Editor’s column

I love words of wisdom, maybe because I have so few to offer. “You’re not as good as you think you are,” is what I would tell my 22-year-old self. Thanks to Case alumni, our new graduates have a deeper font of knowledge to draw from. They maybe have more need for it, too. The Class of 2021 endured a year like no other. The cancellations and disappointments fell like the rain. Too many suffered a grievous loss. They have come out on the other side of a pandemic with hard-earned Case degrees. Now what? Now this:

Have dreams and goals….

Take care of yourself….

Take notes and take risks…

Eighteen of our alumni, all men and women of achievement, are helping send off our May graduates with guidance they would give to their younger selves. They are speaking to members of the Class of 2021, but their advice is timeless.

You, too, will get a boost hearing from people like Ka-Pi Hoh ’84, MS ’87, PhD ’89. She’s one of the top scientists at Lubrizol Corp. but also a change agent who helped establish its research centers in England and China. How does she do it?

“Network broadly to understand how the organization works and who does what,” she advises. “Sometimes it’s not what you know but who you know… and, even more importantly, how you work with them.”

She adds: There are more opportunities to be successful doing something you enjoy.

I was anxious to hear back from Bruce Banks ’64, the top patent producer at NASA Glenn. What’s his secret?

Keep a notepad by your bedside, he advises, for those late-night flashes of brilliance. Also, examine what would happen if you did the opposite of what you know is a possible solution.

Hmmm.

Many of you had the chance to hear from Don Thomas ’77, PhD, the NASA astronaut who delivered a riveting keynote address at our Engineers Week Reception in 2020. Don told a tale of epic perseverance. He followed a boyhood dream to the stars, again and again.

When you read his counsel, I think you’ll agree it could help young alumni to realize their dreams. I think you’ll also appreciate that he wants them to experience that kind of success and satisfaction in life. We all do. Godspeed to the Class of 2021.

Robert L. Smith Editor Robert.Smith@casealum.org

The Case Alumnus is published quarterly for members and friends of the Case Alumni Association, which serves the interests of more than 20,000 alumni of the Case School of Applied Science, Case Institute of Technology and the Case School of Engineering.

Established in 1885 by the first five graduates of the Case School of Applied Science, the Case Alumni Association is the oldest independent alumni association of engineering and applied science graduates in the nation.

The Case Alumnus is a publication of the Case Alumni Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 public charity under the IRS code.

CASE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC. Tomlinson Hall, Room 109 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106-1712 216-231-4567 casealum@casealum.org casealumni.org

OFFICERS Sunniva Collins, MS ’91, PhD ’94, President Ron Cass ’84, 1st Vice President Joe Fakult ’90, 2nd Vice President Brian Casselberry ’95, Treasurer Frank Merat ’72, MS ’75, PhD ’78, Assistant Treasurer Curtis Grant ’11, MEM ‘12, Secretary

STAFF Stephen Zinram, Executive Director Thomas Conlon, Chief Financial Officer Emily Speer, Director of Gift Planning and Grants Compliance Robert L. Smith, Director of Communications Kelly Hendricks, Director of Alumni Relations Ryan Strine, Director of Annual Giving Janna Greer, Manager of Donor Relations and Grants Lillian Messner, Manager of Digital Content and Design Pamela Burtonshaw, Database Manager Melissa Slager, Manager, Executive Office

CASE ALUMNUS Robert L. Smith, Editor Lillian Messner, Art Director Steve Toth, Toth Creative Group, Layout and Design Duke Print & Mail Solutions

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To serve and advance the interests of the Case School of Engineering, the math and applied sciences of Case Western Reserve University and its alumni and students.

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12 Teaching through Covid

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Cover Story

16 A Gold Medal career

Alumnus Arun Varshneya advanced glass science to meet the needs of smartphones and medicine. Then he launched a company and saved lives.

20 Words to live by

Case alumni offer life advice to the Class of 2021 Spring 2021

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Alumni Adventures

26 Wild blue yonder

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Engineering+

27 How’s your emotional IQ?

Joe Mayer can help you to collaborate and lead as an engineer or scientist.

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DEPARTMENTS

1 Dean’s Message 2 Editor’s column 4 Letters, posts and emails 7 Around the Quad 10 Alumni Newsmakers 24 NewsBytes 28 Class Notes 33 In Memoriam 35 Tribute — David Baldwin ’49 36 Long We'll Remember

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