree in material science and engineering, both of which he received from the University of North Texas.

After working as a postdoctoral researcher, in January 2015, Vora accepted an assistant professorship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology at Oklahoma State University, choosing to make Stillwater his family’s permanent home.

Vora has a passion for teaching, where his philosophy is focused on creating a safe, secure, encouraging and motivational learning environment that encourages exploration, innovation and creativity in his students.

“Students are an integral part of society and have a pivotal role in shaping its future,” Vora said. “Teaching and mentoring are the most vital service I can provide to them.”

In addition to teaching, Vora is extensively involved in research relating to the field of energy engineering and management. He is the director and principal investigator of the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at OSU, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy Assessment Center (REAC). The IAC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide its clients with industrial assessments that will help their businesses reduce energy and waste while increasing productivity.

The DOE recently announced that they would provide $60 million in funding to university-based IACs, of which Vora’s IAC was awarded $1.75 million to focus on improving productivity, enhancing cybersecurity, promoting resiliency planning and providing training to entities located in disadvantaged communities. The REAC provides energy assessments and audits to small rural businesses and agricultural producers in the state of Oklahoma that will help reduce their energy and waste while increasing their productivity.

An associated goal with these programs is to produce graduates who are technically competent and able to handle all facets of client relations and

Dr. Hitesh Vora

communication so that they are prepared to serve as energy engineers and managers.

Another area of Vora’s research is in additive manufacturing, where his team was recently awarded funding through the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology-Oklahoma Applied Research Support program that will go towards the development of next-generation smart heatsinks.

Heatsinks aid in the regulation of electronic or mechanical device temperatures by transferring or dispersing heat away from the device. The objective of this research is to create a highly innovative heatsink design by using efficient manufacturing processes and advanced material systems to create heatsinks that will have high thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and the ability to be used in a variety of atmospheric conditions.

Vora is a matrixed professor in the ENDEAVOR lab’s digital manufacturing makerspace and has developed and led educational efforts in the field of 3D printing from entry level freshmen and sophomore student projects to advanced level junior and senior student projects. That requires the students to make functional parts and prototypes of advanced materials for their industry-led capstone projects or upperdivision class projects.

O S U C E AT 21

SCHOOL OF

ELECTRICAL and COMPUTER ENGINEERING Dr. Wooyeol Choi is an assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at OSU. He is originally from Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Stillwater in 2018, after spending several years in the Dallas area.

Choi knew from a young age that he wanted to be a scientist of some kind when he grew up.

“I was the boy who loved to tear things apart and put them back together (almost),” Choi said.

“My parents were very supportive of my curiosity, which helped me find my love of engineering later in life.”

Choi graduated from Yonsei University in Seoul in 2001 and went on to pursue his doctorate in electrical engineering from Seoul National University, which he received in 2011. Soon after graduation, Choi accepted the position of research associate and was later promoted to assistant research professor at the University of Texas at Dallas.

In 2018, Choi accepted an assistant professor position at OSU. “My biggest motivation to come to OSU was the research infrastructure and great research faculty that I have the privilege of working alongside,” Choi said. “ECE at OSU is a leader in my research field and Stillwater is a beautiful, friendly place that is a perfect fit for my family, as well.”

Choi recently started participating in the LunarCom research project with fellow colleagues at OSU, the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, the University of Tulsa and NASA’s Goddard Laboratory.

The multi-disciplinary group is trying to build a proof-of-concept system that efficiently and effectively combines laser optical and radio frequency communication systems into a hybrid architecture which will allow for a faster, more reliable and more robust communication system between the Earth and the moon. This project is being supported by NASA and its Established Program for Simulating Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

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Dr. Wooyeol Choi

Choi is also working with Texas Instruments in the development of high frequency electronics in high-resolution imaging radar. Choi is investigating the use of new compact radar circuits that operate a frequency five times higher than those used in current automotive radars.

Choi hopes that this application will allow for automotive systems such as collision avoidance to detect smaller sized objects, farther away in vision impaired environments, such as a foggy morning.

Choi’s area of interest is in electronic circuit design, specifically those operating at high frequencies.

“Whenever you see any electronic device do something wirelessly, from good old AM radios to ultra-fast 5G mobile phones, to cars that can see 300 feet away through fog using radars, you are seeing high frequency circuits at work,” Choi said.

“I am always investigating ways to make those electronic systems work faster, more efficient, more affordably and eco-friendly.”

SCHOOL OF

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING and MANAGEMENT Dr. Juan Borrero is an assistant professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management and has been with OSU since August 2017.

He grew up in Bogota, Colombia, and attended the Universidad de los Andes in Bogota for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh to earn his doctorate.

In his undergrad, Borrero studied mathematics, but then switched to industrial engineering for his master’s and doctorate.

“The deeper you go into pure math, the more abstract it becomes,” Borerro said. “At the end of my bachelor’s, I wanted to explore a different route and wanted to see how mathematics could be applied to solve problems in industry, government, healthcare, among others, so I became more interested in engineering, more specifically, industrial engineering.”

Prior to earning his doctorate and coming to OSU, Dr. Borrero was an instructor in the industrial engineering department at Universidad de los Andes.

He said his decision to join the faculty at OSU was partially fueled by the fact that the IEM department is the third oldest industrial engineering department in the U.S., behind Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh.

“As such, IEM at OSU has a lot of tradition in IE, particularly, IEM at OSU puts significant emphasis in the engineering part, which for me is important because in my field there are departments that although are IE, look more like computer science or applied math,” Borerro said.

Additionally, the influx of new faculty, prioritization of high-quality research, new engineering facilities and the fact that many IEM faculty were working in his area of research helped him solidify his decision to join OSU. Borrero has done research in many different aspects of industrial engineering, but he is currently focusing on two topics: optimization under uncertainty and propagation influence problems in networks.

For the first, his emphasis is on problems when the optimizer/decision maker must decide under uncertainty but has little data or information about it.

This issue comes up in many applications, including critical infrastructure protection, smuggling prevention, defender/attacker problems, disaster operations management and more. The main challenge that Borrero has run into in his research is that it is unreliable to use methods based on standard statistics because they require to reliably estimate distributions for data.

Because of this, his research is focusing on providing a new mathematical and algorithmic

Dr. Juan Borrero

framework to model these issues. Through this he hopes to provide solutions that are adaptable/ immunized to uncertainty and that have performance guarantees.

Borrero’s second research focus has two aspects to it: how to allocate resources into different modes of propagation in order to minimize the time until the information propagates to the network and identifying and removing groups of covert actors that spread negative influence in order to minimize the influence that they have in the network.

In order to do this, he uses tools from graph theory, Markov chains and combinatorial optimization to model the problems and design efficient algorithms to solve large scale instances.

His research in this area is aimed to improve online social networks, communication networks and networks of unmanned aerial vehicles by providing decision-support tools for managers in order for them to operate their networks more efficiently.

Borrero has taught three undergraduate courses and three graduate courses so far at OSU and he is actively involved in various on-campus organizations. Though he is still young, he has already made a great impact on the IEM program through his involvement and research.

O S U C E AT 23

SCHOOL OF

MECHANICAL and AEROSPACE ENGINEERING Dr. Jamey Jacob is the John Hendrix Chair and Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Oklahoma State University.

Jacob was born in Oklahoma City and grew up in Mustang, Oklahoma, in the flight path of Will Rogers World Airport, where he first discovered his love of flight.

Building remote control aircraft in high school gave him the experience to work on systems for weather research as an undergraduate student.

Jacob graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1990. From there, he went on to pursue and obtain his doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley in 1995. Shortly after, Jacob accepted a position as an associate professor in mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky in 1996, where he worked for a decade.

In 2006, Jacob then accepted a full professor position in aerospace engineering at OSU and has been an integral part of the faculty in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.

“Through their Design/Build/Fly expertise, OSU had built a national reputation on designing small aircraft and taking them to the air, very unique at the time. This was a strong attraction for me and led me back to Oklahoma,” Jacob said.

Jacob is the director of the OSU Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) and his main area of research interest is in the development and implementation of unmanned aerial systems for a myriad of different applications, particularly focused on weather and the environment. He was the lead principal investigator for the CLOUD MAP (Collaboration Leading Operational UAS Development for Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics) program, a $6 million effort funded by the National Science Foundation’s focus on the use of UAS for collecting and monitoring data presented during different atmospheric phenomena.

He followed this up with a $5.2 million program funded by the NASA University Leadership Initiative.

The WINDMAP (Weather Intelligent Navigation Data for Aviation Planning) program is focused on developing systems to support Advanced Air Mobility as part of NASA’s Unmanned Traffic Management.

Jacob is also involved with several other NASA supported projects including investigating and developing the use of an inflatable UAS system for deployment on other planets such as Mars, Venus and Pluto. A team of researchers, including Jacob,

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Dr. Jamey Jacob

is testing the efficacy of high-altitude balloons, currently being used to monitor infrasound waves in Earth’s atmosphere as a detection method for earthquakes, for monitoring and collecting atmospheric and ground data on Venus.

As part of a recent NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, the USRI team is developing a decelerator for a future lander for the exploration of Pluto. He also mentors the NASA Microgravity University and Space Cowboys rocket teams.

Jacob has been involved in the development and adaptation of UAS-based surveillance of natural-gas pipeline and identification of possible faulty equipment or leaks as part of a collaborative project with GE and Baker Hughes. His team at USRI has also been involved in the development of a collision avoidance system for UAS as part of an initiative to secure beyond-visual-lineof-sight clearance from the FAA in collaboration with Vigilant Aerospace Systems.

Future initiatives include centers focused on Counter-UAS and drone applications for weather.

“As drones become more prolific, they will both serve as a threat as well as a tool for scientists and researchers,” Jacob said.

This brings Jacob’s path to OSU’s drone dominance full circle.

“My interest in drones started in high school and then continued through college as part of an effort to design drones to study severe weather,” he said. “Now we’ve extended this to help develop systems to fly on other planets, while still pushing the envelope to use these systems to better understand natural hazards here on Earth.”

SCHOOL OF

MATERIALS SCIENCE and ENGINEERING Dr. Do Young Kim, an assistant professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering and is originally from Seoul, South Korea. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics at Kyung Hee University. His interest in physics started when he was in high school.

“Physics seemed to be a treasure chest full of answers to all my lifelong questions about the universe,” Kim said. “At the time, those around me tried to dissuade me from majoring in physics, saying I would starve. However, 30 years later, I still have no regrets about my choice. Studying physics back then was a critical foundation for my current research capability.”

Kim’s interest in engineering started when he had the opportunity to conduct semiconductor and display research as a graduate student at KHU, where he first encountered semiconductor materials and their device applications.

“The laboratory was very active, and I was able to acquire a broad range of experimental skills including semiconductor thin film deposition and photolithography,” Kim said. “I used these skills to fabricate countless semiconductor devices including Si thin-film transistors (TFTs).”

After receiving his master’s degree, Kim worked as a research scientist at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology in South Korea, developing the poly-Si TFT technology on plastic substrates which is a core technology in flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

Kim received his doctorate in MSE at the University of Florida in 2009 and was there for 10 years conducting research on organic/inorganic nanomaterials discovering their fundamental electronic and optical properties and exploiting them synergistically in device embodiments.

Kim didn’t know much about OSU or its engineering program. During the on-site interview, however, the facilities, equipment, and administrative support attracted him. In particular, the Helmerich Research Center, which would allow him to focus on his research interests.

Kim has explored the new display and sensor applications based on the IR-OLED that he originally invented.

As a first promising application of the IR-OLED, he invented an innovative infrared-stimulated selfemitting projection display. Despite unsatisfactory image quality, especially in brightness and contrast ratio, and the subsequent need for a darkened room, conventional projection displays are still used extensively in company meeting rooms,

Dr. Do Young Kim

school classrooms, and churches because there is currently no alternative technology.

Therefore, there is a clear societal need and market opportunity for alternative display technologies with extremelylarge display screens and at the same time excellent display image quality like high-end OLED TVs. Kim’s research group has also investigated the possibility of perovskite solar cells in the space power markets for their low cost, low weight, adaptability to flexible architecture, and tolerance to high energy particle irradiation (mainly protons).

Halide perovskites are a rising star in the photovoltaic community and the current champion perovskite cell shows high efficiency over 25 percent, comparable to the state-of-the-art Si solar cells.

“While perovskite solar cells are vulnerable to oxygen and moisture, there is no oxygen or moisture in space, thus expected for perovskite solar cells to be very suitable for space application,” Kim said. “Furthermore, direct in-space assembly of perovskite solar panels especially on the lunar surface are very critical for future NASA space missions. Unlike the brief visits to the Moon during the Apollo program more than 50 years ago, NASA has a plan to develop an Artemis Base Camp to support longer expeditions on the lunar surface. The planned base camp is expected to require a lot of electrical powers.

“If we could fabricate solar panels directly on the lunar surface, it would be greatly beneficial to establishing sustainable long-term exploration of the Moon.” ■ O S U C E AT 25

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Engineering Is For All

CEAT’s new Women’s Advisory Board hopes to make engineering more inclusive

T

he College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology wasted no time during the restrictions brought on by the COVID19 pandemic to begin meeting virtually about new initiatives to encourage the attraction and retention of female students and faculty within CEAT. In 2020, the Women’s Advisory Board was created by Dr. Paul Tikalsky, dean of CEAT. Headed by alumna Jordan Burns, the board consists of members of CEAT’s administration and CEAT alumnae and focuses on understanding the barriers that might discourage female students and faculty to come to OSU, as well as any factors that might affect retaining them.

Burns, who currently serves as a refinery unit process engineer for Phillips 66, knew that something needed to change to alleviate the worry that prospective female students had about studying engineering.

“During my time at OSU, I was highly involved in student affairs and philanthropy,” Burns said. “I served as a CEAT Ambassador and really enjoyed giving tours to prospective female students, and often during our discussions the fear of being one of few women studying engineering would come up.”

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When the Women’s Advisory Board was created, Burns wanted to make an impact on student’s lives and determined that the board was a good effort worth dedicating her time toward.

“The Women’s Advisory Board is important because it helps to share the perspective of graduates over a broad range of time and brings to light some of the challenges that we face moving forward,” Burns said. “It takes ideas and meaningful discussion to develop solutions that further our cause and the women on the advisory board share a passion for increasing women’s presence in STEM and are willing to work to do so.”

The Women’s Advisory Board is currently comprised of only women; however, the board understands the importance of gaining support for their initiatives from everyone.

“It’s equally important for men and women to be supportive of this,” Burns said. “In order for diversity and inclusion to become deeply ingrained in the culture of CEAT, we must educate decision makers and faculty that are both male and female about how to create a continually supportive environment.

“When this happens, we are able to remove some of the roadblocks for

women which will allow for higher attraction and retention rates.”

Burns added that if female alumnae, students and faculty are the only ones advocating for female representation, the goals of the board would be unable to be accomplished.

While they know it will take time, the Women’s Advisory Board members are persistent and dedicated to forming creative approaches to supporting students and transforming a culture, Burns said.

“Together, we are able to work with the college to share our stories, ideas and enthusiasm for helping women students and faculty feel advocated and welcomed within CEAT,” Burns said.

Tikalsky commended the results of the efforts of the board’s first year.

“OSU is committed to increasing the pipeline of women in engineering,” Tikalsky said. “The Women’s Advisory Board has provided initial ideas for recruiting and mentoring young women that help them see the amazing opportunities that they have to change the world. CEAT is just getting started with this initiative and we have already produced the largest class of female engineering freshman in OSU history.

“We expect to exceed that every year for the next 5 years with the help of the Women’s Advisory Board.” ■

STORY DAKOTA KEITH | PHOTOS DAKOTA KEITH

Jordan Burns with CEAT Summer Bridge students.

GETTING INVOLVED One of the best ways to get involved in CEAT’s diversity and inclusion efforts is to donate to the Multicultural Engineering Program Fund No. 26-91030.

Jordan Burns, head of the CEAT Woman’s Advisory Board, speaks with a group of freshman CEAT students about her experiences as a woman studying engineering.

The Multicultural Engineering Fund was created to provide support to recruit, retain and graduate women and underrepresented CEAT students majoring in engineering, architecture or technology. These funds provide support for student engagement events, mentorship programming, the diversity, equity and inclusion living learning community, national and regional conferences, outreach and scholarships.

For more information on how you can make a difference, contact CEAT’s Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs, Yokolanda Speight, at yokolan@ okstate.edu or Maddie Pierce at mpierce@osugiving.com from the OSU Foundation.

Jordan Burns speaks to Summer Bridge students, as a representative of her employer Phillips 66, about the keys to being a successful college student.

O S U C E AT 27

-

The Rebirth of Engineering South 82-year-old building receiving much-needed renovations

Engineering South opened in 1939.

T

he College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has seen many transformations in the last decade, now it is time for Engineering South to join in on the renovations.

The 82-year-old building is set to join the plethora of buildings that CEAT has built and renovated recently.

They include: CEAT’s new flagship undergraduate lab ENDEAVOR; the renovation of floors 2-5 in Engineering North; and the creation of the CEAT Student Excellence Center on the first floor of the Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC).

On the north campus, there have been improvements to the Bert Cooper Lab; the addition to Fire Protection

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Publications (FPP); and the creation of the innovative unmanned systems focused EXCELSIOR building.

Since 1939, ES has provided CEAT a high-profile location in the heart of campus adjacent to Edmon Low Library and legacy walk. This historic structure has been the longtime home for the Schools of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), as well as Civil and Environmental Engineering (CIVE).

The building has played an important role in the life of the college and is embedded in the hearts of CEAT alumni.

ES was the first building on campus totally devoted to engineering. When it was built, all CEAT departments, except for architecture, were housed in

ES. In addition to providing numerous classrooms, offices and laboratories, the building hosted the campus amateur radio station and provided OSU and CEAT with a large campus classroom/ auditorium.

While the bones are strong, the building is showing its age. The HVAC system struggles to meet comfort and air quality standards; the roof leaks; the elevator is under-sized; and most of all, the layout of the interior offices, classrooms and labs are inefficient in today’s academic environment, plus it looks completely worn out.

Renovation of this historic building is now underway. The nationally recognized and award-winning architecture firm of Rand Elliott Architects has worked with CEAT faculty and staff to make ES new again.

While the aesthetics of the exterior facade will remain intact to preserve OSU’s campus heritage, the interior will be transformed into a cuttingedge environment for faculty, staff, and students. All four floors of the interior will be gutted and are designed to propel ES into the 21st century.

The first floor will provide a campus front door to CEAT Recruiting, Scholarships, Career Services, and Special Programs and will include a classroom and collaborative meeting spaces. An addition on the east end will host the new Zink Center for Competitive Innovation and the state-of-the-art Chickasaw STEM Auditorium.

STORY KRISTI WHEELER | PHOTOS KRISTI WHEELER

Artist rendering of the newly renovated Engineering South, including the Zinc Center on the east side of the building.

The second floor will provide a new home for ECE and the third floor will host the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).

CIVE has already moved to its newly renovated home on the second floor of EN. “ES will provide CEAT with an innovative and exciting new facility that will inspire faculty and students and excite potential CEAT students about the possibilities of meaningful careers in engineering, architecture and technology,” said Randy Seitsinger,

associate dean for Academic Affairs.

“Rand Elliott Architects has done a great job of providing an inspiring design which represents CEAT’s forward thinking curriculums.

“The new homes for ECE and MAE will provide faculty with stimulating spaces and the first floor will be a great new front door for the college. The Zink Center for Competitive Innovation and Chickasaw STEM auditorium will provide CEAT with new programming and innovative spaces to elevate student learning and success.” ■

Some features such as the Zodiac and the historical staircase will remain.

O S U C E AT 29

A NEW HOME FOR FUTURE ENGINEERS

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THESE VISIONARY SPACES ARE NEEDED

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Different

Naming Opportunities Available (as of publication 01/2022) Entryway and Project Gallery ST

1 Floor Entryway and Project Gallery CEAT Recruiting Center

111

CEAT Enrichment Center 104

102 103 101 Office Office Office

Learning Center

107 Office 119

108 Office 1,525 sq. ft

Conference

Innovation Corridor 3,700

114 1,225

sq. ft

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Office

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sq. ft

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106

Diversity& Inclusion

Office Spaces Naming Opportunities Diversity and Inclusion Center | $20,000

122 Team Room

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Career Service Center

1,525 sq. ft

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sq. ft

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sq. ft

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1,225 sq. ft

General Areas

Learning Center | $1,000,000 CEAT Enrichment Center | $100,000 Study Abroad Center | $20,000 Legacy Hall | $250,000 Auditorium Lobby | $100,000 Leadership Center | $10,000 Areas Office Spaces MeetingConference SpacesRoom | $50,000 • Go to ceat.okstate.edu Leadership Center CEAT | NAMED Diversity and Inclusion Center | $20,000 Learning Center | $1,000,000 Enrichment Center | $100,000 ■ Named • ClickSpaces the button Conference Room | $250,000 Study Abroad Center | $20,000 Legacy Hall | $250,000 Auditorium Lobby| $100,000 ■ Work Spaces • Services Complete the secure, online form Career Center Leadership Center | $10,000 Conference Room | $50,000 Gallery | $250,000 • Recruiting Include instructions CEAT Center regarding use of Innovation Corridor | $250,000 Leadership Center | NAMED Named (3) Team Rooms | $100,000 your gift in the “comments” field Conference Room Global Challenges Corridor | $250,000 Conference Room | $250,000 Work Spaces Meeting Room | Career $25,000 Services Center ForAuditorium more information, contact: STEM Gallery | $250,000 Innovation Corridor | $250,000 CEAT Recruiting Center (3) Team Rooms | $100,000 Conference Room Meeting Room | $25,000 STEM Auditorium • 1. Go to ceat.okstate.edu • 2. Click the GIVE button • 3. Complete the secure, online form • 4. Include instructions regarding use of your gift in the “Comments” field

Global Challenges Corridor | $250,000

Bryce Killingsworth, Director of Development, at bkillingsworth@osugiving.com or 405.385.5623

2

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2 203

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202

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Office Spaces Areas Naming Opportunities □ General School Head Office | $25,000 West Wing | $150,000 Corner Offices | $20,000 Office Spaces Office | $10,000

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Meeting Spaces

222

Office

Large Conference Room Reception Seminar Room • Go to ece.okstate.edu Student Success Center • • •

Reception Seminar Room Student Success Center

Meeting Spaces Small Conference Room | $25,000

221 Office

Named Spaces

■

East Wing | $150,000 Areas Named West Corridor | $50,000 West Wing | $150,000 East Corridor |Large $50,000 Conference Room

East Wing | $150,000 West Corridor | $50,000 GTA/GTR Tutoring | $100,000 East Corridor | $50,000

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206

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Click the button Complete the secure, online form Include instructions regarding use of your gift in the “comments” field

For more information, contact:

Advising | $25,000 GTA/GTR Tutoring | $100,000 Small Conference Room | $25,000 Advising | $25,000 • 1. Go to ece.okstate.edu • 2. Click the GIVE button • 3. Complete the secure, online form

Bryce Killingsworth, Director of Development, at bkillingsworth@osugiving.com or 405.385.5623

• 4. Include instructions regarding use of your gift in the “Comments” field

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

3RD Floor Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 303

302

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Reception & Hall of Fame | $100,000 Gallery Conference room #351 Gallery | $100,000 Office #318 Seminar Room | $100,000 • 1. Go to mae.okstate.edu • 2. Click the GIVE button • 3. Complete the secure, online form • 4. Include instructions regarding use of your gift in the “Comments” field

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• Click the button • Complete the secure, online form • Include instructions regarding use of gift in the “comments” FOR MORE your INFORMATION, CONTACT:field Bryce Killingsworth, Director of Development For more information, contact: Bryce Killingsworth, Directoror of 405.385.5623 Development, at bkillingsworth@osugiving.com bkillingsworth@osugiving.com or 405.385.5623

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Second Rock from the Sun

OSU students work with NASA Jet Propulsion Lab on Venus exploration project

F

or centuries, astronomers and scientists have wondered about the conditions on Venus. Students from Oklahoma State University are working with NASA on ways to finally answer some of the burning questions surrounding Earth’s sister planet.

One of the brightest objects in the night sky, Venus is the closest planet in size to Earth, with a diameter about 400 miles smaller than our world. With a thick cloud cover and extremely dense atmosphere, the surface of Venus has always been a mystery.

A breakthrough was made in the 1980s and early 1990s when the U.S. spacecraft Magellan was able to map the surface. Long thought to be home to immense vegetation because of its atmosphere, the images showed a much different picture — an almost barren land with volcanoes and surface temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Early astronomers looking at Venus saw this hazy cloud over it and thought, ‘Ahh, what we are going to see is tons of jungles because it is closer to the sun,’” said Dr. Jamey Jacob, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Unmanned Systems Research Institute. “They were right in concluding that Venus was hot but were unaware of just how hot — so hot that it melts lead on the surface.”

Because most surface technology can’t withstand the heat of Venus, space exploration looked toward another target: Mars. Most planetary exploration missions in the last three decades have focused on the “red planet,” Earth’s other neighbor.

Under Mars’ cold climate and desertlike atmosphere, rovers have been able to collect immense data from the surface. However, with some advances in technology and outside-the-box thinking, studying Venus has become more viable.

Danny Bowman, a geophysicist for Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, designed a balloon a few years ago made out of a plastic material similar to the material used for trash bags. These solar-powered balloons attached to a string that held a seismometer encased in a plastic foam box.

Its purpose was to detect earthquakes through sounds below the level of human hearing, or infrasound.

After successful tests in California, Sandia and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory began looking for places that had multiple earthquakes a day of a smaller scale and landed on Oklahoma as the perfect testing ground.

“The earthquake, when it shakes the ground, it acts like a giant speaker. It produces that low-frequency sound,” said Dr. Brian Elbing, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at OSU. “The goal here is that we are going to fly a bunch of balloons with these sensors on them. We are trying to get natural earthquakes so it is going to be a long campaign where we are flying and waiting for earthquakes. If we can detect a weak earthquake here, it will be easy on Venus. Looking at the propagated sound that gets in the atmosphere, we can get a good look at the structure on Venus.”

STORY JORDAN BISHOP | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND GARY LAWSON

O S U C E AT 33

Jacob and Elbing have been working with students on testing smaller sixmeter balloons with success so when Sandia and NASA JPL visited OSU in late July, it was time to start testing the bigger seven-meter balloons, similar to the ones that Bowman had been using in California.

On the morning of July 20, at the OSU Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station near Glencoe, Oklahoma, the OSU and NASA researchers took the first steps toward a better understanding of Venus.

NASA JPL had three visitors on hand for the launch, including Siddharth Krishnamoorthy, Leo Martire and Michael Pauken, as well as Fransiska Dannemann Dugick from Sandia. OSU is the only university participating in this project.

After some trial and error and overcoming challenges from Oklahoma winds, the balloon successfully launched. Elbing said it would travel on the wind and land around dusk, most likely in New Mexico or Texas.

“The idea is they are lightweight and balance themselves, so they basically climb to 20 kilometers [over 65,000 feet] in the air and just stay up there all day long until sunset at that elevation,” Elbing said.

The team launched a few more balloons while the visitors from NASA and Sandia were on campus. OSU students described it as a once-in-alifetime experience to work alongside those top-tier aerospace engineering professionals.

“It is nice to see the information we are learning applied to a real-life situation,” said Taylor Swaim, an OSU engineering graduate student from Tulsa. “It is also nice working alongside professionals. They are where we are trying to go as grad students or undergrad students and are definitely big role models to us.”

Embarking on what will most likely be a decade-long project is exciting, Jacob said. Researchers hope the balloons will prove successful in detecting the earthquakes, and,

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Dr. Jamey Jacob

Dr. Brian Elbing

eventually, helping to map the surface of Venus. Since the planet can’t be mapped from the ground, the sky is the best option. And Venus’ Earth-like upper atmosphere is playing to researchers’ advantage.

“So that makes it a much easier atmosphere to work in,” Jacob said.

“Rather than be in the really hellish atmosphere that you have down on the surface at 600 degrees Celsius and 90 atmospheres’ worth of pressure, you are going to be relatively balmy, and that is a great environment for operating science payloads and experiments.”

Exploration of Venus is quickly becoming a top priority for NASA. Researchers hope to learn not just about the possibility of sustaining life on Venus, but also to study the effects of climate change on a planet similar to Earth.

“Venus is exhibiting a runaway greenhouse gas scenario where you have a lot of C02 in the atmosphere and cloud cover,” Jacob said. “Venus is a lot hotter in the atmosphere than it should be, just based on the amount of solar radiation that you have coming in. Understanding that helps us understand our own planet a little better and the implications of

increasing greenhouse gases on Earth and how that may affect the climate here.”

The next two missions to Venus are VERITAS and DAVINCI+, both planned for between 2028 and 2030. The balloons probably won’t be ready to go on those missions, but with more testing at OSU, NASA JPL might be able to help uncover the mysteries of Venus sooner than previously thought possible.

“The JPL science team was extremely impressed with the students we had here and the job they did,” Jacob said. “They are blown away by their professionalism and capabilities.

The most premier space science organization in the world coming out and visiting your facilities and leaving happy with what they see is great.” ■

Oklahoma State University students and visitors from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory launch a balloon at the OSU Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station near Glencoe, Oklahoma.

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STORY MACK BURKE | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

“Our mission is to drive crossindustry collaborations and innovation, which is exactly what brings us together today,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “Oklahoma State University offers a complete turnkey solution for Oklahoma’s aerospace industry needs.

From K-12 enrichment and workforce development, through faculty and graduate research to groundbreaking innovations in industry partnerships, we are leading the state to advance this important economic engine.

“Today, we’re announcing the formation of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education.

Oklahoma State University is the clear leader in aerospace within our state.

We’ve had a partnership with NASA for more than 50 years. We’ve been training pilots for more than 80 years. Our depth and breadth of knowledge, faculty and research investments cannot be

matched. We’re so proud of this very long history in aerospace and aviation excellence.”

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) will bring the state’s aerospace innovation economy together under one umbrella. OAIRE will support ongoing and future partnerships between university, commercial, military and government agencies, becoming a valuable resource for developing Oklahoma’s aerospace ecosystem. That includes generating high-tech jobs and cutting-edge research that brings commercial enterprise and military sustainment support to the state.

The comprehensive scope of OAIRE also includes K-12 outreach programs focused on STEM connections, building the Oklahoma aerospace workforce pipeline and promoting community involvement.

Oklahoma State University announced in August the creation of a new institute aimed at supporting aerospace industry growth in Oklahoma and beyond.

O S U C E AT 37

Dr. Shrum said OAIRE will allow OSU to connect seamlessly with industry and K-12 partners and elevate OSU’s leadership role in Oklahoma aerospace, inspiring the next generation of aviators and engineers while enhancing opportunities for industry and defense partners in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Innovation Elizabeth Pollard echoed Dr. Shrum’s excitement.

“The Oklahoma economy is at an inflection point,” Pollard said.

“Disruptive technology is changing the face of every industry and forcing all states to reassess how best to compete and remain relevant in a knowledgebased innovation economy. Innovation is the key driver to economic growth and prosperity. It is critically important to Oklahoma’s future. It will grow and diversify our state economy, accelerate our state’s competitiveness and create large-scale, high-paying jobs for Oklahomans.

“The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education will be at the forefront of innovation in the aerospace realm, and I commend Oklahoma State University for their successful programs and continued partnerships with the state. Prominent research and development activity

OSU announces launch of Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

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related to aerospace has been underway for decades at OSU and with their leadership in this dynamic industry, Oklahoma will be well-positioned to lead the ever-evolving aerospace frontier. The state of Oklahoma has significant research and development strengths, and with OSU’s leadership, the vision to emerge as a leading region for growth in the autonomous systems and aerospace industry is imminent.”

Due to industry demand, aviation is one of the fastest-growing programs in OSU’s College of Education and Human Sciences. To reach OSU constituents across the state, OAIRE will expand OSU aerospace research and course offerings in Oklahoma City and in Tulsa at the Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center. This will allow students greater access to OSU’s undergraduate and graduate programs, which will be tailored to meet the needs of the aerospace sector in the surrounding area. Professionals seeking aerospace-related degrees can take aerospace or systems engineering core courses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa or Stillwater.

For K-12 schools, programming will include technical training, career placement and entrepreneurial opportunities for student engagement and retention.

OSU will prioritize outreach to Native American and other underrepresented K-12 students with the goal of developing and retaining the talent pipeline for Oklahoma-based companies.

Dr. Cecilia Robinson-Woods, superintendent of Millwood Public Schools in Oklahoma City, said one of her major concerns is preparing students for future careers, especially ones from underserved communities and the school districts surrounding the OKC Innovation District.

She said partnering with OSU has been a tremendous help in showcasing opportunities for students. This summer, for

example, OSU welcomed more than 1,500 students to STEM camps.

“This partnership with Oklahoma State and aerospace helps us tremendously in regard to assuring that we’ll be able to train teachers to prepare kids, and then giving kids opportunities to see jobs in these high-paying industries. We’re very, very excited for the partnership to add exposure, starting with the STEM camps this summer. Sending 1,500 kids to just be exposed to what a career in aerospace or engineering or STEM would look like is an amazing start. …

“I think it is paramount that being located here in Innovation District, that we focus on surrounding school districts that service a population that wouldn’t always have access to these types of jobs. I appreciate the partnership, and we look forward to preparing tomorrow’s workforce with our kids from surrounding districts.”

With the largest and oldest aerospace engineering program in the state, OSU has long been a global leader in aerospace, defense and aviation research, conducting largescale research with the FAA, Air Force, Navy, Army, and Special Operations Command. OSU faculty members conduct research with such industry partners as Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, Kratos, Skydweller, Zivco, Frontier Electronics Corp., Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Toyota and many others.

Paul Tikalsky, dean of OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, said OSU will have more than $80 million under contract this year related to aerospace and aerospace education.

“OSU is the first aerospace program in the state and twice the size of any other,” said Tikalsky. “We continue to expand our faculty and research operations and are now teaching

Photo from left: Millwood Public Schools Superintendent Cecilia Robinson-Woods, Frontier Electronics CEO Brenda Rolls, Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum; Paul Tikalsky, dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology; and Kenneth Sewell, Vice President for Research at OSU.

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more than 500 undergraduates in just aerospace engineering and another 1,000 in related fields. OSU brings expertise to industry partners in everything from advanced propulsion systems to avionics, unmanned systems, aerostructures, cybersecurity, re-engineering, airfield design, human factors, pilot training and much more.

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education is part of the next generation of OSU and Oklahoma’s growing economy.”

Brenda Rolls, CEO of Stillwaterbased Frontier Electronics Systems, said her company was founded by three OSU enthusiasts, one of whom was an engineering professor with a vision for retaining Oklahoma State graduates in the state by providing opportunities for engineers and other professionals. She

said the strength of OSU’s engineering programs have been an important factor in Frontier’s success, with roughly 90 percent of Frontier’s degreed employees coming from OSU. “We congratulate Oklahoma State on this significant and game-changing initiative and we look forward to the robust advancement of the aerospace and technology business sectors within Oklahoma,” Rolls said.

As a nexus of research, development and educational laboratories, OAIRE is in a unique position to serve and assist industry and government with technology development and applied research. The workforce includes OSU faculty experts, seasoned engineering and science professional staff as well as graduate and undergraduate students.

OAIRE will build on core strengths

developed by OSU and its many partners, supporting these partnerships in aerospace and defense research and education with: Novel design tools The new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center Airfield for aerospace testing Rapid prototyping platforms High-performance computational center 28 faculty members across a widearray of expertise in aerospace and aviation Research engineers and graduate researchers K-12 teacher training programs and summer STEM camps. ■

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Aerospace

50-plus years, OSU has worked on projects for NASA. 62% is how much OSU’s aerospace engineering enrollment has grown over the last 10 years.

70% of the state’s aerospace engineering degrees are from OSU.

FAST FACTS

500-plus students are enrolled and 80-plus graduate annually from OSU’s aerospace engineering program. $5.2 million has gone into the NASA WINDMAP University Leadership Initiative team led by OSU to develop weather monitoring and forecasting for advanced air mobility. $16.7 million in research has been done by OAIRE engineering faculty h in the past three years.

Aviation

1935 is when the Civilian Pilot Training Program opened at Oklahoma A&M College, kicking off a long aviation tradition.

$33.8 million in ongoing aerospace engineering related research awards and more than $4.8 million in aviation research and education related awards have gone to OAIRE faculty.

1948 saw the founding of the nationally recognized Flying Aggies, a student flying club founded by former World War II pilot Hoyt Walkup.

OSU leads NASA’s Oklahoma Space Grant and NASA educational programs, such as NASA’s Native Earth/Native Sky program aimed at tribal students and the NSPACE program, which provides competitive and innovative STEM educational opportunities to K-16 students and educators across the country.

11,600 square feet is the space available in the new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center. It includes spaces for individual flight debriefings, offices, student common areas, dispatch and more.

OSU has a special agreement with PSA Airlines, which gives students a direct path to American Airlines through the PSA Cadet Program.

In 2019, OSU aviation was selected for the Top Hawk program, a partnership with Textron Aviation that provides students with access to the Cessna Skyhawk.

O S U C E AT 39

I S

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ound barrier (noun): a sudden large increase in aerodynamic drag that occurs as the speed of an aircraft approaches the speed of sound or 760 miles per hour.

On Oct. 14, 1947, Captain Charles “Chuck” Yeager became the first person to pilot an aircraft that reached speeds in excess of Mach 1 — or the speed of sound.

Within the next 18 months, a student-led group, known as Project Boom, plans to be the first team to design, build and pilot an unmanned aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound.

A group of close to a dozen former and current College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology students from Oklahoma State University are part of an approximately 200-member team spanning the globe, all working toward the common goal.

Cole Replogle, CEAT graduate and current University of Cambridge student, helped form the project with a family friend.

wanted to be involved with the project and it was quickly determined that no one would be turned away.

“The goal of the project is to be a credibility source and knowledge gaining experience for the team members,” Replogle said. “We wanted everyone that wanted to volunteer their time to have the opportunity to work on the project.”

To date, the team has constructed a 3D printed model of the aircraft, outfitted with an electric turbine motor and similar avionics and control systems to the proposed final build. The overall plan is broken down into three prototype aircraft. This first prototype is meant to be a platform for “proofof-concept” for flight controls, system controls and avionics.

The second phase, which the team has begun, has the team now focused on constructing a carbon fiber body that will serve as a scaled version of their final aircraft. It will also provide the team its first opportunity to use a fully functional jet engine for the project.

The team has secured the location for future tests nearing the sound barrier. They have been granted access to a military testing facility in the Nevada desert that will serve as an ideal location for the project’s airborne efforts moving forward.

“This location provides us with an ideal location for testing aircraft that reach such high speeds,” Burgess said.

“The flat terrain and open space devoid of structures and human population provides a location that lowers the amount of factors we have to take into account when flying.

“We can shift more of our focus to just the aircraft and the flight, without having to worry about a lot of outside factors.”

STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTOS JEFF HOPPER | ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED

“We sat down and tried to figure out if it was even possible to build an unmanned aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier,” Replogle said. “We found out that maybe it was, which was good enough for us, so we began moving forward with the project.”

Replogle began recruitment for the project with peers he met at OSU who have since become integral members of the team. Johnathan Burgess, the chief engineer for the team and recent CEAT graduate, was one of the first people contacted and jumped at the opportunity.

“This is a project that I couldn’t let pass by,” Burgess said. “Being a part of this project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The team began by constructing the engine test platform, which they documented on the popular website Reddit, and the rest, as they say, was history.

Seemingly overnight, the small team of students began receiving requests from students around the world who

OSU students part of team set to push an unmanned aircraft passed the sound barrier

Project Boom

The initial prototype for Project Boom is constructed from 3D printed materials and serves as a proving ground for avionics and control systems.

The teams’ goals are two-fold. First is setting their sights on breaking the current Guinness World Record for fastest unmanned, remote-controlled aircraft, currently set at approximately 450 miles per hour by Niels Herbrich of Germany in late 2017. If all goes according to plan, Project Boom plans to attempt a new record by early 2022.

Once the Guinness World Record is conquered, the team plans to pick up speed toward breaking the sound barrier. However, the challenges they will face getting to that point are not ones they take lightly. The team understands that they must overcome challenges facing all facets of the project, from propulsion, to avionics, to flight controls. The closer the team gets to supersonic flight, the more problems they envision facing.

“A person could earn a doctorate studying the effects of the transonic regime (the sector of flight as speeds near the sound barrier) on all phases of flight,” Burgess said. “There are so many variables we’ll have to take into consideration the closer we get to breaking the sound barrier.”

Replogle hopes that, as the team reaches more milestones and documents them, the more likely that larger sponsors will be to help fund the next phases.

“I’ve been really surprised at the level of support we’ve gotten for the project from people in industry,” Replogle said. “From software to capital for the purchase of materials, we’ve been very pleased with the support we’ve gotten so far, and hope that our successes encourage others to help with the project.”

The personal side of the project is not lost on its members either. The project has afforded its members the opportunity to network with and learn from leaders in the aerospace industry.

The project has also given members new areas of research focus, provided opportunities for employment and even opened doors to new avenues of study.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching the team grow, learn and have success,” Burgess said. “It’s allowed me to tap into my family’s teaching roots and helped me realize that my success is seeing other members have their own success.

Knowing that I may have played some small role in that success is very fulfilling for me.”

The sound barrier is the goal, but the journey has been abundantly rewarding already. ■

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SMALL M AT E R I A L S ,

BIG IMPACT For two research groups in CEAT, the future of science, engineering and technology could come in the form of nanotechnology

A NANOMETER IS ONE-BILLIONTH OF A METER AND TO UNDERSTAND THE SUBJECT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY — WHICH IMPACTS NANOSCALE SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY — YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND CONTROL MATTER AT THAT SCALE. At the nanoscale — anything between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers —gases, liquids and solids can exhibit unusual physical, chemical and biological properties, allowing for unique phenomena to take place resulting in novel applications. Nanotechnology involves the imaging, measuring, modeling and manipulating of matter at this scale.

“All spectrum of human life can be affected by the nanoscale,” said Dr. Shohreh Hemmati, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s School of Chemical Engineering (CHE). “Different types of nanomaterial can be used in different and broad types of applications from biomedical applications to electronics and energy storage.”

Hemmati’s research focuses on developing and using nanotechnology for green innovation.

More specifically, her research focuses on cost effective, environmentally safe methods of silver and palladium nanostructure creation for new transparent conductive flexible ecofriendly films (TCFEcoFs) fabrication.

“There are a broad range of applications in the study of silver and palladium nanostructures,” Hemmati said. “For example, some of the silver

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and palladium structures that we are producing can be used for renewable energy, electronics, biosensors, wastewater treatment, medicine and clinical equipment. But, our main focus is on manufacturing transparent conductive flexible ecofriendly films.”

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) are most commonly used in LED screens, LCD screens, touchscreen sensors, body sensors and cellphones.

Her research team is trying to continuously produce metal nanostructures in a novel segmented millifluidic flow reactor (SMFR), while at the same time reducing the waste that is produced in the process. SMFRs are an important class of millifluidic reactors that have been developed to accurately manipulate nanomaterial synthesis.

Segmented flow is where there are two or more phases that do not form a homogeneous mixture when added together — such as water and oil — that produce droplets of solution.

Hemmati’s long-term goal is to utilize different millifluidic methods for the synthesis of metal nanostructures, as well as other nanomaterials.

She wants to reduce the final cost of these nanostructures and nanomaterials by using the

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application of less expensive water-based reagents at lower reaction temperatures.

These methods will be tailored to control the morphology of nanostructures for specific practical applications in the future.

“We call our lab the Green Nanotechnology and Manufacturing Lab,” Hemmati said. “We call it this because green nanotechnology may include nanomanufacturing techniques and processes that are safe and environmentally and economically sustainable. There are deep connections between green nanotechnology, principles of green chemistry, green engineering and sustainability.”

The team is working to produce the nanostructures at lower temperatures compared to conventional batch or chemical processes and replace the organic solvents used in the conventional chemical processes with water based solvents which do not produce hazardous waste.

“We are incorporating the principles of green chemistry, green engineering and sustainability to produce these metal nanostructures in a cost-effective manner to make sure that they are economical and at the same time they are sustainable and producing less waste and hazardous material than other ways of producing nanometals,” Hemmati said.

One of the green approaches that the lab is taking is creating a template out of plants to produce these nanostructures.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) is a virus that was named for one of the first plants that it was found in, but it can infect over 350 different species of plants. The virus has a rigid, rod-shape and once inside the plant cell, it disrupts the cells normal activity.

Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (BSMV) is very similarly shaped to TMV but typically infects barley and wheat plant varieties.

Dr. Shohreh Hemmati, assistant professor in the School of Chemical Engineering, works with her team in their Green Nanotechnology and Manufacturing Lab on OSU’s campus to manufacture transparent conductive flexible ecofriendly films.

From left: Vindula Basnayake Pussepitiya, Dr. Hemmati, Sina Kaabipour and Destiny Williams.

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Nanoholes

This image is of Ni-based high entropy alloy nanoparticles synthesizing by using the pulsed laser deposition technique.

Nanoparticles

Dr. Sachan and his team form various nanostructures via the laser-dewetting process.

Hemmati’s team — in collaboration with Dr. Josh Ramsey, a professor in CHE, and faculty members from Purdue University, as well as the University of Delaware — are using the viruslike particles from TMV and BSMV expressed in the bacterial system Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, as a biotemplate for metal nanoparticle mineralization.

Virus-like particles are molecules that closely resemble viruses, but are non-infectious because they contain none of the virus’ genetic material.

“With the specific diameter and length created by the VLPs, we use these newly made rod-shaped templates and at low temperatures and using water as a solvent we can attach different metal nanostructures to the template,” Hemmati said.

“When the template is removed we ideally have a structure in the specific dimensions and size that we are looking for specifically in nanoelectronics applications.”

While Hemmati’s lab looks for better ways to create nanometal structures, another lab in CEAT is working on getting nanomaterials to Mars.

Dr. Ritesh Sachan, an assistant professor in CEAT’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , is leading a research project to invent new multi-element nanometals called high entropy alloy nanoparticles.

High entropy alloy nanoparticles have four or more elements connected into one structure, which gives them unique chemical and physical properties. Using the high entropy alloy nanoparticle’s unique structure, the team is designing several nanomorphologies that include nanoholes, nanomesh and different nanoparticles.

Nanohole and nanomesh refer to how the nanoparticles look or are shaped.

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Nanopolygons

There are several applications of these nanomorphologies being used in future technologies including technologies that influence the structure and function of nanomaterials.

One of the most important applications of nanomorphologies is their use in catalytic applications. Catalysis is the process in which the rate or outcome of a chemical reaction is influenced by the presence of a substance that is not consumed or changed during the reaction.

“We are aiming at using these catalytic applications for carbon dioxide reduction on Mars,” Sachan said. “Ninety-five percent of Mars’ environment is constituted by carbon dioxide, so we hope that our research will provide a desired breakthrough in the ability to reduce carbon dioxide for future energy applications.”

The field of research, regarding the catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction is very competitive due to the popular use of noble metals, which are metallic elements that show an outstanding resistance to chemical attack even at high temperatures.

According to an article written by NASA, research has shown that Mars contains noble metals within its mantle, or the layer of Mars that lies beneath its crust.

But noble metal technology is expensive.

“We believe our research will lead to the substitution of expensive noble metal technology with more cost-effective high entropy nanoscale systems,” Sachan said. “Since we have discovered a new family of metallic nanoparticles and a way to fabricate them, the field is wide-open to identifying applications that focus on structural, magnetic and thermal properties.”

Dr. Hemmati fills a cuvette for ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy characterization.

To fabricate these nanomaterials, Sachan’s team uses an ultra-fast pulsed laser-induced dewetting method, where energetically unstable metal films break into nanodroplets by laserinduced heating.

This method is similar to how water droplets form on a car windshield after it’s been wet, due to the breakup of the thin water film that covers the windshield initially.

The challenge of Sachan’s research is in the fact that it is the one of the first of its kind to study how this new family of metallic nanoparticles’ atomic structure and surface chemistry will react to the dewetting process.

However, if all goes well this research will open up a whole new pathway to design novel nanostructures with enormous possibilities.

“The potential for the use of these nanometals is still untapped,” Sachan said. “The most critical application for them would be efficient catalysis which will utilize abundant carbon dioxide to enable a habitable environment on Mars, but various morphologies have interesting structural and functional properties which will aid in product development for harsh temperatures and radiation conditions on Mars.” ■

Dr. Ritesh Sachan, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, working with his graduate students on high entropy thin film deposition in a high-vacuum chamber. Using the pulsed laser deposition technique, the team can fabricate thin films and structures scaling between 1-100 nanometers, which subsequently leads to nanoparticle formation.

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Making First Contact Researchers from OSU developing the next form of communication with the moon and beyond

Md Toaha Anas is part of a team that plans on using a hybrid communication system which will help bolster the rate and reliability of communications between Earth and the moon.

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pace — the final frontier.

We may never truly understand everything beyond Earth’s atmosphere. However, the deeper humankind delves into the outer reaches of the universe, the more critical it will become to have clear, realtime communication and data transfer between groups countless miles away.

“The last thing you’d want is to be on the surface of the moon and suffer a complete loss of communication.”

The sentiment from Dr. John O’Hara couldn’t be more accurate. O’Hara is a member of a team of researchers from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Oklahoma State University who are partnering with

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researchers from around the country to develop next-generation, space-based communication systems.

Drs. Sabit Ekin, Wooyeol Choi and Ickhyun Song, all from ECE, join O’Hara and other researchers from the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium, OSU Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI), the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on the endeavor.

The group recently received a $1.1M grant from NASA to develop a hybrid radio frequency (RF) and optical communication system, which the team hopes will account for shortfalls experienced in both communication

systems individually, such as low data rate transmission and network reliability issues.

The funding will be used to develop both theoretical and experimental solutions that will seamlessly integrate both communication models into a network with satellites — such as SpaceX’s Starlink project or NASA’s communications systems — as well as the Lunar Gateway, which is being developed for projects like the Artemis lunar platforms, which is NASA’s newest venture to return to the moon.

Once extensive research was conducted by the team, they arrived at the conclusion that a hybrid communication system would provide

STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTO KRISTI WHEELER | ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED

This will allow for preliminary the best possible solution for the large communications both on Earth and testing, which will hopefully provide volume of scientific data that will beyond. valuable insight into the basic be transmitted during future lunar The opportunity that this interaction and integration of these two missions. joint project is providing the OSU systems. It will also provide a testing The team hopes to combine the researchers is not one that is taken for ground for possible solutions to any reliability of RF communication granted. number of questions or obstacles the with the high capacity of optical “I’ve worked on terrestrial team might encounter. systems into a system that can easily communication for many years, but I Each phase of the communication and intelligently switch between never thought that I would be using that chain will present its own challenges. communication architectures in knowledge to develop a communication The span from Earth’s surface to the response to any kind of interference. An system for the moon,” Ekin said. “But low-Earth orbit satellite system will example being changing atmospheric I’m very excited at the prospect of likely be the segment where signal loss conditions, which contribute to creating something that NASA could and switching will be of paramount significant signal loss. use in that aspect or beyond.” importance.

This project will undoubtedly For O’Hara, the project serves as a The satellite system to the Lunar encounter obstacles and questions realization of an interest that he never Gateway will have to overcome the that will have never been asked before. thought would come. shear distance between the two points Creating a method for the seamless “Believe it or not, in the late ’90s I and will require pinpoint signal aiming switching between the two systems was a member of a senior design project between objects moving at tens of and finding solutions to the inherent team that was investigating deep space thousands miles per hour. And finally, limitations of both systems are all travel to one of the moons of Jupiter from Gateway to the lunar surface will things that the team will have to and my role was to head research of a provide challenges in signal targeting identify and provide solutions for if the possible optical communication system and receiving. system is to be successful. for that mission,” O’Hara said. “So, this “Once the LunarCom problems have “You want high speed communication has always been an interest of mine and been solved, I think it will go a long way with robust reliability,” Ekin said.

I never really thought it would happen, to building a foundation of knowledge “However, the challenge of this system is but I’m glad that it is and that I get to that can then be applied to the eventual even if we are able to develop a reliable play a part in research that could change manned exploration of Mars,” O’Hara optical system, how do we manage a the way we communicate here on Earth, said. switch to RF if a cloud were to pass over or to other worlds.” ■ The group believes that this project or we encountered a signal degradation could provide a new paradigm in due to satellite motion or atmospheric turbulence?”

There are numerous examples of terrestrial RF and optical systems, which will provide a good knowledge base to reference.

However, those systems are not trying to coexist in the same communication architecture and provide the ability to transition from one to another. The switching system will need to be equally intricate and robust to adequately handle the task of recognizing and carrying out these transitional moments.

The researchers at OSU have set up small-scale systems of each type in the TWISTER (Transformative Wireless Innovative Science and Technology and The illustration shows the path of communications from Earth’s surface, to orbiting satellites, to the Lunar Engineering Research) lab.

Gateway, to the moon’s surface, and back.

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The Future of Geriatric Healthcare Dr. Weihua Sheng leads a team of researchers developing robotic healthcare aides for older adults

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he idea of having a homebased healthcare robot may not be one of futuristic fantasy, according to a team of researchers from across Oklahoma who are developing technology that could be the future of healthcare for geriatric individuals.

Dr. Weihua Sheng — from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University — leads the team in its development of a robot that can aid in the expansion of healthcare services to geriatric individuals that either live at home or in a geriatric care community.

The team is comprised of researchers from the areas of engineering, human sciences and psychology at OSU, as well as members

from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Nursing.

“This is a truly interdisciplinary endeavor,” said Dr. Alex Bishop, an associate professor and Brian Close Professor in Adulthood and Aging from OSU’s Department of Human Development and Family Science. “I don’t see how we could complete this project without looking through the different lenses of our team members.”

Sheng’s focus has always been on robotics and he brought his research to OSU in 2006. The idea for Elsa, the geriatric assistance robot, was born from a recognition of challenges faced by geriatric populations, including health monitoring and intervention, as well as mental and psychological needs.

Also, the team has identified a new challenge that, while not exclusive

to Oklahoma, is certainly prevalent within the state — the need for attentive healthcare in rural environments.

Populations that are geographically isolated from larger metropolitan areas might pose a unique challenge to healthcare workers.

Elsa was designed to address a number of growing challenges. The unit is capable of interacting with its patient through both audio and visual interfaces, each providing unique benefits to missions such as reminding a patient to take medication, monitoring the patient for any abnormal behavior, or providing interactive entertainment, such as playing rock, paper, scissors.

The project has received funding from the National Science Foundation through several grants, most recently focused on the collection and use of sound data by Elsa as a means to trigger action or intervention from the unit.

For instance, if Elsa collects sound data and creates a baseline of “normal” sounds, then it could, in theory, recognize an abnormality, such as a fall, and be able to intervene and contact someone for assistance.

Elsa can also administer routine mental and physical check-ups. Through a series of questions and data collection, the unit can determine whether the patient is in good mental and physical health or if they require assistance or further examination from a healthcare professional.

Dr. Sheng, third from the left, and his team with Elsa, the healthcare assistance robot.

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STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED

Floor Plan

RiSH Testbed

An illustration of the test apartment’s layout.

However, each of the tasks and services that Elsa offers come with its own set of unique challenges, which come in the form of technical, psychological and in some cases, legal issues that must be identified and overcome. Overcoming these challenges will dictate the next steps taken in the teams’ development process.

Technical challenges include the actual collection of sound and video data. While technology exists that can collect the data, Sheng says that those means of collection are simplistic and must be refined in order to meet the rigorous requirements that a home healthcare robot will face.

“The unit must be able to learn and adapt to numerous possible situations,” Sheng said. “The robot must be able to understand the context and intricacies of human interaction in order to accurately interpret the data it collects.”

Whereas a person might be able to understand the context of a minutely delayed response to a memory-based question, a robot will collect the audio data and strictly apply a given set of rules in order to determine if the response meets the requirements and can then be deemed as acceptable or not.

Also, the question of legality, as it pertains to active monitoring of an individual through either video or audio, is one that current iterations of in-home

aid devices face today. The question of “Does this method of data collection cross the line of invasion of privacy?” is one that will play a prominent role in any interactive audio or visual device that an individual brings into their home.

Lastly, the team has identified the challenge of adoption of the technology by individuals as a key factor in the future success of these Elsa, the healthcare assistance robot, being tested in a types of devices. The future focus group. of this in-home healthcare need to meet in order to be useful. device will be dependent upon The researchers found that the most whether an individual will be able to meaningful features were things that trust a robot to provide accurate and they had already begun working on: dependable healthcare. As technology communication and intervention. becomes more integral to day-to-day The healthcare professionals life, the more likely it will become that in the focus groups attested that a device will one day be acceptable and communication, both with the welcomed into an individual’s home and patient and the healthcare provider, life. was paramount to the utility and However, the adoption of Elsa effectiveness of a robot like Elsa. isn’t just a patient problem, but The ability for Elsa to have constant a challenge from the healthcare communication with a patient, when a provider’s perspective as well. In healthcare professional can’t, and then late 2020, the team administered relay that information to the healthcare focus group research amongst health provider would be an amazing tool in care workers from around the state the home-health industry. ■ of Oklahoma to determine what specifications professionals felt a home-based healthcare robot would

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Powering Up

A team of chemical engineering researchers are leading the charge in new battery technology

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ou can find them in your television remote, your child’s favorite toy or your watch.

However, a team of researchers from the School of Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University are investigating new battery technologies that could prove to be the future of energy consumption and storage.

Researchers around the world are trying to find a replacement for lithium-ion batteries, currently the most commonly used battery in most industries, due to limited resources of lithium and the subsequent cost of manufacturing those batteries.

Dr. Ömer Çapraz — an assistant professor from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at OSU — is researching and developing new battery technologies that could significantly impact the future of energy. His research focuses on developing battery technologies for demanding applications such as electrical vehicles and grid-scale energy storage.

“Lithium-ion batteries have an abundance of positive qualities, such as high energy density and good cycle life,” Çapraz said. “However, looking at those units from a renewable energy and gridscale energy storage perspective leaves much to be desired.”

Leading researchers believe sodium and potassium could be viable replacements for lithium-ion technology.

Both elements are much more abundant and would therefore significantly cut the cost of manufacturing, as well as provide equal, if not improved, energy output and reliability.

Dr. Ömer Çapraz

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STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTO GARY LAWSON | ILLUSTRATION DR ÖMER ÇAPRAZ

Fast Charging PM-based Electrode for Li-ion Batteres 300

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Over the next three years, Çapraz and his team — with the support of the Department of Energy — will be evaluating the intercalation of sodium and potassium ions into cathode electrodes and monitor the effects on the kinetics, performance, chemistry and mechanical stages of the electrodes under different load and cycle environments.

The inherent problems of these new materials are the size and reactivity of sodium and potassium ions. Using state-of-the-art observation equipment, Çapraz’s team will be able to evaluate the new materials from both a mechanical and chemical perspective for the first time. In doing so, Çapraz hopes that they will be able to identify specific obstacles to the further development of these battery technologies and create new methods to overcome those limitations. Çapraz’s focus has always been on new battery technologies and he has partnered with entities such as the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the development of sodium- and

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potassium-ion batteries. He has also received funding from NASA to research the development of solid-state batteries. Çapraz also received an award from the Binational Science Foundation in partnership with Bar-Ilan University in Israel to aid in the development of lithium-oxygen batteries, which possess 10 times more energy than a standard lithium-ion battery. Recently, Çapraz was funded by the United States Air Force — in collaboration with Skydweller Aero and the University of Oklahoma — to develop structural batteries for electrification of flights. Çapraz is also interested in developing infrastructures for clean energy transformation. His team, along with the University of Southern California, recently discovered a new way to utilize industrial toxic waste as an alternative battery material to store lithium-ions.

Hundreds of thousands of tons of particulate matter are released by diesel combustion which causes serious public health problems responsible for

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millions of deaths worldwide, per year.

The study provided a pathway to create a sustainable energy–environment nexus by converting an abundant toxic pollutant into a valuable electrode material for lithium-ion batteries.

“I am excited to explore direct commercial pathways toward the utilization of industrial waste in order to fill the crucial need currently facing our rapidly changing energy infrastructure,” Çapraz said.

The results of Çapraz’s research could have an impact on numerous industries, such as the manufacturing of electric vehicles, electrification of aviation or developing the state of Oklahoma’s use of wind energy.

“I’m excited that our research could significantly impact the development of these new battery technologies and in-turn change the future of energy,” Çapraz said. ■

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Nic Cain inspects the Neptune, a device to keep grease, fats and oil from entering into drain pipes.

Big Underground Challenges New Product Development Center helps solve a billion-dollar infrastructure problem

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ublic sewer systems are out of site and out of mind until there is something stinky backing up in the tub.

Urban population concentration has increased rapidly in the U.S., but the size of the pipes hasn’t.

Two Oklahoma State University College of Engineering Alumni — Flint Holbrook, a biosystems and agricultural engineer, and Nic Cain, a chemical engineer — and the New Product Development Center (NPDC) developed a technology that increases sewer capacity by 50 percent without digging up the pipes.

Holbrook and Cain stumbled across this major problem after Holbrook’s father, who works in the infrastructure industry, mentioned that many sewer overflows were caused by fats, oils and greases from restaurants.

As young engineers, this comment got Holbrook and Cain thinking and upon further research, they found that, on average 50 percent of a sewer’s capacity is blocked by build-ups of fats and oils inside the pipes. As kitchen staff in restaurants are

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washing plates, that little bit of oil left on the plate goes down the drain and eventually hardens like concrete inside the pipe.

The pair found that this problem was pervasive across urban centers and that the taxpayer ends up picking up the bill. Not only does the sewer system not work properly leading to overflows, but cities in the U.S. spend billions each year cleaning their pipes.

THE IDEA To Cain, this sounded like a simple problem of separation — two liquids with different densities should be able to be separated by gravity. This premise is exactly what the existing technology, the grease trap, should do but it clearly wasn’t working as intended. The pair set out to find a way to consistently capture all fats, oils and greases before they leave the restaurant, ensuring they never enter the sewer.

After two years, many failed experiments and garage prototypes, Holbrook and Cain built a

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special funnel that relies on centrifugal force and is capable of removing 95-100 percent of fats, oils and greases, regardless of external factors that cause traditional gravity separation to fail like temperature and solids.

The pair realized quickly that the actual separation technology was only one tiny part of what they needed. Somehow, they had to figure out how to develop this idea into a usable cost-effective piece of restaurant equipment.

“We thought we could use centrifugal force instead of just relying on gravity alone,” Cain said.

“The huge challenge was finding a way to do it at a small scale so that it fits under the restaurant’s sink, was easy to use, and cost effective.”

GETTING TO PRODUCT Holbrook engaged Dr. Robert Taylor, director of NPDC, for help on developing the Neptune prototype into a real product, which kicked off a three-year product development partnership.

NPDC design engineer Jennifer Vineyard took the lead on the project, along with several undergraduate engineering interns. The team reversed engineered Cain and Holbrook’s garage prototype and with help from the biosystems engineering fabrication shop, built a stainless steel, electronically controlled, restaurant ready device.

After installing the device in a restaurant called Rye in McKinney, Texas, and putting it through its paces, the team uncovered many opportunities for improvement. While the device worked as intended, it wasn’t as easy to use or install as they had hoped.

So, it was back to the drawing board to build a smaller, easier to use, even more cost-effective unit.

“We knew that we had to get this right, not just from an engineering perspective, but from a ‘Will a restaurant be happy with this purchase?’ perspective,” Taylor said.

Currently, the team is putting the finishing touches on the final production ready device. With all of the learnings along the way, the product is far better by every measure than Holbrook and Cain ever thought possible. The product was so good in fact, that the team caught the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal agency underneath the Department of the Interior, and was granted Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to adapt the grease-interceptor technology into a water reuse technology.

SBIR is a cross-agency program that provides funding for novel technology validation and commercialization that is of interest to the respective government agencies. The award they received fell under the EPA interest topic “Point of Source Greywater Reuse Technology.”

From left: Flint Holbrook; Nic Cain; NPDC intern Blake Hopp; Dr. Jason Vogel, director of the Oklahoma Water Survey; and Dr. Robert Taylor.

THE FUTURE The Neptune grease interceptor, with the EPA’s help, will soon enter large-scale testing in Denver, where it will be installed in over 10 restaurants.

The team will collaborate with the city to build a cloud-based reporting system so that city officials and restaurant operators can monitor fats, oils and grease emissions in real time.

Eventually, the Neptune grease interceptor will not only be capable of removing virtually all fats, oils and greases, but will also produce nonpotable greywater that can be reused to flush toilets and water landscaping. The NPDC has already started working on this next iteration — it has the capability to save 3-4 trillion gallons of water per year in the U.S. “We envision that in the future, we could assist city sewer systems by providing modified, decentralized Neptunes throughout the residential grid,” Cain said.

Innovating isn’t easy, but the Neptune team is very excited to be a part of solving some of society’s biggest problems. ■ O S U C E AT 53

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MITO Materials Solutions Founders Make Forbes List

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orbes magazine recently named MITO Materials Solutions co-founders Haley Marie Keith and Kevin Keith to its annual 30 under 30 Manufacturing and Industry list.

The couple launched MITO in earnest in 2018 — when they were still students at Oklahoma State University — after receiving a National Science Foundation grant and technology license from OSU. “Initially, Haley was going through an entrepreneurship course at OSU where they pair up MBA and engineering students to create a business plan,” Kevin said. “I came on the team and we started doing customer discovery and mapping out the market when we realized the business could be something.”

MITO uses graphene oxide additives in materials like fiberglass, epoxies and thermoplastics. They use materials based on OSU’s patented technology that incorporates graphene additives into composite materials such as epoxies or polymers, making them substantially stronger and lighter. MITO’s proprietary graphene functionalization technique lets them make hybrid polymer modifiers that can boost performance and cut the weight of numerous products.

As an additive, this technology could strengthen enough plastic to build five trucks. Their products are easily used in existing manufacturing processes, which could make them game changers in the aerospace, sport, and automotive industries.

“Over time, it was cool to get immersed in the composites industry,” Kevin said. “It is something that we were always slightly familiar with, but we did not realize how complex, yet simplistic it was.”

Kevin and Haley first started their company in 2016. After that, they gained

funding from a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research Grant in 2018.

From there, they moved into a lab space at the Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater and started a chemical lab.

With Haley’s passion for recreational vehicles and Kevin’s passion for engineering, the couple was able to take the idea and scale it into the business it is today. To date, MITO has raised more than $1.5 million from investors, $1.3 million in grants and aims to continue growing.

“At MITO Materials, we make polymer additives with a functionalization technique that is very scalable and very robust,” Kevin said.

“Somehow, I have been able to take a lot of what I have been taught in school and apply it to a singular job. I am sure I would be bored to tears anywhere else.”

Haley earned her MBA from OSU while Kevin was completing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from OSU in 2017. Haley has received the Courageous Women in Entrepreneurship Award from the Rice University Business Plan Competition. MITO also received second place in the same competition, where they competed against 750 teams around the world.

Lisa Mitchell, a program director at Techstars, nominated MITO for the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. After nomination, the company underwent rigorous interviews and background checks for over six months. Ultimately, Forbes chose MITO out of 3,000 applicants for their division alone.

“When I received the announcement that we made the list, I was not only in disbelief, but also elation,” Kevin said. “It takes a lot to push a materials company to the forefront of peoples’ minds. Even in today’s age of being concerned about where things are coming from, it takes so much effort.”

STORY KAITLYN MIRES | PHOTO CURIOUS COURTNEY’S PHOTOGRAPHY

In the future, MITO has many options as to where they go.

“We have so many things coming down the pipeline,” Kevin said. “We are trying to push them all at once and then plug them into a contract manufacturing facility, then into a product.”

The Keiths envision going into more specialized application-type materials, as well as thermoplastics and automotives to enable the upcycling of nylons.

“We anticipate that we will be going into some composite freight trailers,” Kevin said. “Even if half the trucks on the road adopted next year, it would save $12 billion in gas and 60 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is just from them switching to an allcomposite trailer.”

MITO recently moved to Indianapolis, but maintains a research and production lab at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater and continues to work with chemistry and engineering faculty members at OSU. The Keiths are excited about the future, but Kevin is quick to credit the couple’s Cowboy roots for their MITO’s meteoric rise.

“Dr. Ranji Vaidyanathan and Dr. Frank Blum have been amazing advocates and are extremely kind and humble people,” Kevin said. “I appreciate everything they have done for and with us.

“We would not be here today if it wasn’t for Dr. Vaidyanathan and Dr. Blum.” ■

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Belonging, Believing and Becoming OSU architecture students help a community in South Africa overcome a complicated past

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STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

At the southern tip of Africa lies a country with a rich history, a vibrant culture, a widely diverse ecosystem and a more diverse population, in more ways than one.

RENDERING WES KINSEY

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RENDERING ALANNA BREHM

We want something that invites the community in and develops relationships both from a personal and professional standpoint.

RODNEY EKSTEEN

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South Africa is home to inland savannas, coastal beaches, lush winelands and dense forests. The country is also as ethnically and culturally diverse as its ecosystems. The majority of the population is of African tribal descent, roughly 80 percent. The other 20 percent is mostly comprised of people with European heritage and a small percentage of Asian or other backgrounds.

South Africa is a nation of extremes.

While it is arguably the most developed country in Africa, the country is also home to some of the most impoverished communities on the continent. It’s a situation that can largely be attributed to a complicated past that continues to impact the lives of its 60 million citizens to this day.

But, it’s also a situation that a small community outside of Johannesburg called Soweto hopes to put behind them with help from an unlikely source — a group of architecture students from Oklahoma State University and a seismic shift in the design of a fire station.

The Past

In the early 20th century, as South Africa began to gain an identity of its own under British rule, and an industrialization was taking place, racial tensions began to rise.

In 1913, a land act was passed by the minority, white-run government

that marked the beginning of more than 90 years of segregation in South Africa. The 1913 Land Act forced Black Africans to live in reserves and made it illegal for them to work as sharecroppers, creating both physical and economic racial divides.

In 1948, the Afrikaner National Party won the general election under the slogan of “apartheid,” an Afrikaan word that literally meant apartness.

The goal of the party was to not only create division between the white minority and the non-white majority, but to create division amongst the nonwhite majority. If black South Africans were divided along tribal lines, it would decrease their political power.

By 1950, the government had begun to build the framework of legalized segregation by passing the Population Registration Act which began classifying all South Africans by race: Bantu or black Africans; colored or those of mixed racial background; Asian (mostly Indian or Pakistani); and white.

During the next decade, a series of land acts were passed that set aside 80 percent of the country’s land for the white minority, created “pass laws” which required non-whites to carry documents that authorized their presence in restricted areas, allowed for the establishment of separate public facilities, and denied non-white participation in national government.

RENDERING DUSTIN GALLEY

In 1959, the Promotion of Bantu SelfGovernment Act was created, which established 10 Bantu “homelands,” thus completing the separation to black South Africans from whites and each other and enabled the government to claim that there was no black majority.

This also instituted one of the most crippling systems under apartheid which enabled the government to forcibly remove black South Africans from “white” designated rural lands and relocate them to one of the 10 “homelands.” From 1961 to 1994, more than 3.5 million people were forcibly removed from their land and relocated with little to no means of earning a living.

By 1960, the anti-apartheid resistance movement had begun to gain momentum. The African National Congress had taken form and led the movement through non-violent demonstrations, protests, strikes, political action and eventually armed resistance. However, the government simply incarcerated most resistance leaders in an attempt to silence the “minority.”

Hostilities boiled over when a group of children in Soweto demonstrated against an Afrikaans language requirement, the police opened fire with tear gas and bullets. Hundreds of children were injured or killed, which drew international attention to South Africa. Economic sanctions

RENDERING GRACE RYKARD

and mandatory embargos from the United Nations followed. In 1989, Pieter Botha, the leader of South Africa, was pressured to step aside in favor of F.W. de Klerk.

His administration repealed most of the legislation that provided the legal framework of apartheid and in 1994, a new constitution took effect and led to a new governmental system that empowered non-whites and marked the official end of apartheid.

The Present

Although apartheid officially ended nearly 30 years ago, there is still a palpable separation between the more developed areas of South Africa and the suburban areas, like Soweto.

Building construction, infrastructure and the availability of civil services like a fire station are all things that draw a recognizable line between areas in South Africa. These suburban areas are comprised of old “matchbox” houses that were built to house non-white workers during apartheid. The building materials and proximity to each other pose serious concerns and increase the combustibility of these communities.

The physical concerns are only a small part of the problem. In South Africa, the fire service is structured much differently. The fire service plays a more paramilitary role than that of a civil servant. In most

cases, firefighters serve as part of a mandatory conscription set forth by the government. They provide the typical firefighting services, but are also asked to serve in crowd control during riots or demonstrations.

Also, fire stations are built more as warehouses than as parts of communities. They resemble military installations with barred windows and gates and serve as “storage” for fire equipment and personnel. There is little to no interaction between fire service personnel and citizens outside of response to emergencies. The fire station, fire truck and firefighters are seen as governmental entities and can unintentionally embody political strife that is taking place at the time and thus become the target of protests and violence.

It is a problem that fire safety doctoral student and native South African, Rodney Eksteen, recognized and vowed to change moving into the future. He has partnered with Associate Professor of Architecture Jeanne Homer and Jocelin Flank, a 25-year member of the fire service in South Africa, and is involved with the design and construction of fire stations in the Johannesburg area, to help solve that problem.

“1994 was a turning point for South Africa,” Flank said. “But to this day, the design and composition of fire stations don’t truly represent their communities.”

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Metal Seam Roof and Bamboo Shading

There continues to be a barrier between citizens of South Africa and fire service personnel, both physically and perceptively. The group agrees that a fire station, in South Africa, must serve as more than just a fire station. Yes, it must provide the services and help facilitate the duties of a fire station, but it must also become part of a community.

Homer then tasked her studio design students to help solve the problem. The students were given a set of goals and parameters and were tasked with designing a modern fire station that not only belonged in the community of Soweto, but would also help bridge the gap between fire service personnel and citizens. It’s a design that would help both sides believe that they were partners in the care and wellbeing of their community.

“For me, a fire station must be representative of its community,” Flank said. “Just because a location is impoverished or isn’t as developed doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve a fire station that can invoke a sense of pride and inspiration to be better and take better care of their community.”

Eksteen said in the U.S., firefighters command a level of respect because of a long standing history of community service and sacrifice.

“The history in South Africa is very different and somewhat tainted,” Eksteen said. “We don’t want a place where firefighters sit around and wait for something to go wrong. We want something that invites the community in and develops relationships both from a personal and professional standpoint.”

After countless hours of research, days of planning, and weeks of designing and redesigning, the students presented their work to Flank, Eksteen, Homer and a myriad of engineers, architects and fire service personnel. Each group critiqued and scrutinized designs from a multitude of perspectives. All giving their views on the architectural design, building construction and efficacy for emergency response.

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Bamboo Shading on Windows

Exterior Walls, Windows, and Doors

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“These projects will be scrutinized by engineers, architects and members of the fire service,” Homer said. “And, honestly, I think the students’ main goal is to make sure that Jocelin and Rodney are happy with the designs and the community integration aspects of their projects.”

The native South Africans were certainly impressed with the results of these students’ hard work and dedication to the project.

“I have a drawing of a fire station that we’re starting construction on this year, and it’s nowhere near what these students have produced in terms of look, integration of culture and what we want to see in a fire station,” Flank said.

“These youngsters blew my mind!”

The Future

The idea seems so simplistic, a fire station that appears as though it belongs in and to the community and invites citizens in to learn from and develop relationships with the fire service personnel tasked with protecting them.

However, it is an idea that we as Americans might take for granted. We see a fire station as an integral and assumed part of a community.

RENDERING ANATALIA LOPEZ

Stillwater, Oklahoma, the home of OSU, has four fire stations that serve its almost 50,000 residents. In comparison, Soweto has two fire stations for a population of more than one million people.

“These students have touched on something that they may not truly understand how impactful it can be,” Eksteen said. “In the immediacy, they are awarded a grade based on their work, but long term, if someone picks up one of these designs and is inspired to create something that embodies the ideas they’ve included, it can truly make a meaningful impact in South Africa.”

The project has provided the opportunity for students to learn from and provide assistance to a community half-way across the world, and for a community to heal from a dark past and look toward a brighter future.

“This is going to be an eye opener for the city of Johannesburg,” Flank said. “It is something we should be proud of and brag about. Hopefully this will become the starting point for a wonderful partnership between Oklahoma State University and the city of Johannesburg.” ■

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

American Dream

MAE alum Kotagiri now CEO of prominent mobility technology company

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eetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Magna International on Jan. 1, 2021.

Kotagiri is an Oklahoma State University alumnus with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in materials and structural engineering.

Kotagiri has more than 30 years of experience in his industry, 21 of it being with Magna International. Early in his Magna career, he also held many different engineering and operating positions at Cosma International, which is a Magna operating unit.

Kotagiri came to OSU from a small village in India after receiving his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kamataka University.

He graduated from OSU in 1994.

“Coming to Oklahoma State University from a small village in India was the first step in my pursuit of the American Dream,” Kotagiri said.

During his time at OSU, Kotagiri learned how the opportunities given

can stretch far beyond Stillwater, Oklahoma. He also experienced how kind and welcoming the students and staff at the university are.

“As I worked on my master’s degree in mechanical engineering, I got a sense of what OSU students call the ‘cowboy spirit,’ and learned that opportunities that begin in Stillwater stretch as far as the eye can see,” Kotagiri said.

Kotagiri has more than 12 patents with automotive product and process design. He is also a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Engineering Society in Detroit.

Kotagiri has been featured in Business Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business.

Before his position as CEO, Kotagiri held the position of President of Magna where he was instrumental in driving the company’s overall strategy including strengthening the alignment with customers, R&D and new mobility activities.

“A key mentor was Eric Price, a former dean of mechanical engineering

STORY KAITLYN MIRES | PHOTO MAGNA PHOTOGRAPHY

at OSU,” Kotagiri said. “I was working as a young mechanical engineer in the cement industry in India at the time, and seeking advice about moving to the U.S. Price responded to my letter, and his kindness and advice prepared me for success. I still remember arriving in the U.S. with little money in my pocket, enough to cover my first semester’s tuition, and the bag on my back.”

Since those times, Kotagiri has accomplished and learned many things through his time at Magna International. He hopes that, as CEO of Magna, he can help the company continue advancing mobility for everyone and everything.

“Even though I’m the CEO of a $40-billion mobility technology company, I’m still an engineer at heart,” Kotagiri said. “Today, I’m working with more than 158,000 Magna employees around the world with the dream of providing mobility for all. But I will never forget that Oklahoma State University helped to lay the foundation for my future.” ■

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Impacting the World

Perry’s experience at CEAT helped him become GM for Microsoft

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r. Matt Perry is an Oklahoma State University alumnus with three degrees in electrical engineering.

He last graduated from OSU with his doctorate in 1991, where he focused on signal processing, system theory and mathematics.

Perry has over 35 years of industry and academic experience, spanning three different areas: defense; semiconductors; and hyperscale hardware and software systems.

He has been an assistant professor at Texas Tech, a president and CEO for multiple companies and now a general manager at Microsoft.

“I came to Microsoft because I wanted an opportunity to make a difference and impact the world around me,” Perry said. “Over the past decade, I’ve worked on Windows and Azure, the world’s computer, both touching the lives of millions.”

Before his doctorate, Perry also graduated from OSU with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering.

“I came to Oklahoma State because it has one of the best engineering schools in the country,” Perry said. “I kept coming back, not only for the great EE department, but also the professors and students around me were friendly and helped me every step of the way.”

Perry commends his professors and OSU CEAT staff for providing him with the support he needed to graduate with his undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees at OSU. “One of my proudest moments at OSU is when I completed my Ph.D. defense,” Perry said. “I will never forget standing in front of my major professor, Dr. Rao Yarlagadda, as he extended his hand to shake and said, ‘Congratulations Dr. Perry, you have passed.’

After years of work and research, I would not have been able to do it without the help of the Cowboy family.”

Perry’s advice to young professionals and students starting their careers is to expand their horizons past their majors’ known interests.

“One of the most important lessons I learned from OSU is to branch out and try things outside of your comfort zone,” Perry said. “Without doing this, it is more challenging to grow and become the person you want to be.

“You may find a new passion or hobby, but going outside of your comfort zone and learning new things will open doors that you never knew were available.” ■

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STORY KAITLYN MIRES | PHOTO PROVIDED

*Gregg Bradshaw not pictured

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Building a Model

The Cowboy Engineers of DFW alumni group do things a bit different

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in the DFW area, and provided links for numerous igger is better. A group of College of other potential members.

Engineering, Architecture and Technology Moving forward, the board knew that alumni in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex communication was going to be key as their is hoping to start a big movement across the membership numbers began to grow. country.

“I knew we needed organized, strategic On the heels of Oklahoma State University’s messaging,” Woodward said. “Something that Branding Success campaign, Stan Woodward, would be cohesive, cut through all the clutter who graduated from OSU in 1984 with a degree and provide the group messaging opportunities in electrical engineering, and former CEO at that wouldn’t require multiple interactions to be MVPindex, sought out groups in the DFW area impactful.” who were discussing CEAT and the happenings The board knew that they needed to on campus and began building a group with a BIG differentiate their message, so as not to be seen as end goal. a “fundraising campaign.” The goal was to be an “We want DFW to be the largest OSU CEAT alumni-to-alumni network, not something directly alumni group in the country,” Woodward said. connected to CEAT. Since its inception, the Cowboy Engineers of Fairly soon after the founding members began DFW alumni group has always focused on finding reaching out to other alumni, the group reached alumni and providing them with the opportunity 40-50 members, and is now at nearly 100 members to join a group that could provide an organized, and growing. passionate membership “We experienced dedicated to championing some very early success,” CEAT. Woodward said. “And we’ve “Our chapter is like any been able to build upon other alumni chapter,” said that success and continue Woodward, a DFW group to strive toward our goal board member. “We bring of being the largest CEAT people together to share alumni group in the country.” experiences about where The group holds meetings they started, where they’ve and social gatherings geared been and where they ended toward camaraderie and up and what their journey networking, however the looked like.” second largest contributor to The earliest and perhaps STAN WOODWARD, ‘84 the group’s success has been largest obstacle was simply its concerted effort to involve finding the alumni and people still directly connected to CEAT. getting in contact with them. Woodward first The group has had CEAT Dean Paul Tikalsky reached out to the Alumni Association to develop a attend gatherings to give updates on the state of partnership that would provide the alumni group CEAT and the continued growth of the college on the contact information available to the Alumni campus. The group has also had the opportunity to Association. involve key members of each school within CEAT However, that wasn’t the group’s only means of in their gatherings as another means of updating building a membership base. Woodward and other its members, but also to provide a direct connection members of the board dedicated countless hours between the group and Stillwater. to scouring social media pages for CEAT alumni

“We enjoy connecting with students and sharing with them the possibilities that come with an education from CEAT and choosing a career in STEAM.”

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STORY JEFF HOPPER | PHOTO PROVIDED

Dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Dr. Paul Tikalsky (far right) provides updates on the college to members of the Cowboy Engineers of DFW alumni group.

The final goal of the group began organically through numerous conversations, but has proven to be one of the biggest sources of excitement among its members. The group has begun reaching out to other members and counterparts on campus to see how they can give back. The desire has blossomed into a network of mentors looking to connect with current and potential future students in order to share their career and life experiences, as well as provide a source of enthusiasm for engineering, architecture and technology careers.

“We enjoy connecting with students and sharing with them the possibilities that come with an education from CEAT and choosing a career in STEAM,” Woodward said.

The group has also recently begun efforts to provide a scholarship for students from the DFW area. This provides another opportunity for the

group to connect with students and provide the next generation with opportunities to pursue their education in CEAT and continue to bolster the number of engineers for the next generation.

The group in DFW has experienced unprecedented success and has become a model for alumni groups in other cities.

All it takes is a group of passionate individuals dedicated to providing an organized community for other CEAT alumni, along with an eagerness to be connected and involved in CEAT happenings in Stillwater and a desire to share their experiences with other alumni and the next generation of engineers. ■

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CEAT by the Numbers 30

K-12 STEAM camps offered in 5 different cities across Oklahoma

20% Of CEAT students are female

50%

of all CEAT students graduate with zero student loan debt

3,867 Students enrolled in CEAT

953 Degrees Granted

33% of CEAT faculty are tenured

30%

Of CEAT faculty are tenure track

7

16% Female faculty

37% Minority faculty

Extension units serving communities around the world

878

Students enrolled in CEAT STEAM camps

2020Hall of Fame CO L L EG E O F EN G I N EER I N G , A RC H IT EC T U R E A N D T EC H N O LO GY

REAR ADMIRAL HUAN T. NGUYEN Rear Admiral Huan T. Nguyen graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He also holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University, engineering from Purdue University and information technology from Carnegie Mellon University.

Nguyen was born in Hue, Vietnam.

During the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, Nguyen’s parents and siblings were killed by Viet Cong Communist guerillas in their family home outside of Saigon. Nguyen’s uncle took him in, and in 1975 Colonel Edward Veiluva and his wife Dorothy sponsored their family to come to the United States as political refugees.

Nguyen was inspired to serve his adopted country by the sailors and Marines who helped thousands of Vietnamese refugees and received a direct commission in the Reserve Engineering Duty Officer program in 1993.

While serving active duty in the military, Nguyen’s operational tours included multiple waterfront maintenance assignments, including being the testing officer on the USS Kitty Hawk. He served as executive officer and chief engineer for the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (CREW) field office in Iraq, and was instrumental in the stand-up of Joint CREW Composite Squadron One. Some of his staff assignments include being the director of military programs at Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA); being the Engineering Duty

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Officer community manager and most recently, served as deputy chief information officer for NAVSEA. Reserve assignments included command of five units within NAVSEA, the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Office of Naval Research.

Nguyen has also worked in industry where he has obtained several patents in automotive electronics. In August of 1994, Nguyen began work as a staff electrical engineer for General Motors (GM) where he eventually managed a team of over 30 engineers in the design and integration of the Powertrain Control Module to all GM platforms. In 2006, he became the senior vice president of Bank of America, where he established the strategic framework and governance for Bank of America computing on cybersecurity. In 2009, he began working with Exelis, Inc. as a senior technical advisor and director of business development where he managed a multi-million-dollar portfolio of independent research projects on ground electronic warfare countermeasures.

Nguyen is the first Vietnamese-American to be promoted to the rank of rear admiral. He has received a Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star Medal for his work in the Middle East. He has received the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. He has also had the honor of serving on teams that have been awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Commendation.

STEPHEN W. SEARCY Stephen W. Searcy began his education in Missouri, graduating from the University of Missouri with bachelor’s degrees in agricultural mechanization and agricultural engineering and a master’s degree in agricultural mechanization. He received his doctoral degree in agricultural engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1980.

While at OSU, his research focused on the applications of microprocessors, which led to the development of a microprocessorcontrolled metering device for pre-germinated seeds that were carried in a highly viscous fluid.

This work led Searcy to an assistant professor position at Texas A&M, where he also served as a senior professor and head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering until his recent retirement, and is now a professor emeritus.

Searcy has been a longtime member of the American Society of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (ASABE), where he served as director of their information and electronic technologies (IET) division for two years. From 1998-2000, Searcy lead the IET-354 Computers committee, and was a member of several other technical committees including Power and Machinery (PM)54 Precision Agriculture, PM-58 Agricultural Equipment Automation and IET-07 Forward Planning and Structure. He has also served on the Board of Directors, as treasurer, and in 2016 was elected president.

Searcy is an internationally recognized leader in research on intelligent machine systems for agriculture, and has been a pioneer in the rapidly evolving field of precision agriculture. Recently, he has applied his expertise to the emerging opportunities in bioenergy. Searcy’s prominence in this area of research led to him being selected to serve on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee.

Searcy has also been a major contributor to undergraduate and graduate education. He has procured about $250,000 in resources for the teaching program at Texas A&M and has mentored graduate and undergraduate students, coordinated academic programs, advised student clubs, and done a host of other things to support students and advance engineering education.

Under Searcy’s leadership, the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M has been consistently ranked as a top-5 program for Biological/Agricultural Engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report. He has received many honors and awards throughout his career, including the Distinguished Service Award in Engineering from the University of Missouri’s College of Engineering, the IET Division Chair Distinguished Service Award from ASABE, where he has also been awarded multiple Superior Paper Awards, multiple Blue Ribbon Awards in Educational Aids and was elected the rank of Fellow.

PREVIOUS HALL OF FAME RECIPIENTS 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970

Laurence L. Dresser Gerald W. McCullough Richard K. Lane Thomas M. Lumly Jr. Guy H. James Francis J. Wilson Morrison B. Cunningham Lloyd E. Elkins Don McBride B. Harris Bateman William W. Caudill Myron A. Wright Edwin G. Malzahn Eugene L. Miller David G. Murray Melvin A. Ellsworth Veldo H. Brewer

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1975 1976 1976 1976 1977 1978 1979 1979 1979 1980 1981 1982

Ralph M. Ball Richard O. Newman David B. Benham Carl G. Herrington James J. Kelly Gus L. Maciula Donald E. Adams James C. Phelps Fred H. Ramseur Jr. John S. Zink Sidney E. Scisson John L. Hatheway Eason H. Leonard Nicholas B. Mavris John B. Jones Jr. William J. Collins Jr. Floyd M. Bartlett

1982 1983 1983 1984 1984 1985 1986 1986 1987 1987 1988 1988 1989 1989 1991 1991 1991

Holmes H. McClure Bill N. Lacy George H. Lawrence Edward C. Joullian III Glenn E. Penisten Frank A. McPherson James E. Barnes Martin E. Fate Jr. Raymond A. Porter James D. Cobb Choong-Shik Cho Robert M. Penn Wilfred P. Schmoe Neal A. McCaleb Jim E. Shamas J. Tinsley Oden David J. Tippeconnic

1992 1992 1992 1993 1993 1993 1994 1994 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997

W. Wayne Allen Robert M. Lawrence Wolter J. Fabrycky Jack P. Holman Keith E. Bailey Kenneth J. Richards Kerry S. Havner Donald R. Lehman Ted E. Davis D. Ray Booker Charles L. Hardt R. Gerald Bennett Marvin M. Johnson Jerry D. Homes H. E. Cobb Jr. J. N. Reddy Donald L. Wickens

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MARK SUTTON Mark Sutton graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1980 and began his career with Mid America Pipeline Company where he worked until 1982.

Shortly after, he joined GPA Midstream, then called the Gas Processors Association, as director of technical services and worked his way up through the association where, in 2013, he was elected president and CEO. The GPA Midstream Association is comprised of more than 80 operating companies in the midstream industry. The association’s research and technical efforts include setting and adopting standards for natural gas liquids; developing simple and reproducible test methods to define the industry’s raw materials and products; managing a cooperative research program that is used worldwide; and being a go-to resource for a multitude of technical reports and publications.

Under Sutton’s leadership, GPA Midstream established an office of federal affairs in Washington, D.C., and has grown to be an international organization with associations in Europe, Venezuela, Canada and the Middle East.

Sutton also served as the leader of GPA’s sister organization, GPSA Midstream Suppliers Association (GPSA). GPSA has grown to an organization of over 400 companies engaged in meeting the supply and demand service needs of the midstream gas industry. The cooperative producer-supplier relationship demonstrated by GPA Midstream and GPSA allows for the GPA Midstream Association to conduct numerous research and technical evaluation programs through the cooperation and direction of GPA Midstream and GPSA member companies.

Additionally, GPSA assists the GPA Midstream Association Research Program and contributes to the future of the industry by providing funds for undergraduate engineering scholarships, as

1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001

Ronald D. Wickens John E. Hershey Ronald L. Calsing John C. Mihm Heinz W. Schmitt Jim W. Bruza Sherman E. Smith Thomas W. Wallace Charles O. Heller B. N. Murali Duane Wilson

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2001 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004

Robert Braswell Donald W. Vanlandingham Frank W. Chitwood H. Edward Roberts Jim B. Surjaatmadja James R. Holland Jr. Kent E. Patterson J. D. “Denny” Carreker Jr. Steven D. Hofener David Kyle Eddie M. Jones

2004 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007

well as professorships at colleges with natural gas programs, contributing more than $1 million to the future of the industry to date.

During Sutton’s tenure with GPA Midstream Association and GPSA, a combined team managed the editing and redeployment of each of the five revisions of the GPSA Engineering Data Book in order to provide the industry with the most up-to-date technical information. The GPSA Engineering Data Book is recognized as a valuable resource around the world and more than 50,000 copies of the book have been distributed through these team efforts.

Sutton has received the Award of Merit from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) for serving as secretary of the ASTM D-2, Subcommittee H, a committee responsible for liquified petroleum (LP)-Gas. He has served on the board and as president of the Tulsa, Okla., Petroleum Club.

Sutton retired from the GPA Midstream Association and GPSA in 2019, having served both associations for nearly 37 years. Since retirement, he has been appointed by GPA Midstream to serve as a public member of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), a group he has been involved with since its inception.

Sutton and his wife Patty live off of lake Fort Gibson where he enjoys taking his family and friends boating and, since retirement, has plans to improve his fishing skills.

Sutton reflects on his time at OSU, “my time in Stillwater was one of the best times I have ever had and my advice to students would be to study hard but also make sure you enjoy your time at OSU to the fullest.”

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University congratulates Mark Sutton on his induction into the college’s Hall of Fame.

Neal E. Jones James Brooks Cummins Gordon E. Eubanks Jr. Behrokh Khoshnevis Sanjiv Sidhu James L. Vining Jack B. ReVelle Gary A. Pope Rand Elliott Michael Damore Leslie Priebe

2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010

Ronald L. Hoffman Donald D. Humphreys Samir A. Lawrence Ronnie Morgan Charles Kridler Meemong Lee A. Joe Mitchell Jr. Sridhar Mitta Richard Weidner Ray O. Johnson Jerry Banks

THOMAS W. BRITTON JR. Thomas W. Britton Jr. graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1966 and completed his master’s degree in industrial engineering and management in 1968.

Britton led the acquisition of and directed multi-million-dollar global projects to formulate enterprise strategy, develop information technology plans, optimize resource management and design and implement integrated business processes to improve enterprise resource planning and execution.

Britton served as a lead partner in the national, world class, manufacturing practice, Arthur Young & Company, and was the practice leader for the West Region Energy Consulting Practice. He was also the managing partner of the Orange County Office Consulting Practice for eight years. He led multidiscipline consulting service teams for clients including Florida Power and Light, Gray Line Tours, LA Gear (now Sketchers), the California Division of Highways, the Alexandria Egypt Sanitation Treatment Department and Northrop Grumman’s Aircraft Division.

After 20 years at Arthur Young & Company, Britton spent the next 15 years as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers during which time he served in many different client leadership and internal organizational roles for the firm.

He led the multi-industry West Region Products Consulting Practice, serving high technology, consumer products and retail clients including Allergan, Nike, Levi, Warner Brothers, PetSmart and Disney. During this time, he served on America’s and the Global Products Industry

Leadership Council. The scope of services ranged from strategic business planning, operational re-engineering and change management, to implementation of enterprise resource planning systems.

Following this, he was appointed the global chairman of the high technology consulting practice. The $750 million full-service practice provided business altering consulting support to clients such as IBM, Intel, Motorola, Hitachi, Panasonic, Toshiba, Nokia, Siemens, Dell, Compaq, Samsung, Western Digital, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft.

At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was the chief operating officer for the West Region Consulting Business, comprising of over 1,500 professional consultants.

Throughout his career, Britton was involved in numerous philanthropic, government and professional organizations. He was a member of the OSU Alumni Association Leadership Council, was president of the Orange County OSU Alumni Association chapter, was trustee for the Los Angeles Special Olympics, and was trustee of the Orange County Arts Council.

He has received many honors including being listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the West and Who’s Who in Industry. In 2016, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the OSU Cowboy Academy of Industrial Engineering and Management in recognition of his distinguished career. Additionally, Britton was recognized as the 2018 Outstanding Alumni for OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s School of Industrial Engineering and Management.

PREVIOUS HALL OF FAME RECIPIENTS 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013

Juan Carlos Calderon Jeffrey Fisher Lakshmaiah Ponnala Enos Stover Paul Liao Wilson Shoffner Calvin Vogt Jerry Winchester Cassie Mitchell Kenneth E. Case Harvey B. Manbeck

2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

Rixio Medina Robert Schaefer Rick Webb Debbie Adams Alan Brunacini Harold Courson Decker Dawson Johann Demmel Jeff Hume David Timberlake Janet Weiss

2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

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2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2020 2020 2020 2020

Ali Fazel Brian C. Price Edward L. Shreve Jim Hasenbeck Rick Muncrief Charles Reimer Lyndon Taylor Mark Sutton Tom Britton Huan Nguyen Steve Searcy

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2021 DONORS $500,000+ Chickasaw Nation

$100,000-$499,999 Walter Allen, IEM ‘69 & Judith Allen Mark Brewer, ECEN ‘88 & Beth Brewer Google Foundation Google LLC David Lambert, ENGR TECH ‘62 Jamie McAlpine, ENGR TECH ‘79 & Cheryl McAlpine National Fire Protection Association ONEOK Foundation Phillips 66 Calvin Vogt, ECEN ‘60

$50,000-$99,999 Deborah Adams, CHE ’83 & Charles Adams Boeing Company Cecil Culver, CHE ‘54 Jerry Etter, MAE ‘67 & Delores Etter ExxonMobil Billy Travis, MAE ‘59 & Jane Travis Steven Wear, ECEN ‘85 & Judy Wear Waylink Systems Corporation Williams XTO Energy Doyle Young

$25,000-$49,999 Frederick Chadsey, ARCH ’60 & Linda Chadsey Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP Charles B Goddard Foundation ConocoPhillips CLSE/Thomas S Waller Scholarship Fund Keith Cheatham & Joyce Cheatham Jasper Cho Ali Fazel, CIVE ‘83 & Jeni Fazel Fazel Family Foundation Inc Myron Hayden, CIVE ‘78 & Judith Hayden CIVE ‘77 Larry Kester, ARCH ‘68 & Linda kester John Klopp, CHE ‘65 Duane Mass, ARCH ‘89 & Robin Mass McMahon Foundation Jon Nelson, CIVE ‘99 & Glenda Nelson Jeffrey Powers, IEM ‘76 & Sheryl Powers Gene Smith Darton Zink & Jamie Zink

$10,000-$24,999 AISC Education Foundation American Concrete Pumping Association

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING , A RC H IT EC T U R E A N D T EC H N O LO GY

Syam Antony, IEM ‘04 & Elsa Antony Ken Barrett, MAE ‘65 & Loretta Barrett Benevity/Phillips 66/Ann Oglesby Thomas Britton, IEM ‘68 & Deborah Britton John Brown, CIVE ‘68 & Judy Brown Neal Buck, IEM ‘80 & Lora Buck Dyne Buckley, MAE ‘17 & Mallory Buckley ARCH ‘27 CEAT Student Council Concept Two Construction Delbert Crawford, ECEN ‘76 & Pamela Crawford Michael Damore, ARCH ‘73 & Sharon Damore Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Inc Karalyn Fischer, MAE ‘06 & Bart Fischer Jared Green, IEM ‘05 & Vanessa Green Halliburton Foundation Inc Syed Hamid, MAE ‘76 & Zeba Hamid Kerry Havner, CIVE ‘59 Glen Hicks, MAE ‘68 & Diane Hicks Chris Humes, MAE ‘90 & Dianne Humes Johnson & Johnson Jones Studio Inc Randy Kreie, ARCH ‘78 & Valda Kreie Laurette Lahey, MAE ‘86 & Timothy Lahey Mitchell Myers, IEM ‘95 & Christy Myers Niagara Bottling LLC Ann Oglesby, CHE ‘87 & Bill Oglesby Raymond Pappe, MAE ‘58 & Shirley Pappe James Penn, CIVE ‘79 Donald Pruitt, MAE ‘62 & Mary Pruitt K. Kamalakar Rao, MAE ‘61 Schwab Charitable/Derek & Stacie Wrobbel Donor Advised Fund Michael Sigmon, ECEN ‘66 & Jane Sigmon Kevin Stephney, ECEN ‘79 & Tangye Stephney Bradley Stover, CHE ‘84 & Trina Stover Carol White Gary Wilson, CHE ‘89 & Kerri Wilson Norman Wooten, CIVE ‘74 & Mary Wooten Derek Wrobbel, ECEN ‘91 & Stacie Wrobbel IEM ‘91 Patrick Wyers, MAE ‘61 & Joyce Wyers

$5,000-$9,999 James Barnette, ECEN ‘91 Linda Bedell Otto Behunin, IEM ‘64 Mohammed Bilbeisi, ARCH ‘89 & Suzanne Bilbeisi, ARCH ‘90

William Biscontini, ENGR TECH ‘67 Paul Caldwell, MAE ‘70 & Mabel Caldwell Ashley Conner, CHE ‘04 & Alan Conner Kenneth Corbin, ARCH ‘67 & Katherine Corbin Crossland Construction Company Inc Mark Dickerson, CHE ‘76 & Lee Ann Dickerson Jacque Fowler Frankfurt Short Bruza & Associates PC Jack Goertz, IEM ‘74 & Susan Goertz Frank Gregory, IEM ‘71 & Nora Gregory Steven Huckaby, MAE ‘81 & Dawn Huckaby Bill Kurtz, MAE ‘71 & Bonnie Kurtz Rose Lewis, CIVE ‘87 & Gary Spencer, CIVE ‘84 Jill Long, CHE ‘03 Lyondell Chemical Company Fred Oberlender, ECEN ‘59 & Janice Oberlender Olsson Associates Inc Joe Plummer, CHE ‘66 & Karen Plummer Brian Price, CHE ‘73 & Brenda Price Thomas Ratzki, CIVE ‘79 & Amy Ratzki Neil Ryan, ENGR TECH ‘80 & Katherine Ryan Edward Stokes, CIVE ‘75 & Claudia Stokes Al Strecker, ECEN ‘71 Lyndon Taylor, IEM ‘81 & Pamela Taylor Texas Instruments Inc Sally Thomas, CHE ‘79 Charles Tompkins, CIVE ‘78 & Lisa Tompkins Van Weathers, GEN ENG ‘65 Karen Wiehle-Eyster W&W AFCO Steel Sandra Yeigh, IEM ‘88 & Bjong Yeigh

$1,000-$4,999 AC Owen Construction Gregory Adams, ENGR TECH ‘80 & Leah Adams Adolfson & Peterson Construction AEP/PSO of Oklahoma/Tulsa AGCO Corporation AGC of Oklahoma Education Foundation AIA Oklahoma AIA Central States Region Inc Gary Allen, ENGR TECH ‘82 & Judy Allen American Airlines Andres Construction Services LLC Association of Oklahoma General Contractors Inc Charles Bacher, IEM ‘71 & Linda Bacher

Kevin Bailey, ENGR TECH ‘95 Balfour Beatty Construction Michael Bartlett, IEM ‘72 & Carolyn Bartlett Marta Baumiller Terrence Beaumariage, IEM ‘90 & Julia Beaumariage Kenneth Bell Benevity/Phillips 66/David Herdman Benevity/Phillips 66/Mark Kelley Benevity/Raytheon/Matthew Williams Frank Berry, ENGR TECH ‘62 Big River Steel Lowell Black, ENGR TECH ‘79 & Jodie Black Blackbaud Giving Fund/IBM/Steven Oltmanns Blackbaud Giving Fund/Phillips 66/ Erin Liberton Danny Blakely, ENGR TECH ‘82 & Melanie Blakely Edward Bond & Lauren Bond Borton LC Johnnie Boyle, MAE ‘72 Michael Brooks, ENGR TECH ‘80 & Nita Brooks Gene Brown, ARCH ‘98 & Kari Govier-Brown Kristi Bumpas, CIVE ‘12 Burns & McDonnell Foundation Richard Bush, IEM ‘63 Byrne Construction Services Caminos Fire LLC Thomas Campbell, ARCH ‘90 & Leslie Campbell Cantera Concrete Company John Carment, CHE ‘98 & Carrie Carment Century Club of San Diego CEC Corporation Choctaw Nation Health Services Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Kalli Clark-Egan, IEM ‘08 & Sean Egan Clifford Clottey, CIVE ‘77 Carl Cochrane, CEAT ‘54 & Marie Cochrane Steven Constien, ECEN ‘02 Kaycie Cook-Brelo, ENGR TECH ‘04 & William Brelo Kenneth Cooper, MAE ‘76 & Janell Cooper Teresa Cooper Matthew Cullum, MAE ‘96 & Cynthia Cullum Cary DeHart, ENGR TECH ‘74 & Bobbie DeHart Weston DeHart, ENGR TECH ‘06 & Julie DeHart Norbert Delatte & M. Lynn Delatte Christopher DeMoss, ENGR TECH ‘02 & Erin DeMoss

Thank you to all of our generous donors!

Dolese Bros Co Thomas Dossey, CHE ‘65 & Enita Dossey Blaine Douglas, ENGR TECH ‘93 & Lindi Douglas Ray Earley, ECEN ‘81 & Sharon Earley Enterprise Products Partners LP David Eudey, MAE ‘04 & Laura Eudey Susan Evans & Robert Evans Caleb Eyster, MAE ‘20 FarrWest Environmental Supply Inc Gerard Fehrenbach & Ming Fehrenbach Joseph Fehring, CEAT ‘72 Fidelity Charitable/Ed & Joanna Robben Charitable Fund Brian Fitzsimmons, ARCH ‘96 Flintco LLC Laura Ford, CHE ‘93 & Gregory Ford Paul Fortin, ECEN ‘65 & Jane Fortin Linda Foster Barney Ghiglieri, CHE ‘72 Michael Gilbert, CHE ‘78 & Verna Gilbert Hulbert Glimp, ECEN ‘66 & Carolyn Glimp Richard Gray, ECEN ‘61 & Rosemary Gray Greater Houston Community Foundation/Stephen R Whiteley Fund Daniel Grischkowsky Tamara Haas, CIVE ‘83 & Anthony Haas Michael Hair, MAE ‘00 & Cara Hair Joe Hall, CIVE ‘83 & Vickie Hall Michael Harris, MAE ‘66 & Patricia Harris Roger Harrod, ENGR TECH ‘93 James Hasenbeck, ARCH ‘82 & Belinda Hasenbeck Charles Heller, CIVE ‘60 & Susan Heller David Heller, ENGR TECH ‘81 & Paula Heller Lee Henderson, MAE ‘82 & Marta Henderson, IEM ‘83 Henderson Engineers William Henry, ECEN ‘80 & Lucinda Schultz Sunderesh Heragu & Rita Heragu David Herdman, ENGR TECH ‘87 & Nancy Herdman David Hieronymus, CHE ‘77 Fred Hill, ENGR TECH ‘81 & Tammy Madden-Hill, ENGR TECH ‘85 Jerry Holderread, ENGR TECH ‘66 & Judy Holderread Lynn Holloman & James Holloman Dennis Hussey, CHE ‘97 Insight Risk LLC Interstates Construction Services Inc Steven Jacoby, CIVE ‘80 William Johnston & Camille Johnston Lucien Jones & Barbara Jones

Jeffrey Jones, ENGR TECH ‘82 & Patricia Jones James Jones, MAE ‘87 Stuart Keeton, IEM ‘82 Mark Kelley, MAE ‘87 & Sharon Kelley Jennifer Kelley Kiewit Corporation Roger Kirk, ENGR TECH ‘73 & Joyce Kirk Kirkpatrick Forest Curtis PC Koch Industries Inc Min Koo, ARCH ‘01 Michael Larranaga, ENGR TECH ‘96 & Patricia Larranaga John Larson, ECEN ‘78 & Sharon Larson John Lawrence, CHE ‘82 & Carolyn Lawrence Bruce Lee, IEM ‘73 & Leslie Spilman Heng Hong Lee-Petricek Donald Lehman, CHE ‘69 & Laura Lehman Donald Lippert, ENGR TECH ‘78 Bruce Litchfield & Linda Litchfield Lithko Contracting LLC Duoying Liu, ECEN ‘88 & Yuan Yue Liu John Lloyd & Ruth Lloyd R. Logen Logendran, IEM ‘84 & Jayanthi Logendran Shane Lupi, ENGR TECH ‘14 LMEPAC/Anthony Byers Mark Marston, CHE ‘75 Thomas Martinez, ARCH ‘84 Jamie Matlock, IEM ‘03 & James Matlock Matrix Service Company McCarthy Building Companies Inc McCarthy Holdings Inc McCownGordon Construction Steve McKnight & Kimberly McKnight Mitchell Mencacci, ENGR TECH ‘15 Kurt Metzinger, MAE ‘90 & Bernadine Metzinger Michael Brooks Consulting LLC John Middleton, CHE ‘78 Robert Milam, CIVE ‘84 & Ramona Milam Megan Moody & G. T. Moody Julia Moomau, IEM ‘90 & Steven Moomau Morgan Stanley Gift Fund/Doerner Family Rev Trust National Association of Pipe Fabricators Nidamaluri Nagesh, CIVE ‘82 North American Society for Trenchless Technology Inc John Offutt, ENGR TECH ‘82 & Diane Offutt OG&E Energy Services

Steven O’Hara, ARCH ‘85 & Phyllis O’Hara OKC Community Foundation Oklahoma City Section Oklahoma Structural Engineers Association Steven Oltmanns, ECEN ‘71 & Billie Oltmanns Ronald Orr, IEM ‘79 & Diana Orr PACCAR Foundation Bard Peevy, MAE ‘80 Carol Petricek Phu Phan, ECEN ‘99 & Gayla Phan Justin Phelps, ENGR TECH ‘91 & Shelley Phelps Gaylon Pinc, CIVE ‘85 & Anne Pinc Poe & Associates Inc Gary Pope, CHE ‘67 & Joan Pope David Powell, ARCH ‘91 & Kerri Powell Lee Raney, IEM ‘52 & Grace Raney Dhananjaya Rao, IEM ‘73 & Kathleen Rao Raytheon Company Verna Lou Reid John Richardson, CIVE ‘61 & Jean Richardson Rick Scott Construction Inc RJN Foundation Edward Robben, ECEN ‘83 & Joanna Robben Robert C Zahl PE PLLC Brian Rogers, ECEN ‘95 Eston Rogers, ENGR TECH ‘08 Laurence Rooney & Kathleen Rooney Clara Rowden, BAE ‘06 & Stephen Whiteley Michael Royce, MAE ‘88 & Stephanie Royce, IEM ‘88 Ruthann Granito Esq PC William Seider, ARCH ‘74 & Amanda Miller SG Administration LP Mary Shafer-Malicki, CHE ‘83 & Patrick Malicki Brenda Shumate, IEM ‘91 & Casey Shumate Mark Shutt, ECEN ‘99 William Silk, ARCH ‘71 & Malinda Harris-Silk Richard Skinner, CHE ‘67 & Sandra Skinner David Smith, MAE ‘66 & Connie Smith Barbara Snoddy Southern Company Services Inc Spirit Aerosystems Inc Leslie Stockel, IEM ‘05 & William Stockel Brian Storts, CHE ‘99 & Ruth Storts John Taylor & Sarah Taylor

Walter Taylor Textron Inc Robert Thompson, CIVE ‘65 Paul Tikalsky & Julie Tikalsky Fred Turner, ARCH ‘54 & Glenda Turner Marcia Tuttle United Dynamics US Stone Industries LLC Donald Vanlandingham, ECEN ‘63 & Mary Vanlandingham Stephen Waken, ECEN ‘80 Waldrop Construction Inc Thomas Wallace, ARCH ‘80 & Susan Wallace Walsh Construction Xiangming Fang, MAE ‘99 & Kai Wang Waterstone/Dr Paul & Jane Fortin Foundation Deborah Watson, ECEN ‘82 & Cary Watson Jack Watts, IEM ‘70 & Teresa Watts Richard Weidner, ECEN ‘81 & Mee Mong Lee, ECEN ‘81 Barry West, IEM ‘72 & Barbara West Douglas White, IEM ‘74 & Barbara White Ronald White, CIVE ‘63 & Sherry White White Engineering Associates Inc Matthew Williams, IEM ‘07 James Wolfe, ENGR TECH ‘79 & Leslie Wolfe Eric Woodroof, IEM ‘98 & Andrea Woodroof Nathaniel Woody, MAE ‘13 Keith Yancey, ARCH ‘84 & Katherine Yancey, ARCH ‘85 Younger-Holmes Electrical Contractors Inc YourCause LLC/Crestwood/Chris Humes Robert Zahl, ARCH ‘70 & Donna Zahl Robert Zapata & Zoanne Zapata

Planned Giving Donors who included CEAT with their estate plans in 2021 John Awezec, CIVE ‘85 & Tara Awezec Tony Buratti, MAE ‘00 & Kristie Buratti, MAE ‘00 John Cusick, CEAT ‘62 & Kathy Cusick William Graif, ENGR TECH ‘75 & April Graif Mildred Miller Gary Sparks, ARCH ‘66 & Jerri Sparks Travis Young

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COLLEGE LEADERSHIP

Paul J. Tikalsky

Randy Seitsinger

Chuck Bunting

Raman Singh

Ed Kirtley

Carisa Ramming

College Dean

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

Associate Dean of Engineering, OSU-Tulsa Director, Helmerich Research Center

Assistant Dean, Engineering Extension

Associate Dean, Research

Assistant Dean of Engagement and Inclusion, Academic Affairs

Suzanne Bilbeisi, AIA

Dr. Young Chang, P.E., CFPS

Dr. Mari S. Chinn

Dr. Norb Delatte, P.E., F.ACI, F.ASCE

Dr. Dan Fisher

Dr. Geir Hareland

Dr. Sunderesh Heragu

Dr. James Smay

Dr. Jeffrey L. Young, P.E., F.IEEE

Professor and Head Centennial Professor of Architecture School of Architecture

Professor and Head M.R. Lohmann Endowed Chair Civil and Environmental Engineering

Regents Professor and Head Donald and Cathey Humphreys Chair Industrial Engineering and Management

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Professor and Head Engineering Technology

Professor and Head Albert H. Nelson Jr. Chair Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Professor and Head Materials Sciences and Engineering

Professor and Head Associate Director, Sun Grant Program-South Central Region Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Professor and Head Continental Resources Chair Petroleum Engineering

Professor and Head OSURF Endowed Chair of Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering

SUPPORTING CEAT

A Message from the Foundation

Ty Ropp

Senior Director of Development and Team Leader, CEAT 405.385.5664 tropp@osugiving.com

The OSU Foundation’s mission is to “unite donor passions with university priorities to achieve excellence.”

As a development team who works with Dean Tikalsky and his academic

Jill Johnson

Senior Director of Development, CEAT 405.385.0733 jjohnson@osugiving.com

leaders, we strive to identify CEAT priorities and unite them with your passions to achieve excellence.

Excellence can be defined in a variety of ways and take on a variety of forms.

Bryce Killingsworth Associate Director of Development, CEAT

405.385.5623 bkillingsworth@osugiving.com

Sometimes, excellence is the firstgeneration CEAT student earning their degree, a faculty member making

Jill Blake

ground-breaking research in the lab,

Development Associate

or a college fulfilling its mission in the

405.385.5156 jblake@osugiving.com

midst of a pandemic. With the current economic challenges facing higher education, it is only within the margins of private support that the college can truly achieve excellence.

LaRonna Wilbourn

Senior Development Cordinator 405.385.5618 lwilbourn@osugiving.com

Whatever your passion is for helping us achieve excellence, it is our hope that you, our alumni and friends of this great college, realize the role we play in bridging the aspirations of both parties.

Bekah Dollar

Development Cordinator 405.385.0976 bekah.doller@osugiving.com

O S U C E AT 75

CEAT STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Debbie Adams

Retired — Sr. Vice President of HSE, Projects and Procurement P66

Gregg Bradshaw

Phillips 66

Joe D. Hall General Contractors, LLC

Shay Braun

Larry Bryce

President

VP of Engineering and Manufacturing Strategies

Select Milk

Johnson Controls

C. Michael Carolina

Heath DePriest

OCAST

Phillips 66

Garen Ewbank

Jeff Fisher

Ewbank Geo Testing

Ascent Resources

Jim Hasenbeck

Steve Huckaby

Studio Architecture

Meritage Midstream

Executive Director

President

Principal Architect

Jeff Hume

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Construction Manager

General Manager, Corporate Strategy

Chief Executive Officer

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Vice Chairman of Strategic Growth Initiatives

Chris Humes

Continental Resources, Inc.

TC Energy

Sr. Vice President

Mitch Johnson

Neal Jones

AI Technologies

Jones Studio Architects

Jaime McAlpine

Bob Milam

Chermac Energy Corporation

Eagle Claw Midstream

Bill Remy

Mike Rogers

Consultant

PACCAR Winch, Inc

Ty Ropp

Mary Shafer-Malicki

OSUF

Wood Plc

Ed Stokes

Paul Tikalsky

Stokes International Consultancy, LLC

Oklahoma State University

Patricia Vega

Rick Webb

Quantum New Energy

Webb Consulting Group

Vice President

President

Retired

Sr. Director of Development

President

Founder and CEO

President

Chief Executive Officer

President

Director of the Board of Directors

Dean

CEO

O S U C E AT 77

TOP HONORS CEAT seniors recognized with awards Nine CEAT seniors were named Oklahoma State University Seniors of Significance by the OSU Alumni Association for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The award recognizes students who have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to campus and the community, and have brought distinction to OSU. Two of them — Valentin Brito and Jaden Kasitz — were also named 2021 Outstanding Seniors by the OSU Alumni Association. The award recognizes seniors who excel through academic achievement; campus and community activities; academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships and work ethic during their time at OSU.

Courtney Andrews

Jacob Auer

Valentin Brito

Amber Holle

Jaden Kasitz

Landen Keffer

Jennifer Litchfield

Erin Yen

Wanying Zheng

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Stillwater

Chemical Engineering Ponca City, Oklahoma

Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Midwest City, Oklahoma

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Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Lenapah, Oklahoma

Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics Wichita, Kansas

Architecture Oklahoma City

Mechanical Engineering Oklahoma City

Chemical Engineering Ponca City, Oklahoma

Civil Engineering Oklahoma City

MEMORIAM

Remembering a Legend

Former Dean Reid made an impact everywhere he went

I

O S U C E AT 79

O

n April 14, 2021, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology received the heartbreaking news that a great man had passed away.

Karl Neville Reid, former dean of CEAT, was among the greatest ambassadors that Oklahoma State University, CEAT and the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) will ever know.

Reid was born on Oct. 10, 1934, in Yellville, Arkansas. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, and enrolled in then-Oklahoma A&M College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Reid completed his master’s degree at Oklahoma A&M in 1958. He briefly served in the Army Reserves, and then went on to earn his Doctor of Science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He served on the faculty at MIT for four years before coming back to OSU. In 1964, Reid joined the faculty at OSU in MAE, where he excelled in research and teaching, rising to the rank of full professor while working in fluid power control, fluidics and web handling control.

“Karl was interested in people and helping them achieve their aspirations,” said Keith Good, fellow faculty member of MAE and friend. “If you were a student or a faculty member, you did not escape his focus.”

He served as school head of MAE from 1976-1986 before being appointed the dean of CEAT. He served as dean for 25 years, the longest-serving dean for CEAT. “His greatest passion was helping students become what they were meant to be,” said Dr. Paul Tikalsky, current dean of CEAT. “He enjoyed teaching the introductory engineering course to freshmen on all the degrees they could pursue in CEAT. He spent countless hours with the CEAT Scholars and W.W. Allen Scholars as a mentor and study abroad leader. He was a mentor to many students during his time at OSU. “He was a champion for CEAT research facilities and was instrumental in bringing the Advanced Technology Research Center and the Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center to fruition. He understood the necessity

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of introducing STEM to K-12 students and was an active supporter of FIRST Robotics.”

Reid received awards from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers, and is a fellow in the American Society for Mechanical Engineering and the American Society for Engineering Education.

“Faculty research and alum success were important to Karl,” Good said. “He enjoyed supporting students, alums and faculty. This allowed him to let the world know the greatness that was achieved in Oklahoma, at OSU, in CEAT and MAE and he was a proponent of each of these entities.

“Karl was an excellent storyteller and he was always prepared with a story to tell you what good was being done by the faculty and by alums to help lift our state, nation and world,” Good said. “He was a lifter of all.”

Reid was involved in many research efforts. Two of the larger efforts were the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for System Science and the Web Handling Research Center which was one of the greatest and longest-lived NSF industry/university research centers. Reid’s focus as an engineer was dynamic systems and control.

He helped create the NSF Center for System Science to allow mechanical and electrical engineers to understand

the dynamics that underlie electrical, fluidic and thermal systems.

He created the Web Handling Research Center as part of a larger initiative to promote automated manufacturing. OSU and MAE gained national and international notoriety from these research centers. He was awarded the ASME Centennial Medallion and selected as the Outstanding Engineer in Oklahoma in 1988. Among his academic credentials are four U.S. patents and 40 journal papers.

“People from across the United States and the world were given cause to attend conferences that gave them reason to come to Oklahoma for the first time,” Good said. “When they got here they learned about the rich Native American culture of Oklahoma and some engineering expertise, because Karl Reid cared about all of it.

“A great man has passed and we live in his shadow. As you live each day and interact with faculty, students, industry and government, remember that it is not all about you. That is the legacy that he would want to leave. He would want others to lift students of all levels, make them better than they were, making MAE, CEAT, OSU and Oklahoma a better place than when you found it.”

A true legend will be missed, but his impact lives on. ■

-

Franklin F. Eckhart Eckhart, of Edmond, Oklahoma passed away Dec. 18, 2020, after a brief battle with cancer.

E

ckhart was born on March 18, 1931, to Fred and Hilda Eckhart in Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

After spending his boyhood working on the family farm, Eckhart was the first in his family to attend high school and college, graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in aeronautical engineering.

His interest in aviation was sparked when he was a boy during World War II. Watching movies and newsreels of young men flying through the air in fascinating aircrafts as they destroyed the enemy convinced him that he had to be one of them.

In the fall of 1947, Eckhart attended the local county fair. A pilot was offering local flights in his Ercoupe airplane and took Frank for a flight over his family farm where he saw the farm in a whole new perspective. The pilot even let Frank take the controls.

He was hooked!

After meeting in college, he married Donna J. Eckhart on April 3, 1954. Their marriage endured for 58 years, until Donna’s death in 2012.

They were blessed with five children: Brian, Gale, Kevin, Scot and Franklin Jr. After graduation from college on an ROTC scholarship, Frank served his country as a naval aviator, flying the S2F submarine hunter/killer during the Cold War. Frank spent many hours behind the controls of hundreds of planes and logged thousands of hours. He spent many of those hours teaching young military test pilots, some who went on to become astronauts.

He flew with astronauts John Sweigert and Joe Engle on the first in-flight simulation of the shuttle orbiter in 1972. In 1965, Frank was invited to be on hand to watch the launch of the space shuttle Columbia on its seventh orbital

flight. Commanding that ship was one of Frank’s former students, Bob Crippen.

Upon fulfilling his commitment to the military, Frank attended Princeton University, where he obtained a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. He then moved with his growing family to Buffalo, New York, where he went to work as a test pilot for the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories (later known as Calspan).

His efforts there included much of the early work on the space shuttle, and Frank worked closely with many future astronauts on developing in-flight simulation, particularly of the shuttle’s approach and landing capabilities. He simultaneously flew in the Air National Guard, where he retired at the rank of major.

In the mid-1970s, Frank transitioned to a career in education, and served as an associate professor at Oklahoma State University until his retirement.

OSU wanted to provide aeronautical engineering students with an instructor who had practical knowledge of aeronautical research. This would provide an opportunity for Frank to spend more time with his growing family.

He developed the first airplane test flight test course offered there.

After 21 years of service to OSU and to engineering students, he retired in 1996.

The impact he had on his students over the years will always be remembered.

“I will always treasure the “in-flight classroom” experience with Dr. Eckhart!” said Laurette Lahey, a former student.

“The stories, lessons and experiential learning provided by him turned dull, theoretical book-learning into practical sense for me. I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t have gotten my first job at Boeing — or as an aerodynamicist anywhere — if it were not for his version of ‘experimental fluids.’ I’ve had plenty of opportunities to compare aerospace engineering curriculums for undergrad programs, and this type of course offering is rarely found outside of military courses. I often highlight his course and teaching methods when discussing what inspired and influenced me. I count myself incredibly fortunate to have had the honor of taking one of his courses. Frank Eckhart is a true hero to me!”

Frank, along with Donna, loved to travel, enjoyed time with family and took great pride in his children and grandchildren. As an example of their love of travel and family, Donna and Frank arranged and paid for a family Caribbean Disney Cruise (including children and grandchildren) and later, a trip to Hawaii. ■

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