IMPACT 2025

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

Greetings, thank you for taking the time to explore this year’s edition of IMPACT. Inside, you’ll find stories that reflect not only where the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology is headed — but the heart behind what drives us.

At CEAT, we are a dynamic community of educators, innovators, researchers and supporters who believe in the power of collaboration and creativity. Our students graduate as leaders, scientists, innovators and educators ready to shape the world. Our faculty are nationally recognized for their groundbreaking work and commitment to academic excellence.

What makes CEAT truly special is its people, including you. Our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students form the foundation that supports our growth and future. Thanks to your continued engagement and investment, we’ve made remarkable progress.

Over the past year, CEAT has expanded and strengthened in numerous ways. We’ve increased our enrollment, enhanced our research capacity and improved our national standing. Most notably, we climbed five places in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for overall engineering graduate programs, placing us at No. 106 in the nation.

We’ve also restructured to better serve our students and highlight our strengths, launching

the School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering, as well as the School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management. These changes bring clarity and visibility to our programs and reflect the evolving needs of the industries our students will lead.

To meet rising demand, we’ve made proactive faculty hires, attracting established middle-career professors from top-ranked institutions. With new state-of-the-art labs, innovative degree programs and a supportive academic environment, CEAT is a destination for excellence.

Your support is helping CEAT reach new heights. As you read through IMPACT, you’ll see how our students, faculty, staff and alumni are making a difference locally and around the world.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are shaping the future.

GO POKES!

Dr. Hanchen Huang, Dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

IMPACT

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology ceat.okstate.edu

CEAT students blend aerospace and industrial engineering to tackle real-world defense challenges.

CEAT Extension equips professionals statewide with career-ready skills.

Smart nanofiber bandages from ParaNano Wound Care signal infection before it strikes.

DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY Hanchen Huang, Ph.D.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Kristi Wheeler

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Desa James

EDITOR Jordan Bishop

Advanced

On the cover: Reese Huhnke, OSU New Product Development Center intern and chemical engineering student, does chemical testing in the ParaNano laboratory. (Photo by Ellie Piper)

ART DIRECTOR Dave Malec

WRITERS

Tanner Holubar, Desa James, Savannah McDaniel, Erin Portman and Kristi Wheeler

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Annie Buford and Cody Giles

PHOTOGRAPHY

Annie Buford, Brandy DeVous, Gabe Gudgel, Mason Harbour, Tanner Holubar, Desa James, Gary Lawson, Savannah McDaniel, Nick Napoliello, Ellie Piper, Elizabeth Smith and Kristi Wheeler

origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, the director of equal opportunity/Title IX coordinator is located at 201 General Academic Building and can be reached at 405-744-1156 or by visiting EEO.OKSTATE.EDU. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, was printed by Modern Litho, at a cost of $9,381/4.5M/August 2025/#Impact2025.

TANGO TWO TO

CEAT students combine their expertise on DoD research

Oklahoma State University engineering students aren’t just at the forefront of innovation; it’s built into their DNA.

Through the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, students become experts in their field of study thanks to faculty dedicated to interdisciplinary research opportunities.

Two students who have both grown their knowledge base through collaborative research have also embarked on the path to obtaining three degrees.

Brock Rouser, a School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student, and Ainsley Kyle, a School of Industrial Engineering and Management graduate, will both have earned their undergraduate degree, master’s degree and Ph.D.

Rouser completed his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in 2023 and is pursuing his master’s in MAE with a goal to complete his Ph.D. by 2028. Kyle earned her bachelor’s in 2023, master’s in 2024 and expects to earn her Ph.D. in 2026 and interned at the Air Force Research Laboratory this summer.

Both have worked alongside Dr. Paul Ryan, an MAE professor, and Dr. Katie Jurewicz, an IEM professor, on research that combined the experience of multiple engineering disciplines.

SUCCESS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Under the oversight of Ryan and Jurewicz, the research team has worked on projects to aid the Department of Defense, including an assignment at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, and collaborating on projects with flight simulators in Ryan’s lab.

Kyle and Rouser have combined their research interests to study cognitive workload in complex situations and how systems can be designed to support operators when the amount of information becomes overbearing.

“Regardless of whether you’re flying a plane or driving a car, we have limits to our cognitive abilities, and the reality is that we cannot make our brains bigger to process more information,” Jurewicz said. “The modern world’s

“The collaborative research environment provides a unique opportunity to students because although I advise Ainsley and she will have a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, her degree and her expertise will have a flavor of aerospace engineering through the additional mentorship that Dr. Paul provides and through collaborating with Brock.”

volume of information available to humans has forced the operator into a state of information overload. With the implementation of automation across industries, fully autonomous systems have also forced the human operator into a state of information underload.”

Jurewicz said research has shown people can’t make decisions effectively when in an overload or underload capacity. They capture mental workload in real time and adapt automation to fit the operator’s cognitive needs.

Kyle and Rouser have studied the concept of the behavior of pilots in flight under conditions of differing automation and task difficulty using a flight simulator.

Rouser and Paul built a database to capture psychophysiological data in real time while Kyle and Jurewicz focused on human factors, or how and when the pilot’s cognitive state changed. The team then built statistical models to capture and quantify this data.

“Our strengths from IEM and MAE complement each other, especially in aerospace and defense applications, so that we can effectively study humanautomation interaction across different industries,” Jurewicz said. “The collaborative research environment provides a unique opportunity to students because although I advise Ainsley and she will have a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, her degree and her expertise will have a flavor of

DR. KATIE JUREWICZ IEM PROFESSOR

“It’s really great to have women I can talk to in this field. I always try to remember and thank them for their contributions because that’s hard work for a lot of people. Dr. Jurewicz has been like my academic mother. She is my muse. She has been amazing and just the best advisor and mentor.”

AINSLEY KYLE IEM PH.D. STUDENT

aerospace engineering through the additional mentorship that Dr. Paul provides and through collaborating with Brock.”

Rouser and Kyle’s collaboration exemplifies the interdisciplinary possibilities within CEAT.

“Based on the work we’re doing, we have more opportunities for people to join our graduate student ranks,” Ryan said. “They can then grow on the MAE side or the IEM side. We have an integrated and cohesive team, and I don’t think it really matters which side they go on.”

Kyle said working with Rouser has been a great collaboration that has served as a learning and teaching experience for both.

“I feel like he’s great at things that I’m not, and it’s very complementary, so we work well together,” Kyle said.

Rouser has learned the value of gaining additional experience and adding as much to his toolbelt as possible.

“After graduation, I would like to find a career that supports my love of research, whether that is in industry or academia,” Rouser said. “The DoD

project I’m on with Dr. Paul and Dr. Jurewicz has given me experience working with industry that I don’t believe I would’ve otherwise had.”

STRONG MENTORSHIP

Innovative faculty and inquisitive students go hand in hand.

In CEAT, students are exposed to faculty at the top of their fields who expand the boundaries of their expertise and help students strive to meet their full potential.

This forges a strong bond between faculty and their students, resulting in mentorship that students can lean on for support.

Rouser has family ties to CEAT, as his father, Kurt, is an assistant professor in MAE and Brock has had multiple siblings graduate from MAE.

Although pursuing a similar path to his father, he has found an area of research that is his own.

“Anyone who meets Brock for the first time will pretty quickly realize that he is an intellectual person, and anyone who works with Brock on a project will certainly realize that he has an

Ainsley Kyle has discovered a passion for research with the Department of Defense. She had an internship with the U.S. Navy in 2024 studying brain-computer interfaces for fighter jets and the U.S. Air Force in 2025 where she continued to hone her research skills in the defense space.

“My dad has always been my engineering and academic role model. I don’t believe he ever made me feel like I had to go into grad school, but he has offered helpful insight now that I’m here. I’ve had many people offer me inspiration and mentorship prior to enrolling in my Ph.D. program, such as my mother and Dr. Paul.”

BROCK ROUSER MAE STUDENT

Brock Rouser has proven adept at programming, whether in data acquisition or data analysis. He is shown analyzing data in a flight simulator as part of interdisciplinary research.

incredibly strong work ethic and a sincere interest in helping people,” Kurt Rouser said. “So, it was no surprise to me that he opted to remain for graduate studies.

“Though I occasionally pull him back to the wind tunnel to help us troubleshoot our data acquisition system, he is entirely independent of me in his graduate program with Dr. Paul. So, in that sense, I think he has realized his vision of pursuing his own path without feeling pressure to follow in my footsteps.”

Brock said his father has always supported his pursuits and has been a mentor to him since he started in CEAT.

“My dad has always been my engineering and academic role model,” Brock said. “I don’t believe he ever made me feel like I had to go into grad school, but he has offered helpful insight now that I’m here. I’ve had many people offer me inspiration and mentorship prior to enrolling in my Ph.D. program, such as my mother and Dr. Paul.”

Kyle has also developed a strong bond with Jurewicz, whom she affectionately calls Dr. J.

“It’s really great to have women I can talk to in this field,” Kyle said. “I always try to remember and thank them for their contributions because that’s hard work for a lot of people. Dr. Jurewicz has been like my academic mother. She is my muse. She has been amazing and just the best advisor and mentor.”

CEAT researchers are beneficiaries of leadership dedicated to OSU’s landgrant mission. Ryan said it is great to have leadership that is openly receptive to many types of research.

“Finding the collaboration with IEM has been very useful here at Oklahoma State, in particular, with the emphasis on the land-grant mission and our goal to have an impact on our state, our country and the world around us,” Ryan said. “It is great that CEAT’s leadership encourages this and is receptive to things outside of the National Science Foundation lane, which feeds the land-grant mission well.”

Kyle said the interdisciplinary partnership addressing complex issues will be a great asset to her as she continues in her career.

“Dr. Paul’s domain knowledge in aerospace has provided critical insight into pilot-related challenges,” Kyle said. “Brock is quite literally the most useful human being I have ever met, so I could go on and on about the way we share/develop ideas and implement them into data analysis. His input keeps my methodological ideas and developments grounded by the practical implications of our work.”

Jurewicz knew from the start how special Kyle and Rouser are as researchers, praising their instinctive curiosity that can’t be taught.

“It is their interest in the complex intricacies of human behavior, technology and the world that sets them up for a fruitful career in academia that stands out,” Jurewicz said. “Their line of thinking is so far beyond how humans interact in daily life, and they both come up with research questions that seek to make the world a better place both now and in the future.”

Immersive Experience

Aubrey Fudge’s involvement in CEAT leads to numerous successes

Creating innovative ways to solve meaningful problems is Aubrey Fudge’s goal as a College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology student.

Fudge, a mechatronics and robotics major from Oklahoma City, has been involved with many activities and projects during her time at Oklahoma State University. She lived abroad in Germany while in high school, where she first had the idea for an immersive language learning platform.

She and Harrison Confer, a finance and accounting major in the Spears School of Business, co-founded Lingua, an immersive language-learning platform that earned the duo a spot in the finals for the Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Business Plan Competition.

Fudge has also been instrumental in the return of TEDx programs to OSU, as well as continuing to further her research base and gaining a growing understanding of interdisciplinary collaborations.

REVOLUTION IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

Instead of repetitious memorization, the idea behind Lingua is to provide an immersive experience for the user to learn a new language. It is designed like a video game and features a chameleon who follows the user as they advance, changing colors when progress is made.

Fudge and Confer’s success in the Riata Center competition gave them structure, mentorship and an audience to refine the platform and identify crucial business development elements.

The platform won first place in the Big City/High Tech category for

“My goal is to create solutions that improve people’s lives, whether that’s through making education more accessible, designing smarter systems, or building tools that bridge gaps across cultures and communities.”

AUBREY FUDGE MERO STUDENT, ENTREPRENEUR

Riata’s Pitch and Poster competition in November and was a finalist in the Riata Business Plan Competition.

The spring semester was momentous for the team, as it secured funding to purchase equipment necessary to fully kickstart the platform’s development.

“We’re committed to making language learning and immersive experiences more accessible, preserving endangered languages and cultures, and delivering more efficient training methods for sectors like the military, international business and healthcare,” Fudge said.

TEDx BACK AT OSU

Fudge, along with Cristian Mendoza, a mechanical engineering and entrepreneurship student, worked diligently to bring TED programs back to OSU.

Through TEDx, a program designed to bring TED talks to different communities, OSU students can hear

from speakers in many disciplines. Each speech that takes place at a TEDx conference is professionally filmed and posted on the TED YouTube channel, which has 26 million subscribers.

A passion project for Fudge, bringing these programs to OSU was demanding but taught her a great deal — it was a challenge she met head-on. Running and developing the program, on top of her course load, research and other interests, has taught her many valuable lessons on prioritization, time management and setting goals.

Her and Mendoza’s efforts resulted in not only bringing in speakers to OSU but also providing a platform to amplify the voices of OSU faculty and students.

“This program offers an incredible and irrefutable offer for students: TEDxOkState is an opportunity for OSU students to promote their platforms, spread their stories and ideas, and fill their networks with CEOs, influencers and researchers,” Fudge said.

FORGING HER FUTURE

Heading into her junior year in CEAT, Fudge has not only built on her technical skills, but she has learned how she thinks and leads.

She has expanded her goals for the future, having a deep desire to find a career defined by creating new solutions that challenge conventional thinking.

“I’ve learned that I don’t want to just follow existing blueprints,” Fudge said. “I want to find better, more efficient ways of doing things.

“My goal is to create solutions that improve people’s lives, whether that’s through making education more accessible, designing smarter systems, or building tools that bridge gaps across cultures and communities.”

Aubrey Fudge, a MERO major, has immersed herself in many things as a CEAT student. She has won awards with her company, Lingua, as well as helped bring TEDx events back to OSU.

STUDENTS

HERE COMES

STORY DESA JAMES | PHOTOS NICK NAPOLIELLO AND PROVIDED

Bob Lembcke designed and painted the flames on this Triumph Spitfire.

Bob Lembcke at his first driver’s school in 1972 at the Dallas International Raceway.

Every great race begins with a spark.

For Oklahoma State University’s Bullet Racing team, that spark now carries the legacy of an alumnus who lived life immersed in all the aspects of the sport. Thanks to a generous endowment from his sister, Bob Lembcke’s lifelong passion for motorsports is powering an entire team toward something greater than a checkered flag.

The $500,000 endowment is a transformational gift that will provide ongoing support for the team’s operations, travel, equipment and growth, ensuring the next generation of engineers and racers have the fuel they need to keep pushing forward.

Bob and his sister Mary Davey, graduated from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Mary in chemical engineering in 1972, and Bob in mechanical engineering in 1974. Their careers took different paths, but the siblings had more in common than just

“Bullet Racing is a unique experience that goes beyond classroom experiences. It should be available to all students who are really interested.”

MARY DAVEY CHE ALUMNA

Bob Lembcke was known to many by the nickname Okie, so he used that name for his first race car.

Bob Lembcke competing in a vintage car race in Atlanta.

“Students gain critical industry skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and project management. It’s not a class project. It’s a full-time commitment, with many students dedicating 40-60 hours a week to the team.”

AIDAN ROGERS

2025 BULLET RACING CLUB PRESIDENT

their degrees. They were both swimmers. Both engineers. Both proud members of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

For Mary, this gift is more than a donation. It’s a tribute.

Bob raced across the country, from Sonoma, California, to Watkins Glen, New York. His mother, also an OSU graduate, once served as his pit crew. His shop in Pensacola, Florida, became his sanctuary, a place where he could fabricate new solutions from scratch. He wasn’t in it for the show. He was there for the precision, the problem-solving and the camaraderie of gearheads who shared his love of fast turns and finetuned engines.

Bob told friends and family early on that his goal was to retire at 55 after saving a million dollars. When he turned 55, he did just that, spending the rest of his life building and racing vintage cars.

Solving mechanical, electrical or structural issues within racing brought Bob joy. He fabricated parts from scratch, designed custom lifts to move cars solo and wasn’t afraid to challenge industry standards if he believed his engineering made more sense.

“At one time, he challenged SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) safety harness requirements,” Mary said. “He sent calculations, explanations and drawings of his design to challenge their new requirements.”

When Bob passed suddenly in 2022, Mary knew she wanted to see his desire to contribute to something dear to him was achieved.

She toured CEAT’s Zink Center and saw firsthand how Bullet Racing echoed Bob’s passion. What he and his friends

pursued independently in the ’70s is now a thriving student organization, designing and building 90% of each formula-style vehicle from the ground up, competing internationally and preparing students for careers in engineering and innovation.

“OSU, and specifically engineering, were important to him. I thought the idea of providing support to the next crop of racers was exciting and in the spirit of Bob’s love of racing,” Mary said.

Bullet Racing is OSU’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers team, where students from all majors design and build a prototype race car for national and international competition. It’s a full-throttle engineering experience.

Founded in 2018 by Zink Center manager Ray Lucas as a rebranding of Oklahoma State Racing, Bullet Racing is more than a competition team; it’s a proving ground. Students can join as freshmen and gain experience in everything from Computer Aided Design modeling to drivetrain integration.

“Students gain critical industry skills such as teamwork, problemsolving, critical thinking and project management,” said Aidan Rogers, 2025 Bullet Racing Club president. “It’s not a class project. It’s a full-time commitment, with many students dedicating 40-60 hours a week to the team.”

The team competes against 120 other universities, and their vehicles have earned a reputation for professional appearance and advanced design. The team touts the reputation

as one of the most followed and engaged with individual formula accounts on Instagram.

With the new endowment, the team will not only receive funding for annual needs like safety gear and travel, but also the momentum to grow. Bullet Racing is planning to quadruple its shop space and develop a new EV platform, aligning with trends in the automotive industry and giving students hands-on experience with electric vehicle design.

At the recent unveiling of the new formula SAE racecar, BR25, Mary said she was surprised to see Bob’s name on the vehicle.

“I think he would have gotten a big kick out of it,” she said.

It’s not just a sticker, it’s a spark. A quiet reminder that engineering begins where imagination meets purpose.

Through her generosity, students now race with the backing of someone who knew what it meant to chase an idea from concept to completion. While Bob never had the chance to be part of a team like Bullet Racing, Mary believes he would have been right at home.

“He would have been leading it,” she said. “The combination of personal interest, use of technical skills, and the fun of working with others would have appealed to him. Bullet Racing is a unique experience that goes beyond classroom experiences. It should be available to all students who are really interested.”

As for what she hopes the students take away?

A passion, certainly. A sense of teamwork. But most of all, understanding that engineering isn’t just about numbers and equations. It’s about building something that lasts on the track and far beyond.

And in every tire squeal, design iteration and victory lap, Bob Lembcke rides again.

This time, with a new generation at the wheel.

Scan to learn more about the Bullet Racing FSAE team.

FROM CLASSROOM TO INDUSTRY

CEAT’S SENIOR DESIGN

EXPO HAS IT ALL

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology students learn in the classroom and with industry during their education at Oklahoma State University

In addition to internships and hands-on coursework, all CEAT seniors complete a capstone project to be showcased at the Senior Design Expo held each fall and spring.

at OSU into one final group project tackling a real-world engineering, architecture or technology challenge. The projects and disciplines involved have increased in size and complexity over the years and were one of the bestkept secrets of the college until the first Senior Design Expo in 2017.

The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering hosted the

expanding interdisciplinary teamwork, technical knowledge and soft skill development for students across the college.

Teaching Associate Professor Laura Southard has been officially involved with the Senior Design Expo since 2018 as the mechanical engineering capstone design professor and oversees interdisciplinary teams across three

firsthand the expo’s transformation and its impact on students and industry.

Capstone projects are based on needs within companies or communities and brought to Southard or other engineering faculty by several paths. Companies can work with the OSU Foundation to sponsor a project or share ideas that students can work on. They also work with Dr. Robert Taylor, director of CEAT’s New Product Development Center, on different projects that have become senior design projects. Faculty members collaborate with industry throughout the year in other ways, allowing faculty to learn about the needs of a particular company. This creates a need for a senior design team to find a solution for that company.

By working on company-sponsored projects, students see what engineering careers can look like and the type of critical thinking they’ll need on the job. A recent project sponsored by Stillwater company National Standard is a perfect example.

“The student team made a significant contribution by tackling a real challenge our organization was facing,” said Laura Green, National Standard EHS manager. “They conducted substantial research into a variety of potential solutions, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the problem and exploring it from multiple angles.

“What set their work apart was the depth of their analysis — they didn’t just present ideas; they provided

well-researched, practical options backed by detailed cost-benefit analyses. Their work helped move the project forward in a meaningful way, and we were impressed by the level of professionalism and insight they brought to the table.”

Student projects rarely come out as planned during the first team meeting, just like in industry. Southard recalled one team that was confident in their computer-aided design drawing of their device until they tried to assemble said device.

“When they went to put it together, the pieces didn’t fit right unless they disassembled the whole thing,” Southard said. “They went back to the drawing board and redesigned the project so that it could be assembled without having to cut anything apart. That kind of learning only happens when you build something.”

Capstone students frequently mention gaining leadership, communication and project management skills, as well as an expanded understanding of engineering beyond their primary discipline. While students benefit, companies do too.

“Sponsoring a capstone project was a meaningful way for us to give back to the community that has supported us for so long,” Green said. “We’ve been actively working to build partnerships with other pillar organizations in the area, and this project provided a great opportunity to strengthen those connections.”

Students provide more to their sponsoring companies beyond the technical contributions to the project.

“The experience has a positive impact on employee morale,” Green said. “Our team members enjoy mentoring and collaborating with students — it gives them a renewed sense of purpose and pride in their work. Engaging with the next generation of professionals creates an energizing environment and strengthens our culture of learning and innovation.”

Capstone projects give students a unique opportunity to do something truly original.

“They’re doing something that nobody at OSU has ever done before,” Southard said. “In many cases, no one in Oklahoma — or even the world — has done before. These are new, innovative solutions. They’re out on the cutting edge, experimenting with new designs, new ideas and new ways to make things work. I appreciate our industry partners and the time they take to enrich the education of our students and connect with our faculty.”

Scan the code to view previous senior design projects.

CTrack Record

CEAT alumna chases Olympic dream after graduating with two MAJORS, 4.0 GPA

ollege of Engineering, Architecture and Technology graduates make a profound impact on the world.

From leading industry, driving innovation and engineering solutions to the world’s problems, CEAT alumni always make their mark.

One alumna looks to do just that at the most prestigious sporting event in the world, the 2028 Olympics.

Sivan Auerbach, a 2025 graduate from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who hails from Ein Ayala, Israel, earned multiple undergraduate degrees while competing as a track and field athlete.

She pursued two majors, computer engineering and computer science, as well as two minors in physics and mathematics, finishing with a 4.0 grade point average.

Her athletic accolades include being a two-time

Big 12 Indoor Champion in the 1,000 meters and a multi-time Big 12 and NCAA All-American academically and athletically.

She received the 2023 and 2024 Cross Country Elite 90 award, given to the student-athlete at national championships with the highest cumulative GPA — one of two Oklahoma State University athletes to accomplish this feat twice.

In addition, she was named the Big 12 Women’s Scholarship Athlete of the Year in December 2024 and OSU’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in April 2025.

She was named the 2026 Female College Athlete of the year by the Jewish Sports Heritage Association. In July 2025, she was named a second team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators.

Auerbach started running competitively in fifth grade, showing

Sivan Auerbach excelled in the classroom and on the track. After graduating with a double major in CS and CpE, she seeks to become Israel’s first Olympian competing in the 1,500 meters race.

talent early on. She has already represented Israel in the Youth Olympic Games and Junior European Championships.

Her athletic achievements also include winning a national championship in Israel in the 1,500 meters at the 2022 Israeli National Championships, a silver medal at the 2023 Balkan Championships in the 1,500 meters and winning another national title at the 2024 Israeli National Championships.

She is the Israeli female record holder for best time in the indoor and outdoor mile, indoor and outdoor 1,000 meters, indoor 800 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters.

“I had really high goals and aspirations from Israel to represent my country in the Olympics and European championships, because we haven’t had any representatives in my events, ever,” Auerbach said. “So, I saw college and my four years here as a stepping stone toward a professional career post-college.”

Auerbach comes from a family of physicists, and her natural curiosity and diverse interests led her to pursue an

engineering path, finding the perfect fit with CEAT.

After completing her required twoyear service with the Israeli military, where she continued to compete in track and field, she desired to find a university where she could compete and participate in in-depth research.

This led her to OSU, where she found faculty and fellow students who helped grow her passion for research.

“I think with juggling academics and athletics, I honestly find that I do better having a lot of things on my plate that I am passionate about,” Auerbach said. “When I’ve found that, everything goes better.”

Her parents emphasized learning over grades, and Auerbach credited her academic success to her love of learning. She joked that she may have driven some professors crazy with the number of questions she asked, though she is thankful to have had such great professors in CEAT.

“I am so grateful for everyone,” Auerbach said. “I didn’t have any engineering experience coming in. I wasn’t exposed to the engineering field before being at OSU.”

Auerbach’s double majors in computer engineering and computer science give her a wider understanding of computers from both the hardware and science standpoints. This allows her to work in a career on either side of the aisle.

“That way, if I find myself working on the software side, I can develop software that is specific to the hardware constraints, and vice versa,” Auerbach said.

Auerbach now heads to Virginia Tech University to pursue a Master of Science in computer engineering, where she joins a two-year program.

She leaves CEAT thankful for the mentorship, research experience and education she received as an OSU engineering student.

“When I got to campus and asked about the best programs, everyone said CEAT,” Auerbach said. “And I just wanted to find the best place with the best professors. It exceeded all my expectations. The research opportunities I had as an undergraduate have been great, and I have been pushed on a personal level. It is something I have always wanted to be a part of.”

Today’s Dreamers, Tomorrow’s Leaders

CEAT’s 2025 W.W. Allen Scholars

Camden McDonald, Piper Swain and Austin Wallick received the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s top two prestigious scholarships.

McDonald is the 2025 W.W. Allen Boys and Girls Scholarship award recipient.

This scholarship program was designed to benefit someone who was an active member of a Boys & Girls Club while in high school and who wishes to pursue educational goals in engineering.

The recipient is awarded $15,000 annually for up to four years of study

toward a degree in engineering, enrichment activities, and domestic and international travel.

Swain and Wallick are the 2025 W.W. Allen Scholarship award recipients.

The W.W. Allen Scholarship includes a cash scholarship of $10,000 annually, access to industry networking, mentorship, international travel, plus full tuition and housing to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

STORY AND PHOTOS KRISTI WHEELER

MEET THE RECIPIENTS

CAMDEN McDONALD

Bartlesville, Oklahoma Aerospace Engineering

The Boys & Girls Club has shown me that true success isn’t just about personal achievements — it’s about lifting others up to create a brighter future for everyone.

Volunteering in the STEM Lab at the Boys & Girls Club in Bartlesville has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I have spent countless hours striving to make a difference by tutoring and instilling confidence in the students, but I didn’t anticipate how much this experience would impact me in return. Through tutoring, mentoring and building relationships at the Boys & Girls Club, I have developed a deeper commitment to continue mentoring and serving others. I will forever be grateful for these experiences and will carry the lessons learned with me throughout the rest of my life.

My goals go beyond just having a successful career — they’re about giving back and making a real difference in the world. I want to use my engineering skills to inspire curiosity and help others grow, whether that’s by designing cutting-edge systems at Lockheed Martin or building a community tutoring program where people can find the support and resources they need. By combining my passion for innovation with my desire to help others, I hope to leave a positive mark on my field and in the lives of the people around me.

PIPER SWAIN

Tulsa, Oklahoma Electrical Engineering

As someone entering the engineering field, it is important to remember that engineering isn’t only made up of degree requirements. It is about helping others, utilizing technical skills to advance society, being knowledgeable of others, being empathetic to their issues and being conscientious of your impact on the world. Engineers are entrusted with life-saving projects and are given incredible amounts of responsibility.

After gaining a foundation in the early years of my career, my goal is to implement my knowledge and experience to problem solve, becoming a practical engineer. I aim to spend the next decade or so using all that I will learn to make advancements in the industry effectively. In this way, I will make competent use of the knowledge gained by that time. I want to transition into a leadership role towards the end of those 25 years following graduation. A leadership position will allow me to use my experience to enact more considerable changes and use my expertise most beneficially. Furthermore, once I become experienced in my profession, I want to assist younger engineers as they enter the field.

As a young engineer myself, I know how encouraging and helpful it is to have professionals to speak to and take advice from. I want to become an engineer who encourages more people to enter the field, especially women like me.

AUSTIN WALLICK

Burleson, Texas Aerospace Engineering

For my entire life, I have wanted to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment by minimizing the carbon footprint of the average person.

I believe that everyone has a civic duty to enact positive change, whether that be by improving another person’s day through customer service or through revolutionizing the technology used on a day-to-day basis. Because the issue of global warming is urgent, I intend to advance my studies beyond obtaining a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering to ensure my readiness and credibility in the field.

Imagine a world with net-zero pollution from aircraft. The air would be cleaner, the summers and winters milder in temperature, and the gravest issue that we face today would be solved. This idealized future is where I want myself and the world to be in 25 years. I want to work as the head of aircraft design at an environmentally conscious company and to publish world-changing research.

2025 W.W. ALLEN BOYS AND GIRLS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT

2025 W.W. ALLEN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT

2025 W.W. ALLEN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT

What does a typical day in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology look like?

There isn’t one. But, at nearly every hour of the day, there’s something being built: ideas, prototypes, friendships, futures. From sunrise lectures to sunset lab sessions, the rhythm of CEAT life is anything but ordinary.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

07:45 a.m.

09:28 a.m. 10:00 a.m.

Headed to the first class of the day. Caffeine levels: questionable. Attendance: impressive.

Architecture students prep their next design move while the weather outside matches the vibe: moody and meticulous.

11:17 a.m.

Students listen intently to Dr. Jennifer Glenn’s Introductory Engineering Computer Programming class, learning to speak computer one bracket at a time.

01:30 P.m.

ECE students meet up in Engineering South’s 2nd floor study room to discuss code, circuits and how their next IEEE competition doesn’t stand a chance.

12:00 P.m.

Refueling at Byte Cafe in Central Dining because big ideas run best on full stomachs.

02:43 P.m.

Fine-tuning jet engine components; it’s no big deal. Just another Tuesday for MAE students.

03:00 P.m.

An electrical engineering graduate student presents a drone tracking app. Somewhere, a rogue UAV starts sweating.

05:00 P.m.

Precision matters, especially when your experiment involves this many tubes.

03:42 P.m.

And here you’ll see architecture students in their natural habitat: the studio.

06:05 P.m.

Designing dreams — one all-nighter at a time.

TURNING THE WHEELS

THE CEAT STAFF WHO DRIVE STUDENT SUCCESS

Running a college is like turning a gear — without its cogs, it won’t move.

In the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, it takes a plethora of dedicated staff to keep it moving.

ENGINEERING PROJECTS AND FUTURES

Over the course of a year, CEAT Design and Manufacturing Lab Manager Wendy Hall sees anywhere from 300-400 students in the four labs she oversees.

Hall works closely with these students to develop their skills using the machinery the lab offers. In these labs, you will find a multitude of fabrication processes, laser cutting, welding, casting and more.

Additionally, Hall also serves as an advisor to Senior Design teams.

In spring 2025, Hall advised a team building a solar-powered landscaping trailer for the Oklahoma State University Landscape Services team. The most exciting part for Hall is seeing

the students’ growth from the beginning of the semester to Expo Day.

“At first, you have one or two who communicate here and there, and by the end, the entire group is having discussions and bouncing ideas off each other,” Hall said. “That was the best part. We had some bumps and bruises along the way, but ultimately, the landscape services team was happy, and these students will have their name on something that will be within the university from now on.”

Hall has helped lead the Senior Design Expo for four years, coordinating nearly 80 spring and 28 fall teams. It’s a huge undertaking to set up for the expo. But for what some might consider a challenge, Hall views it as fun.

“I love being involved in Expo,” she said. “The hustle of trying to get everything set up; it’s an adrenaline rush. It’s so much fun.”

While Hall holds the title of lab manager, her unofficial title is mentor.

“I had an IEM student come to me who got offered a role at SpaceX,” Hall said. “This student didn’t feel like they

were qualified because they were not a mechanical or electrical engineer. I encouraged them to apply and did interview prep with them, and they have been at SpaceX for two years now.

“Whether it’s life, financial or academic issues, I like being able to chat with students. Having them come back and tell me about their career and how something I said helped them; that’s the most rewarding part to me. I like being around the students, it’s what drives me.”

FIREFIGHTER. EDUCATOR. COWBOY.

Next, we turn to another inspiring force on campus — Ryan Szirmay.

As the manager for the Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology Laboratory, Szirmay works alongside the FPSET faculty with undergraduate and graduate students teaching them about many aspects of fire protection, including fire pump inspection, fire alarm building and installation, live fire experiments, electrical safety, and chemical sampling.

Szirmay also holds the titles of instructor and program manager for the CEAT Professional Development Fire Protection and Loss Control Program. Through this program, Szirmay has the unique opportunity to work with hundreds of industry professionals per year to help fulfill one of OSU’s core missions of outreach and extension.

Being a firefighter himself, Szirmay stresses the importance of the hands-on learning that is used in both programs.

“It always goes back to how can you apply it in the field.” he said. “The whole job is very hands-on, even the people evaluating designs, they’re not looking at a computer screen, they’re out in the field walking in those spaces seeing how they actually are.

“The angle I teach from is I’ve seen this stuff work, or not work, and that has kept me in that practical form.

I want to do the most realistic training as possible.”

Outside of hands-on learning, Szirmay also likes to take a practical approach in his teaching when explaining tough concepts to new students. He uses simple comparisons, such as driving a car or using a safe with keys.

“It helps to step through that process with them and put things into a visual perspective with simple comparisons. We all have common ground, find it and work from there,” he said.

Szirmay works with students at a Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology sprinkler training.

At the forefront of his work is student success.

“Seeing students succeed, that’s always great,” he said. “Just knowing that you made a difference; showing up here and having enthusiasm for the work and giving that atmosphere of it’s OK to mess it up. It’s OK if we break it; we’ll fix it. Do it here so you don’t do it out there.”

FROM STILLWATER TO THE WORLD

Preparing students for the future means creating opportunities for growth. Study Abroad Coordinator Elizabeth Smith provides a world of those opportunities

Planning a trip abroad usually starts a year in advance.

“I always start with a survey for students to get background on what they want,” Smith said. “I’m thinking what countries are of interest to them? Are they interested in seeing historical or modern engineering technology? What do they want to spend?”

Smith strives to blend great experiences with learning.

“We visited a clog and cheese factory in Amsterdam,” Smith said. “They talked about the technology used to hand carve wooden clogs using essentially a 100-year-old 3D printer. And after that we got to try on the clogs.”

She encourages hesitant students to embrace the experience.

“I want to inspire students to take that leap,” she said. “That’s what college is all about, stepping out of your comfort

CEAT Study Abroad students receive a tutorial on clog manufacturing while at a clog and cheese factory in Amsterdam.

zone. It’s OK to feel nervous. You’re not alone, we are here with you every step of the way.”

This summer, nearly 100 students traveled abroad through CEAT’s shortterm program, including 30 students who went to Australia, the largest CEAT Study Abroad group yet.

Smith emphasizes how advantageous going abroad can be for a student’s future endeavors.

“Many people don’t realize that study abroad and international experiences can be added to their resume and can set you apart in the future,” she said.

When she isn’t planning trips across the world, Smith fosters global conversations on campus.

Smith’s flag initiative allows those in CEAT who have traveled or lived in various countries to display those flags in hopes of fostering conversations.

Another initiative is sweet treats. A candy bowl at the front desk filled with treats from around the world, sparking curiosity and encouraging students to follow CEAT Study Abroad on Instagram.

The most rewarding part of her job?

The students.

“I love working with the students and seeing them grow,” Smith said. “I love their excitement.

“We want to give our students the opportunity to see the world. To see how engineering, technology, architecture and culture can become one and inspire their future careers.”

From left: CEAT students Erin Lowe and Molly Poteet tour the main hall of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany.

Learning the Ropes

CEAT offers sage advice for students adjusting to college life

College can be daunting with freshmen worried about everything from finding their classes to learning the Oklahoma State University fight song.

But there are many resources and people in place to help College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology students succeed.

Read what Danielle Miles, coordinator of Prospective Student Services for CEAT, and Landri Moydell, a senior in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management, have to say as they answer questions from Jocelynn Swann, an incoming freshman in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Jocelynn Swann: As an incoming freshman, what is the best way to prepare for my program/college in general?

Danielle Miles: I feel like getting a good schedule down and really nailing down time management skills are the best things you can do to help. Having a routine helps so much and can help keep time from getting away from you.

Landri Moydell: Make sure you always focus on your studies, of course, but make sure you make time for yourself. Try to treat it like a 9-to-5 job, where you focus on your studies until a certain time of night. Then, make time for yourself and try to relax.

Jocelynn: What is the biggest difference between being a senior in high school and a college freshman?

Landri: In high school, I felt the need to be a little bit more competitive. I wanted to be at the top of my class, and I wanted to get all the accolades. But in college, I’m not focused on being valedictorian or anything like that. I still try my best in my classes, but it’s a lot more enjoyable because the classes I am in are classes I am interested in and will help me in my career. The classes are harder with more fluidity, but you do get to make more choices for yourself.

Danielle Miles (left), CEAT Prospective Student Services coordinator, speaks to incoming student Jocelynn Swann (center) and Landri Moydell (right), an IEM senior. Moydell and Miles answered questions from Swann about what incoming students can expect during their time in CEAT.

Jocelynn: How do I make the right choices when choosing my classes?

Danielle: We have degree plans that recommend certain classes together for a reason. Certain classes are on the same level or both will be needed before enrolling in another required class. So, it’s important to pay attention to that, but it’s also important to take classes you are interested in.

Jocelynn: What does the timeline look like from orientation to the first day of class?

Landri: During Welcome Week, there will be a lot of things going on for new students. You’ll be able to find all the different dining options on campus and where your classes are located. Student organizations will host events for students during Welcome Week, so you can learn about different student organizations at OSU and in CEAT.

Jocelynn: What are ways to get more immersed in CEAT?

Danielle: I would say joining student organizations is a great way to meet people, not only in your major, but in other CEAT majors. I would also suggest going to tutoring, which is a good way to meet people and get involved.

Jocelynn: How can I best prepare for things that students struggle with a lot when starting in CEAT as well as OSU?

Danielle: As far as starting in CEAT, exposure to more math and physics helps, especially as you’re coming in. From a social standpoint, really just make sure you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and not being stuck in your room.

Landri: It’s important to keep your high school connections, but also important to broaden your horizons. Find someone in your major who you are happy to see and go to class with every day. Also, finding those friends who you can meet either at the library or to get food with is important.

Jocelynn: What ways can I start looking for scholarships in a specific major?

Landri: You get access to that portal in December and have all the way to Jan. 1 to put in the application. It’s about three essay questions and some other basic questions that ask what industries you are interested in. That way, students can be paired with scholarships that fit their major. All of the ones you are eligible for, you can find different options and what you qualify

for. Someone goes through and matches you with ones that you are eligible for.

Jocelynn: What is the best piece of advice for an incoming freshman?

Danielle: I’d say come in with an open mind. There are going to be things over the next four or five years that maybe you’re not used to. But just approach every situation with a good, positive attitude. Try new things or opportunities that you haven’t done before. Just know that these next few years are going to be a time like no other, so take advantage of it while you can.

Landri: Don’t be afraid to use all of the resources on campus. We want students to succeed, and our campus has so many resources that help in a lot of ways.

Incoming student Jocelynn Swann learns more about CEAT while sitting in the Zink Center for Competitive Innovation. CEAT has dozens of innovative labs, workspaces and study areas that ensure student success.

Scan the QR code to learn how CEAT Prospective Student Services can help you.

Delivering the STEM Boots

How the CEAT K-12 STEM team is impacting Oklahoma’s future

“It’s all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps.”

Whether it’s a STEM camp in Stillwater, a science fair in rural Oklahoma or a STEM night in Oklahoma City, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology K-12 STEM team has a mission: deliver the STEM boots to students statewide.

Since launching in 2022, the program has grown rapidly, increasing its direct impact from 6,565 students in 2022 to 21,648 in 2024.

The growth stems from hosting more events and camps — but also from personal commitment.

“My heart called me to do it,” said Dr. Jovette Dew, CEAT K-12 STEM

programs director. “I’ve always loved engineering and always loved kids. I have a strong desire to see students succeed.”

Program Manager Brandy Mays echoed that mission. Growing up in a small town, she had little exposure to engineering and wants today’s students to learn as much as possible.

“I don’t remember a lot of opportunities to even learn what engineering was,” Mays said.

This experience inspired the team to train counselors, urging them to consider pathways like engineering and architecture for students who excel in

STEM.

STORY SAVANNAH MCDANIEL | PHOTOS ANNIE BUFORD AND SAVANNAH MCDANIEL

CEAT K-12 STEM’s goal is to encourage students to enter STEM fields that will help supplement Oklahoma’s workforce.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

Every activity the team creates has a background in STEM principles. Often, local industry partners sponsor camps, bringing professionals to teach the modules.

There is a critical need for this program. Oklahoma’s economy suffers a large deficit in the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates each semester for the number of jobs open in the state. Strategic Advisory Board member Ed Stokes believes CEAT K-12 can help close the gap by championing the Oklahoma STEM Pipeline Partnership proposal.

The K-12 program lost its funding in early 2025 due to grant changes at the national level. That created a critical need for state and industry support to continue inspiring students.

“We are starting to see the scaffolding effect of students who see us,” Dew said. “They are making plans to go to college, even making decisions as early as the fifth grade saying what they want to do.”

TEACHING THE TEACHERS

CEAT K-12 has also dramatically expanded its professional development for teachers. Increasing from just 30

participants in 2022, attendance grew to 289 in 2024.

During these events, teachers of all subjects take on a student’s mindset, experiencing the activities firsthand, and learning how to bring them into their classrooms.

A high priority for the team is making sure teachers can immediately implement an activity with no extra funding required by providing them with all the supplies needed.

THROUGH THEIR EYES

One irreplaceable piece to the puzzle is the program’s interns; Oklahoma State University students travel with the team to work at STEM events throughout the year and run summer camps.

Their role supports a “near-peer” concept, where younger students can connect with interns on a level they might not be able to connect with a faculty member. This helps them become comfortable with the program and more willing to learn.

Former intern Katilynn Mar sees the benefits.

“Specifically, when it comes to engineers, they have the knowledge they want to share with the world, but when

it comes to teaching younger kids, it’s a little harder to make that connection for them,” Mar said.

Mar encourages CEAT students to consider the internship.

“It is a great first internship to start working with a team and collaborating,” Mar said. “This experience is something that I will hold deeply for the rest of my life, because not only did I get to work with kids, but I got to inspire kids, teachers, my bosses, and they’ve done the same for me.”

Mays echoes how important the interns are.

“We rely on them. We can’t do it without them,” Mays sad.

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

The team aims to launch an ambassador program that would train upper-middle and high school students to teach STEM activities in their communities, helping grow the program through indirect impact.

The team hopes to kick off the ambassador program next summer, offering scholarships to students who attend and continue their college career with CEAT.

“I think our main goal when we go into a camp is to show them the opportunity that exists for them,” Mays said. “They might not know what engineering is, but we want to spark that interest.”

Dew sees that spark firsthand through a snap circuit activity. When snaps are set correctly, a component turns on.

“Once they realize they can put the circuit together and it makes something happen, their eyes light up,” Dew said. “That’s my favorite moment, when they realize they can do it.”

Scan the code to learn more about

CEAT’s STEM programs.

Dr. Jovette Dew works with students on a robot snap circuit at a CEAT K-12 summer camp.

Statewide

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology is a beacon of engineering innovation.

It also shines a light on Engineering Extension, enhancing the careers of those who make up Oklahoma’s workforce.

Through extension and outreach efforts, CEAT provides training and expertise that impacts all 77 counties in Oklahoma. This benefits the state, holding true to Oklahoma State University’s land-grant mission.

CEAT extension impacts the professional preparedness of first responders as well as training for those who upkeep the state’s infrastructure. It also gives students valuable experience for future careers.

Road Map

For nearly 100 years, CEAT Professional Development has provided practical, applied training across many industries, including defense, construction, health and safety.

CEAT PD recently launched the Center for Transportation and Construction Workforce to enhance its partnerships and ability to expand continuing education and training.

This initiative unites multiple programs: the Local Technical Assistance Program, the Tribal Technical Assistance Program, the Highway Construction Materials Technician program and the Oklahoma Pilot Escort Certification Program.

Since the 1980s, LTAP has provided training and technical assistance to government organizations that plan, maintain and build transportation systems locally.

TTAP enhances the quality of life in tribal communities by providing training and building capacity for tribes to administer and manage their individual transportation programs.

HCMT certifies technicians responsible for sampling and testing materials used in highway construction projects.

The pilot escort program, the only one in the state, provides certification training for operating pilot vehicles, which accompany oversized loads

Engineering Extension efforts include many related to the fire service. FST trains firefighters in all 77 Oklahoma counties and on the training grounds in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

during transport to ensure safety. This program sees attendees from multiple states.

The center consolidates these programs to streamline workforce development.

“We wondered why these programs were operating individually when we could streamline them and put them under a center to create better pathways for their careers and workforce development,” said Jessica Stewart, director of CEAT PD.

Stewart said the center actively gathers feedback from stakeholders to identify and meet the most pressing training needs. More than 2,000 people were enrolled in these programs last year, many of whom came from rural areas.

“Being able to do that with classes that are locally available and affordable, including some that are free, has a huge impact on the communities that these people are serving,” Stewart

“Not only does the center make us stronger in terms of serving Oklahoma’s workforce in general by working as a unit to help workforce development, there’s also a more uniform basis for it all.”

Dr. Dan Cook director of CTCW

said. “And it’s also important for our infrastructure, too, as a state.”

Dr. Dan Cook, assistant professor of construction engineering technology, is also the assistant director of the CTCW and director of the HCMT program. He said many opportunities available to students through the centers can impact their future careers.

Undergraduates and graduates can work as teaching or research assistants. Students may work part-time with organizations like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

“Not only does the center make us stronger in terms of serving Oklahoma’s workforce in general by working as a unit to help workforce development, there’s also a more uniform basis for it all,” Cook said. “And with the cross net of instructors and evaluators, it just makes all those programs so much stronger.”

The biggest impact the CTCW makes is its ability to empower communities. People can further their careers and impact their community and state.

“One thing that’s been really important for us in creating this center is to generate excitement and interest in extension training programs and then make it a simpler process for extension or for faculty members to work in these extension courses and teach with us,” Stewart said.

Teaching the world

Our college has gained a worldwide reputation for its high-quality training materials that enhance fire department operations around the globe.

CEAT’s Fire Protection Publications is the world’s leading publisher of fire-related education and training materials, known for content validated by the International Fire Service Training Association.

One such publication is the International Fire Service Journal for Leadership and Management. For nearly 20 years, the IFSJLM has advanced the international fire service by publishing peer-reviewed articles that enhance fire leadership and management theory and practice. FPP funds the journal as well

as the annual research symposium for IFSJLM.

The journal influences global fire service training curriculum. By equipping them with the best training materials possible, it helps make communities better by saving lives and property.

The articles are geared toward an international audience of academics and in-service fire and emergency management professionals to enhance fire leadership and management theory and practice.

Bob England, professor emeritus with CEAT and the journal’s founding editor, was asked 20 years ago to create the journal as a tool for the international fire service by Chris Neal, then director of FPP.

FPP initially published the journal as a service to the international fire community and later created the annual research symposium to support the journal.

“I would ask nationally and internationally recognized fire service leaders and research scholars to speak on the Saturday before the

Part of CEAT’s vast extension efforts include the ability for people already working in their field, such as ODOT workers, to receive training that helps further their careers. Shown is a group of ODOT workers who received motor grader training in Skiatook, Oklahoma, as part of a course through the CTCW.

opening session of the summer IFSTA Validation Conference,” England said. “The symposium was created as a value-added experience to reward the important work performed by the members of IFSTA validation committees.”

It took about two years to get the first journal printed in 2007, and for the first four years, two issues were published annually before moving to one publication per year in 2011. The journal to be published this fall will be Volume 19.

All articles, unless otherwise noted, are peer-reviewed by fire service professionals. This ensures that the content is accurate, relevant and grounded in theory, that the methods applied are used appropriately, and that the article advances the understanding of fire and leadership management.

England said the journal has significantly impacted the professional development of leaders in the fire service over the past two decades.

England said it is the editorial team’s responsibility and honor to help practitioner-scholars succeed.

“Some of the leading scholars, both in the United States and internationally, who write fire-related articles have been published in the IFSJLM,” England said. “In addition, during the past 20 years, the IFSJLM editorial team has taken great effort to work with and mentor emerging early career scholars.”

Advancing careers

For 15 years, the Oklahoma Executive Fire Officer Leadership Program has helped fire service leaders advance their careers.

It is a partnership between OSU Fire Service Training, the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association, the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Some of the topics covered include developing a personal philosophy of leadership and ethics, leading others ethically, ethical leadership in organizations, ethics and the challenge of leadership.

Rodney Foster, a program instructor, has seen incredible growth and

“The impact the program has had is immeasurable. For us to understand the influence we have had on departments throughout the state would be very difficult.”

Rodney Foster program instuctor

development in the leadership abilities of the officers who have gone through the program, which has benefited the cities and communities they serve.

“The impact the program has had is immeasurable,” Foster said. “For us to understand the influence we have had on departments throughout the state would be very difficult.”

It includes 160 hours of training across four 40-hour courses. Its coursework is like that of the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute, which focuses on ethics and leadership in a public role. The course brings together veteran officers with younger officers in learning environments.

Foster said the course has been made a requirement by some cities to become an officer in a fire department.

“One of the unique things about training in the fire service is that most promotions are based upon rank and/or training,” Foster said. “The program has been placed into a few municipalities’ contracts, which are making it a requirement to promote. Departments that don’t have this in their contract are still gaining knowledgeable personnel

to promote in the future. I believe the personnel who have had a chance to attend are elevating leadership qualities.”

The coursework provides leadership development for multiple positions in a fire department, including battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, captains and lieutenants. About 5% of the chiefs in the state’s 800 departments have completed the training, and the ability to have people in other leadership roles also take part impacts an entire department.

Most of the state’s fire departments are made up of volunteers, and there is a goal to have a course option for volunteer departments by the summer of 2026.

Foster said the books and journals completed during the program allow officers to strengthen their leadership skills.

“Each person has different leadership styles, and we hope this program enhances the leadership qualities that each person brings to the position,” Foster said.

Foster, who completed the program three years ago, feels fortunate to be a part of such an important program and looks forward to supporting the program’s continuing success.

“I hope that chiefs look at this as a positive impact on their organizations,” Foster said.

Scan the code for more info on CEAT’s extension units.

TRACKING INFECTION

ParaNano Wound Care and the WoundCue Revolution

In a world where chronic wounds drain billions from the health care system, an emerging innovation is aiming to change the game.

ParaNano Wound Care, an Oklahoma company at the forefront of nanotechnology, has discovered a breakthrough solution that will forever change the way wounds are monitored and treated. This solution addresses one of the greatest challenges in medical care: infection.

It all started with an idea — a vision to close a critical gap in wound care that is causing unnecessary suffering and escalating health care costs. Chronic wounds, whether from diabetes, pressure ulcers, burns or other debilitating conditions, have always been a major problem. But despite decades of progress, one crucial issue has remained: continuous monitoring.

Between doctor visits, patients are often left in the dark, unable to detect the early signs of infection until it’s too late. There has never been a way to continuously monitor wounds for rising bacterial load, let alone one that is fast and easy to use in all care environments.

Infection in chronic wounds can be a silent killer. It doesn’t just slow the healing process; it can cause it to reverse, leading to complications like sepsis, amputations and even death. Worse, for every six-hour delay in detecting sepsis, a patient’s survival rate drops by a chilling 10%.

ParaNano Wound Care set out to solve this exact problem.

ParaNano Wound Care is a preclinical company founded in 2018. Its goal is to develop and commercialize an advanced wound care product line called the WoundCue™ with Bio-Z™ Technology.

ParaNano Wound Care holds the exclusive, worldwide patent rights to an extensive patent portfolio for the foundational technologies licensed from the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Manitoba.

How it all began

Chelsea Luxen, entrepreneur by trade and CEO and co-founder of ParaNano Wound Care, and Maurice Haff, chief technical officer and co-founder of ParaNano Wound Care, started this journey in 2016.

They teamed up with the New Product Development Center in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University to create a specialized electrospinning machine that would produce specific novel nanofiber membranes and a process for creating the membranes in a commercially viable manner.

NPDC, largely funded by the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science & Technology, offers a broad array of services, including engineering design and computer-aided design modeling; prototyping; manufacturing drawings and specification documents; technical research and grant/proposal writing assistance; and access to specialized lab/test equipment

Reese Huhnke, OSU NPDC intern and CHE student, does chemical testing in the ParaNano laboratory.

“If antibiotics can be considered the fire extinguisher of medicine, then the WoundCue is the smoke detector, because it allows you to know that there’s a ‘fire’ and there’s something going on here and you need to get medical attention.”

Chelsea Luxen CEO and co-founder of ParaNano Wound Care

to entrepreneurs, inventors and manufacturers.

Luxen and Haff initially planned to sell these machines to people using nanofibers. However, that plan pivoted when they met with UM, which had researchers working with electrospun nanofibers to create a product for wound care and saw an opportunity to combine these two technologies to create something truly novel.

“The researchers at UM had taken their technology as far as possible within their existing electrospinning framework and saw a unique opportunity to advance their innovation by integrating our novel electrospinning technology,” Luxen said. “Haff and I did about nine months of due diligence with the University of Manitoba and another nine months of due diligence looking into wound care, and we realized this was going to be pretty major.”

Derby Whitefield, a design engineer at NPDC, and Dr. Robert Taylor, director of NPDC, worked closely with Luxen and Haff to build a novel electrospinning machine based on

the patents licensed from UCO. The machine created radially aligned nanofibers in membranes comprising the color-changing nanofibers patented by UM and exclusively licensed to ParaNano Wound Care.

The outcome of a six-year collaboration is a scalable membrane fabrication process that is usable for commercial manufacturing of the WoundCue product. The WoundCue product enables continuous wound monitoring and provides a color-change alert at critical thresholds of bacterial presence. It is expected to be available to healthcare providers in 2026.

Infection in chronic wounds currently drives $27 billion of direct costs into the U.S. health care system and comprises 3% of health care costs in developed countries globally. About 8.2 million Medicare beneficiaries had at least one type of wound or related infection, and wound care is a $96.8 billion burden on Medicare.

Despite significant progress over the past decade in dealing with chronic (nonhealing) wounds, there is an unaddressed gap in the wound care market.

It’s a simple yet powerful innovation that will change the landscape of wound care. The dressing, embedded with advanced technology, is “smart.” There are no wires, no bulky devices and no batteries. It’s just a piece of fabric elegant in its simplicity.

“That meant to us that there was room for innovation,” Luxen said. “That’s how ParaNano Wound Care came to be. We had two university partners, and I said, ‘Hey, why don’t you license everything to us?’ We’ll create a new company, and we’ll commercialize this product for you.”

The Solution

Months of research and countless prototypes led the team to the WoundCue — a flexible nanofiber membrane configured in a dressing that visually changes color when pathogenic activity is detected.

It’s a simple yet powerful innovation that has the potential to change the landscape of wound care. The dressing, embedded with advanced technology, is “smart.” There are no wires, no bulky devices and no batteries. It’s just a piece of fabric — elegant in its simplicity.

The magic of WoundCue lies in its ability to detect pathogenic activity. When bacterial concentrations exceed a critical threshold, the bandage visibly changes color. It’s as though the wound is sending a signal, alerting the patient or caregiver to harmful bacteria or fungi.

Timely intervention can occur before bacterial load rises beyond critical, and infection takes root and spirals out of control.

“If antibiotics can be considered the fire extinguisher of medicine, then the WoundCue is the smoke detector, because it allows you to know that there’s a ‘fire’ and there’s something going on here and you need to get medical attention,” Luxen said.

The WoundCue is a color-changing membrane that interacts with the wound exudate, moisture and discharge coming out of the wound. The color change is triggered by an enzyme called lipase. Pathogenic bacteria and certain fungal strains secrete this enzyme. The lipase interacts with the nanofiber itself and is carried through the wound exudate.

When there’s a high enough concentration of that lipase, it means the bacteria present have reached a level approaching the threshold of infection; The lipase triggers the color change in the nanofiber membrane from yellow to green.

WoundCue is provided in a kit with an island foam dressing that is placed on the wound first. Then it is placed on top of that and sealed with a transparent adhesive backing that can be adhered to the foam and skin.

Making strides

In 2023, ParaNano Wound Care became the only Oklahoma Blue Knight Company, a joint initiative between Johnson & Johnson Innovation and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority focused on public health preparedness and medical countermeasures, which has provided an opportunity for ParaNano Wound Care to launch their product planned for later this year.

“We will, by the end of this year, be launched into the market,” Luxen said. “Right now, we are gearing up

for a post-market, non-significant risk clinical study in partnership with Wound Care Plus LLC to gather data on the color-change component of the product.”

The study is funded through a Blue Knight QuickFire Challenge award.

As part of the study, participants with eligible wounds will have a sample taken and sent for quantitative analysis to determine which pathogens are present and at what thresholds. A WoundCue bandage will then be applied, and patients will be monitored for a color change over a 72-hour period.

This enables ParaNano Wound Care to correlate the color-change response with the presence and levels of specific pathogens. They will also be collecting exploratory data on whether the patient exhibited clinical signs and symptoms of infection (the current standard of care), their ranking on the Fitzpatrick scale, and human factors data.

“Once we have that data, we’ll be able to answer our committed first order,” Luxen said. “The United States Department of Veterans Affairs will be

our first customer. We also just secured a contract with the Defense Health Agency and the Military Burn Research Program, which has competitively awarded us nearly $3 million to refine our products for use in traumatic burn injury in role 1 and austere environments, not only in civilian life, but also military life too.”

Luxen said that by next year they are hoping to get full market penetration. They will start off as a business-tobusiness launch and then hopefully the product will be accessible to everyone who has a wound.

As the world continues to embrace the possibilities of nanotechnology, ParaNano Wound Care remains a beacon of innovation and hope. With every bandage they release, they won’t just be offering solutions — they will be transforming how the world thinks about health care.

Ultimately, it isn’t just about treating wounds or managing diseases; it’s about preventing suffering, saving lives and making health care a more accessible, connected experience for everyone.

From left: JP Jeffries, ParaNano summer intern; Chelsea Luxen, CEO and co-founder of ParaNano Wound Care; Derby Whitefield, NPDC design engineer; and Reese Huhnke, OSU NPDC intern and CHE student, stand outside of the ParaNano Laboratory located at Meridian Technology Center.

Scan the code to learn more about ParaNano Wound Care.

Everything is Connected

Foltz’s research investigates interplay between farming practices, the environment

Meeting the rising food challenges with a growing global population requires innovative research.

This includes incorporating technology to improve crop yield and making agriculture more resilient to climate change.

Dr. Mary Foltz, an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is passionate about sustainable agriculture and mentorship. This passion led to her being named a National Science Foundation CAREER award recipient.

The CAREER award is a prestigious five-year grant of approximately $550,000 that will support Foltz’s pursuit of a research project titled: “Cultivating Sustainable Agriculture and Education through Transitions.”

“I was speechless when I found out I got the NSF CAREER Award,” Foltz

said. “I had spent a year working on my application alongside a good friend who was also applying to the same program. She had found out she got hers shortly before, and we were both so excited. We had really hoped one of us would get it, but when we found out we both got it, we were in disbelief. ‘What are the odds?’ we thought. I am so grateful to have had an accountability partner and experienced the ups and downs of this process with a friend.”

Her research will investigate how farming practices affect the environment and the resilience of crops in a changing climate.

Foltz structured this project into three main goals: to quantify and assess the environmental impacts of farm management decisions under various conditions; to develop a user-friendly tool for farmers to make more informed decisions; and to establish a statewide mentorship network to connect

and educate students during critical transitions.

“Overall, I hope that more folks will understand how important our decisions are in influencing the environment — and the other way around,” Foltz said. “Everything is connected, and the decisions we make today can have lasting impacts not just for our generation, but for many to come.”

The project’s education and outreach aspect will include a statewide mentorship program. Foltz and Dr. Jaime Schussler started a pilot program in 2024 for future water researchers to be mentored by current water researchers. The program connects an Oklahoma high school or undergraduate student with two mentors at different stages of their careers, one intermediate and one more experienced.

Foltz included the word “transitions” in the title of the proposal due to a deep personal connection based on

her experience with neurodivergence. Transitions, such as from high school to college or from college to the workforce, are a challenge for anyone, but particularly for people who are neurodivergent. This gave Foltz the idea of adding to the program by involving mentorship for students experiencing a transition. The mentorship program will aid students as they navigate them.

“Students are matched with someone who has recently gone through that transition (the intermediate mentor) and a more senior mentor (like a faculty member or Ph.D. student),” Foltz said. “Together, they can help navigate these challenging times with the support they need to succeed.”

Her research holds true to the landgrant mission of teaching, research and extension. By focusing on improving the farming capabilities of Oklahoma’s farmers, the state will be more prepared to meet any transitions due to climate change.

“This award provides support and stability for my team to continue our work in sustainable agriculture for the next five years,” Foltz said. “It also sets us up to be experts in this field, which has always been a personal goal.”

But Foltz remembers that this research is about helping the people of Oklahoma and beyond.

“This is something farmers deeply care about because they want to make sure their farm remains productive for their children and grandchildren,” she said.

investigate how farming practices affect the environment and how crops can be more resilient in a changing climate.

Dr. Mary Foltz is an assistant professor in CIVE who will

More Clout, Less Drought

Jiang’s NSF research looks to bring digital agriculture from soil to STEM

In an era of increasing importance for sustainable agriculture and resource efficiency, innovative research is critical.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, 2024 was the warmest year on record, with months when 10% or more of the continental U.S. faced drought-like conditions.

Dr. Zheyu Jiang, an assistant professor in the School of Chemical Engineering, specializes in AI and digital agriculture, and is undertaking a research project to lessen the impacts of drought in the U.S., which experiences an estimated loss of $30 billion annually.

For these efforts, Jiang has been awarded the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.

This is the most prestigious award bestowed by the NSF and will provide

$500,000 through 2029 for Jiang’s efforts to improve the viability and economic potential of water-efficient, sensor-driven irrigation on farmland. Current technological barriers result in only about 12% of irrigated farms in the U.S. deploying soil moisture sensing.

His research leverages real-time soil moisture and salinity data gathered by sensors placed in strategic areas of a field. These, added with mathematical models describing complex water and solute flow dynamics in soil, will enable a digital-twin solution to be created that could accurately estimate the profiles of moisture and salt content in a field in real-time.

Based on this valuable information, an optimal irrigation schedule can be determined to inform farmers of the best time and amount to irrigate their fields to minimize water consumption

and maintain soil moisture level and crop health. Jiang said a farmer would ideally be able to use a mobile app that can be pulled up at any time to see the current situation of the soil.

A soil sensing testbed will be placed in one of Oklahoma State University’s agricultural fields to validate the digital-twin solution data collected. It will also educate farmers and students who visit the testbed on soil sensing, digital agriculture and best irrigation practices. It provides students and farmers an opportunity to make an impact in real-world scenarios, setting them up for success with more experience in areas such as how AI can be used to modernize the food and agriculture sectors.

Through this project, Jiang looks to raise awareness of digital and sustainable farming among

engineering students, farmers and local communities. He also aims to build and strengthen OSU’s capabilities in scientific computing, artificial intelligence, digital agriculture and sustainability, ensuring this research embodies the OSU land-grant mission.

Jiang would like to implement his research findings into the STEM curriculum, inspiring a new generation of engineers to continue using digital agriculture to help the country meet the growing food needs of a rising population.

In addition, he aims to develop a new course on sustainable systems engineering, adding process systems engineering, agriculture and sustainability to OSU’s chemical engineering curriculum.

“I’m very grateful to receive this prestigious award. I proposed a lot of tasks with both research and education and how they integrate,” Jiang said. “Having access to the support and the resources at OSU to pursue these exciting projects is a great honor. I also thank my department, CEAT, as well as colleagues and collaborators for their continuing support that made this award possible.”

Dr. Zheyu Jiang is an assistant professor in CHE who will look to improve the viability and economic potential of sensor-driven irrigation in an effort to help improve farming practices in Oklahoma and the U.S.

Under Pressure

OSU’s CoPe Lab is where engineering meets human performance

In the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, engineering doesn’t stop at circuits or structures; it extends to the cognitive systems that drive decision-making in the world’s most demanding professions.

Guiding this research is Dr. Pratima Saravanan, assistant professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management, whose Cognitive Performance (CoPe) Lab explores how people think, decide and perform under pressure.

From hospital ICUs to the fireground, from rural Oklahoma to high-tech classrooms, Saravanan and her team are building tools and models to help individuals and communities respond more effectively in high-stakes environments.

REAL-WORLD URGENCY

Saravanan’s drive to improve performance in pressure-filled settings began early in her academic career.

When she was a postdoctoral researcher at Houston Methodist Hospital, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she studied ICU nurses’ stress responses and burnout, witnessing firsthand how critical decision-making and emotional well-being intersect in critical care conditions.

“It was a profound experience,” Saravanan said. “I saw how sustained pressure affects performance, communication and well-being. That experience made it clear to me that we need better ways to support individuals who work in high-stress roles.”

“Our goal is to support the people who support us: to make their tools smarter, their training more effective and their decision-making safer.”

DR.

SARAVANAN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN IEM

IEM junior Elyse Sardegna tests the efficacy of a head-mounted eye-tracking system to explore visuospatial task complexity using LEGO sets.

PRATIMA

HELPING PEOPLE

The CoPe Lab’s projects reflect that vision.

One high-profile effort, funded by the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, focuses on how firefighters make decisions in rapidly evolving emergency scenarios.

Through behavioral and physiological data collection, the lab is studying how information is processed during shift changes and high-stress calls.

From that data, Saravanan’s team is developing a virtual reality-based firefighter training tool. The immersive experience helps trainees simulate decision-making under pressure, replicating the cognitive process of veteran responders.

“Our goal is to support the people who support us: to make their tools smarter, their training more effective and their decision-making safer,” she said.

The CoPe Lab’s research extends beyond emergency services. Another active project at Oklahoma State University investigates the impact of generative AI on engineering students’ working memory and problem-solving capacity. As AI becomes embedded in academic and professional

environments, Saravanan wants to understand whether its presence enhances or erodes cognitive skill development.

“It is critical to understand whether students depend on GenAI to overcome limited working memory or if it restricts their cognitive engagement,” she said. “The results could help shape evidence-based AI usage policies in higher education.”

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HEALTH

Saravanan is also deeply engaged in improving health outcomes for rural Oklahomans.

In collaboration with Dr. Bree Baker, director of the Musculoskeletal Adaptations to Aging and Exercise Lab in the OSU School of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, the CoPe Lab co-leads an initiative called Stay Strong, Stay Healthy, an eightweek strength training program for older adults.

In a separate effort, Saravanan is part of a team led by Dr. Ed Kirtley, associate dean of Engineering Extension, working to implement a community paramedicine model. The project provides person-centered

care to rural areas, aiming to reduce hospitalizations and enhance local health care networks.

“We’re always looking for ways to connect systems engineering to human outcomes,” Saravanan said. “In rural health especially, there’s a tremendous opportunity to apply data and design thinking to real-life challenges.”

MENTORSHIP AND MOMENTUM

The CoPe Lab currently includes two doctoral students, one master’s student and four undergraduate researchers. These students participate in every phase of the research lifecycle, including data analysis and machine learning, to cognitive task analysis and field studies.

For Saravanan, mentoring students is one of the most gratifying aspects of her work.

“The most rewarding part for me is when my students begin to take ownership of a problem — when they move beyond just completing tasks and start asking deeper questions, challenging assumptions, and thinking critically about the broader impact of their work,” she said. “Watching them develop the confidence to engage with other researchers, interpret complex data, and translate insights into meaningful solutions is incredibly fulfilling.”

Whether modeling decision fatigue in the emergency room, evaluating AI tools in the classroom or strengthening resilience in rural communities, the CoPe Lab exemplifies CEAT’s mission to advance research that matters. It is a place where engineering meets empathy, and the tools of science are used to support the people who support humanity.

Through it all, Saravanan remains focused on what brought her to this work in the first place: a passion for helping people make better decisions when it matters most.

Scan the code for more information on the Cognitive Performance Lab.

IEM senior Kaden Bush and Dr. Pratima Saravanan simulate gait patterns of lower-limb amputees to help create a digital twin model that aids clinical decision-making during prosthesis prescription.

Stillwaterstrong

Drone technology aiding firefighters and first responders

STORY KRISTI WHEELER | PHOTOS MITCHELL ALCALA, GABE GUDGEL AND OAIRE

On March 14, 2025, high winds, extremely dry conditions and a potent storm system converged to spark a wave of wildfires across Oklahoma, devastating communities and overwhelming first responders.

The spring wildfires destroyed over 170,000 acres and leveled 539 homes and structures across the state. Stillwater was among the hardest hit areas. Ninetyeight homes were completely lost that day and 123 homes were impacted. Among those, 46 were Oklahoma State University employees and their families and five OSU retirees.

Amid the destruction, firefighters and first responders turned to innovative drone technology — developed in Stillwater — to enhance wildfire monitoring and response. A key figure in this effort is Dr. Jamey Jacob, Regents Professor at the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education at OSU.

Drones in action

Low-flying drones equipped with visible and infrared cameras have been crucial in providing live “eyes in the sky” during wildfires.

Unlike traditional aerial tools, they operate below smoke layers and deliver thermal imagery that pinpoints hotspots, identifies flareups and maps firebreak breaches in real time. These systems greatly reduce risk to personnel who no longer need to patrol thick smoke firebreaks on foot.

For Stillwater, where unpredictable spring winds fueled rapid fire spread, this drone technology was vital, allowing crews to act swiftly to emerging threats.

“In Oklahoma, this research concentrates on wildfires,” Jacob said. “Drones serve multiple purposes, not only for fire detection, but also for guiding ground personnel beyond initial sighting points. Using diverse sensors, including infrared heat vision, enables the identification of hot spots and fire lines,

facilitating strategic deployment. In addition, the imagery obtained through drone technology often surpasses the resolution of satellite imagery, enhancing overall effectiveness in disaster response and management.

“That Friday, during the fires, we couldn’t fly. It was too windy. You just can’t have aircraft, unmanned aircraft or manned helicopters operating in that environment without the threat of hurting or even killing someone. We provided support primarily that evening and the next day when the winds died down. This demonstrates the critical need to develop systems that can fly in these environments.”

Using drones, Jacob and his team could fly over Stillwater and other parts of the state to locate all the hot spots and inform the firefighters in real time so they could swiftly extinguish them, preventing them from reigniting another fire.

“The next day, we did large-scale mapping to survey the regions and

develop detailed orthomosaics, highresolution geometrically corrected aerial images that provide a true top-down view of an area, free from distortions and perspective errors, of what the fire damage looked like,” Jacob said.

Orthomosaic images, generated from drones, provide significantly higher resolution, often measured in centimeters per pixel, than what a satellite would, which is what has been used traditionally. This level of detail allows for granular analysis and identifying fine features that may not be visible in satellite images. They can also capture pictures from lower altitudes and various angles, resulting in greater flexibility.

Additionally, orthomosaic images can be captured immediately, whereas with a satellite, it could take days or even weeks to capture photos and get the information needed to move forward. This allowed the team to identify which houses were leveled, which houses were damaged and to what extent the damage was.

This technology is especially impactful in areas like Stillwater that face intense wind-driven fire risk. By integrating advanced sensors, AI and improved drone designs, Jacob and his team assisted with faster response time, pinpointing vulnerable assets and keeping firefighters out of harm’s way.

A safer tomorrow

OSU has one of the best fire protection programs in the nation paired with one of the nation’s best UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) and drone programs.

The drone program focuses on engineering development systems and how to advance that technology for communities to use.

“We are currently working with our fire and emergency management administration faculty and students to modify a drone and working on a very large helicopter to assist with fighting fires,” Jacob said.

Jacob explained the general applications of unmanned aircraft systems technology: observation, delivery, weather and where they are headed.

“We have this very large weather program funded by NOAA working directly with the National Weather Service,” said Jacob. “We’re trying to take data in real time, above the ground, and provide that to the National Weather Service to improve weather forecasting.”

This will provide real-time information to first responders and allow them to create models that can predict what will happen in the next hour, the next 12 hours, and so on, which is useful for severe storms and wildfires.

“This project is really focused on the ability to pull in data that you can utilize to help improve your sourcing,” Jacob said. “When you’re operating things such as smaller drones or larger Uber air taxis, you must know what the weather scenario is. We need that information to be able to fly these things. At the same time, you can use drones as a useful tool to get that weather information together and use that to help provide critical data to tell you what that looks like.”

Funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Jacob and his team are working on a project to create the standards for developing drones that can operate in severe weather environments such as tornadoes, rain, hail, snow or fire.

“Right now, there are no sets of requirements or standards to adhere to,” Jacob said.

“So, when you’re trying to develop this new technology, there’s nothing to go by, such as the specifications for the sensors, the instrumentation or the hardware that you put on them.”

The LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobility Drones for First Responders program also provides forward-looking innovations and opportunities. One project focuses on developing new technology to aid firefighters and first responders statewide in emergency scenarios.

The LaunchPad, located at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus, houses dedicated resources to promote the development of new technologies in advanced air mobility to entrepreneurs and groups in communities throughout the state.

Partnering with the Tulsa Fire Department, the team is developing a system for the fire department to evaluate how well drones can work in emergencies such as fires, automobile accidents and water emergencies, among others.

“One of the projects we are working on now is a test pilot program called Drone in a Box,” Jacob said. “It’s a small box about the size of a printer that a drone sits in, and is placed on the top of the building at the Gathering Place, located in the heart of Tulsa.”

The Gathering Place was the first location chosen because the fire department receives many water-related emergency calls from patrons kayaking on the Arkansas River or swimming in Zink Lake. The drone will assist

“One of the projects we are working on now is a test pilot program called Drone in a Box. It’s a small box about the size of a printer that a drone sits in, and is placed on the top of the building at the Gathering Place, located in the heart of Tulsa.”

DR. JAMEY JACOB Regents Professor at CEAT and executive director of OAIRE

with situational awareness so that first responders know what to expect regarding the surrounding area or who to send to that emergency.

“If there is someone in the Arkansas River, we can see so much more from a drone,” Jacob said. “We can see exactly where they are, and we’re not sending boats upstream when the emergency is downstream. We know exactly where they are because we’ve got eyes on them quickly. So, it speeds up the response, it is a more effective response, and it’s the right resource.”

They have plans to place drones like these throughout the city to assist with emergencies.

The team is also working with St. Francis and Cherokee Nation Health Services on using drone technology to deliver medical supplies from one location to another, a project that ties into something they are working on with the Cherokee Nation and the Center for Health Sciences.

“We received a grant from the Department of Transportation that will focus on drone technology delivering emergency aid and medicine to remote

populations within the Cherokee Nation,” Jacob said.

With the collaboration between CEAT and OAIRE, the future for first responders is proving to be safer and is providing a more rapid recovery response.

In essence, the Stillwater wildfires underscored both our vulnerability and resilience. Residents can rest a bit easier knowing that, amid the flames, local minds are using cutting-edge drone technology to protect lives and property. Whether it’s thermal drones spotting hidden embers, surveying vast burn areas, providing situation awareness or delivering medical supplies, drone innovation is making our communities safer — right from our own backyard.

A drone captures an image of leveled homes in Stillwater, Oklahoma, from the wildfires on March 14th.

Planes, Concrete and Automobiles

CEAT professor’s research fixes runways and solves icy roads

Dr. Tyler Ley is a self-described concrete freak. His passion for the finer concrete technologies in life has earned him 120,000 YouTube subscribers.

Ley, Regents Professor and Cooper W&W Chair in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has made a name for himself with his enthusiastic and informative videos.

This enthusiasm also shines through in his research, tackling numerous topics related to concrete composition and use.

Students benefit from this worldclass enthusiasm, gaining experience in the robust world of concrete engineering.

AIRPORT CHALLENGES

Ley and his research team have undertaken multiple projects funded by the Federal Aviation Administration. Two recent projects focused on a complex concrete challenge: airport runways.

Runways at airports play a crucial role in the continued flight of aircraft. Problems arising from subpar concrete can be detrimental to aircraft, causing millions of dollars in damage.

These projects studied the optimal mixture for concrete runways. The first focused on the ideal mixture and design, as well as developing tools to evaluate materials so that the concrete is paved successfully.

The second project focused on how the concrete is paved and how that process affects the runway quality.

Dr. Mohammad Jobaer Uddin, a postdoctoral researcher, and Sara Sadat Tayebi, a Ph.D. student, were the lead students on the project. They worked alongside undergraduate civil engineering and electrical engineering students who developed sensors to test concrete mixtures.

Runways are a challenge to repair, particularly at an active airport. This raises the importance of quality control testing and monitoring to ensure runway quality and maintenance.

It is estimated that $22.7 billion is spent on aircraft and runway repair

Sara Adat Tayebi (right), a Ph.D. student, and Dr. Mohammad Jobaer Uddin perform a stress test on a concrete mixture.

due to foreign object debris, which often consist of loose materials that get sucked into an engine, causing major damage.

Tools were developed, such as monitoring vibration from equipment and the smoothness of the surface being laid, to monitor paving runways in real-time.

“The FAA recognizes the challenges of inconsistent concrete delivery during airfield pavement construction, especially in active airfield environments,” Uddin said. “However, they have not set specific requirements for paver operation when concrete properties change. Decisions about whether to slow down or stop the paver during delivery delays are left to the contractor’s discretion.”

BREAKING THE ICE

Ley’s research on complex concrete issues included developing a concrete mixture to withstand the constant freezing and thawing cycles of climates with extreme cold.

These cycles can have a detrimental effect on roadways and bridges, as water seeps into cracks and expands as it freezes. This causes existing cracks to expand as well as new cracks and potholes to form.

This project aimed to use their research to make recommendations for specifications for roads and bridges to prevent freeze-related roadwork.

Ley’s student team consisted of Autumn Burns, a graduate research assistant, and Uddin.

The team created a special concrete blend with a method known as airentraining, which creates concrete that has several tiny bubbles throughout. These bubbles allow the ice room to expand, therefore keeping the integrity of the concrete intact.

These stress-relieving bubbles are like putting a pressure relief valve on a full water bottle in the freezer. If the bottle is filled, it will shatter, but if a pressure relief valve is added, the pressure will not cause the bottle to break.

“This same idea applies to concrete,” Burns said. “In cold climates, the water inside the concrete expands and causes cracks. To prevent this, people add special additives to the concrete while mixing to add more bubbles so the water can expand without causing damage.”

Ley’s team studied these mixtures through lab testing and monitored their performance over time to ensure they met the standards set forth by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, which funded the project.

“Each mix was tested for temperature, slump, unit weight, air content and SAM number (used to test the air void system in fresh concrete) throughout the testing process,” Burns said. “Additionally, mix samples underwent hardened air void analysis to measure the spacing in the concrete, as well as freeze-thaw resistance and strength testing to assess long-term durability.”

Through Ley’s passionate mindset, students are gaining experience that will go a long way toward helping communities in Oklahoma and beyond.

Scan the code to learn more about Dr. Tyler Ley’s research.

Shown are concrete mixtures that are an attempt to create non-vinsol air-entraining concrete mixtures to withstand freezing climates.

Two CIVE students tend to concrete mixtures for later study as part of an effort to create concrete mixtures that can withstand freezing climates.

electromagnetic testing in a fully shielded reverberation chamber, analyzing system performance and antenna behavior under controlled radio frequency conditions.

Research Stronghold

From left: Cannon Kilcrease, Dr. Chuck Bunting, Ryan Lucas and Saif Mostafa conduct

At the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, research isn’t a side pursuit. It’s the college’s backbone. It shapes classrooms and opens new doors for students and faculty alike. And as the federal funding landscape grows more uncertain, CEAT isn’t just keeping pace. It’s gaining ground.

Over the last five years, CEAT has seen research expenditures grow by more than 90%. That momentum didn’t come by accident. It’s the result of bold faculty hires, strong internal support systems and an unwavering focus on impact — locally, nationally and globally.

“We don’t just tell faculty we support them — we show them,” said Dr. Chuck Bunting, associate dean of research. “That starts with things like startup funding, lab space and grant development support. But more than that, it’s about culture. It’s about creating a community where faculty know they can build something meaningful.”

From fire safety and aerospace to energy efficiency and robotics, CEAT is a place where research thrives and where researchers stay.

Across CEAT, evidence is everywhere. Robotics and electrical engineering are attracting tenured faculty back to Stillwater where they started. CEAT researchers are developing interdisciplinary fire safety models, prototyping unmanned aerial systems, and improving public safety through engineering and environmental science.

But CEAT’s real strength lies not only in its technical labs; it lies in its people.

A player in this culture of collaboration is the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, now aligned with the Office of the Vice President for Research. With many CEAT faculty and students already trained in OAIRE’s facilities, this connection is more than administrative; it’s functional. It’s a launchpad for new aerospace and defense initiatives.

“OAIRE and CEAT are deeply connected,” Bunting said. “Our students get hands-on experience with the same tools and systems that are used in realworld aerospace applications. That’s an advantage you can’t replicate in theory alone.”

Dr. John O’Hara’s lab equipment is capable of sending data at fiber-like speeds but wirelessly, over numerous kilometers. His research team is using this world record-breaking feat to quantify atmospheric effect on the terahertz frequencies signals.

“We don’t just tell faculty we support them — we show them. That starts with things like startup funding, lab space and grant development support.”

Dr. Chuck Bunting associate dean of research

While many research institutions are bracing for cutbacks, CEAT is built to weather the storm. Long before proposed reductions in indirect cost recovery, Oklahoma State University had plans in place to cover infrastructure expenses like laser safety, equipment maintenance and research compliance. The college’s broad portfolio — spanning everything from artificial intelligence to clean energy — ensures it isn’t overly reliant on a single funding source.

“We’re resilient because research is who we are. It’s not going anywhere,” Bunting said.

Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than CEAT’s approach to student involvement. From day one, undergraduates are invited into research, not just as observers, but as contributors. Through programs like the Freshman Research Scholars, Wentz, Niblack and CEAT Undergraduate Scholars, students gain hands-on experience across technical domains.

More than 50 CEAT students annually are directly funded by external research

sponsors. They design, test, present and publish, often presenting their work at regional and national conferences.

“These are the students who walk into job interviews with stories — not just resumes,” Bunting said. “They’ve faced challenges, solved problems and made discoveries. They’re ready.”

CEAT has even created ENGINE, a searchable platform that connects students and faculty around shared research interests. And with the Experts Directory, researchers can find collaborators across campus and beyond, accelerating interdisciplinary projects from idea to impact.

Faculty know that when they come to CEAT, they won’t just be handed a lab and left alone. They’ll find mentorship and the infrastructure to take their research further. They’ll be part of a land-grant tradition that values discovery.

Because here, science doesn’t live in silos. It lives in collaboration. It lives in momentum. And it lives in the people who believe engineering should make the world better, one breakthrough at a time.

Engineering Momentum

Q: As associate dean for research, how would you describe your vision for CEAT’s research enterprise?

My vision is to support faculty by helping launch and sustain their research success. Our mission is to develop students, engage in collaborative research and make a meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally.

Q: CEAT’s research expenditures have grown over 90% in five years. What’s fueling that momentum?

Strategic hiring of faculty writing high-quality proposals has been a huge part of it. We’re supporting researchers who want to do big things.

Q: What makes CEAT an ideal environment for faculty looking to grow major research projects?

Honestly, one of our biggest strengths is our research staff. They support faculty through every stage of the proposal and award process, which gives faculty the space and confidence to go after ambitious projects.

A conversation with Dr. Chuck Bunting on the future of CEAT research

Dr. Brian Elbing’s lab houses the wave tank which is used for fluid mechanics and controls experiments including maritime recovery of small drones.

Q: CEAT is known for collaboration. How are you encouraging crossdisciplinary research?

We’re investing in tools like the Experts Directory to help faculty connect, and we offer seed funding to jumpstart interdisciplinary projects. It’s all about lowering barriers and encouraging new ideas.

Q: What kind of research is CEAT known for nationally?

CEAT is nationally recognized for its leadership in fire protection and safety engineering, energy and petroleum systems, aerospace and unmanned aircraft systems, and emerging terahertz technologies. CEAT’s fire research shapes safety standards, while its energy and aerospace work support innovation in critical infrastructure and defense. CEAT’s growing expertise in terahertz sensing and imaging opens new frontiers in security, communications, and materials research — demonstrating CEAT’s strength in interdisciplinary, impactdriven research.

Q: How is CEAT working with OAIRE to expand the reach of its research?

There’s huge synergy. Many of our students and faculty are trained in the same labs and systems used by OAIRE. That makes CEAT a critical link in Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense ecosystem. It’s also helping our students gain real-world, industry-relevant experience.

Q: What does undergraduate research look like at CEAT?

It’s a priority. From Freshman Research Scholars to college- and externally-funded programs, we have undergraduates working on meaningful projects from the start. They learn how to communicate, solve problems and sometimes even publish before graduation.

Q: What infrastructure investments is CEAT making for research growth?

We’re investing about $1.5 million a year in startup packages for new faculty. And we’re working on solutions for lab and office space to support our growing graduate population. Supporting infrastructure is essential to sustained research growth.

Q: What message do you want to send to faculty and students considering CEAT?

If you’re looking for a place where research is valued and supported — where you can do high-impact work with real-world applications — CEAT is that place. We’re resilient, collaborative and committed to helping you succeed.

Dr. Heather Fahlenkamp researches 3D human tissue models that simulate immune responses to inflammation and infection, studying how vascular issues, allergens and pathogens trigger disease, with applications in drug delivery, including nanoparticles and biomembranes.

Dr. Prem Bikkina’s research team explores pore-scale solid-fluid interactions for carbon storage and utilization, enhanced oil recovery and advanced heat transfer. From left: Prathamesh Sapale, Sazzadul Islam Sajol, Dr. Bikkina and Fahim Khandaker Anjum.

The CEAT Sponsored Programs team. From left: Pam Reynolds, Jennifer Clausing, Anna Maitlen, Mitzi Riggs, Logan Frailey, Dr. Bunting, Yaha Morin Flores, Maison Bennett, Jamie Westmoreland, Jenn Lane, Bipasha Deb and Lakshmi Bikkina.

Welcome

Aboard

The five new school heads in Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology bring diverse backgrounds and oversee different disciplines, but share a common vision: increasing national visibility and fostering collaboration among faculty, staff and students.

Two lead newly formed schools created under Dean Hanchen Huang’s 6G initiative, which reorganized programs with natural synergy to

Five new school heads take the leadership reins

enhance interdisciplinary education. The Division of Engineering Technology and the School of Materials Science and Engineering merged into two new schools to strengthen collaboration.

Effective July 1, 2025, the School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management was established, combining fire protection and safety engineering technology, construction engineering technology, and fire and emergency management administration, led by Dr. Heather Yates. Meanwhile, mechatronics and robotics, electrical engineering technology, and mechanical

engineering technology joined materials science and engineering to form the School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering, headed by Dr. James Smay.

New leadership also arrived in the schools of Architecture, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Professor Nathan Richardson, Dr. Guoliang Fan and Dr. Rasim Guldiken, respectively.

All five expressed a commitment to building on CEAT’s strong foundation while advancing their disciplines for students, faculty and staff.

HEATHER YATES

School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management

Yates joined the OSU faculty in 2006 after previously teaching and working in multiple roles in the construction industry.

Now, as the leader of the newly formed FCEM, Yates looks to build on the foundations of the fire, construction and emergency management programs and elevate national reputations while capitalizing on the synergies already in place.

“When you think about the pieces of fire protection and safety, construction, and fire and emergency management, they’re all part of the built environment and all include safety,” Yates said. “Our new school is about how the built environment combines fire protection, emergency management, and construction elements.

“Bringing the three programs together allows us to integrate them in a way where we all rise and use the strengths of each other to make the three programs better and operate as one.”

Yates’ bachelor’s degree in construction management from OSU gives her additional motivation for leading the school.

“I have expectations of program rigor because it was challenging when I went to school here,” Yates said. “If we don’t hold that rigor, I cheapen my own degree.

“We have other faculty who have degrees from OSU who feel the same in that we owe it to all graduates to keep up the rigor to produce quality graduates who are comparable to graduates from years before. We owe it to our alumni.”

Yates’ overarching goals for the new school include enhancing student opportunities, faculty satisfaction and industry opportunities. All of these will be accomplished through Yates’ leadership style of leading with integrity, vision and a deep sense of purpose.

JAMES SMAY

School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering

Smay joined CEAT faculty in 2002 and has a breadth of experience in academia and the materials industry, making him the school head of choice for the newly formed MMME School based out of OSU-Tulsa.

As he leads the new school, combining faculty and programs across two campuses, Smay knows he has challenges ahead, but he also knows there are opportunities for synergy too.

“The School of Materials, Mechatronics & Manufacturing Engineering is focused on the right technologies to make a huge impact in Oklahoma,” Smay said. “Materials scientists make fundamental discoveries about the nature of matter and processing, but modern manufacturing is increasingly automated with robots, sensors and actuators. This is where the powerful synergy in our programs lies: leveraging the talents of each expert to move academics and companies forward with the most advanced understanding and tools possible.”

In today’s evolving world, Smay knows the importance of ensuring students get all they can out of their time in CEAT.

“Academic rigor, creativity and innovation go hand-in-hand,” Smay said. “All faculty and students get excited when they learn the most powerful tools to unlock their potential, whether that be in research or in the classroom. It is our job to demonstrate the right tools, show the students how to use them responsibly and unleash them to do great things.”

Smay believes in collaboration and will work with faculty and students in Stillwater and Tulsa to ensure the needs and desires of all are met.

“The formation of MMME was a bold move to create synergy among several related programs,” Smay said. “I hope to build a strong and coherent school across two campuses with an eye toward rigorous academic preparation, a conscious eye on practical applications through hands-on training, to produce highly competent professionals ready for the workforce on day one.”

NATHAN RICHARDSON School

of Architecture

While growing up the son of an architectural engineer and a musician, Richardson found inspiration in his dad’s drawings and mom’s music, sparking a passion in him that led him to a career as an architect, a professor and now a school head.

Richardson graduated from OSU with his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2003. He worked in the practice of architecture while pursuing his master’s degree, eventually joining the OSU faculty in 2009.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve as the school head and eager to get to work with faculty, staff and students,” Richardson said. “Everybody is excited about what they’re doing, and they’re motivated and engaged. It’s a privilege to have a culture that’s healthy where you come in and continue to foster it.”

Richardson’s priorities for the school fall into five categories: visible impact, personal engagement, creative culture, academic excellence and student success.

“I’m really interested in student-oriented initiatives and in those things that help create our wonderful school culture,” Richardson said. “I want to engage the profession and make sure we are creating beneficial opportunities for practitioners and students.”

He sees opportunities in how architecture students learn while looking to the future and new technologies.

“One thing I value about our school is that we hold fast to conventional ways of making things and communicating,” Richardson said. “We don’t want to lose who we are and the value we bring in real physical space and the benefit from seeing physical models and doing sketches with our hands using pens and pencils. At the same time, we welcome new technologies and techniques. We must stay flexible and adapt to new opportunities.”

Teamwork, open communication and shared decision-making are all part of Richardson’s collaborative leadership style that is sure to generate continued success for SoA.

GUOLIANG FAN

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fan joined CEAT in 2001 as an assistant professor, was selected as the interim school head of ECE in 2024 and received the permanent role Nov. 1, 2024.

While serving as interim, Fan started promoting meaningful interactions between faculty and students with his Engage, Communicate and Empower Framework initiative.

Some of these initiatives include a faculty mentorship program, graduate student training days, a new scholar program, lunchtime colloquiums and monthly meetings with student leaders.

Fan has implemented these programs to expose students to lessons beyond the classroom.

“In fall 2024, we launched a new tradition — the ECE Vogt Lunchtime Colloquium Series,” Fan said. “This series features invited ECE faculty

who present their latest research in an accessible, student-friendly format. The goal is to spark curiosity and broaden students’ perspectives without being overly technical.

“In addition, I am committed to strengthening connections between students and alumni. During the recent induction of two CEAT Hall of Fame members, we organized a roundtable discussion led by IEEE, where students engaged in meaningful conversations with these distinguished alumni.”

He also committed $20,000 annually to the ECE Miller Research Scholar Program.

“Currently, about 5% of ECE students are engaged in research projects,” Fan said. “My goal is to double that number over the next three years by expanding the program and securing additional scholarship support.”

Fan’s Engage, Communicate and Empower Framework and 3I (Innovation, Integration and Interaction) Leadership Style and 3T (Trust, Transparency and Teamwork) Values allow him to continue building ECE’s culture of growth and success he has been laying since 2024.

RASIM GULDIKEN

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Guldiken joined CEAT as the head of the School of MAE on Feb. 28, 2025.

Through leadership roles with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the University of South Florida, Guldiken learned about the impact CEAT is having in the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering. His already proven commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity and mutual respect made him a natural fit for the MAE School Head role.

“I naturally engage with students, faculty and the community by fostering accessibility, collaboration and shared purpose,” Guldiken said. “I remain visible and approachable with students: attending events, supporting advising efforts, and creating channels for their voices in decisions. For faculty, I promote trust, transparency and academic excellence, encouraging collaborative research, equitable workloads and professional development.”

Guldiken also fosters creativity among those he leads.

“I encourage faculty to design curricula and classrooms grounded in strong standards while allowing space for exploration, problem-solving and student-driven inquiry,” Guldiken said.

“Students should actively seek opportunities to ignite their creativity and deepen their understanding of engineering fundamentals. Whether it’s through immersive senior design courses or independent studies with faculty, students have avenues to bring ideas to life. Our professors lead cutting-edge research, providing incredible spaces for students to explore and experiment.”

Already, Guldiken has seen how impactful the MAE faculty are in their respective areas. He wants to ensure others know the impact as well.

“My top priority is to spotlight the exceptional work of our faculty: from groundbreaking research and transformative instruction to community engagement,” Guldiken said. “The MAE faculty are passionate, innovative and humble in their pursuit of excellence. They lead bold, creative initiatives that deserve recognition beyond our campus and Oklahoma.”

BREAKING

OSU’s Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing Lab reshapes the future of electronics, health care and aerospace

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology is a leader in research that shapes our state, nation and the rest of the world — from innovations that save lives to technological breakthroughs.

A strong example of this is the Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory.

It is under the direction of Dr. Srikanthan Ramesh, an assistant professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Management. He and a team of two undergraduate students, two master’s students and two doctoral students conduct research that combines functional materials and additive

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Laboratory at OSU specializes in additive manufacturing of microscale multifunctional structures for applications in printed electronics and bioengineering. Shihab Shakur uses an aerosol-based deposition process to fabricate a microscale strain sensor with a functional nanoparticle ink.

manufacturing, resulting in the development of custom-fabricated materials.

Students are actively involved as they contribute to experimental designs, operate equipment, analyze data and study results. Undergraduate students can join a project in progress and gain important hands-on experience and exposure to high-level research.

Graduate students lead project development and are mentors to undergraduates. Taking part in these research projects gives students valuable experience for future roles as researchers, working in industry or advanced studies.

The team begins with functional materials that conduct electricity, support biological activity or respond to

external stimuli, among others. These materials are then arranged layer-bylayer into final products using additive manufacturing.

This is accomplished through a digital, layer-by-layer design process where the team controls the geometry and placement of the materials.

The team has become adept at manufacturing skin and lung tissues for biological studies as well as printed electronics.

The in-vitro bioprinted tissue models are tailored to the needs of specific cell types and experimental designs.

With printed electronics, sensors and conductive features are fabricated on both flexible and irregular surfaces. These electronics require custom

designs to match the needs of specific devices.

“In both areas, we investigate how materials behave during the printing process and how those interactions influence the structure and function of the final product,” Ramesh said. “This understanding of the process-structurefunction relationship is central to improving reliability, enabling new capabilities, and advancing the use of AM in biomedical and electronic applications.”

The digital design process is an advantage over traditional manufacturing by not requiring molds, tooling or subtractive steps. It allows for more freedom of design as well as the ability to utilize complex geometry, internal features and material gradients

Students are actively involved as they contribute to experimental designs, operate equipment, analyze data and study results.

that are near impossible to achieve in traditional methods.

Customization also allows for products to be tailored in a way that does not require additional costs or complexity, which is crucial in biofabrication and creating electronics using additive materials.

“Traditional methods are typically optimized for mass production of identical parts and rely on fixed tooling, making customization time-consuming and expensive,” Ramesh said.

Additive manufacturing provides advantages over traditional methods. One area where this has been the case is in the manufacturing of medical devices such as hearing aids and dental aligners, which are commonly 3D printed because those devices need to be customized for each patient. However, the benefits of additive manufacturing extend well beyond health care and are broadly applicable across industries that require the production of complex physical components.

There have also been breakthroughs using this type of manufacturing in the aerospace industry. The ability to craft complex aircraft components proves its viability.

“Additive manufacturing enables cost-effective production of customized products directly from digital scans, offering rapid design-topart transitions, though the printing process itself is not necessarily fast, as is often misunderstood,” Ramesh said. “The technology is also making a major impact in aerospace applications,

where lightweight, complex parts can be printed with minimal waste and reduced need for assembly. This not only cuts costs but also improves performance by enabling designs that aren’t possible with traditional manufacturing.”

One of the most unique things about additive manufacturing is the ability to replicate the process with different sizes of objects. Small-scale efforts result in microscopic features such as microscale sensors and cellladen tissues for biological studies. The same fundamental method of layering materials works for creating

larger-scale products such as entire buildings or structural components.

With so many areas where additive manufacturing can make beneficial changes, many industries may continue to operate in ways that take advantage of this emerging technology.

“Looking ahead, we expect to see growing use of additive manufacturing in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy, health care, defense, construction, consumer products and electronics, especially as new materials, multi-material systems and largescale printing technologies continue to evolve,” Ramesh said.

Shihab Shakur (left) and Neshat Hojjati are graduate research assistants who work with Dr. Sri Ramesh in his lab.

GROWING CAPACITY EXPANDING IMPACT

DEAN’S INITIATIVES LEADING TO IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN THE COLLEGE

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology has undergone unprecedented growth.

Our physical footprint now includes over 140,000 square feet of advanced laboratory space, and our graduate students benefit from more than 9,000 square feet of dedicated work areas, with nearly 100 new office spaces added this fall.

We have seen a steady increase in enrollment. With 908 freshmen joining CEAT in fall 2024, we had 4,159 students — a 13% increase in enrollment.

CEAT has experienced 90% growth in research expenditure in the last five years, with the annual research expenditure going over $34 million in the recent academic year 2024-25. In the

same academic year, the annual research awards have gone over $28 million.

CEAT is investing deeply in the state’s future through impactful extension and outreach programs that span all 77 counties and reach a global audience.

The New Product Development Center supports small businesses by delivering engineering services, doubling its client base in five years and producing over 30 prototypes annually.

Fire Service Training prepared more than 47,000 emergency responders in 2024 and expanded its facilities with new training grounds, equipment and highimpact conferences.

STEM outreach trained 365 teachers, indirectly impacting 10,000 students, while CEAT Professional Development launched two major centers and formed key partnerships with organizations like Walmart and the Oklahoma Center for Rural Health.

The Center for Local Government Technology enhances training and provides necessary tools to county assessors and deputies for fair and equitable property assessments. It offers

184 classes, serving 6,437 students and totaling 78,226 hours of instruction.

The International Fire Service Training Association/Fire Protection Publications expects 350,000 users on its learning platform by 2025. The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress extended its global accreditation efforts with new members from Malta, South Africa, Taiwan and India.

From K–12 STEM engagement to rural emergency training, CEAT’s mission is unmistakably land-grant: knowledge in action, everywhere it’s needed.

GROWTH WITH PURPOSE

Two new master’s programs will be added for the 25-26 school year:

Artificial Intelligence: Computer Engineering

Data Science: Engineering

CEAT TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS

The Mechatronics & Robotics program has seen a significant rise in enrollment, with numbers tripling in the master’s program from 2023 to 2024 and nearly 97% growth in the bachelor’s program. SIX OF THEM BEING ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS OR ABOVE (+490 / + 13.35%)

2023: 3,669

2024: 4,159

13 FACULTY HIRES* IN 2025

*A record number of proactive hires in recent years.

+320%

Increase in digital course offerings at IFSTA/FPP since 2020

69

Counties using CLGT’s upgraded property appraisal tech 40% Increase in FST events and emergency responders instructed

60,000+

Oklahomans reached through K–12 STEM outreach since 2020

$27,457,337 increase in tax dollars to support Common Education Funding because of CLGT’s efforts

$900,000

Grant monies received for volunteer fire department training across the state

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE LOHMANN MEDAL RECIPIENT

Dr. Joseph Campbell graduated from Oklahoma State University with his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1992, earning that year’s OSU Best Dissertation award.

His professional career began at the National Security Agency in 1979, where he co-developed Federal Standards 1015 and 1016 voice coders, which enabled secure government communications over ordinary phone lines.

In the 1980s, Campbell attended an NSA Speech Research Symposium at OSU. There he met Dr. Rao Yarlagadda, a Regents Professor known for his work in time-series analysis and speech processing. Yarlagadda invited Campbell to pursue a Ph.D. at OSU, and shortly after, Campbell received an NSA Fellowship allowing him to study anywhere he wanted to go, solidifying Campbell’s decision to pursue his doctoral degree at OSU.

His OSU research further advanced voice biometrics, helping identify individuals based on speech patterns. Campbell and Yarlagadda co-authored a landmark paper on voice coding used in NSA’s 3rd generation Secure Terminal Unit, published in Digital Signal Processing. Yarlagadda also encouraged Campbell to publish parts of his dissertation as a journal article in the Proceedings of the IEEE — an article that has been cited over 2,700 times.

In 2012 at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Campbell worked on DARPAfunded efforts to develop technologies that could identify patterns and illegal activity, including those related to human trafficking. The project was featured on 60 Minutes. He later led the AI Technology and Systems Group, focusing on human language, multimedia and cyber challenges critical to national security.

In 2022, he received MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Technical Excellence Award. Now a Laboratory Fellow, Campbell leads an artificial intelligence study to advance the technology for national security applications far beyond the familiar generative AI services we know today.

Later in your careers, try new things, reinvent yourself ahead of world changes, mentor staff and advise Ph.D. students. There’s almost nothing more rewarding than helping others succeed.

Medal Recipient

2023 Duane Mass

2023 Craig Stunkel

2023 Cara Cowan Watts

2023 Alyssa Schilling Warner

2023 J. Stephen Ford *

2022 Lieu Smith *

2022 Jim Lansford *

2022 Jack Graham

2022 Dave Boyer

2022 Carolyne Hart *

2022 Bob Thompson

2021 Stan Stephenson

2021 Matthew Perry

2021 Leland Blank *

2021 Christine Altendorf *

2021 Carrie Johnson

2020 Tom Britton

2020 Stephen Searcy *

2020 Mark Sutton

2020 Huan Nguyen *

2019 Rick Muncrief

2019 Lyndon Taylor

2019 Jim Hasenbeck

2019 Charles Reimer

LOHMANN MEDAL RECIPIENT

Dr. Rao Surampalli graduated from Oklahoma State University with his master’s degree in environmental engineering in 1978, followed by his doctoral degree in 1985 from Iowa State University.

Over the last 30 years, Surampalli worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before retiring as the engineer director. In this role, he worked to develop innovative and sustainable technologies for the design and construction of water and wastewater facilities.

He is currently the CEO and chief technology officer of the Global Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability. Surampalli was elected to the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, the U.S. National Academy of Construction, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, distinguished fellow of the International Water Association, and a distinguished member of the American Society of Civil Engineers among many other organizations. These roles have allowed Surampalli to experience and appreciate the challenges of the environmental and water resources profession, which has led to him being awarded over 30 national honors/awards.

Through his international work, Surampalli is a noteworthy humanitarian, providing technical assistance to over 25 countries on six continents. He is passionate about transferring his knowledge and expertise in environmental protection to developing countries.

He was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni and then inducted into the CEAT Hall of Fame in 2015. He recently published his 27th book on microplastics in the environment.

A person can achieve anything in life provided they have a strong focus, determination, willpower and perseverance. Success happens when preparation and opportunity meet.

RAO SURAMPALLI

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

2018 Edward Shreve *

2018 Brian Price *

2018 Ali Fazel

2017 Legand Burge Jr.

2017 John Klopp

2017 Jack Goertz

2017 Gary Ridley

2017 Eric Woodroof *

2016 Mark Brewer

2016 Ann Oglesby

2015 Shrikant Joshi *

2015 Rao Surampalli

2015 Jack Corgan

2015 Ed Stokes

2014 Johann Demmel *

2014 Jeff Hume

2014 Janet Weiss

2014 Harold Courson

2014 Decker Dawson *

2014 Debbie Adams

2014 David Timberlake

2014 Alan Brunacini *

2013 Robert Schaefer

2013 Rixio Medina

2013 Rick Webb

2013 Kenneth E. Case *

2013 Harvey B. Manbeck *

2012 Wilson Shoffner

2012 Jerry Winchester

2012 Cassie Mitchell *

2012 Calvin Vogt

2011 Paul Liao *

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Dr. Michael Buser graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1995 with his bachelor’s degree and in 1997 with his master’s degree, both in biosystems engineering, going on to earn his doctorate degree in 2004 in biological and agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University.

Buser currently serves as a Professor, Endowed Chair in Cotton Engineering, Ginning, and Mechanization at Texas A&M University, where his mission is to expand the cotton engineering program. He is currently the lead faculty member for Texas A&M biological and agricultural engineering capstone courses and finds enjoyment working with undergraduate and graduate students.

Before his current role, Buser served as the inaugural USDA Agricultural Research Service National Program Leader for Engineering. Buser managed or co-managed 91 in-house appropriated research projects and 576 non-in-house projects. Buser is the founder and was the National Leader for the USDA Partnerships for Data Innovations, a national program focused on standardizing, integrating and automating agricultural research data through innovation.

Buser has been nationally recognized as a distinguished communicator for agriculture and technology. Most notably, he is very proud of his research team that conducted the National Cotton Gin Particulate Matter Emission study, which provided $1.46 billion in costsaving efforts for the cotton ginning industry. Data from this national study is used in nearly all the cotton ginning air quality permits in the United States. Buser has been involved in a wide range of agricultural research that includes air quality, water conservation, food safety, machinery design, electronic design, data science, artificial intelligence, logistics and conservation stewardship. You will often hear Buser attribute his research successes to his incredible interdisciplinary and multi-institutional teams and outstanding stakeholders.

Find a career you love to do, a job that will allow you to be passionate about what you do and always be looking out for those unexpected doors to open.

MICHAEL BUSER BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Lakshmaiah Ponnala

2011 Jeffrey Fisher

2011 Enos Stover *

2010 Ray O. Johnson

2010 Juan Carlos Calderon *

2010 Jerry Banks *

2009 Sridhar Mitta

2009 Richard Weidner *

2009 Meemong Lee *

2009 Charles Kridler

2009 A. Joe Mitchell Jr.

2008 Samir A. Lawrence *

2008 Ronnie Morgan *

2008 Ronald L. Hoffman

2008 Donald D. Humphreys

2007 Rand Elliott

2007 Michael Damore

2007 Leslie Priebe *

2006 Sanjiv Sidhu

2006 James L. Vining

2006 Jack B. ReVelle *

2006 Gary A. Pope *

2005 James Brooks Cummins

2005 Gordon E. Eubanks Jr.

2005 Behrokh Khoshnevis *

2004 Steven D. Hofener

2004 J. D. “Denny” Carreker Jr.

2004 Neal E. Jones *

2004 Eddie M. Jones *

2004 David Kyle

2003 Kent E. Patterson

2003 Jim B. Surjaatmadja *

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Derek Gates graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1980.

In 1972, Gates built a private engineering firm, D.W. Gates Engineering Services, in north Tulsa where he consistently hires OSU students as summer interns and full-time employees. His firm has provided engineering services for OSU buildings such as the Colvin Recreation Center, Math Sciences Building, the OSU bus terminal and many other locations. Gates’ company designed the mechanical/ electrical and plumbing design systems at the OSU Institute of Technology Center Gas Compressor Building.

Gates’ firm specializes in a variety of areas, and the projects are seen across Tulsa including the City of Tulsa LED street lighting on I-44 from Riverside to Memorial, the LED lighting at the Will Rogers High School and Central High School football stadiums, and the power design to Gateway Structures on Route 66. His firm also partners with ODOT to relocate overhead utilities. The Pawhuska rodeo ground and Chandler Park field house, both designed by Gates, feature the two largest photovoltaic solar collector systems in the state of Oklahoma.

For the last 20 years, Gates has been a member of the OSU Black Alumni Association where he generously donates to multiple causes through scholarships and direct donations. Today, Gates is passionate about helping future generations build technical skills, so they can have a successful and fruitful career and life. Gates is an active member in K-12 outreach by speaking to students and encouraging their consideration of OSU engineering programs.

Make the world better for the next group. My goal is to be known as a professional, a decent person and a good engineer.

DEREK GATES ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

2003 James R. Holland Jr.

2002 H. Edward Roberts *

2002 Frank W. Chitwood

2002 Donald W. Vanlandingham

2001 Robert Braswell *

2001 Duane Wilson

2001 B. N. Murali

2000 Thomas W. Wallace

2000 Sherman E. Smith

2000 Jim W. Bruza

2000 Charles O. Heller *

1999 Ronald L. Calsing

1999 John C. Mihm

1999 Heinz W. Schmit *

1998 Ronald D. Wickens

1998 John E. Hershey *

1997 J. N. Reddy *

1997 H. E. Cobb Jr.

1997 Donald L. Wickens

1996 R. Gerald Bennett

1996 Marvin M. Johnson

1996 Jerry D. Homes *

1995 Ted E. Davis

1995 D. Ray Booker *

1995 Charles L. Hardt

1994 Kerry S. Havner *

1994 Donald R. Lehman

1993 Kenneth J. Richards

1993 Keith E. Bailey

1993 Jack P. Holman *

1992 Wolter J. Fabrycky *

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Mitch Myers graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management and in 1999 with a Master of Business Administration.

Upon graduating in 1995, Myers began his career at FW Murphy, a provider of instrumentation and controls used for industrial engines. He quickly advanced and led a company-wide ERP implementation across five geographic sites. This success led to Myers directing all operational activities, including 400 employees across the sites. Myers successfully implemented APICS, Lean and Six Sigma within the organization. Shortly after, Myers accepted the opportunity to lead the construction, hiring and transition of a manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China. Upon completion of this project, he returned to Tulsa and purchased a $20 million manufacturing company, Thermal Specialties. Over the years since the acquisition of Thermal, Myers has acquired other forms of businesses: interior design, medical benefits, and real estate, among many others.

Today, Myers continues to show his devout support for IEM and OSU. He has made it a mission to financially contribute to the education of IEM students and elevated learning spaces on OSU campuses. In 2017, he was inducted into the Cowboy Academy of Industrial Engineering and Management and elected the second chairman only a year later. He also served as the chair of the OSU Industrial Advisory Board for two terms.

Myers has enjoyed being a mentor to multiple IEM students, including encouraging two of his employees to successfully pursue and complete the OSU MSIE program. Myers has also hired several IEM graduates including many students with H1B visas. In 2023, Myers was honored as OSU Riata Center Cowboy 100 and again in 2024 and 2025.

The more technical your education, the more valuable you will be — combine that with people skills, and you will be priceless.

MITCH MYERS

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

1992 W. Wayne Allen

1992 Robert M. Lawrence

1991 Jim E. Shamas

1991 J. Tinsley Oden *

1991 David J. Tippeconnic

1989 Wilfred P. Schmoe

1989 Neal A. McCaleb

1988 Robert M. Penn

1988 Choong-Shik Cho

1987 Raymond A. Porter

1987 James D. Cobb

1986 Martin E. Fate Jr.

1986 James E. Barnes

1985 Frank A. McPherson

1984 Glenn E. Penisten

1984 Edward C. Joullian III

1983 George H. Lawrence

1983 Bill N. Lacy

1982 Holmes H. McClure

1982 Floyd M. Bartlett

1981 William J. Collins Jr.

1980 John B. Jones Jr.

1979 Nicholas B. Marvis

1979 John L. Hatheway

1979 Eason H. Leonard

1978 Sidney E. Scisson

1977 John S. Zink

1976 James C. Phelps

1976 Fred H. Ramseur Jr.

1976 Donald E. Adams

1975 James J. Kelly

1975 Gus L. Maciula

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Bob Nickles earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering design technology from Oklahoma State University in 1989.

A successful businessman and community leader in the greater Houston area, Nickles began his career as a project engineer at Nickles Machine and eventually became CEO. In 1995, he led a leveraged buyout of the company. Over the following years, Nickles acquired several businesses to form Nickles Industrial — the largest independent parts, service and repair organization in the compression industry. The company was sold in 2001 to Fortune 500 company Cooper Cameron, where Nickles served as the senior vice president of sales and marketing and later senior vice president of operations through 2002.

Nickles went on to co-found Fast Fusion, which revolutionized the large-diameter HDPE pipe fusion industry and now holds over 20 patents and numerous trademarks. In 2004, he became a founding investor and COO of Valerus Compression Services, which was sold in 2009 to Texas Pacific Group.

In 2013, Nickles founded Alegacy and now serves as the Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Alegacy has sold over $3.5 billion in natural gas compressor packages and contributed more than $180 million to employee compensation and retirement. Additionally, Nickles is the co-founder and manager of Agnes Systems and Agnes IP Holdings, a company working to eliminate fugitive methane emissions. Throughout his career, he has founded, co-founded, acquired or funded 18 other companies.

Nickles serves on the First Financial Bank Board of Directors and its Executive, Risk (Chairman) and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees, as well as the Kingwood Regional Advisory Board. He chairs the Finance Council at St. Matthias Catholic Church and serves on the Board of Directors for the Waller County Economic Development Partnership.

He and his family are committed supporters of OSU through endowed academic and athletic scholarships, and gifts to the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute and the St. John’s Catholic Student Center.

Failures and setbacks are a real part of life and business; expect them and develop the grit and persistence to push through. How you treat people will be as or more important for your success in life than any other factor.

BOB NICKLES

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

1974 Carl G. Herrington

1973 David B. Benham

1972 Richard O. Newman

1971 Ralph M. Ball

1970 Veldo H. Brewer

1969 Melvin A. Ellsworth

1968 David G. Murray

1967 Eugene L. Miller

1966 Edwin G. Malzahn

1965 Myron A. Wright

1964 William W. Caudill

1963 B. Harris Bateman

1962 Don McBride

1961 Lloyd E. Elkins

1960 Morrison B. Cunningham

1959 Francis J. Wilson

1958 Guy H. James

1957 Thomas M. Lumly Jr.

1956 Richard K. Lane

1955 Gerald W. McCullough

1954 Laurence L. Dresser

Thriving in the Fast Lane

CEAT alumna Jacquelyn Lane named to Forbes 30 Under 30

Jacquelyn Lane has always believed that problems have solutions and that with the right mindset, you can be part of the answer. That belief has guided her journey from a curious student at Oklahoma State University to an internationally recognized leader, strategist and bestselling author.

Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the most influential thinkers in the coaching world, Lane has built a career at the intersection of leadership and impact. She co-founded 100 Coaches Agency and co-authored ‘Becoming Coachable,’ a Wall Street Journal bestseller on leadership growth.

But long before she entered the boardrooms of global companies, she was in the classrooms, labs and leadership councils within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

Lane grew up in a family of engineers, seeing the world through a lens of possibility. That structured way of thinking shaped her academic life and eventually became the foundation of her leadership philosophy.

“I’ve always loved puzzles and solving problems,” Lane said. “It’s like a game to collect the ‘knowns’ and use different tools and formulas to solve for the

‘unknowns.’ And there is something so satisfying about believing (or knowing) that the problems we face do in fact have solutions, and we can be a part of those solutions.”

At OSU, Lane didn’t just pursue her degree — she chased her curiosity. She co-founded the Stillwater Strong T-shirt campaign, raising $82,000 for victims of the 2015 OSU Homecoming parade tragedy. She also co-founded VisionaRx, a startup focused on novel drug delivery technology, where she served as team lead.

Her undergraduate years were marked by a whirlwind of activity. She served as alumni relations executive for the Student Alumni Board, and senator and senate vice chair of the

When Lane was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, she said, “I know that none of it would be possible without the (large) village who has shaped, elevated and supported me every step of the way.”

JACQUELYN LANE

2025 FORBES 30 UNDER 30 2021

MBA — QUANTIC SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY — UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

OUTSTANDING SENIOR BACHELOR OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING — OSU 2016

STUDENT PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR

HOMECOMING QUEEN WENTZ RESEARCH SCHOLAR

2013 W.W. ALLEN SCHOLAR

Student Government Association. She was active in the President’s Leadership Council, the Society of Women Engineers and the Sustainability Executive Committee.

But perhaps the most transformative part of her CEAT journey was the global exposure she gained through the CEAT Scholars Program, which took her to China, Vietnam and the U.K.

“There’s something powerful about living in a totally new context and getting to observe the U.S. from the outside,” Lane said. “Cultures are different, but people are universally kind and value the same things. Exposure to the world is one of the most expansive experiences a person can have.”

Lane was selected as a W.W. Allen Scholar, a program designed to support high-achieving students with leadership potential and career ambition. That opportunity led her to a master’s in sustainable engineering at Cambridge, sharpening her focus on human-centered challenges.

“The complexity of human behavior and psychology and how this influences the way we show up at work, behave as consumers, or navigate relationships fascinates me,” Lane said.

Dr. Paul Tikalsky, civil and environmental professor and former CEAT dean, noted that he saw the extraordinary academic student Lane was when he traveled with Lane and another Allen Scholar to help plan a CEAT Scholars’ trip to China. There, Tikalsky witnessed her immense energy and global view.

“It wasn’t the tourist views from the Great Wall, imperial gardens or the cuddly pandas that drew their attention, it was the history and purpose of the wall, the preservation efforts for the panda species, the people in the parks and markets, and talking freely to Chinese students their same age that drew their interest,” Tikalsky said.

After earning her graduate degree, Lane began her professional career at Phillips 66, gaining valuable experience in a corporate setting. In 2020, she met her future business partner, Scott Osman, who had gathered a community of elite leadership thinkers and executive coaches. That connection sparked 100 Coaches Agency — where visionary leaders meet top executive coaches.

Today, Lane continues to lead with clarity, purpose and a passion for human flourishing. Her advice to the next generation of CEAT students is simple: be bold.

“Be as fearless as you can manage and try lots of things out. Explore many curiosities and then commit to the things you believe in or are excited by,” she said.

Lane’s journey reflects CEAT’s mission to develop leaders who don’t just solve problems, they reshape what’s possible.

Lane was crowned Homecoming Queen in 2016 following the 2015 Homecoming parade tragedy, for which she helped raise over $82,000 in response.

POPSICLE BRIDGES PROPULSION SYSTEMS to from

How CEAT helped launch an engineer’s lifelong curiosity into flight

Before he engineered hybrid propulsion systems and published at national conferences, before he became chief engineer of a winning Speedfest team or joined the ranks of Aurora Flight Sciences, Rannock Thomas was a kid with a hot glue gun and a box of popsicle sticks.

Ever since Thomas can remember, he has been interested in learning how things worked and building new contraptions. That interest was fueled even more during the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s K–12 STEM camps, where Thomas was immersed in hands-on challenges that made physics and engineering real.

Somewhere between load-testing truss bridges and launching handmade film canister rockets, a young mind realized engineering was the path for him.

“I had been around Oklahoma State University and the CEAT buildings literally all my

childhood,” Thomas said. “It made enrolling in engineering at OSU feel very natural.”

But it wasn’t just a sense of familiarity that guided his decision. While in high school, Thomas joined the Unmanned Systems Research Institute as a summer intern after meeting Dr. Jamey Jacob, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor, during Speedfest.

The experience changed everything.

“Everyone was happy to help me learn how to use Solidworks CAD (computer-aided design), how to perform composite airframe repair, and cut custom 2D parts with a CNC (computer numerical control) router,” Thomas said. “By the end of the summer, I had done a full design and integration of avionics, engine, lights, and payload platform into an old fixed-wing Mugin UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) airframe, the autopilot and battery mounts, as well as performing repairs on the composite airframe of a crashed fixed-wing drone. I got to watch both fly at the OSU Airfield during the Cloud Map event.”

Thomas noted that the opportunity was more than he ever could have expected from a summer internship during high school.

“That internship cemented my choice,” he said. “The only college I applied to was CEAT at OSU.”

What began as curiosity matured into skill, which was honed across years of research and relentless trial and error, mostly within the labs and classrooms of CEAT. There, he worked for Jacob and Dr. Kurt Rouser, a fellow associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Throughout Thomas’ undergraduate career, he tackled interdisciplinary projects that required both mechanical and electrical engineering know-how. One of his longest-standing efforts involved the development of a turboelectric hybrid propulsion system (a novel engine design that aimed to deliver high power in a modular, swappable format for UAVs).

Over nearly three years, he led efforts to design, prototype, flight-test and refine these systems, eventually presenting his work at the AIAA SciTech Conference in 2023.

Along the way, Thomas found himself at the crossroads of theory and practice, where classroom knowledge met the grit of real-world execution.

“In the CEAT research labs, I got to design and build many electrical and mechanical systems and test rigs

and learn how to write and publish research papers; stuff you just don’t get to experience in the classroom,” Thomas said. “The work at USRI was practical experience of working through the scientific process for research and working to meet customer requirements under tight timelines with limited resources while working on a team. Furthermore, getting to work on hundreds of small build projects and messing up processes or breaking things, I learned many practical lessons about the right and wrong ways of doing things.

“In my opinion, the best way to learn is to submerge yourself in the subject and try, and try, and try again until you succeed.”

That persistence paid off.

In his senior year, Thomas served as chief engineer of the Speedfest Orange Team, an intense capstone competition that required students to design, build and fly custom UAVs. When timelines shrank and setbacks mounted, he reorganized the team, implemented new processes and led them to an unprecedented victory.

“I learned that while engineering follows logic, leading a team doesn’t always,” he said. “That experience really showed me how critical teamwork is to success.”

Now a full-time electrical power systems engineer at Aurora Flight Sciences, Thomas draws daily on the lessons he learned in Stillwater. Despite having earned his degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering, it was his

undergraduate research that prepared him for the pivot into electrical systems.

“CEAT taught me how to learn on the go, to solve problems regardless of discipline,” he said.

To students entering CEAT unsure of where their path might lead, Thomas had some wise advice.

“Be curious. Ask questions. Talk to your professors, even when you’re not struggling with coursework. Find out what they are passionate about. Let that energy guide your own discovery,” he said.

Looking back on his path from CEAT science, technology, engineering and mathematics camps to undergraduate research assistant, Thomas notes what stands out the most is the amount of practical hands-on projects he was able to take on and learn from.

“From building bridges at the STEM camps, to countless DIY projects at home, to building drones at the research lab, to the engineering projects I work on today, education and growth doesn’t have to follow a specific curriculum, it’s about staying curious about the world and seeking out experiences that interest you with the idea to keep learning from every one of them,” he said.

Scan the code to learn more about CEAT’s STEM programs.

Throughout Rannock Thomas’ undergraduate career, he tackled interdisciplinary projects that required both mechanical and electrical engineering know-how. One of his longest-standing efforts involved the development of a turboelectric hybrid propulsion system.

Rannock Thomas now works at Aurora Flight Sciences as an electrical power systems engineer.

2024 LOYAL & TRUE

Greg & Diann Adams ENGR TECH

Debbie & Charlie Adams CHE

Michael Albracht ARCH

Judith Allen

Judy & Gary Allen ENGR TECH

Walter & Jo Allen MAE

Rebecca & Joe Alvarez CIVE, BAE

Arvind & Hema Amin MAE

Tony & Linda Bacher IEM

Kevin Bailey ENGR TECH

Monica Barber

David & Sherrlyn Bardwell

Tammy & Ed Bardwell

Ken & Maureen Barrett MAE

Mike & Carolyn Bartlett IEM

Caleb & Whitney Bates ENGR TECH

Otto Behunin IEM

Kleven & Jennie Bingham ECEN

Bob Blair CHE

Larry Blake & Kathy Cowan CHE

Melanie & Dan Blakely ENGR TECH

Anthony & Julie Blatt ARCH, CHE

Ed & Lauren Bond

Steve Bowers MAE

Mary Lou & Bruce Boyer ENGR TECH

Johnnie Boyle MAE

Suzanne & Dallas Branch ARCH, ARCH

Shay & Donna Braun IEM

Arthur & Shirley Breipohl

Tom & Debbie Britton MAE, IEM

Judy & John Brown CIVE

Gene Brown & Kari Govier-Brown ARCH

Neal & Lora Buck IEM

Mallory & Price Buckley ARCH, MAE

Larry & Carol Bump

Blaine & Laura Bunch ECEN

Kristie & Tony Buratti MAE, MAE

Darren & Heidi Burns CIVE

Reid Burton ARCH

Richard Bush IEM

Anthony Byers MAE

Paul & Mabel Caldwell MAE

Thom & Leslie Campbell ARCH

Joseph & Shawn Campbell ECEN

Ed Cannon & Vickie Glaney Cannon ECEN

Bob Caputo

Lynn Case

Billie & Frank Chambers

Hong-Ju & Pei Chang CHE

Amber & Brance Coker

Ashley & Ardist Conner CHE

Bill Cook ECEN

Janell Cooper

Lerri & Rick Cooper

Terri Cooper

Beverly & Jeff Cowan CIVE

Victor & Almeda Crook IEM, MAE

Michael Crowley

Amy & Robert Crump

Matthew & Cynthia Cullum MAE

Cecil Culver CHE

Bob & Kathy Cusick ENGR TECH

Sharon & Mike Damore ARCH

Susan & Joe Davis CIVE, CIVE

Deborah & Roy Dean ARCH

Cary & B.J. DeHart ENGR TECH

Weston & Julie DeHart ENGR TECH

Norb & Lynn Delatte

Chris & Erin DeMoss ENGR TECH

Heath DePriest CHE

Jo Ann DeVries

Aubree Diebolt ARCH

Scott & Angie Dorsett

Mike & Anita Dossey CHE

Blaine & Lindi Douglas ENGR TECH

Sharon & Ray Earley ECEN

Franklin & Karen Eckhart MAE

Kevin Eckhart

Brian Eckhart

Scot Eckhart

Rand & Jeanette Elliott ARCH

John & Elizabeth English IEM

Jerry & Delores Etter MAE

Gordon & Ronda Eubanks ECEN

David & Laura Eudey MAE

Susan & Dan Evans

Allison & Steven Fate IEM, ENGR TECH

Gerard & Ming Fehrenbach

Joe Fehring CIVE

Sue Fender

Kevin & Chere Fergerson

Brian Fitzsimmons ARCH

Howard Flanders CIVE

Rick Forest

Linda Foster

Jacque Fowler

Richard & Nancy Frazier CHE

Kieu Frisby

Sandy & Darrel Fry MAE

Kerry & Donna Gannaway IEM

Kathleen Gardner

Janet & Brad Gaskins

Ronald & Linda Gass ENGR TECH

Barney Ghiglieri CHE

Ian Giese IEM

David & Anne Glasco ENGR TECH

Patrick & Briar Glenn ARCH, ARCH

Jack & Susan Goertz IEM

Bill & April Graif ENGR TECH

Kenneth Gray

Al & Kim Griggs MAE

John & Nancy Groh MAE

Julie & Steve Guy

Tamara & Anthony Haas CIVE

Tim & Mickey Haddican ENGR TECH

Renee Hale & Cody Pinkerman CHE, MAE

Vickie & Joe Hall CIVE

Rick & Elizabeth Halley

Kevin & Tonya Halstead CHE

Michael Hara

Joshua Hardin ECEN

Pat Harris

Carolyn Harris

Ginger & Jim Hart ARCH

Tricia & Matthew Hatley CIVE

Kerry Havner CIVE

Charlie Heller CIVE

Dave & Paula Heller ENGR TECH

Shane & Kristy Hendricks

Jack Hensley ENGR TECH

Glen & Diane Hicks MAE

David Hieronymus CHE

Theresa Hill

Steve & Sherryl Hofener CIVE

Judy Hoffman

Dwayne & Denay Huddleston ENGR

TECH, IEM

Chris & Dianne Humes MAE

Dennis & Mary Hussey CHE

Bill & Barbara Johnson ENGR TECH

William & Camille Johnston

Teri & Kevin Jones CHE

Dale & Yvonne Keairns CHE

Stuart Keeton IEM

Mark & Sharon Kelley MAE

William Kerber III

Linda & Larry Kester ARCH

Roger & Joyce Kirk ENGR TECH

Geoff Koch MAE, IEM

William & Yvonne Kolarik IEM

Marty Kollmeyer CHE

Valda & Randy Kreie ARCH

Cindy & Tim Lang

John & Sharon Larson ECEN

John & Carolyn Lawrence CHE

Russell & Sherry Lawson ECEN

David & Amanda Lee ECEN

Callie Lee-Petricek

Che ryl & Jim Lefler ENGR TECH

Lavern & Carol Lenaburg ENGR TECH, IEM

Paula Lenaburg

Kristi & Ran Leonard

Huei-Ming & Rosa Lin ARCH

Caroline & John Linehan

Renee & Stan Lingo ARCH

Bruce & Linda Litchfield

Duoying & Yuan Yue Liu ECEN

John & Ruth Lloyd

Donald Lockton

Logen & Jayanthi Logendran IEM

Nancy Long

Jill Long CHE

Deanna & Tim Lovett ARCH

Dick & Anne Lowery MAE

Bill & Patti Lundeen ARCH

Ko Makabe & Hui Min Liaw ARCH, ARCH

Mark Marston CHE

Gary & Karen Martin MAE

Jamie & James Matlock IEM

Cheryl McAlpine

Alan McCollom ECEN

Phil & Linda McCurdy ARCH

Brent & LaRena Meadows ENGR TECH

John & Trish Meek ARCH

Charlotte & Conley Meredith

Kurt & Bernadine Metzinger MAE

Gale & Robin Mills

Keith Montgomery & Charlotte Muniz-

Montgomery CHE

Gregory & Martha Mooney

CIVE

Jeff & Laryn Moore IEM

Alejandro & Maria Moronta

IEM

Bruce Morton ECEN

Jerry & Diane Mounts MAE

Mitch & Christy Myers IEM

Matt & Katherine Naeher

MAE

Nidamaluri Nagesh CIVE

Huan Nguyen ECEN

Bob & Elizabeth Nickles

ENGR TECH

Betty Nittler

Jana & Gary Oberlender

CIVE

Ann & Bill Oglesby CHE

Steve & Phyllis O’Hara

ARCH

Ron & Diana Orr IEM

Aaron & Megan Owen

ENGR TECH

Shirley Pappe

Randy & Anna Parks ARCH

Steven & Laura Patton

ENGR TECH, ECEN

Jim Penn CIVE

Bill & Susie Phelps MAE

James Piatt

Gaylon & Anne Pinc CIVE

Karen & Joe Plummer CHE

Dave & Kerri Powell ARCH

Kent & Sheryl Powers IEM

Tim Pramik ENGR TECH

Brian & Brenda Price CHE

Mary Pruitt

Robin Purdie-Smith & Gene

Smith

Dan & Kathleen Rao IEM

Harvey Rash

Charles & Isabella Reimer

ECEN

Eula Ridley

John Roads ENGR TECH

Francis & Kathleen Rooney

Craig Rose ENGR TECH

Warren & Teresa Ross

Greg & Linda Rowe MAE

Robert Ruidera

Neil & Katherine Ryan

ENGR TECH

Lezel Safi

Tony & Janet Sam ENGR

TECH

Daniel Schwartz

Charles Schwarz CIVE

Jimmy Scott

Terry Seltzer ENGR TECH

Stan Settles

Mary Shafer-Malicki & Patrick Malicki CHE

Mark Shutt ECEN

DONORS OF CEAT

Michael & Jane Sigmon

ECEN

Bill Silk & Malinda HarrisSilk ARCH

Scott & Beatrice Sink

Scott & Susie Sjulin ECEN

Sandra Skinner

David & Connie Smith MAE

Barbara Snoddy

Katie & Jason Speakes IEM

Shane Sterett

Ed & Claudia Stokes CIVE

Bradley & Trina Stover CHE

Al & Nancy Strecker ECEN

Craig & Susan Stunkel

ECEN

Lee Sudan ECEN

Walter Taylor

Bob Thompson CIVE

Brad & Misty Thurman

ARCH

Judy Thurman

Paul & Julie Tikalsky

Sarah Timberlake

Bryan Timberlake

Cindy & Carl Tipton IEM

Charles & Carolyn Tobin

IEM, IEM

Mary Tran

Marcia Tuttle

David & Kari Verner

Leesha & Eric Vogt ARCH

Steve Waken ECEN

Kai Wang & Dave Fang

MAE

Debbie & Cary Watson

ECEN

Greg & Lauren Watson IEM

Richard Weidner & Mee

Mong Lee ECEN

Troy & Janet Weiss CHE, CHE

Corey Weldon ENGR TECH

Ronald White CIVE

Carol White

Neal Willison

Gary & Kerri Wilson CHE

Kelli Wise

Eric & Andrea Woodroof IEM

Nathaniel Woody MAE

Mary & Brent Wooten CIVE

Stacie & Derek Wrobbel

IEM, ECEN

Patrick & Joyce Wyers

MAE

Keith & Katherine Yancey

ARCH

Linda & Ryan Yarlagadda

IEM, ECEN

Sandy & Wolf Yeigh IEM

Zoanne & Bob Zapata

Darton & Jamie Zink

AAON Inc

Abbott Labs

AC Owen Construction

Accentz, Inc.

Action Safety Supply Company

Ad Astra Foundation

Advanced Workzone Services

AGC of Oklahoma Education Foundation

AIA Oklahoma

AISC Education Foundation

Allen Contracting Inc

Alpha Consulting Engineers Inc

American General Life Insurance

Company

American Road & Transportation Builders

Association

American Society of Professional Estimators/Landrun Chapter 80

America’s Charities Inc

Anderson & House Inc

Andres Construction Services LLC

ANSYS Inc

Apple Inc

Association of Oklahoma General Contractors Inc

Austin Commercial LP

Autodesk

B&B Concrete of Kansas

Baker Hughes Foundation

Balfour Beatty Construction

Benchmark Construction Engineering & Inspection

Billy W Travis Revocable Living Trust

Boeing Company

Bridge Crane LLC

Burns & McDonnell Foundation

Byrne Construction Services

Caddell Construction

CAF America

Cantera Concrete Company

CEAT Student Council

CEC

Centennial Contractors Enterprises Inc

Central Electric Cooperative

Charles B Goddard Foundation

Charles Machine Works

Chesapeake Energy

Chevron Corporation

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

Chickasaw Nation

ConocoPhillips

CORD Construction

Coreslab Structures Inc

Crimson Steel Supply

Crossland Construction Company Inc

Crossland Heavy Contractors Inc

Cummins Construction Company Inc

Dell Inc

Deloitte

Devon Energy Corporation

Ditch Witch

Dolese Bros Co

Duit Holdings

Edison International Company

EightTwenty Oklahoma, LLC

Entegrity Partners

EST Inc

ExxonMobil

Flatiron Corp

Flintco LLC

Fortis Construction

Frankfurt Short Bruza & Associates PC

Frontier Bridge Inc

Garney Holding Company

Garver LLC

GE Grid Solutions LLC

GH2 Architects

Google

Great Plains

Halliburton

Halliburton Foundation Inc

Haskell Lemon Construction Co

Heidelberg Materials

HollyFrontier Sinclair

Hughes Aircraft Company

IBM Corporation

International Chemical Company

International Paper

Interstates

Joan Hwang Charitable Foundation

Keen DC LLC

Kiewit Infrastructure South Co.

Kinco Constructors, LLC

KKT Architects Inc

LA Fuess Partners Inc

Lehigh Hanson

Lemon Family Foundation

Leonard J. Paleck Jr. Revocable Trust

Lithko Contracting LLC

Lockheed Martin

Louis H Whitehair Revocable Trust

MacArthur Associated Consultants LLC

Manhattan Road & Bridge

Marathon Petroleum Foundation Inc

Martin Family Foundation

Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma

McMahon Foundation

MEGASLAB

Nabholz Construction Corporation

National Association of Pipe Fabricators

National Fire Protection Association

NextEra Energy Resources

Niagara Bottling LLC

Nike Inc

Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited

OERB

OKC Community Foundation

Oklahoma City Section

Oklahoma Structural Engineers

Association

Olsson

ONEOK

ONEOK Field Services Company

ONEOK Foundation

Oscar J Boldt Construction

Overland Corporation

Ovintiv Inc

OXY USA Inc

PACCAR Foundation

Paccar Inc

PepsiCo

Phillips 66

PLW Waterworks LLC

Pratt & Whitney

Raytheon Company

Rick Scott Construction Inc

RJN Foundation

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC

Shell Oil Company Foundation

Sherwood Construction Company Inc

Smith Roberts Baldischwiler LLC

Society of American Military Engineers/ OKC Post

Society of Fire Protection Engineers/

Michigan Chapter

Southern Company Services Inc

Standard Testing and Engineering

Company

StandardAero

T. Boone Pickens Foundation

Talcott Resolution

Texas Instruments

TEXO Education and Research

Foundation

Textron Aviation

Textron Inc

The Haskell Company

Timberlake Construction Inc

Traffic Engineering Consultants, Inc

Turner Construction Company

University of Tulsa

Valero Services Inc

Wallace Design Collective PC

Walsh Construction

Walvoil Fluid Power Corp

Wattie Wolfe Company

Williams

HANCHEN HUANG

Dean, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

ED KIRTLEY

Associate Dean, Engineering Extension

JOHN VEENSTRA

Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs

CHUCK BUNTING

Associate Dean, Research

CARISA RAMMING

Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Student Engagement

RAMAN SINGH

Associate Dean of Engineering, OSU-Tulsa

COLLEGE LEADERSHIP

SCHOOL HEADS

Professor & Head

Nathan Richardson, RA

Centennial Professor of Architecture

School of Architecture

Professor & Head

Mari S. Chinn, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Sun Grant Program-South Central Region

School of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Professor & Head

Heather Fahlenkamp, Ph.D.

Edward Bartlett Chair School of Chemical Engineering

Professor & Interim Head

Mark Krzmarzick, Ph.D., P.E.

M.R. Lohmann Endowed

Professor

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Professor & Head

Guoliang Fan, Ph.D.

Cal & Marilyn Vogt Professor of Engineering

School of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Professor & Head

Heather Yates, Ed.D., CPC

Construction Management Advisory Board Chair

School of Fire, Construction & Emergency Management

Professor & Interim Head

Terry Collins, Ph.D.

School of Industrial Engineering & Management

Professor & Head

James Smay, Ph.D.

C.F. Colcord Chair

School of Materials, Mechatronics & Manufacturing Engineering

Professor & Head

Rasim Guldiken, Ph.D.

John Brammer Endowed Professor & Head

School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Greetings from the OSU Foundation. I had the pleasure of working with some of you before 2022; it is exciting to return to CEAT.

The OSU Foundation’s mission is to unite donor passions with university priorities to elevate the impact of Oklahoma State University. I have the best job in the world, getting to meet with CEAT friends and alumni who remind me time and again of your unwavering loyalty and support to the college. Some have had success and are in a position to pay it forward, others give back to honor those who came before them. Hearing stories about why donors give to CEAT is really something special. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the philanthropic process.

Allow me to introduce your Foundation team! They are incredible, and we are lucky to have them at the Foundation: Jennifer Holcomb, LaRonna Stanbery, Matt Foster, Kaid Kinzie and Jill Johnson. It is this team’s charge to help the college become financially independent, allowing CEAT faculty and leadership to operate at the highest level for our ultimate responsibility…CEAT students. Students are why we are here; they are our future generation and our economic catalyst. It is an honor to work with you, students, academic leaders and Dean Huang to continue CEAT’s prominence at Oklahoma State.

We look forward to working with you. GO POKES AND GO CEAT!

With sincere gratitude, Jill Blake

OSU Foundation CEAT Team Lead

Jill Blake Senior Director of Development & Team Lead

LaRonna Stanbery

Constituent Relations Associate

Jill Johnson Senior Director of Development

Jennifer Holcomb Development Coordinator

Kaid Kinzie Assistant Director of Development

Matt Foster Associate Director of Development