Clarkson University Fall 2022 Magazine

THE 17TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.

Clarkson University: A Cornerstone of Excellence

This past spring, I was honored to be named the 17th President of Clarkson University. In the days, weeks, and months since I have had the opportunity to get to know the greater University community, and I have been impressed by the diligence of our faculty, staff, and students. They work tirelessly doing the things that matter to have an impact in the world through education, research, service, and innovation that matter to the world.

I often remark that world-class universities require world-class partnerships — and Clarkson has them. Our alumni, corporate partners, government representatives, and other community stakeholders invest in the building blocks that are central to who we are as an institution. They are the people who, alongside us, ensure that Clarkson is a cornerstone that launches accelerated career opportunities for our students and alumni who, in turn, create the solutions that impact the future.

I am grateful to be a part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking community. This issue of Clarkson Magazine highlights examples of the way Clarkson is pushing into new frontiers that benefit not only our students but also the global stakeholders who rely upon us for research and innovation. What Clarkson and our partners and alumni do matters. I hope this magazine will serve as a reminder that everyone has a story to share about how and why Clarkson matters to them — I encourage you to share your story with us and to amplify it in your own networks.

Why does Clarkson matter to you? Share your story at

engage.clarkson.edu/why-clarkson-matters.

The bonds that we create and that connect us to this University are lifelong. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming years to continue to build from the cornerstone of excellence that begins at Clarkson University.

Let’s Go Tech!

Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. President

10

CITeR Celebrates 20 Years of Biometrics Research

The Center for Identification Technology Research examines evolving security challenges like face morphing, deep fakes and biometrics in growing children.

12

Clarkson Inaugurates the 17th University President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.

18

Schmeler ’91 Engineers Medical Career

Kathleen Schmeler ’91 shares her journey from MechE undergrad to international leader in cervical cancer prevention, treatment and research.

22

Six Hockey Athletes, Two Olympic Medals, One Shared Experience of a Lifetime Knights (re)unite on the ice in Bejing and Cheel Arena.

24

71 Years of Annual Giving

Richard March ’50 defines Clarkson Loyal.

26

The Summer of ’72

Fifty years ago, Clarkson’s Urban Vehicle Design Competition team garnered national attention, setting each member’s career in motion.

29

Clarkson Alumni Association

The Alumni Association celebrates the 2022 alumni award recipients.

34

Flaherty ’15 is a ‘Maverick’ at Lockheed Martin

Rebecca (Janshego) Flaherty ’15 shares her behindthe-scenes role in creating the Darkstar.

36

Confidence Crusader Influences Inclusivity

Caralyn Mirand Koch ’14 on the business of creating content — and clothing — for every body.

ON THE COVER: Clarkson celebrates the Inauguration of President Marc P. Christensen.

Volume MMXXII / Number 1 / December 2022

Printed in USA

Marketing & External Relations

315-268-4483

PUBLISHER AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Kelly O. Chezum MBA’04

EDITOR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS

Kris Ross

DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

David Homsey

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Katie Barry ’23

Ed Cichanowicz ’72

Michael P. Griffin MS’00

Patricia Lane

Melissa M. Lindell

Jake Newman

Kris Ross

Jennifer Sampson

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS

Christine Collins

Connor Frasier

Nate Lashomb

Kim Leeson

Jacob McNamara ’16

Gerry Raymonda

clarkson.edu

CLARKSON is published two times per year by Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699. Circulation: 45,000

The President’s Report issue is sent annually to international colleagues in higher education, alumni and other friends of the institution.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Development Operations, Clarkson University, Box 5510, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, email: developmentops@clarkson.edu

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

Clarkson University does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status in provision of educational opportunity or employment opportunities. This policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation does not apply to the University’s relationships with outside organizations, including the federal government, the military, ROTC and private employers. Clarkson University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or disability in its educational programs and activities, pursuant to the requirements of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American Disabilities Act of 1990, respectively.

STAY CONNECTED AND ENGAGED WITH CLARKSON

Nocetti Named Reh School Dean, Elmer Gates ’50 Professor of Innovative Business Culture

DIEGO NOCETTI has been named dean of the David. D. Reh School of Business and Elmer Gates ’50 Professor of Innovative Business Culture.

Nocetti had been serving as the interim dean of the Reh School since June 2021. Since then, he has led strategic planning efforts and multiple initiatives in faculty advancement, curriculum innovation, student recruitment and alumni outreach. Nocetti has promoted transparent and datadriven decision processes and an intentional approach to diversity, equity and inclusive excellence within the Reh School of Business and beyond.

Nocetti joined the Reh School of Business in 2006 after graduating with a PhD in economics from the University of Memphis. He was named a full professor of economics and financial studies in 2017.

Nocetti is a renowned theorist in decision analysis. He has published more than 30 articles in leading scientific journals. His research has contributed to the understanding of both positive and normative aspects of risk-taking behavior and has informed public policy debates on a broad range of issues, including the willingness to pay to stop the spread of a pandemic, the appropriate discount rate to use in public projects and the proper design of economic incentives to stimulate charitable giving.

Nocetti received the inaugural Reh School Research Award in 2016, and in 2012 Clarkson awarded Nocetti the John W. Graham Jr. Faculty Research Award “for outstanding research accomplishments by a young faculty member and promise of future achievements.”

clarkson.edu/social

McChesney ’14 Receives

Distinguished Military Award for Valor in Afghanistan Evacuation

Captain MATTHEW MCCHESNEY ’14 is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross to honor his actions during the humanitarian evacuation of Afghans in 2021.

Capt. McChesney and five others from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing were honored in early June at a Stewart Air National Guard Base ceremony in Newburgh, New York. Officials spoke about the airmen’s bravery onboard a C-17 Globemaster III transport jet — call sign “Reach 824” — as part of Operation Allies Refuge.

Capt. McChesney, Reach 824’s aircraft commander, was the sole recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The other airmen each received an Air Medal with valor or a Meritorious Service Medal for their contributions to the successful mission.

Capt. McChesney and his crew flew into a blacked-out airport with only night vision goggles and without the knowledge of a potential attack by the Taliban. The team delivered a critical special operations helicopter to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies before the city fell under Taliban control. The Air Force citation notes, “the crew masterfully offloaded the vital cargo in an unprecedented 40 minutes, enabling the evacuation mission.”

Along with delivering critical equipment, the crew of Reach 824 evacuated over 400 refugees from the beleaguered country. The Air Force said that “the professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain McChesney under extremely hazardous and hostile conditions reflect great credit

Scibior ’16 Among First Peace Corps Volunteers to Return Overseas

JACQUELYN SCIBIOR ’16 is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020.

upon himself and the United States Air Force.”

Capt. McChesney graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and became a commissioned Air Force officer through Clarkson’s Air Force ROTC program in 2014. He became an aircraft commander in 2019, volunteered for a COVID-19 medical support mission in Germany in 2020 and has flown more than 2,600 hours. Capt. McChesney is a C-17 instructor pilot and an assistant flight commander in New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing.

the local community and partner organizations on sustainable development projects.

The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From a young age, I knew I wanted to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer, particularly in a Spanish-speaking country,” says Scibior. “I look forward to the many ways my life will be impacted by working in a country with a unique culture.”

Scibior graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. She serves as a health volunteer in Peru and works with

“The world is at a critical juncture. The largest global vaccination effort in history is underway while other widespread health, social, political and environmental issues continue to erode the foundation of our global society. Actions taken in the next few years have the potential to fundamentally impact development trajectories for decades to come,” said Peace Corps CEO Carol Spahn. “Peace Corps volunteers returning to Peru will work alongside community members to support urgent development efforts and build critical connections.”

Khan Wins Award at International Environmental Conference

REEM KHAN, a chemistry PhD candidate at Clarkson, is one of three student presentation winners at the 31st International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy and Air hosted by the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences (AEHS) Foundation.

AEHS is a professional organization that provides an international forum for environmental professionals to discuss and develop a common ground for presenting and debating important information related to soil, water and air contamination and advance awareness of environmental issues. The AEHS network spans professional disciplines across the U.S. and abroad, including biology, chemistry, geology, engineering and regulatory science.

AEHS encourages the international community to adopt

and maintain environmentally sound and sustainable practices. A panel of judges evaluates presentations based on scientific merit, the value of the project and the student presentation. Three winners are selected yearly to receive a monetary award and attend the award ceremony at the annual AEHS meeting.

Khan’s presentation described developing a low-cost ultrasensitive method for PFAS detection in drinking water. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals, which are very persistent in the environment and human body and can lead to adverse health effects. This class of chemicals is difficult to measure due to their low levels, which require detection at the advisory levels of parts per trillion. Improved measurement technologies are needed to achieve greater speed, lower

the analysis cost and provide remote real-time capabilities.

Khan is a PhD student in Professor SILVANA ANDREESCU’S lab in the Chemistry and Biomolecular Science Department. “This award is a recognition of our efforts and Reem’s contribution to developing electrochemical methods for PFAS detection,” says Andreescu.

Khan’s work is a portion of a larger project which aims to develop low-cost sensors to more easily monitor environmental contaminants and quantify water pollution.

Chem-E Car Places 3rd in Region, Moves on to Nationals

Clarkson’s Chem-E Car SPEED team pulled off a 3rd place finish in the 2022 regional competition, guaranteeing them a spot to compete in the national competition in Phoenix in November at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) annual meeting.

On the day of the competition, the teams were told the distance that the mini-car needed to travel, complete with a chemical power system and a stopping reaction. This year the distance was 20 meters, and the top winners were within just a couple of centimeters.

“To be this close is unusual; typically the 2nd and 3rd place finishers are within meters, not centimeters,” said ELIZABETH PODLAHA-MURPHY, professor and chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Clarkson and the safety judge for the event.

The University of Toronto placed first at 20.04 meters, and Cornell University placed second at 20.24 meters. Clarkson placed third with 20.28 meters.

The SPEED Team president is CAROLYNE SHULTES ’23; the faculty advisors are SIMONA LIGUORI and IAN MCCRUM.

Identifying Anxiety Through Gait, Balance

Can we identify anxiety by a person’s walk? Based on a study conducted by Clarkson students, the answer is yes.

“Identifying Individuals Who Currently Report Feelings of Anxiety Using Walking Gait and Quiet Balance: An Exploratory Study Using Machine Learning” explored whether computers can identify anxiety based on a person’s gait. The team’s research was published in the Sensors Special Issue on Analysis of Biomedical Signals and Physical Behavior Sensing in the Development of Systems for Monitoring, Training, Controlling and Improving Quality of Life.

The team — MAGGIE STARK ’19, EMILY LOCKE ’23, RYAN MCCARTHY ’24, postdoctoral scholars AHMED ALI MOHAMED TORAD, AHMED MAHMOUD KADRY TAYEE and MOUSTAFA ALI ELWAN, and SUNY Canton student Dylan Bradley — worked on the project with Adjunct Research Professor ALI BOOLANI.

Each study participant completed a questionnaire to measure their feelings of anxiety. They then completed a balance test and a two-minute walk while wearing sensors.

Based on the data collected, the team determined that young people who report feelings of anxiety

Clarkson University Libraries First to Be Certified Sustainable

Clarkson University Libraries is the first academic library to complete the Sustainable Libraries Initiative’s (SLI) rigorous certification program. SLI’s Sustainable Libraries Certification Program (SLCP) provides library leaders with a tested, structured path forward to increase a library’s commitment to environmental stewardship, economic feasibility and social equity. The organization’s Academic Library Certification Program (ALCP) encourages collaboration with other campus sustainability efforts.

“Participating in a variety of University committees over the past several years has helped us to position Clarkson University Libraries as a vital agency in the campus sustainability mission,” says Dean of Libraries MICHELLE YOUNG.

“We know that environmental sustainability is at the core of Clarkson’s operations,” notes Young. “The University has consistently earned the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating

walk similarly to older adults who fear falling. They constantly scan side to side for threats and display trouble turning. The researchers also noted that the participants whose questionnaires indicated feelings of anxiety had worse balance than their counterparts.

The team successfully identified people who were anxious with 75% accuracy, which is right in line with two previously published studies. Prof. Boolani and the research team are completing data collection on a more extensive study to see if they can get better results.

System (AASHE STARS) gold ratings. Our Libraries’ mission states: ‘Consider issues of sustainability in all of our practices.’ The way we see it, this declaration sets the tone for all faculty and staff to align their decisions, large and small, as they fit in with environmental best practices, consideration of social equity and fiscal responsibility.”

The SLI continues to pilot its ALCP with a full nationwide rollout of the program anticipated later this year. To learn more about the initiative, visit: sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org.

“OUR LIBRARIES’ MISSION STATES: ‘CONSIDER ISSUES OF SUSTAINABILITY IN ALL OF OUR PRACTICES.’”

— MICHELLE YOUNG, Dean of Libraries

Bomze ’22 Designs New Medical Instruments

MONICA BOMZE ’22, who recently graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering and a minor in robotics, presented research for a new instrument for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery (MILS).

Bomze, whose research verified the feasibility of the new instrument, presented her findings at the 2022 Design of Medical Devices Conference in Minneapolis. The American Society of Chemical Engineers also published Bomze’s findings in Frontiers in Biomedical Devices as part of the conference proceedings.

MILS is a technique in which a surgeon inserts a thin, cameraequipped surgical device into the abdomen or pelvis through one or more small incisions. These procedures result in fewer infections and instances of scarring or pain.

While a student, Bomze worked on the project with Professor Carl Nelson from the University of NebraskaLincoln through a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program funded by the National Science Foundation.

Titled “The Experimental Validation and Design Refinement of a Disposable, Articulated, Surgical Instrument,” her research included experimenting, mathematical modeling, analysis and design, allowing her to apply the technical knowledge and skills she gained at Clarkson toward something impactful and fulfilling.

“I love engineering and problem solving,” Bomze says. “I wanted to use that to help others.”

Bomze said that her research challenged her due to the independent nature of her work. She learned to trust herself, even when everything didn’t go as planned. She presented her progress weekly for the biomedical engineering

program — and, when progress turned to failure, she realized that it still kept her on the track to discovery.

At the conference, Bomze presented her findings in the Advances in Surgical Tools session, followed by a question-and-answer session. She also competed in the Five-Minute Pitch competition, promoting the surgical tool as a viable commercial product to prominent companies in the medical device industry.

The experience was not only a great introduction to presenting research but an opportunity to learn about advances in the field of medical devices. Bomze noted that learning about different processes and challenges from other researchers was a valuable experience. “Speaking to professionals in my field of interest provided insight into what my experiences could look like and how the future of the industry is being shaped.”

Clarkson Names Director of New Emergency Medical Services and Experiential Learning Program

To meet the increase in demand for quality rural healthcare and emergency services, Clarkson and the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences have named DOUGLAS WILDERMUTH the first director of Clarkson’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Experiential Learning program.

Wildermuth is a former New York State Trooper with more than two decades of emergency services experience. “Doug brings incredible experience, leadership and a high level of professionalism,” says Lennart Johns, founding dean of Clarkson’s Lewis School of Health Sciences. “Because of his high level of involvement within the region and nationally, he brings immediate recognition to the Lewis School’s new EMS program.”

Wildermuth, originally from Long Island, is a SUNY Cortland graduate who began his career with the New York State Police in 2001. During his time with the State Police, Wildermuth made several significant advances in the emergency services field.

In 2006, he created the EMS for law enforcement program that troopers continue to use. Wildermuth also helped expand a state initiative that placed an automated external defibrillator (AED) in every state building and every marked State Police vehicle. Eventually, Wildermuth moved to Division Headquarters and was promoted to technical sergeant and contaminated crime scene emergency response team coordinator. He returned to the field in 2017, taking a position

closer to home to finish his career before accepting the EMS program director position at Clarkson.

Wildermuth recognizes that offering quality and disciplined education is paramount to creating a positive relationship with the community. Part of accomplishing this, he believes, includes hands-on education.

— LENNART

Founding Dean of the Lewis School of

“In EMS, we have found that adult learning is learning more by doing than by lecture. There are so many different skill sets of adult education that I have learned over the years,” says Wildermuth. “Any participant that comes into this program will not only understand the principles, but they will apply the practices to their emergency medical technician training. I think that will excite students in that they are not just going to sit there and listen about what they have to do, but apply that knowledge and practice those skills.”

“BECAUSE OF HIS HIGH LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE REGION AND NATIONALLY, HE BRINGS IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION TO THE LEWIS SCHOOL’S NEW EMS PROGRAM.”

JOHNS

Health Sciences

Professors Publish in Prestigious Nature Communications

AARON J. WOLFE, research professor in the Lewis School of Health Sciences and the chief science officer of Ichor Life Sciences — an industry partner of Clarkson — co-published “Disentangling the recognition complexity of a protein hub using a nanopore,” citing implications in medical diagnostics, including earlier detection of diseases and resulting in a better prognosis for patients.

As its name implies, a nanopore is a nanometer-sized pore that can be used as a single-molecule detector. Here the detection of proteins is pushed to the extreme where each interaction can be counted and analyzed individually.

The manuscript describes the study of the development and validation of a protein nanopore that can detect and count a repeat protein called “WD40 repeat protein 5,” which is involved in the formation of chromosomes. This nanopore sensor used in the research detects the biomarker of mixed lineage leukemia.

“This research clearly allows us to envision a tool at the forefront of protein-based diagnostics for cancers and other diseases,” says Wolfe. “We at Ichor feel that this collaboration is a strong testament to what is possible when the barriers between academic and industrial sciences are reduced.”

ERIK BOLLT, W. Jon Harrington Professor of Mathematics and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his co-authors at The Ohio State University published their research on “Next generation reservoir computing” or NG-RC.

Reservoir computing (RC) is a machine learning algorithm developed in the early 2000s used to solve extremely complex computing problems. It mimics how the human brain works and allows scientists to tackle some of the most complex information processing problems.

RC is a variation of deep learning where most of the internal weights are selected randomly rather than the usual computationally intensive training phase required of most neural network methods. Nonetheless, the reservoir computing approach can perform on par with the standard fully trained neural networks. However, it was long an open question as to how and why a random method could work so well.

Bollt and his team have further developed a next generation version of NG-RC, which will make standard reservoir computing work much more efficiently — up to millions of times faster — but requires significantly fewer computing resources and less data input.

Chemical

and

Biomolecular

Science Professors OLEH SMUTOK, EVGENY KATZ and ARTEM MELMAN (d. November 25, 2021) co-published, with a team of Australian scientists led by Kirill Alexandrov of Queensland University of Technology, a paper titled “Design of a methotrexate-controlled chemical dimerization system and its use in bio-electronic devices.” The paper reports on a novel artificial enzyme produced by genetic engineering that can be activated with drug (methotrexate) molecules. The artificial enzyme was immobilized at an electrode surface and used for drug biosensing with extremely high sensitivity and specificity.

In addition, the study is highly relevant for practical biomedical applications. Methotrexate is a toxic drug used in anti-cancer chemotherapy, and its overdose has serious, life-threatening side effects. Thus, the methotrexate analysis in biological fluids is important for keeping the drug at the optimal concentration. The study opens future options for biomedical applications of the developed biosensor and possibilities for other biosensing systems based on the same concept.

The research team has operated for several years with over $1 million in grants from the Human Frontier Science Program and the U.S. Department of Defense.

WOLFE BOLLT SMUTOK KATZ MELMAN

NYS Parks to Invest $3.2 Million in Clarkson’s Beacon Institute

As part of a public-private partnership with Clarkson and its Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is investing $3.2 million in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve to convert an abandoned paperclip factory into a formal Visitors’ Welcome Center and the Beatrice G. Donofrio Environmental Education Complex. The project aims to showcase the rich history of the park’s Denning’s Point in Beacon, as well as the ecological diversity of the Hudson River Estuary. Spending the last day of his 19-year presidency at the event on June 30, ANTHONY G. COLLINS and new Clarkson President MARC P. CHRISTENSEN, Ph.D. P.E., recognized the power of the partnership with New York state to bring together world-relevant healthy water research, innovation, education and recreation for the public good. The leaders also recognized NICK DONOFRIO and his family for their support of the Beatrice G. Donofrio Environmental Education Complex — an extension of the Visitors’ Welcome Center — which honors their mother, Beatrice, in the Beacon community she called home.

President Christensen thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, who “is nationally recognized for her bold leadership to address environmental issues and climate change with sustainable solutions. With parks and trail systems in New York state setting new records in community usage, this public-private collaboration at Denning’s Point provides direct access for all learners — regardless of age, resources or financial capacity — to engage in community science alongside scientific experts and advocate for the natural environment in new and meaningful ways that matter to our future.”

The work will complete the transformation of the first floor of a former industrial plant to its repurposed use for research and education. Earlier stages of work to the structural and exterior building shell were completed in 2021. This next stage of work will finish the interior to create a welcome center with classrooms and collaborative and supporting spaces, including accessible restrooms and an elevator that leads to an open floor plan on the second level. Exterior work will provide utility connections, parking and pathways, all enhanced by site furnishings and selective landscaping.

Outgoing President Tony Collins with Incoming President Marc P. Christensen at the June 30 event.

The Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), based at Clarkson University, is celebrating its 20th year.

CITeR — a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center — specializes in studying the growing areas of identity science and biometric recognition. Biometrics is the automated recognition of individuals based on their biological and behavioral traits. Centers like CITeR focus on industry and government needs through collaborations among these groups and universities.

CITeR Celebrates 20 Years of Biometrics Research

STEPHANIE SCHUCKERS, Clarkson’s Paynter-Krigman Endowed Professor in Engineering Science, serves as the director of CITeR.

“At points, we wondered whether this research would become a ‘solved’ problem, and then new challenges would emerge: spoof detection, biometric cryptography, altered finger detection, biometrics at a distance, biometric permanence and more,” she says. “And now, here we are in 2023, with additional challenges, such as face morphing, deepfakes, bias, template security, biometrics in children and many others.”

Since awarding its first research grants in 2002, CITeR has performed cutting-edge research as new problems evolve each year.

Some fundamental scientific studies funded by CITeR examine permanence — how a trait remains essentially unchanged throughout one’s lifetime — in aging adults and children. The research found that accurate identification by fingerprint in adults remained high over a 12-15year period. CITeR researchers have also studied biometric recognition in children, which has applications in areas including immigration, refugee efforts and distribution of benefits. The findings show that identification by irises was stable for the three years they studied children aged 4 to 11, and face recognition algorithms failed over a three-year period.

In the last three years, CITeR researchers have also developed several single and differential morph

detectors to circumvent the problem of morph attacks. Face morphing is the process of combining two or more subjects in an image to create a new identity that contains features of both individuals. Morphed images can fool facial recognition systems into falsely accepting multiple people, leading to failures in national security and border control applications.

Single morph detectors are used during passport applications to authenticate if the submitted passport photo is a real or morphed image. Differential detectors can validate if the passport holder’s photo is the same as the photo in the passport.

Other current and past CITeR research highlights include crossspectral face recognition, noncontact fingerprint recognition, template security and privacy, bias in face recognition, presentation attack detection (liveness detection) and soft and novel biometrics.

The 20th-anniversary celebration was part of CITeR’s semiannual program review for industry and government affiliates and guests. The event, hosted at the Buffalo Museum of Science and University at Buffalo, included a keynote by University Distinguished Professor Anil K. Jain of Michigan State University and technical presentations on CITeR’s ongoing research projects.

For more information on CITeR and its robust research portfolio, go to citer.clarkson.edu. .

CITeR

FOUNDED: 2001

FOUNDING DIRECTOR AND SITE: Lawrence Hornak, West Virginia University

FOUNDING FACULTY: Anil Jain, Michigan State University, and Jim Wayman, San José State University

CURRENT DIRECTOR AND SITE: Stephanie Schuckers, Clarkson University

CURRENT SITES AND ACADEMIC PARTNERS: Clarkson University (lead site since 2011), West Virginia University, University at Buffalo, Michigan State University and Idiap Research Institute

CURRENT ACTIVE FACULTY: 40+

CURRENT AFFILIATES: ACV Auctions, Army Futures Command – Combat Capabilities Development, Command Armaments Center (CCDC Armaments Center), Athena Sciences, Aware Inc., Cyber Street Solutions, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC), Department of Defense – Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency (DFBA), Department of Homeland Security –Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM), Department of Homeland Security – Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IDEMIA, National Security Agency, Precise Biometrics, Public Safety Canada, Qualcomm Incorporated, SICPA, Synolo Biometrics Inc., TECH5, Veridium and Xator Corporation

Stephanie Schuckers

PRESIDENT MARC P. CHRISTENSEN, PH.D.,

‘CLARKSON KNOWS WHO IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS’

By Kris Ross

MARC P. CHRISTENSEN knew early on in the presidential search process that “Clarkson knows who it is and why it matters.”

“It was abundantly clear that Clarkson is a community that cares deeply about our students and knows why the education, research, outreach and the innovations we create matter,” says Christensen, who took office on July 1.

These hallmarks, combined with the University’s achievements in advancing social mobility and the career trajectories for alumni, confirmed for Christensen that Clarkson is a bold leader among higher education institutions.

As he transitioned from Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University to his new post as Clarkson’s president, Christensen hosted a series of webinars and meetand-greets with faculty, staff and students leading up to his first major event: Reunion Weekend.

“Building connections and relationships is priority number one. Reunion Weekend was an exciting opportunity to meet many of our alumni. Listening to their stories helped me to develop an even deeper understanding of what makes Clarkson the remarkable community it is.”

Also essential to Clarkson’s success are strong relationships with industry partners.

Between June and October, Christensen met with leaders from dozens of organizations that provide insights that help to guide Clarkson’s curricula.

“These industry partnerships have been a longtime key to our graduates’ academic and professional success. We will continue to foster these relationships, which add value to a Clarkson education.”

BUILDING CLARKSON’S FUTURE

Just north of 100 days on the job, family and friends; faculty, staff and alumni; delegates from dozens of academic institutions; and colleagues and students from the past and present gathered to celebrate Christensen’s

inauguration as the 17th president of Clarkson University on October 15.

In his inaugural address, Christensen made clear his theme: “Clarkson knows who it is and why it matters.”

The theme emphasizes the exceptional social and economic relevance the University and its graduates hold today: defining a path forward for innovative teaching, research and partnership; contributing to the resolution of issues and solutions to challenges that matter to a world seeking sustainable solutions; and rewarding career outcomes for our students.

“We matter to our community. We matter to our students, we matter to companies spanning the globe, we matter to our nation, and we matter to the world,” he said.

He spoke about the global impact that Clarkson’s alumni

CONTINUED >

“THE CORNERSTONE IS THE FIRST STONE LAID…A ROCK-STEADY FRAME OF REFERENCE. IT IS ENDURING. IT LASTS THROUGH THE CENTURIES.”

P.E.

and faculty have made, giving nods to the recent NASA Artemis rocket launch led by Mike Sarafin ’94; techniques and mass commercialization processes pioneered by Clarkson faculty to remediate harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS) from groundwater; and the development of innovations the world relies on daily — specifically the iPhone, for which Clarkson alumni led the Apple product’s design and manufacturing teams.

Christensen also shared how Clarkson’s namesake and the sandstone of our first structures became the cornerstone of education, research, innovation and service that still matters today. “The cornerstone is the first stone laid…A rock-steady frame of reference. It is enduring. It lasts through the centuries.”

CLARKSON MATTERS: IN THEIR WORDS

Those who spoke at the 17th Inauguration Ceremony are ambassadors representing constituencies President Christensen will consult to further define and amplify his theme of “Clarkson knows who it is and why it matters,” which honors Clarkson’s past and will guide its future.

Inspired by the University’s history, Christensen unveiled The Clarkson Cornerstone, an initiative that “demands that we focus our resources on doing things that matter. We will provide our students with the best technical education and with one they can afford to invest in. We will teach students not only the fundamentals but what industry wants them to know to excel. We will ensure each of our students benefits from a work experience relevant to their field of study, and we will ensure that every one of our students has a path to graduate in four years.”

Christensen closed his speech by revisiting his opening question. “How does one know a university is world-class? If Clarkson didn’t exist, would anyone notice? Well, if Clarkson didn’t exist: 46,000 alumni would not have had the transformative educational

“CLARKSON IS A NEXUS FOR P-12, HIGHER EDUCATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. AS AN EDUCATOR, CLARKSON IS THE PLACE YOU GO WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND NEED ANSWERS.”

experience that has helped them get to where they are today. Approximately 10,000 companies wouldn’t have had a founder, CEO, CTO or CFO. So many of our nation’s strongest companies would have vacancies of critical contributors, leaders and visionaries. Important scientific advances and technological achievements would have been delayed if not altogether abandoned. Today, it is clear: Clarkson matters.

“And going forward, to all the hard-working families looking for a rock-solid site to build the foundation of their student’s future, Clarkson will matter. We’ve set our cornerstone.

Now let’s get to building Clarkson’s future.”

To learn more about President Christensen and The Clarkson Cornerstone, go to clarkson.edu/ cornerstone.

“CLARKSON IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH CAREERS AND LIFELONG SUCCESS ARE BUILT… EACH CLARKSON GRADUATE HAS ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THEY MAY NEED TO KEEP BUILDING UPON THIS STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

AMANDA J. ZULLO UGC’05

Principal, Tupper Lake Middle-High School, and 2015 Recipient, U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

MONICA J. YOUNG ’00 Executive Director, AEM Corporation, and Clarkson Alumni Association President

About President Christensen

A widely published expert in photonics research that focuses on using light to transmit, process and sense information, Christensen has coauthored over 100 journal and conference papers and was identified by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a “rising star in microsystems research.” He began his professional career as a technical leader in BDM’s Sensors and Photonics Group, now part of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. In 1997, he cofounded Applied Photonics, a free-space optical interconnection module company that provided hardware demonstrations for multiple DARPA programs. He currently holds 10 U.S. patents.

Christensen received his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from Cornell University in 1993, his master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Mason University in 1998 and his PhD in electrical and computer engineering from George Mason University in 2001. He also participated in the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education Management Development Program.

After earning his PhD, he joined the Southern Methodist University faculty in 2002, where he was recognized for innovative teaching and outstanding research. He rose through the faculty ranks at SMU, and, in 2010, he was selected as the inaugural Bobby B. Lyle Professor of Engineering Innovation. He went on to serve as the department chair of Electrical Engineering and has been the dean of SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering for the past nine years.

Christensen and his wife, Seema, are the proud parents of Asha Christensen, who is pursuing graduate work in economics at the University of Texas at Austin, and Priya Christensen, who is pursuing graduate studies in molecular and cell biology at the University of Texas at Dallas. With industry experience in engineering, Seema is now a ceramics artist looking forward to opening a new studio in the area.

LOOK GOOD. DO GOOD.

•••

Join Marc and Seema in wearing your Clarkson colors with the extra pride of knowing your purchase is made sustainably in the USA.

Learn more and order your Clarkson tie or scarf at: engage.clarkson.edu/knotty-tie.

“CLARKSON MAKES ST. LAWRENCE

BETTER AND MAKES HEALTHCARE BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITIES…THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR ORGANIZATIONS AFFORDS STUDENTS THE VERY BEST EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PREPARATION TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY AND BEYOND.

DONNA M. MCGREGOR President, St. Lawrence Health System and Canton-Potsdam Hospital

“CLARKSON IS A PLACE WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE…CLARKSON IS A SCHOOL WHERE, NO MATTER YOUR MAJOR, OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE ABOUND…WHERE NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN RELY ON FACULTY AND STAFF TO ENSURE YOUR FUTURE IS ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS BEYOND COLLEGE.”

JEFRY A. LOPEZ RINCON ’23 President,

University Student Association

HEALTH

Clarkson

True to the Clarkson Values, which together provide a unique educational experience directed toward developing the whole person, any profits from this pop-up sale will help additionally fund Clarkson’s student curricular and co-curricular activities and groups.

Marc and Seema sport their custom Clarkson necktie and scarf.

A CLARKSON CELEBRATION

The week leading up to the Presidential Inauguration ceremony was filled with a series of quintessential Clarkson events, including alumni networking, a research and project showcase and, of course, Clarkson hockey.

INAUGURATION WEEKEND SNAPSHOTS

Bagpipers from Brockville Pipes and Drums. | President Christensen and Seema Christensen supporting Clarkson hockey alongside the Pep Band. | Lynn T. Kassouf ’76 shares a laugh with Trustee Bayard D. Clarkson, Sr. H’74. | President Christensen takes a quick break from Inauguration activities to play foosball with students. | Board of Trustees Chair Thomas L. Kassouf ’74 shares the history of the Clarkson Medallion. | Rep. Paul D. Tonko ’71 visits with President Christensen and VP for External Relations Kelly O. Chezum MBA’04 at Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus. | Graduate Student Association Vice President Nimanthi U. Abeyrathna PhD’25 shares findings from her research on invasive Callinina georgiana at the Research and Project Showcase following the Inauguration Ceremony. | President Christensen scores a goal by way of a student-designed Rube Goldberg machine. | President Christensen toasts guests at the Good Knights Guild leadership dinner. | Chair Kassouf places the Clarkson Medallion around President Christensen’s neck, signifying the honor of his role as the 17th president, chief executive officer and academic officer of Clarkson University. | President Christensen and his wife, Seema, host guests at Foster House. | President Christensen walks across campus as the Inauguration Procession filters into Cheel Arena. | During the Clarkson Matters Conversation event, Ken Solinsky ’71 — who with wife, Grace, created the Solinsky Engineering Leadership Challenge — shares why he believes in a Clarkson education. | President Christensen with ROTC runners early Saturday morning. | President Christensen with staff and students following the Inauguration Ceremony. | Robert “Soupy”

Alexander

Campbell ’61 chats with his scholarship recipients

Patrick Campbell ’24 and Mathieu Gosselin ’23 at a reception at Club 99.

SCHMELER ’91 ENGINEERS MEDICAL CAREER, HELPS WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE

by Michael P. Griffin MS ’00

Kathleen Schmeler ’91 studied mechanical engineering at Clarkson, where she says she received an excellent education, both academically and in life skills. She was president of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, worked in Walker Arena (now Walker Center) and participated in a semester abroad in London. After graduation, she briefly worked as an engineer, but her life changed dramatically when she met a cancer researcher on a transatlantic flight and took him up on an internship opportunity in Holland — and she’s never looked back. Today, Schmeler is a medical doctor and professor of gynecologic oncology at the largest cancer center in the nation.

How did you journey from mechanical engineering to a medical career?

I was always interested in medicine, but no one in my family was a doctor, so I didn’t know where to start. My first job out of Clarkson was with Procter & Gamble, but I lasted less than two years. During that time, I took a trip to the Netherlands to visit my parents and my then-boyfriend (now husband), Stephen Brown, who was coincidentally studying there. I was so fortunate to meet an MD/PhD cancer researcher on the flight. I expressed my interest in medicine, and he took a chance on me and offered me an internship in his lab. I quit my job, moved to Holland, worked for him for six months and loved it. I was a terrible engineer, so it was a good move! I eventually moved back to the U.S., took a year of pre-med classes and applied to medical school. How have you built and shaped your medical career?

Medical training is pretty long. I did four years of medical school and then four years of OB-GYN residency. I thought I would spend my career delivering babies, but I really liked gynecologic oncology as a subspecialty during my residency. I was interested in cancer research from my time in Holland. I wanted to dedicate my career to preventing and treating cancer and helping support and care for women and their families through the end of life when a cure is no

longer possible. I was fortunate to do my fellowship at MD Anderson, a prominent cancer center in Texas with world-class cancer care and research. After my fellowship, I was offered a faculty position and have stayed for 18 years!

What do you do in your roles at MD Anderson?

My job at MD Anderson is 50% clinical care and 50% research. I care for women with gynecologic cancers, including performing surgery, giving chemotherapy and providing cervical cancer prevention treatments in our colposcopy clinic. I see patients at MD Anderson and LBJ Hospital, a safety net hospital for uninsured and underinsured patients in Houston. Most of my research is related to cervical cancer prevention and treatment, particularly for medically underserved populations.

One of Clarkson’s interdisciplinary research areas is Healthy Global Solutions. Your primary research interest is in cervical cancer prevention and treatment, particularly in developing countries and for medically underserved women in the United States. How did you come to focus on this area, and why is it important?

Cervical cancer is a completely preventable disease, yet women die from it every day. Due to significant scientific discoveries in the 1990s, we now know that the cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). We have a safe and effective vaccine against HPV and effective screening tools — like Pap smear and HPV testing — and ways to treat pre-cancerous cells before they turn into cancer.

However, in many communities, organized screening and prevention programs are not available — and there is a lack of trained medical providers to care for women with abnormal screening results or early cancer. As a result, women in these settings often present with advanced-stage disease that is impossible to cure.

Almost 90% of cervical cancer cases occur in lower-resource countries — particularly in subSaharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. However, this is also the case in many medically underserved regions of the U.S. —

FIND SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE COURSE AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH YOUR EDUCATION AND SUBSEQUENT CAREER.

particularly in rural areas and areas of high poverty. An example is the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas-Mexico border, where the cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are more than 50% higher than in the rest of the U.S. Another Clarkson interdisciplinary research area is Next Generation Medicine and Healthcare. You are performing several clinical trials, in Latin America and around the world, focused on developing better ways to prevent and treat cervical cancer in low-resource settings. Can you tell us about these trials and why they are important?

Many of the recent developments in medicine are due to innovative technologies. For example, the tools we use to screen for, diagnose and treat cervical cancer in highresource settings like MD Anderson work very well. However, they are not feasible in low-resource settings due to cost, necessary equipment and infrastructure, and the need for trained specialists to use these tools.

For example, in Mozambique, Africa, our labs don’t have consistent temperature and humidity controls and experience frequent power outages. Many of the tools we use in the U.S. don’t work there. I have the good fortune to partner with the Bioengineering Department at Rice University in Houston; we work together to develop lowcost, point-of-care technologies to diagnose cervical cancer and other diseases — all designed for use in low-resource settings. We have several ongoing trials to test these technologies in Mozambique, Brazil and Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

Can you tell us more about the MD Anderson Cervical Cancer Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) program you run?

There is a massive shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly specialists, in many parts of the U.S. and lowerresource countries. Project ECHO is a program developed by the University of New Mexico, which

we have adapted to increase knowledge of cancer prevention and treatment options.

MD Anderson’s Project ECHO telementoring program connects academic center specialists to help train and support medical providers in community clinics so that patients can get the care they need, regardless of where they live. Training includes regular Zoom videoconferences where community providers present patient cases and specialists provide advice, feedback and mentoring.

It is different from “telemedicine” as we do not remotely provide direct patient care; rather, we teach, mentor and support the local doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, etc., to provide high-quality care locally. At MD Anderson, we run various Project ECHOs related to preventing and treating cervical cancer and many other cancer types — both in Texas and in many other countries.

Kathleen’s Clarkson roommate, Lauren Neilsen Miller ’91, (left) moved to Houston during the pandemic. The two reconnected after more than 30 years.

Kathleen with her father, Clarkson Trustee Frank R. Schmeler ’64, P’91, P’93, and Alex Brown ’26.

What was your role as chair of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Education Committee?

There is a severe shortage of physicians and surgeons to diagnose and treat cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this role, I help run the Global Curriculum, a comprehensive two-year education and training program designed for regions of the world that do not have formal training in gynecologic oncology.

We match institutions and individuals from higher-resource settings with partners in LMICs wishing to obtain formal gynecologic oncology training (twinning). The trainees (fellows) follow a comprehensive twoyear, web-based curriculum. The international mentors travel to the fellow’s home institution two to four times per year to provide hands-on surgical training for one to two weeks per visit.

The fellows keep surgical case logs and participate in monthly virtual tumor boards using the Project ECHO platform. The program launched in 2017 and currently has 18 training programs worldwide with 38 fellows and 23 graduates. The programs are located worldwide,

including many countries in Africa (Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Nigeria), as well as Guatemala, Nepal, India, Fiji and Jamaica.

Did Clarkson play a role in the success you have today?

Absolutely. Clarkson gave me a very solid undergraduate education and the skills to do well academically. And, just FYI, engineering school is much harder than medical school! Clarkson also provided me with the necessary life skills that have enabled me to adapt and change throughout my career.

What advice do you have for current Clarkson students?

Be fearless. You are getting an excellent education and can do anything. Find something you are passionate about and don’t be afraid to change course as you progress through your education and subsequent career.

The Schmeler family is a legacy family, or one that has had multiple generations of family members attend Clarkson. Why does Clarkson hold a special place in your hearts?

Clarkson is a very special place for our family. My father, FRANK SCHMELER ’64, P’91, P’93, is from Canada and attended Clarkson

on a hockey scholarship. He was one of the first in his family to go to college. He went on to have a very successful career, thanks to the opportunities he had as a Clarkson graduate. More importantly, he met my mother, Wilma (Murphy), who was a student at SUNY Potsdam. My brother, sister and I grew up knowing many of their college friends and knew what a special place it is from a young age.

My sister, NANCY SCHMELER ’93, with whom I was fortunate to overlap for two years, and I loved our time at Clarkson. Nancy’s husband, DEANE NELSON ’91, is also a Clarkson graduate.

Our whole family, especially my husband, Steve, and I, is thrilled that our oldest child, Alex, is now a member of the Clarkson Class of 2026, majoring in electrical engineering and carrying on our family tradition.

HOMETOWNS: Cowansville, Québec, Canada, and Albany, New York

CURRENT POSITION: Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Executive Director of Global Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

RESIDENCE: Houston, Texas

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science, mechanical engineering, Clarkson University, 1991

• Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann University School of Medicine, 2000

• Residency in obstetrics and gynecology, Women & Infants’ Hospital/Brown University, 2000-2004

• Fellowship in gynecologic oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004-2007

OUR WHOLE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY HUSBAND, STEVE, AND I, IS THRILLED THAT OUR OLDEST CHILD, ALEX, IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE CLARKSON CLASS OF 2026

Kathleen M. Schmeler, MD ’91 Mechanical Engineering

SIX HOCKEY ATHLETES, TWO OLYMPIC MEDALS, ONE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

One of the most storied college hockey programs in the country, Clarkson’s women’s team boasts an alumni base that comprises some of the most talented players in the world. That talent was on full display in Beijing as six Golden Knights represented their respective countries at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Swapping out Clarkson green and gold for red and white, Team Canada athletes JAMIE LEE RATTRAY ’14, ERIN AMBROSE ’16, RENATA FAST ’16 and ELLA SHELTON ’20 each added Olympic gold medals to a trophy collection that includes at least one NCAA National Championship ring.

SAVANNAH HARMON ’18 collected a silver medal for her efforts with Team USA, and MICHAELA PEJZLOVÁ ’20 proudly represented the Czech Republic.

taste of Olympic competition. From the outset, the journey provided plenty of memorable moments.

“I think, first thing I just started breaking down into tears,” says Shelton, reflecting on the moment she was told she had made Team Canada. “I was so happy and just so proud of myself to get there. I was overwhelmed with emotions and to hear all my coaches say congratulations. To be named to that team was probably, you know, a dream come true.”

There came a time for each player over the course of their Olympic experience where the weight of their accomplishment finally sank in. Each former Golden Knight remembers their moment.

For Harmon, it was at the opening ceremonies, walking with the whole of Team USA. For

By Jake Newman

process. Although unique for each of the six athletes, one constant brought their moment to them: seeing the iconic Olympic rings.

“Getting over to the rink and stepping out onto the Olympic ice surface for the first time is so cool to see the rings all along the boards and Beijing 2022. That’s when the moment really sinks in. I think for me in 2018, it did, and I think it did again here,” says Fast, the lone Clarkson alumna with previous Olympic experience. “We dream of this our whole lives, to play in the Olympics. And when you get there and you soak it all in, it’s so special.”

“You see the rings everywhere in the rink. There was this big wall at the end of the rink that had the rings on it, and it was just a cool feeling, a different feeling,” adds Rattray. “There are times during the Olympics where you kind of feel like you’re out of your body

Team Canada 2022 Gold Medalists (from left) Erin Ambrose ’16, Jamie Lee Rattray ’14, Renata Fast ’16 and Ella Shelton ’20

KNIGHTS (RE)UNITE

A sense of unity was present for the Golden Knights in Beijing. While four of the six players were on the Canadian team, Harmon and Pejzlová had the opportunity to mingle with their fellow alumni.

Fast cherishes time she was able to spend with Harmon, reflecting on their separate, but parallel, journeys to the height of the sport.

“When we played together at Clarkson, we probably both didn’t really think we’d ever actually make it here,” Fast says. “So to be able to stand in the Olympic Village chatting with each other for an hour was really cool. But the thing I love about [Harmon] and I is that ever since we played together, the two of us have been really big supporters of one another and push each other.”

For the Canadian quartet, their roots at Clarkson fostered chemistry on the ice. While not all of the women played for the Golden Knights at the same time, the mindset instilled in all of them nurtured cohesion in their play.

“Jamie Lee (Rattray) always says, ‘It feels like I played with you, Ella, even though we never went to school at the same time.’ And I think just that Clarkson connection, you’re able to connect on so many different levels,” recounts Shelton. “The identity of Clarkson hockey for the women’s side didn’t

Team USA Silver Medalist

Savannah Harmon ’18 and the Czech Republic’s Michaela Pejzlová ’20

change from Jamie’s years to my years; it was the same. Defensive zone first, and then making sure we are solid in our defensive zone leads to good offense. And that’s what we were known for. And I think that was something that was a super big asset to us as far as being successful.”

“There’s a reason why there were four women from Clarkson on this team and why it was successful,” adds Fast. “I think the culture and the things that all six of us players in the Olympics brought to our teams, I think it says a lot about the program that we’ve come from.”

CLARKSON CAMARADERIE AND CONNECTION

Looking back at their journeys, Fast feels that having that Clarkson connection was a major benefit to each player’s Olympic experience. Speaking from experience, she knows that bond was palpable on Team Canada.

“I think we did a great job, all of us supporting each other and lifting each other up and really pushing each other to all get a spot on the team,” says Fast.

Fast recalls a University-wide Zoom before the Olympics. Hearing her fellow alumni reflect on their college careers cemented her belief in Clarkson’s role in her success. “All of us brought it back to Clarkson and how important our time there was...we wouldn’t be on the Olympic stage if it wasn’t for Clarkson.”

The six players came together again in the fall — this time in Potsdam — for a ceremony to raise their Olympic banners into the rafters of Cheel, joining the eight other Golden Knights who previously competed in the Winter Olympic Games. (See back cover.)

“It’s special to be able to share it with them,” Fast says, “knowing that Clarkson played a huge role in all of our paths to get there.”

Women’s Hockey Head Coach Position Named in Honor of Munters

Clarkson’s women’s head hockey coach position is now named for John ’59 and Rosemary Munter, faithful donors who are dedicated to helping the University grow in myriad ways.

MATT DESROSIERS, who has served as the sole head coach since 2014 — and who was co-head coach from 2008-2014 — offered his heartfelt thanks to the Munter family for their enduring support.

“This gift is a great way for the family to come together to honor John and Rosemary’s love of Clarkson,”

Desrosiers said. “It certainly reflects the same family values that are so important to Clarkson athletics and the women’s hockey program. I am honored and proud to hold this position and work hard to ensure that our staff and players continue to make you proud.”

As steadfast supporters of Clarkson, John and his wife, Rosemary, are members of a prestigious group that holds Legend status in the Good Knights Guild. They are loyal donors to The Clarkson Fund and other Clarkson projects.

71 Years of Annual Giving

MARCH ’50 DEFINES CLARKSON LOYAL

RICHARD MARCH ’50 has experienced many firsts in his 92 years. Now he can add another one: March is the first alum to be formally recognized as Clarkson’s longest consecutive donor and a pillar of Clarkson Loyal — the new donor recognition program that recognizes those who give to The Clarkson Fund annually.

Since graduating, he has made a gift to Clarkson every year for 71 years. “I always felt it was the right thing to do — to give back to the school to help keep students coming,” says March.

He remembers his Clarkson days fondly. With the end of World War II, many American soldiers came back and enrolled in colleges and universities, Clarkson included.

At age 17, the New York City native — and first-generation college student — attended Clarkson’s Malone Campus before shifting to the Potsdam Campus for his sophomore year. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and industrial engineering in 1950 and was one of 470 men in the class.

March has always been highly active and dedicated to all things Clarkson. As a student, he was involved in dozens of activities. He was editor in chief of the Clarkson Integrator, the student newspaper; a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, the oldest engineering honor society and the second oldest collegiate honor society in the U.S.; and a member of Pi Tau Sigma, the International Honor Society for Mechanical Engineers. He was also a member of Phalanx, Clarkson’s highest honorary society.

By Kris Ross

March went on to Northwestern University to earn a master’s degree before starting work at the Atomic Energy Commission’s Argonne National Laboratory. He completed an early nuclear engineering training program, which would fuel his career.

“In those days, there was no such thing as nuclear engineers; there were no courses anywhere,” he says. “The Atomic Energy Commission developed a program at Oak Ridge, equivalent to a master’s degree in nuclear engineering.”

March recalls that the Commission needed engineers in the Pittsburgh office, part of the Naval Reactors program. “Those were the very early days of getting into the nuclear business for the Navy. I worked for the Nuclear Navy for about 33 years.”

It was a career of firsts. “We built the first nuclear-powered ship, the USS Nautilus. Eventually, we built aircraft carriers and more submarines,” he shares. And, as part of the Atomic Energy Commission’s program to develop civilian nuclear power, March was involved with the first civilian nuclear power plant at Shippingport, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh.

March eventually moved on to Ansys, Inc., a small (at the time) company that sold engineering software worldwide and provided technical support. His job was to develop the international distributor network. He did that for nine years until he retired.

Throughout his career and well into his retirement years, March continues to be a devoted

and engaged alumnus. He was an alumni admission and capital campaign volunteer, served on the Clarkson Alumni Association Board of Governors and Clarkson Alumni Council and was a regional chapter president. He was also highly engaged in his class reunion activities. Now, he remains active mostly through his philanthropy.

ENGAGE, INVEST, ENSURE

What makes Clarkson so special that March has stayed connected all these years? “Clarkson is a place where you get a sound education, but you also get personal attention,” he says. “You’re not a number; you’re a name.

“When I talk to young people who have attended other schools, I hear about lecture classes with over 300 kids; professors don’t know them, and they don’t know the professors.

“When I was at Clarkson, the professors knew everybody by name. And it’s still that way. Going to a small school is a valuable asset in terms of learning, making friends, having connections and getting whatever personal attention you may need in an environment. I think that’s very important.”

March, who received the Golden Knight Award in 1990, gives to Clarkson — and encourages others to do the same — so the personalized Clarkson experience can continue for decades to come. “Help the next students that come along,” he says. “Return some of what you received if you can. Any amount is always helpful.”

While March achieved his Loyal status by making annual

gifts to The Clarkson Fund — which provides students with need-based scholarships — his philanthropy doesn’t end there. He and his late wife, Helen, also made gifts toward Bertrand H. Snell Hall and the Alumni Gateway and provided gifts in kind. They established the Richard ’50 and Helen March Endowed Chair in 2014 and a bequest to secure the named position into the future. In 2020, March also contributed to the COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund.

March isn’t just Clarkson Loyal; he’s a Clarkson Legend. He remains dedicated to ensuring that Clarkson students have the tools and the means to succeed, despite the challenges they may face.

“It’s become a lot more expensive since I went to school,” he says. “The important part of giving to the school is to help those after me — all these young people who want to go to school but need help. It is essential for this country to graduate engineers and scientists. We don’t graduate enough. Graduating scientists, engineers and mathematicians is paramount.

“Clarkson is a smart investment. Whether you’re a student considering Clarkson or an alum looking to give back, Clarkson is an opportunity to change your life and, in return, change the lives of others.”

Learn more about the Good Knights Guild, Clarkson’s donor recognition program, at engage.clarkson.edu/ good-knights-guild

“CLARKSON IS A SMART INVESTMENT. WHETHER YOU’RE A STUDENT CONSIDERING CLARKSON OR AN ALUM LOOKING TO GIVE BACK, CLARKSON IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND, IN RETURN, CHANGE THE LIVES OF OTHERS.”

— RICHARD MARCH ’50

PHOTO BY MICHAEL HOLLER, COURTESY OF THE SARASOTA BALLET

THE SUMMER OF ’72

Clarkson Vehicle Design Team Recalls Innovation, Dedication — and a Whole Lotta Beer Cans

By Jake Newman

It has been a half-century since Clarkson’s Urban Vehicle Design Competition (UVDC) entry drew national attention. Driven by a shared passion for cars and fueled by community support, a team of undergraduate engineering students met the challenge head-on.

In August 1972, the UVDC judged vehicles developed by students across the U.S. and Canada to be low-emission, safe urban vehicles. After weeklong testing at the General Motors

Proving Ground in Michigan, Clarkson’s design finished in the top 10 of more than 70 vehicles while relying on a fraction of the budget of its competitors.

Six members of the Class of 1972 — ED CICHANOWICZ, STAN KUJAWSKI, HERB HELBIG, THRUSTON AWALT, DAVE COX and EVERETT “BUZZ” GRANGER — formed the core of Clarkson’s team for the competition.

“We were a small but dedicated team focused on building a car with unique safety features

and improved emission control systems,” Helbig recalls. “Our small size required that everyone pitched in to do whatever was required.”

A year before the competition, Cichanowicz remembers the symposium for prospective teams, held at the University of Toronto, as intimidating.

“We came up, and there were a lot of schools with fancy graphics and showing a lot of swagger — and Stan and I didn’t,” Cichanowicz says. “Some of these teams found that talking about building a car and actually doing so are very different; many never delivered a vehicle to the Proving Ground for trials the following year.”

(From left) Thruston Awalt, Dave Cox, Stan Kujawski and Ed Cichanowicz

Community Connections

As the project took shape, the group’s energy was matched and supported by devoted Clarkson faculty and staff. Mechanical engineering professors Ken Saczalski and Richard Wirtz advised on the design of the energy-absorbing frame and emissions control technologies. Perhaps of greater value were Ray Smith, a machinist, and electrician Carl Stevens. They were instrumental not only in vehicle construction but also in using their Potsdam network to source parts and services.

According to Cichanowicz, Smith and Stevens secured contributions from local businesses that included material for the vehicle mockup and professional welding

and fabrication services for the frame. The team roughed out the body skin in a wing of Old Main, but a professional body shop in Massena donated materials, services and the use of specialized power tools and shop space.

The team located a rare NSU Spider — one of only a few vehicles powered by a Wankel engine — in a nearby salvage yard and received the engine and drivetrain as donations. The front suspension was also donated, repurposed from an MGB sports car. A local paint shop offered materials and services to cloak the vehicle in Clarkson gold.

“We learned how a small, dedicated group of engineers could accomplish great things by having a can-do attitude,” says Helbig. “We didn’t have a lot of money or a big staff, but we were resourceful and didn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘can’t.’”

Built With Innovation

Indeed, “can’t” was a word the group heard throughout their build. The group relied on

innovation and effort to bypass impossibility, particularly when working with the seemingly random assortment of parts cobbled together for their build.

“Scratch building a car from scavenged and donated parts created design problems. One example was coaxing a V8 electronic ignition system to work on a Wankel engine, something its manufacturer, Motorola, said ‘couldn’t be done,’” says Awalt. (Following the competition, Motorola recognized this feat and reached out to hire Kujawski and Cox.)

One significant expenditure was for passenger seats with unique features, intended to earn high scores for safety. Due to their high cost, justified to earn valuable points, the team couldn’t order the second seat until they secured the funds. The second seat arrived just in time before the team left for Michigan, thanks to the Herculean efforts of a Watertown delivery driver. “He volunteered to bring the seat on a Friday night,”

Article from The New York Times, July 15, 1972

says Cichanowicz, laughing. “He strapped it to the roof of his car on his way to take his family on a camping vacation.”

But it wasn’t the expensive seats that garnered the attention of the national media during the tests in Michigan at the Proving Ground. In fact, it was one of the least expensive features — albeit the most innovative — of the vehicle that landed the Clarkson students on a brief ABC News feature: the beer-can bumper.

The bumper lacked a façade to cover its energyabsorbing devices. When it became apparent that Clarkson’s car had repurposed Pabst Blue Ribbon cans as part of its bumper, the cameras went wild.

“The Alcoa plant in Massena provided us with partially finished cans,” Cichanowicz remembers. “One end looked like a normal can, but the other end was unfinished with the right curvature to collapse in a manner that absorbed the most energy.”

Thanks to the support of the North Country and the innovative Clarkson spirit, the team’s submission placed seventh out of 72 vehicles and cost just a fraction of the other top-performing cars. While the winning build from The University of British Columbia came in at $35,000, Clarkson’s cost less than $5,000.

Long-Lasting Legacy

Clarkson students continue to learn how to do more with less — and come out on top. Project teams similar to the UVDC group exist in a much more robust fashion at Clarkson today, as students from all educational disciplines represent the University as part of more than a dozen Student Projects for Engineering Experience and

Design (SPEED) teams. The UVDC team, in some ways a precursor to today’s SPEED teams, benefited in much the same way: by gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for life after Clarkson.

“Half a century later, it’s impossible to deny the role that Clarkson and the UVDC project had on what was a long and rewarding career in automotive powertrain electronics,” says Cox. “From early ignition systems to complex engine control computers,

capture. Awalt, who designed much of the digital dashboard, settled in Silicon Valley for a career dedicated to integrated circuits.

Helbig became the project lead on the Chrysler team that developed the Dodge Viper. Kujawski, who artfully shaped the vehicle from repurposed fenders and aluminum panels, initially started at Motorola with Cox but eventually established his own product design firm.

“The UVDC provided me an opportunity to exercise my desire to be an automotive designer,” says Kujawski.

“While Detroit never came into play beyond this project, the experience helped me realize I was interested as much in aesthetics as performance.”

Cichanowicz believes the event highlighted the potential to advance automotive innovation.

“The national attention on the UVDC contributed to the debate in the 1970s over safety and environmental controls, which by decade’s end saw further safety mandates, and, in 1977, amendments to the Clean Air Act lowering tailpipe emissions,” he says.

integrated circuit accelerometers and gyroscopes and electric vehicles, it was a very interesting time to be in the industry.”

Each project member leveraged the UVDC experience to launch their career. Cichanowicz, responsible for the vehicle’s emissions control system, devoted his career to developing environmental control technologies for fossil power plants to address acid rain, and, today, he contemplates CO2

While the UVDC project challenged team members, provided a springboard for careers and showcased advances in technology, Clarkson’s team members believe the big win was the camaraderie of a school and a community providing solutions to a problem at the highest level.

“A renowned Clarkson legacy is that one in five alumni become accomplished entrepreneurs, business owners or senior managers — a feat achieved by almost the entire UVDC team,” adds Cichanowicz. “The takeaway for students? Get on a project team. Now.”

“DESPITE BEING OUTFUNDED BY LARGER INSTITUTIONS, STUDENT START-UP TEAMS FROM CLARKSON CAN AND DO LEVERAGE THE SUPPORT OF THE NORTH COUNTRY TO COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AGAINST ANYONE, THE NUMEROUS PROJECT TEAMS AND COMPETITIONS AFTER THE 1972 UVDC EFFORT ATTEST TO THAT.”

ED CICHANOWICZ ’72

Alumni Association

LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Alumni:

I’m so pleased to be writing to you as the new president of the Clarkson Alumni Association. Our recent time of many transitions has given us opportunities to say goodbye, to say hello and to change our way of working and gathering.

This year, we celebrated the 19-year presidency of Tony Collins, who was instrumental in changing the shape of our campuses with the addition of graduate programs and facilities throughout New York state. From new academic programs to the addition of the Lewis School of Health Sciences and more, President Collins embraced and promoted collaboration and service — within the University, the state and the nation. At a farewell event at Yankee Stadium in the spring, the Alumni Association provided Tony and Karen Collins with a book of memories from alumni. Thank you for your contributions.

We also celebrated and welcomed Marc P. Christensen Ph.D., P.E. as the 17th President of Clarkson University. President Christensen was able to meet more than 400 alumni and friends at Reunion 2022, our first in-person Reunion Weekend in two years. (See pages 30-32 for Alumni Award winners). We shared stories and experiences with President Christensen that together weave Clarkson’s tapestry and tradition of Golden Knight pride.

This year, the Alumni Association Leadership Board and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations have been collaborating on ideas for ensuring our events and activities are inclusive, engage alumni and the community, and are accessible. We hosted over 70 in-person and virtual events attended by nearly 2,700 alumni and guests. As we move back to more in-person events, we welcome your feedback and ideas for developing inclusive, accessible events in your area.

In early August, I had the pleasure of meeting three incoming students from the Burlington, Vermont, area. Shout out to Nicole, who’s entering the first class of aerospace engineers; Spencer, who’s excited to join the Formula One team; and Sean, who joins his older brother, Matt, a junior. Please reach out to the Development and Alumni Relations team if you’re interested in co-hosting a student recruiting, student-alumni networking, social or service event in your area.

Thank you for your support of Clarkson staff, faculty and infrastructure, future and current students and fellow alumni. I find that in times of transition, there is comfort in knowing that the Clarkson community is here with a friendly ear, a warm smile and, often, career advice or job prospects.

I hope to CU at an event in the coming year!

— MONICA YOUNG ’00

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Monica Young ’00 President

Lisa Jeffers ’03, MS’21

Executive Vice President

Ron Ayers ’02

Past President

Eric Democko ’02

Regional Chapter Liaison

Juan Martinez ’95

Communications Liaison

Sue Bynum ’79 Admissions Liaison

Eric Carney ’01

Graduate Alumni Liaison

Gabrielle Piraino ’18

Career Services Liaison

AFFINITY MEMBERS/ MEMBERS AT LARGE

Erik Backus ’97

Member at Large

Bill Jeffers ’01

Member at Large

Sara Martin ’99 Member at Large

Elizabeth Caggiano ’19, MBA’22 Member at Large

Amanda Geary ’13

Greek Life Liaison

Brett Gobe ’03

Pep Band Alumni Association Liaison

Matheus Rutkowski ’23

Student at Large

Bailee Underwood ’23 Student at Large

Alumni Awards

The Clarkson Alumni Association Awards recognize and reward alumni for outstanding service to Clarkson and build pride among our powerful network of 46,000+ alumni.

The Golden Knight Award

The Alumni Distinguished Service Award, better known as the “Golden Knight Award,” was established in 1962 to recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves as Clarkson’s best representatives and ambassadors.

LaDawn H. Berko-Boateng ’92

Berko-Boateng received her BS in electrical and computer engineering and served as founder and president of Clarkson’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. She also earned a Supply Chain Management certificate at Clarkson in 2008.

Berko-Boateng is currently the global account manager with Tech Data, a TD Synnex company and a leading IT distributor and solutions aggregator. She served as a Clarkson trustee from 2002-2007 and received the Clarkson Alumni Association’s Woodstock Award in 2002.

Berko-Boateng is a keen supporter of STEM programs that address the technology gap in kids’ education.

Simoon L. Cannon ’97

Cannon received her BS in chemical engineering from Clarkson, an MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her PhD from Georgia State University.

Cannon has a wealth of experience at various Fortune 500 companies. Currently, she is a senior associate at Stillwater Associates. Cannon is also founder and CEO of Melanina Organics and founder and president of the Maxine Angella Campbell Foundation. She also develops scientific curriculums for K-12 education.

Cannon is a Legion and Loyal donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild and a University trustee, serving as vice-chair on the Academic Mission Committee and as a member of the People Priorities Committee. She also is an advisor to Clarkson’s Institute for STEM Education and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

David F. Glenn ’82

Glenn received his BS in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson and his MBA from Queens University of Charlotte in 1986. At Clarkson, he was a varsity golf team member and played intramural hockey for four years.

Glenn is the founder and chief executive officer of Kaleida Systems Inc., a private company that develops, markets and supports eRSP, an industry-leading software.

Glenn is a Loyal and Leadership donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild. The David F. Glenn ’82 Hydrotherapy Room allows Clarkson student-athletes to have optimal recovery. In addition, he donates to many sports teams during the year, including men’s hockey, women’s hockey, golf and swimming.

Mark R. Greene ’77

Greene received a BS in chemical engineering from Clarkson, an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a master’s and a doctorate in chemical engineering from Cornell University.

Recently retired, Greene was senior technical manager with Ramboll and currently consults in wastewater treatment. He is on the Advisory Board for the NYS Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions. He has also been active in the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA). He was named to the NYWEA Hall of Fame and received several awards. He has also been involved in national organizations such as the Water Environment Federation, the Water Research Foundation and the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation. Greene is a Legion, Loyal and Legacy donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild. He served for numerous years in the Alumni Association and was president of the Leadership Board. He and his wife, Cindy Dowd Greene ’78, also endowed a scholarship at Clarkson.

Mary Kay Woods ’82

Woods received her BS in accounting. She was involved in Beta Alpha Psi, Clarkson Society of Accountants and Alpha Delta Kappa sorority.

Woods is a retired tax partner with KPMG LLP. Over her 30-year career, she served a number of Fortune 200 companies and was the partner-in-charge of multiple national initiatives. She is the author of numerous published articles.

Woods served on various boards, including Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, KPMG’s Network of Women and American Society of Women Accountants. She was inducted into the YWCA City of New York Academy of Women Leaders and served as a Clarkson trustee and an advisor.

Steve J. Yianoukos ’72

Yianoukos received his BS in management and was an active member of Sigma Delta fraternity.

Yianoukos was a dedicated employee of Clarkson’s Athletic and Recreation Department for 35 years. During his tenure, the department saw unprecedented growth. He oversaw the rise in women’s sports and was instrumental in adding varsity softball.

During his 15 years as director, Yianoukos oversaw Walker Arena and Jack Phillips Stadium renovations, Hantz Field upgrades and the completion of Scott Field. He was key to getting the Cheel Campus Center and Arena renovation off the ground.

The Steven J. Yianoukos ’72 Fitness Center was named in honor of his service to the University.

The Woodstock Award

This award was created in 1986 to recognize young alumni. Given at the 5th-20th reunion years, the award honors candidates who demonstrate a unique combination of career accomplishment, service to Clarkson and service to their community.

Eric G. Eckhardt ’02

Eckhardt received his BS in computer engineering, with distinction, and is an Honors Program graduate. He was involved with the Physics Team Design program and the Clarkson Integrator

Eckhardt is an engineering fellow at Raytheon Technologies, focusing on advanced technology development. He has extensive experience covering power, RF, software and firmware design for the military and commercial sectors. Eckhardt has volunteered for the FIRST Robotics program for nearly 15 years, supporting local teams at over 100 events in New York state, in the Northeast and at Clarkson.

Joshua J. Fogarty ’12, MS’15

Fogarty received his BS in information systems and business processes and his MS in engineering management. He was involved in Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Sigma Chi fraternity and the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship. He received the Clarkson Alumni Association Ambassador of the Year Award in 2011 and joined Phalanx in 2012.

Fogarty is the IT senior manager at Johnson & Johnson and is responsible for the worldwide digitization and automation of MedTech regulatory processes.

Fogarty was instrumental in making Cold Out Gold Out (COGO) an annual tradition. He served on the Alumni Council and the Reh School of Business Rising Leaders Council.

Timothy R. Monaco ’07

Monaco received his BS in mechanical engineering. He was active in the SPEED Baja Team, the Outing Club and the co-op program and participated in the University of Technology Sydney exchange program.

Monaco’s career has focused on equipment and system design and manufacturing, supporting the aerospace, marine and energy industries. He serves as Ramboll’s advanced manufacturing division’s engineering program lead and project manager.

Before joining Ramboll, he worked for the Department of Defense at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Monaco is a Legion and Loyal donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild and serves as the Central New York alumni chapter co-president with his wife, Beth (Greene) Monaco ’07.

Gabriel A. Perez MBA’07

Perez received an AA in liberal arts from the College of Marin and his BS in marketing management from Siena College before completing his MBA at Clarkson.

Perez is the vice president of strategy at Coupa. He is a co-patent holder on Coupa Supplier Actionable Notifications and has worn various hats in multiple roles. In a company of less than 50, Perez was instrumental as part of the team that enabled Coupa to become a unicorn company and one of the bestperforming SaaS companies in the market.

Perez served on Clarkson’s School of Business Rising Leaders Council.

The Woodstock Award

> CONTINUED

Aaron D. Tandy ’07, MS’10

Tandy received his BS and MS in chemistry from Clarkson. He stays actively involved with Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, serving on its Alumni Board since graduation.

Tandy heads operations for a contractor/ developer in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. He is involved with local chemical and energy production facilities and oversees development in the education and private sectors. He is active with his local fire department, works with the Freemasons and volunteers in Niagara Falls with the aquarium and tourism board.

Tandy is a Loyal donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild and a former Clarkson Alumni Council and Greek Alumni Council member.

Kara E. (St. John) Tompkins ’12

Tompkins received her BS in interdisciplinary social science at Clarkson and her MA in higher education administration from SUNY at Stony Brook.

Tompkins was a member of the Clarkson University Student Association, Clarkson Union Board and Delta Zeta sorority and was featured in Delta Zeta National’s 35 Under 35 in 2021.

Tompkins is currently the director of digital fundraising and analysis at Syracuse University, where she is also pursuing a Master of Public Administration.

The Stub Baker Award

This award was established in 1998 to recognize the importance of leadership and service by alumni to Clarkson’s regional alumni chapters.

Craig A. Rose ’07

Rose received his AS in engineering science from Jamestown Community College and his BS in mechanical engineering from Clarkson.

Rose is a project engineer for Taylor Company where he implements product improvements and sustainability measures for commercial food service

equipment. He has also worked as an engineer in the robotics and power transmission industries.

He serves as treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Learning Center and enjoys traveling to professional baseball games and Clarkson hockey games.

Rose is a Legion, Loyal and Legacy donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild and is active with the Alumni Council, serving as president of the Chicago chapter.

The Lifetime Engagement Award

This award recognizes alumni who have remained engaged and supportive of Clarkson’s mission for 50 years or more.

Ellsworth F. Vines ’65, MS’67

Vines received his BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in industrial management. He was involved in CUSA and is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Vines joined Phalanx in 1965.

In 2008, Vines retired as senior VP from Dick Corporation, a major contractor, construction manager and design builder. He regularly recruited Clarkson graduates, was past president of the Alumni Association and served on the Board of Trustees.

Vines is a Legend donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild, a 1995 Golden Knight Awardee, and 2003 and 2016 recipient the Charles S. Ehrlich ’56 Alumni Admissions Award.

James F. Wood ’64

Wood received his BS in chemical engineering from Clarkson and his MBA from Kent State University. Wood was a member of the Clarkson Union Board, Knight Magazine, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Varsity “C” Club. He wrestled, played soccer and lacrosse and is a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Wood is director of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, Advanced Coal Technology Consortium at West Virginia University (WVU), and director of the WVU Energy Institute.

Wood is a Legend donor in Clarkson’s Good Knights Guild and has received the Golden Knight Award and Roundtable Society Award. He is also a past president of the Alumni Association and serves on the Board of Trustees.

ONE DAY. ONE CLARKSON. 24 HOURS 778 DONORS

$219,887 DOLLARS RAISED

Academic Giving Day is an annual opportunity for Clarkson supporters to come together, show their generosity and provide enhanced opportunities for the Clarkson community and its academic programs.

One member of the Skunk Works team is REBECCA (JANSHEGO) FLAHERTY ’15, an alumna of Clarkson’s mechanical engineering program who has been with Lockheed Martin since she graduated. As a mechanical engineer, Flaherty designs fullscale air vehicle models. In partnership with Paramount Pictures, she was responsible for building the Darkstar vehicle, with a fully functional cockpit for iconic actor Tom Cruise. We recently spoke with Flaherty about her experience working on the film. Here is what she had to say:

What are some of your Clarkson experiences that helped prepare you for this project with “Top Gun: Maverick”? For this project, and all the work I do, working in the labs for ME 201-401 (Experimental Methods in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering) helped give me real-world, hands-on experience in school. SPEED projects like Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge helped as well!

What types of career opportunities have you had with your Clarkson education?

My Clarkson education gave me the opportunity to work for Lockheed Martin right after graduation in 2015, from designing electronics components to designing next-generation aircraft — it’s been a rewarding and exciting experience thus far!

Did you have any interesting internships or co-ops at Clarkson?

I worked for GE; it helped me align my interests more with the career path I ended up choosing with LM.

Please tell us more about your work with “Top Gun: Maverick” — building the Darkstar vehicle, keeping it structurally sound, etc.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works was approached in mid-2017 to provide technical expertise for the Top Gun film’s sequel,

Flaherty ’15 a ‘Maverick’ at

By Melissa M. Lindell

This summer, when “Top Gun: Maverick” roared into movie theaters worldwide, viewers got to see Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell take his need for speed to a whole new level — hypersonic speed. Thirty-six years after the first “Top Gun” movie, Mitchell is now a test pilot flying the Darkstar hypersonic airplane. Though the plane is conceptual and developed specifically for the film, the design and models for the aircraft came from the same group that develops actual hypersonic aircraft: Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®.

/ 2022 FALL MAGAZINE

“Top Gun: Maverick,” which premiered on May 27, 2022. The team designed and produced a conceptual, reusable, piloted hypersonic aircraft, referred to as Darkstar in the film. They helped design realistic flight gear, shared artifacts for the set and arranged site tours and demonstrations to support the effort. The team provided insights to drive realism into the storyline, serving as consultants throughout filming. My role specifically was to work with the studio to design, from scratch, a realistic cockpit and execute the build of the cockpit. Additionally, I worked the structural design of the fuselage alongside the stress team and oversaw the fabrication and assembly of the model.

What other next-generation aircraft are you designing? What are some types of these aircraft that we may have seen in the past that Lockheed Martin has designed?

While I can’t talk specifically about the work I do, some of the things that Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is currently working on are hypersonics. Hypersonic solutions are an urgent national need being worked on across the corporation. In support of this critical mission, Lockheed Martin has invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 60 years. We are at the forefront of operationalizing hypersonic capabilities, systems and engineering. Hypersonic technology is progressing, and the work being done across Lockheed Martin today is laying the foundation for a Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle, such as Darkstar, to one day be possible.

It must have been pretty intimidating working on a project like Darkstar. Were you already designing it or was this just for the movie?

This was just for the movie. Paramount provided us with their final CAD, and I got to work designing the internal structure and working to make it real!

What was it like working on a movie set?

RF: Definitely different than any other workplace I’ve ever set foot in! It was amazing to see the team on the set ebb and flow around seamlessly setting up for new scenes. A well-oiled machine! Some of those folks I would absolutely call “Skunky” in my book.

For those who don’t know, what is Skunk Works?

Founded in 1943 by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works delivers breakthrough capabilities that redefine the future of flight. Just as Kelly intended, we’re not big on titles or showmanship — we simply tackle the most daunting technical challenges in the simplest way possible, to quickly deliver solutions that make a real difference for our customers.

With a focus on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, the Skunk Works team embraces an integrated digital approach to design and manufacturing to reduce cost and accelerate schedule. From artificial intelligence to augmented reality, the digital thread is helping us connect, collaborate and innovate with even more agility. Skunks are moving quickly to develop disruptive solutions in these core capability areas:

• Hypersonic Technology.

• Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance.

• Joint All-Domain Operations.

• Future Fighters.

• Next Gen UAS.

At Skunk Works and across Lockheed Martin, we’re looking for extraordinary talent — people who are eager to be on the cutting edge of technology that will define our future; comfortable with ambiguity; enjoy being part of a team; love to learn; and are willing to push the boundaries.

Lockheed Martin

For more information about Lockheed Martin’s role in the film, including imagery and behind-the-scenes videos, visit lockheedmartin.com/topgun.

CONFIDENCE CRUSADER INFLUENCES INCLUSIVITY

By Katie Berry ’23

o innovate is to defy convention — and CARALYN MIRAND KOCH ’14 is no stranger to the concept. As a model, content creator, fashion designer and website/blog owner, she is challenging the status quo in pursuit of her passion: “to help women from all walks of life feel good in the skin they’re in.”

Mirand Koch, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with a minor in Psychology, has taken the world by storm. While she may be known as an influencer, Mirand Koch connects her Clarkson education and her passion in a more encompassing and preferred title: content creator.

Mirand Koch modeled throughout her years at Clarkson and, upon graduation, had already signed on with an agency to pursue modeling full-time. “As time went on, it was becoming more important for models to have an online social presence,” says Mirand Koch. “Brands favored models with larger platforms and following to reach wider audiences.”

Social media has been a growing phenomenon over the past decade, permeating most industries. Digital marketing via social platforms has become an integral part of doing business.

“I vividly remember in 2016 telling a casting director that I had 10,000 Instagram followers,” recalls Mirand Koch. “He looked me square in the eye and told me to, ‘Step it up, honey.’ This ignited a fire in me to do a deep dive and figure out why it was important to have an audience. And if I had to grow, who were the people I wanted to attract? What value could I add to the space? I knew I wanted to help people feel good

Clarkson Confident

PHOTOS BY RYAN KELL

about themselves and began sharing the tips and tricks that I was learning on set as a model.”

With that fire inside, Mirand Koch grew her following, and her career soared to new heights. She shifted her focus from modeling to creating content for her own digital platforms. “It was refreshing to be able to use my voice and share ideas from my perspective — a stark contrast to being hired as a model simply for my appearance,” says Mirand Koch.

As a content creator, Mirand Koch partners with brands to showcase her viewpoint, known as influencer marketing. She endorses and shares product placements of various brands she partners with on her social media platforms and website.

“As time went on, I quickly realized that we do not own our social media, and it’s always been very important for me to diversify different aspects of my business,” explains Mirand Koch. “I view my blog and website as the ‘trunk’ of a tree, with social media platforms as the branches. It’s important that my audience connects with me across multiple mediums like my blog, newsletter and online social media platforms.” This innovative thinking allowed Mirand Koch to carve out her niche community online. Her genuine connection with her audience and her influencer marketing endeavors have allowed her to grow into fashion design.

Partnering with Amazon’s The Drop starting in 2019, Mirand Koch launched and designed the retailer’s first-ever size-inclusive collection available worldwide — the proudest moment in her career thus far.

“If you’re not familiar [with The Drop], they partner with creators from all around the world

on limited-time collections that are only shoppable for 30 hours,” explains Mirand Koch. “Each piece is made on demand and shipped within two to three weeks. Amazon has taken this sustainable approach to reduce waste.”

An inclusivity advocate, Mirand Koch worked directly with the online retailer to extend sizing to more than just XS-XL. “I worked closely with [Amazon] to perfect the fit and sizing. In 2020, the first extended-sizing collection launched in sizes XXS-3X. Since then, all other collections have offered this sizing, and I’ve done three other collections. Sizes, as of July 2022, are available up to 5X.”

Mirand Koch has made a notable impact — not just on her career but on the lives of people of all shapes and sizes across the globe — by innovating, strategizing and championing various ideas.

“At Clarkson, I had a handful of influential female mentors and advisers that truly made my experience at school spectacular,” she notes. “They were my cheerleaders and support system, and many have become lifelong friends. This has shaped how I interact with other women, pay it forward in many ways and continue to share the knowledge.”

“My time at Clarkson allowed me to dream big and quite literally defy convention, even at Clarkson, by pursuing a career within the fashion industry — and the industry has completely embraced me,” says Mirand Koch. “I built my platform on supporting, encouraging, championing and learning alongside other women. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I have so many women who’ve come before me to thank for paving the way and encouraging me to be my authentic self.”

Follow Mirand Koch’s work as a confidence crusader on her Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest platforms @CaralynMirand and at CaralynMirand.com.

“MY TIME AT CLARKSON ALLOWED ME TO DREAM BIG AND QUITE LITERALLY DEFY CONVENTION, EVEN AT CLARKSON, BY PURSUING A CAREER WITHIN THE FASHION INDUSTRY.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1940s

ROBERT W. MACAULAY ’44 (ME) celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 3, 2021. He is still in good health, walking his dog, playing bridge and cooking. He has lots of stories of the past century.

1950s

THOMAS M. LOGGIA ’58 (Cm) celebrated his 85th birthday on April 4, 2022.

1960s

BYRON H. ADAMS ’62 (BA) was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, Class of 2022, in the Lifetime Achievement category.

RICHARD S. TUTHILL ’67 (Ma), a principal at RST Associates LLC, received the 2022 Industrial Gas Turbine Technology Award from ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) International Gas Turbine Institute.

1970s

MICHAEL F. LYNCH ’71 (ME), after a 50-year career in historic preservation, retired from the New York State Historic Preservation Office at the end of October 2021. Among his many professional accomplishments was serving as president of the Association for Preservation Technology International and as deputy state historic preservation officer for New York state; listing the site of the Woodstock Music Festival on the National Register of Historic Places (he participated in the 1969 event); and operating a private consulting practice in New York City. Michael resides in Troy, New York, with his wife, Susan, and remains engaged in local preservation efforts.

EDWARD E. PLASBERG ’73 (CEE) and his wife, Susan, a graduate of Canton College and strong Clarkson hockey supporter, are celebrating 50 years of marriage at their winter home in Titusville, Florida. He says, “Still spend half the year in Clifton Park, New York. We are both retired state employees and just sold our RV after 15 years of traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada. Living the dream.”

KEITH R. ABELL ’76 (ECE): “Retired after 3.5 years as a captain in the Corps of Engineers and started a high-tech career in June 1981 in embedded firmware development. Was a software development engineer and first line supervisor/manager for 38+ years at a number of companies, including Texas Instruments, Tandem Computers, Dell Corporation, QLogic and SolarBridge. Had the challenge (fun!) of dealing with 8-, 16- and 32-bit microprocessors from Motorola, TI, Microchip, MIPS, Infineon and STMicroelectronics over my career, and close to four decades of development in the areas of self-tests, boot functions, processor functionality testing, design verification, digital fluorescent light controls, PC server environmental management, fault

tolerant design and PC server BIOS development (as manager). I have a great sense of accomplishment and consider my Clarkson education as the bargain of my life.”

STEVEN P. BYSZEWSKI ’77 (CEE) retired from SESI Consulting Engineers as president and senior partner. Steven was employed at SESI from August 1978, for over 44 years. He was the second full-time employee and made the youngest partner in 1983. As senior partner and president, Steven managed the 25-person company through the 2008 crash and grew the company even during the recent pandemic. When he retired, the company employed over 80 professionals and continues to grow, with over 100 employees this year. SESI is a leading geotechnical and civil engineering firm in the northeastern U.S. DIANE L. DIFRANCESCO ’77 (ChE): “Greetings from Chicago! I’ve recently launched DLD Career Coaching, specializing in STEM professionals and prospects. My mission with this nonprofit is to establish a sustainable scholarship program. After decades leading DLD Quality Engineering, helping medical manufacturing companies be in compliance with FDA and ISO regulations, I’ve decided to transition to a more philanthropic pursuit. Time to give back.”

ANDREW M. FRASER ’79 (CEE), the founder of Fraser Project Management, is celebrating the company’s completion of 125 projects in its first 10 years of business.

1980s

THOMAS M. LYGA ’81 (ID) joined Morris Products Inc. as marketing manager, in charge of product marketing and promotional activities.

DANA M. BARRY ’74 (MS,Cm), a research professor in electrical & computer engineering at Clarkson, was bestowed the title, The Name in Science, as well as a medal, from the Academic Union Oxford.

INDERJIT CAMOTRA ’88 (MBA) has been appointed the first chief executive officer of Unity Bank.

PETER J. RADOSTA ’88 (CEE), aka Speedo, is happy to report a recent retirement from a fulfilling career in the water sector — enabling 100% time for personal pursuits, including full immersion in all things outdoors!

MICHAEL J. DONOVAN ’82 (CEE) was inducted into the 99th Assembly District Veterans Hall of Fame for his outstanding service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

RAY GEIMER ’82 (ChE) became the laboratory manager for Hanford Laboratory Management and Integration.

JAMES E. MORRISON ’82 (Mkt) is the newly appointed assistant diocesan officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York.

MATTHEW J. SLICHKO ’82 (Mgt) recently retired after 25 years of service with the Boeing Company as a senior human resources generalist and manager in the Puget Sound area, South Carolina and Wichita. Prior to this, he retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer and captain in 2013.

JOHN L. BLODGETT JR. ’84 (IE&M) is the vice president of sales and marketing at MacKay & Company Inc.

SUSAN G. FRANKS ’84 (Cm) joined the biotechnology company Eliem Therapeutics as senior vice president and the head of regulatory affairs.

MARYKAY WELLS ’84 (Mkt,CMS) recently joined the executive leadership team at Pearson, where she is the chief information officer.

PETER S. KENNEDY ’85 (Ac), a director and head of audit practices at Cover & Rossiter, joined the Delaware Community Foundation board of directors.

JEFFREY F. GLAJCH ’86 (MS,ChE) has joined Orion Engineered Carbons as chief financial officer.

DAVID A. KLAVSONS ’86 (ID) is the chief executive officer of King Juice Company Inc.

PATRICK J. MEANEY ’86 (ECE) achieved the 28th Patent Plateau level at IBM, which signifies 112 invention filings and 142 worldwide IBM patents to date. He was also accepted into the Mid-Hudson Valley Technical Vitality Affiliate Steering Committee at IBM and serves as the events chair.

DAVID R. RAKVICA ’86 (CEE): Engineering News-Record selected CHA Consulting’s Troy Seawall Stabilization project as one of its Top 20 Best of the Best, chosen from more than 800 projects throughout the nation. Dave led CHA’s fieldwork on this unique project. He joined CHA in 2018 and currently leads its transportation business practice for construction inspection located at the corporate headquarters in Colonie, New York.

STEPHEN D. SKILLINGS ’88 (ID) is the developer of BusyBox, a digital, programmable “busy” sign he designed in response to being interrupted while working at home during the pandemic. He pitched his product on Season 13 of Shark Tank.

TERRENCE R. GUAY ’87 (ID) was appointed Associate Dean for International Programs, Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University.

LISA A. NAPOLIONE ’87 (ChE), senior vice president of global research and development at The Estée Lauder Companies, was the speaker at the launch of The City University of New York’s Center for Advanced Technology. She shared about Estée Lauder’s ongoing collaborations with CUNY and how Estée Lauder is driving the future of beauty through science and partnerships.

ROBERT J. PERREGO ’88 (ME), an analyst and trader on Wall Street, is the founder of Buy Low Sell High LLC.

CAROL-JO SCHIRALDI ’88 (TC), now a photographer, recently published a book of images taken while on location in Guilin, China. The book, Beautiful Under Heaven, is available as a coffee-table book (from Amazon) and also an e-book (from Apple Books). For more information on Carol, check out her website: www.carolslittleworld.com.

DENISE D. BECKLES ’89, ’93 (Ac; MBA) was appointed chief financial officer of Zevia PBC.

KAREN W. CLARK ’89 (CEE) was promoted to senior associate at Barton & Loguidice.

ROBERT E. COTTON ’89 (Ac), the chief operating officer of National Life Group, joined the board of directors at Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the New England Guaranty Insurance Company.

SANDEEP K. DALVIE ’89, ’92 (MS,ChE; PhD,ChE) is the global supply chain director for the Titanium Technologies business at The Chemours Company.

DONALD E. DELNERO ’89 (CEE) joined WSP USA as the vice president and senior director of tunnel engineering.

1990s

JOHN V. MARTINSON ’90 (ME) is the chief operating officer at StatLab Medical Products, where he oversees manufacturing and supply chain operations.

THOMAS C. BAIRD ’91 (CEE) was promoted at Barton & Loguidice to senior associate.

LEO J. TITUS JR. ’91 (CEE), the chief operating officer of ECS Limited, became president of the Geoprofessional Business Association.

AHSAN U. AHMED ’92 (PhD,Cm), who sits on an advisory panel of the Green Climate Fund, attended COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. He is actively involved in helping Bangladesh prepare for climate change.

KEITH A. LEAL ’92 (CEE) was appointed the Upstate New York business leader for the Gilbane Building Company’s Albany and Buffalo offices.

SHANNON L. ROCHE ’92 (EM) has joined Houston-based Kastech Software Solutions Group as senior director, client and community engagement. The global professional services organization supports a variety of software solutions, including Workday, Salesforce, PeopleSoft, Oracle Cloud, SAP, JD Edwards, E-Business Suite and Ellucian Banner, along with robotic process automation, test automation and other accelerators.

PAUL D. SCHMIDT ’92 (CEE) was appointed president of CMA Engineers, where he has worked for more than 25 years.

MICHAEL C. LEE ’93 (EM) joined Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc., where he is senior vice president, chief information officer.

TADD F. WILSON ’93 (ECE) is a partner at Spencer Fane LLP, where he counsels clients as part of the company’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.

BRIAN T. BARTLETT ’95 (IE&M) has joined MPS Microsystems as the national sales manager for its U.S. operations.

JEFFREY J. PAWLICKI ’95 (CE) was promoted by Ruston Paving Co. Inc. to regional manager of the New York divisions.

STEPHEN J. WILKINSON ’95 (MBA) is the president and chief executive officer of the mining exploration company Gold’n Futures Mineral Corp.

TIMOTHY S. JENSEN ’97 (ChE), global account manager and senior thermal technologist at Indium Corporation, presented at the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative’s Packaging Tech Topic Series. He spoke on the increased adoption of metal thermal interface materials in high-performance computing.

MICHAEL E. MURPHY ’97 (CpE) and MICHAEL S. RUSSELL ’05 (CpE) have both been promoted in the Defense Systems and Solutions Division at SRC Inc. Murphy is now the assistant vice president of advanced radar and sensors, and Russell is the assistant vice president of strategy and technology.

PRIYA M. ABANI ’98 (MS,CS), the president and chief executive officer of AliveCor Inc., was listed as a 2022 Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEO by The Healthcare Technology Report. Abani was also recently appointed to the TIAA board of trustees.

CRAIG EVANS ’98, ’99 (AE; MENG) is the president and founder of ESS Inc., a company that manufactures iron flow battery systems.

PHOTO BY BUSINESS WIRE

JOHN L. WILSON ’91 (ECE) joined physIQ as senior vice president and general manager of life sciences.

2000s

PHILIP M. CASTORO ’00 (ME) works at Universal Instruments Corporation, where he has climbed the ranks and currently serves as vice president of engineering.

KEVIN J. HAJOS ’00 (CE) serves on the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force, which was created by the New York state legislature in 2020.

DALLAS P. SUTTON ’00, ’02 (Mkt; MBA), a regional manager for NBT Bank, joined the Citizen Advocates board of directors.

RYAN J. CANTOR ’04 (MBA) leads the product and engineering teams at Thryv as chief product officer.

LUCAS W. CRAIG ’06, ’07, ’12 (AE; MS,ME; PhD,ME), associate professor of mechanical engineering technology at SUNY Canton, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

DAVID W. ILLIG ’08, ’10, ’16 (CpE; MS,EE; PhD,ECE), with his mentor Linda Mullen, won the 2021 SMART Scholars and Mentors of the Year award for A-LiST Mentoring. The award recognizes their work in designing optical sensors for identifying underwater threats.

KYLE B. SNYDER ’08 (CE) was recently named director of paratransit at Via.

PATRICK F. WILBUR ’08, ’15 (CS, IT; PhD,CS) is the CTO and co-founder of Hologram, a company that offers a cellular connectivity platform for Internet-of-Things devices.

VANORA J. O’LOUGHLIN ’09, ’12 (ME; MENG) has accepted a project manager position at KPI Integrated Solutions.

2010s

SUCHADA CONNORS ’10 (MBA) joined Specialty Silicone Products as a production supervisor for industrial products.

RAJIV NARULA ’11 (PhD,EvSE) received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the College Council at SUNY Canton, where he is an associate professor of chemistry.

ROBERT J. THOMAS ’11, ’13, ’16 (CE; MS,CE; PhD,CEE), assistant professor of civil & environmental engineering, received the Outstanding New Teacher Award at Clarkson’s 2022 Commencement.

DAVID A. YAMBAY ’11, ’13, ’19 (EE; MS,EE; PhD,ECE) was recruited by iBeta, where he is the deputy director of biometrics.

CALLIE A. CHAPMAN ’12 (ChE) is a founding partner and lab director of Steep Hill Vermont, a licensed cannabis testing laboratory.

PAMELA S. LEARY ’14 (MS,PAS) has joined the staff at CantonPotsdam Hospital’s Urgent Care as a physician assistant.

LAURA A. WADHAMS ’12 (CE), an assistant county engineer for the Genesee, New York, County Highway Department, received the Young Leader Award from the American Public Works Association this April.

MATTHEW T. MCCHESNEY ’14 (ME), a captain in the New York Air National Guard, received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his professionalism during a mission he flew in Operation Allies Refuge, which aimed to evacuate Afghans as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan.

CATHERINE A. BURKE ’15 (MBA) was promoted to process improvement analyst II at Cox Automotive Inc.

JACQUELYN A. SCIBIOR ’16 (CE) is part of the first Peace Corps cohort to return overseas after the organization recalled volunteers in March 2020. She is in Peru, serving as a health volunteer.

PHOTO BY MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS

LISSETTE FERNANDEZ ’15, ’21 (CE; PhD,CEE) was appointed assistant professor of civil & environmental engineering at Clarkson.

CONNOR J. MCCARTHY ’20, ’21 (FIA; MBA) is a defenseman for the Worcester Railers, an ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.

LOREN B. GABEL ’19 (Comm), a professional hockey player for the Canadian National team, was featured in Under Armour’s October 2021 commercial campaign, The Only Way Is Through: Push Past the Cold.

2020s

SHANE KUZMESKI ’20 (IE) signed with the Utah Grizzlies ECHL team, where he is a defenseman.

MATTHEW E. CHEEVERS ’21 (MS,PAS) joined the emergency department team of St. Lawrence Health as a physician assistant.

PAUL G. WALKER ’20 (MS,PAS) joined the St. Lawrence Health emergency department team as a physician assistant.

MARRIAGES

MARK CIVIOK ’77 (Mkt) and Leanne Ely, November 26, 2021.

DANIEL T. OLSEN ’96 (IE&M, MIS) and Angela Helt, September 18, 2021.

MATTHEW R. BARRETT ’10 (IE&M) and Christina DiGiorgio, October 2021.

BIRTHS

MICHAEL J. ’08 (IE&M) and Michelle D’AMICO, a son, Miles, August 5, 2021.

MICHELLE M. (MURPHY) ’11 (GSCM) and ROBERT D. KAZAN ’11 (IE&M), a son, Zachary, October 6, 2021.

CASSANDRA J. (LAU) ’12 (GSCM) and Roman Hradysky, a daughter, Savannah, May 25, 2021.

KARA E. (ST. JOHN) ’12 (SS) and MATTHEW G. TOMPKINS ’12 (CE), a daughter, Madison Kaye, February 22, 2022.

How to Submit a Class Note

To submit a class note for inclusion in the monthly electronic newsletter or next Clarkson magazine, please visit clarkson.edu/milestones

Questions can be directed to alumni@clarkson.edu

DiGiorgio – Barrett

Savannah

Madison

Zachary

1940s

Joseph R. Brennan ’47 (ME), 2008.

Russell N. Hopko ’48 (ME), 2022.

Donald W. Humphrey ’48 (BA), 2021.

Harold R. Damberg ’49 (ME), 2020.

1950s

William R. Lenney ’50 (BA), 2022.

Alex E. Medovich ’50 (BA), 2021.

John M. Morabito ’50 (BA), 2021.

Charles F. Peer ’50 (ME), 2021.

Darrell Stone ’50 (CE), 2021.

Joseph J. Tokos ’50 (CE), 2021.

Ross F. Anderson ’51 (ME), 2021.

Adrian T. Bogart ’51 (ME), 2021.

Robert R. Colway ’51 (BA), 2020.

Robert S. Karpeles ’51 (ME), 2022.

Bernard L. Koff ’51, ’93 (ME; H), 2021.

Walter F. Liszewski ’51 (IM), 2022.

Robert L. Minier ’51 (ChE), 2012.

Louie Carini ’52 (ME), 2022.

Karl T. Geoca ’52 (ME), 2022.

Alphonse J. Pascazio ’52 (ChE), 2022.

Lewis Peterson ’52 (ME), 2020.

Robert L. Wege ’52 (ChE), 2021.

Charles A. Broutman ’53 (EE), 2020.

Robert W. Burns ’53 (CE), 2022.

Richard S. Fox ’53 (EE), 2021.

Donald G. Mackey ’53 (EE), 2022.

Andrew C. Yang ’53 (Cm), 2021.

Robert Y. Cardner ’54 (Cm), 2022.

Adolph E. Rohl ’54 (ChE), 2022.

F. W. Siegenthaler ’54 (BA), 2022.

Lloyd E. Scott Jr. ’55 (ME), 2021.

Walter J. Treadway ’55 (ChE), 2021.

Joseph L. Ascolese ’56 (EE), 2022.

Robert F. Daunais ’56 (ChE), 2021.

Harry E. Ellsworth ’56 (ME), 2019.

Stanley Hock ’56 (BA), 2021.

Frank M. Rotunno ’56, ’98 (BA; H), 2022.

Aleck W. Serkiz ’56 (ME), 2021.

Thomas A. Sherby ’56 (ME), 2017.

Michael K. Strich ’56 (ChE), 2021.

Franklin J. Goth ’57 (ME), 2021.

William J. Staudenmayer ’57 (ChE), 2022.

Bruce R. Wolff ’57 (ME), 2021.

Mitch J. Billis ’58 (ME), 2021.

Gerald J. Reinman ’58 (ME), 2022.

Robert A. Brozzetti ’59 (ME), 2022.

Oskar Hildinger ’59 (EE), 2022.

Michael P. Schwartz ’59 (ID), 2021.

1960s

Carl H. Berlinger ’60, ’61 (ME; MS,ME), 2021.

Robert R. Bouley ’60 (CE), 2022.

Anthony J. Palumbo ’60 (ChE), 2022.

Lisle M. Sanborn ’60 (EE), 2021.

John F. Dearstyne Jr. ’61 (BA), 2022.

David L. King ’61 (EE), 2021.

Robert Rangel ’61 (EE), 2021.

Norman J. Brooks ’62 (CE), 2022.

Dale E. Cameron ’62 (ChE), 2021.

Richard J. Holmberg ’62 (EE), 2021.

David D. Tobey ’62 (ID), 2022.

Charles L. Trowbridge ’62, ’94 (ChE; H), 2022.

Patrick F. Brophy ’63 (BA), 2022.

Bernard J. Currier ’63 (BA), 2022.

Charles E. Hardies ’63 (BA), 2021.

William H. Meyer ’63 (ID), 2022.

Francis E. Sage ’63, ’68, ’74 (ChE; MS,ChE; PhD,ChE), 2022.

Jerald J. Stewart ’63 (EE), 2022.

David R. Sturtz ’63 (BA), 2022.

David A. Berger ’64 (ID), 2021.

Philip R. Brown ’64 (EE), 2021.

Robert J. Nezelek ’64 (EE), 2022.

Ronald S. Pogozelski ’64 (EE), 2022.

Gary Bray ’65 (Ac), 2022.

Robert E. Langen ’65 (CE), 2019.

Richard M. Schwartz ’65 (CE), 2022.

Gary W. Van Dyke ’65 (ChE), 2020.

Bruce E. Blom ’66, ’71 (Cm; PhD,Cm), 2021.

George Gaylo ’66, ’68 (EE; MS,IM), 2022.

Peter R. Prescott ’67 (Ac), 2022.

Edward N. May ’68 (Ph), 2022.

Ronald Withers ’68 (ME), 2021.

James M. Schwartz ’69 (ID), 2022.

Charles A. Thorne ’69 (ID), 2020.

1970s

Terrance A. Ainslie ’70 (Mgt), 2022.

Richard J. Fisher ’70 (ME), 2021.

Marshall Smith ’70 (MS,Ph), 2022.

Daniel K. Volk ’70 (ID), 2013.

Wayne F. Bialas ’71 (Ma), 2022.

Joseph C. Breda ’71 (EE), 2022.

Douglas E. Crabb ’71 (ID), 2021.

Rodrigue V. Lauzon ’71 (PhD,Cm), 2022.

Robert H. MacEachron ’71 (Ma), 2022.

John H. Myers ’71 (ME), 2022.

Joseph Peone Jr. ’71 (PhD,Cm), 2021.

Lowell L. Dankof ’72 (MS,ES), 2022.

Gregory A. Horn ’72 (ID), 2021.

William H. Skinner ’72 (ChE), 2022.

Michael A. Tersillo ’72 (ChE), 2022.

Terry L. Smith ’73 (Mgt), 2022.

John E. Davie ’74 (ME), 2021.

Donald E. Robertson ’74 (CEE), 2021.

Robert J. Schiller ’74 (Mgt), 2021.

Peter G. Vanderbeek ’74 (CEE), 2022.

James R. Bruno ’75 (ME), 2022.

Kenneth L. Del Bianco ’75 (CEE), 2021.

John B. Lambert ’75 (Ac), 2022.

Vernon S. Tenney Jr. ’75 (MS,BSci), 2022.

Robert C. Hopkins Jr. ’76, ’87 (CEE; MBA), 2022.

Roy J. Russell ’76 (CEE), 2021.

Charles K. Yarbrough ’76 (CEE), 2022.

Brian J. Jacot ’77, ’85 (CEE; MS,CEE), 2022.

Ike R. Okonkwo ’77 (ChE), 2021.

Raymond E. Szkotak ’77 (ECE), 2022.

Kevin Fitzgerald ’78 (Ac), 2022.

David A. Ignatuk ’78 (ID), 2018.

Thomas E. Morrill ’78 (MBA), 2022.

John C. Sesera ’79 (CEE), 2021.

Larry D. Shepherd ’79 (MS,ES), 2022.

Carl M. Troiano ’79, ’81 (ECE; MS,EE), 2022.

1980s

Daniel E. Merchant ’82 (ChE), 2022.

Mary M. Roussos ’84 (InD), 2021.

Robert J. Lenney ’86 (CEE), 2022.

Gregory L. Rieder ’86 (ECE), 2022.

Edward V. Lecce ’87 (ECE), 2022.

Debra J. O’Neil ’87 (Cm), 2021.

Suzanne L. Swanick ’87 (ECE), 2021.

John J. Huse II ’89 (MBA), 2021.

1990s

David Linn ’90 (ID), 2022.

David A. Serfas ’92, ’93 (EE; MS,EE), 2022.

Kenneth Carnicelli ’96 (ChE), 2022.

Christopher M. King ’99 (CE), 2021.

Robert Martel Jr. ’99 (MBA), 2022.

2000s

Jason P. Kurtz ’00, ’02 (Ma; MS,Ma), 2022.

Alex S. Danielski ’02 (CS), 2022.

Bradley E. Moore ’02 (Mkt), 2022.

Tysun J. Dostie ’03 (EE), 2022.

2010s

Ryan W. Parece ’15 (SE), 2022.

SPECIAL FRIENDS OF CLARKSON

Norbert L. Ackermann

Ackermann joined Clarkson’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1975. He was a recognized scholar in the fields of fluvial hydraulics, mechanics of granular flow, fluidstructure interaction, and hydrology. During his 37 years at Clarkson, Ackermann provided keen academic leadership, service and mentorship. He was executive officer and chair of the department for eight and 17 years, respectively. Additionally, he served as fean for three years which culminated in the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation announcing its $30 million endowment gift and the school gaining the name, The Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering. Ackermann received many awards during his tenure, most notably the University Outstanding Teaching Award in 2005 and the honorary title, Wallace H. Coulter School Distinguished Professor of Engineering in 2010.

Charley Ehrlich ’56, P’86, H’02

Ehrlich earned his BS in Business Administration and was board chair of Ehlrich Auto Parts until his retirement in 1991. An active alumnus, he served as a Clarkson trustee from 1992-2002 and was later named trustee emeritus. He was actively involved with University admissions. Clarkson created the annual Charles S. Ehrlich Alumni Admission Award in his name. Ehrlich received the Clarkson Golden Knight Award in 1991, an Honorary Doctorate in 2002 and the Lifetime Engagement Award in 2016. He was also a proud recipient of the ECAC Award of Appreciation for his support of college athletics. Ehrlich was active in many organizations throughout the Albany, New York area, including St. Mary’s Hospital board, HSBC’s Central Capital Region advisory board, Emma Willard School, Troy Jewish Community Center, Camp CeDaCa, Heritage Nursing Home and Camp Eisner Board.

Anthony J. Palumbo, MD ’60

Palumbo earned his BS in Chemical Engineering and was the first graduate engineer in Clarkson history to earn distinction as a medical specialist in ophthalmology. Palumbo earned his master’s and doctorate in medicine and surgery, cum laude, from the University of Bologna, Italy. He completed his residency and fellowship at St. Mary’s Hospital/ Rochester Eye Institute in Rochester, New York, and an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. Palumbo went on to become a pioneer in laser refractive surgery in the Mohawk Valley, subsequently serving as the Director of Ophthalmology at The Dove Eye and Laser Center for 40 years. He received Clarkson’s Golden Knight Award in 2010.

Frank Rotunno ’56

Rotunno earned a BS in Business Administration and in 1972, founded United Sales Concepts, one of the largest and most successful brokers in the paper and packaging industry, retiring in 2007. He was named an emeritus trustee in 2007, having served on the board for 15 years. Rotunno was actively involved in capital campaigns and the planning of the Deneka Family Fitness Center. In 1986, he received Clarkson’s Golden Knight Award and in 1988, he was awarded an honorary doctororate for his outstanding leadership in guiding the growth and development of Clarkson. The University inducted him into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and in 2016, he received Clarkson’s Lifetime Engagement Award.

Charles L. (Chuck) Trowbridge ’62, H’94

Trowbridge earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. He started his longtime career at Eastman Kodak as a product development engineer in the Paper Manufacturing Division and held numerous roles in the Recordak Corporation, Business Systems Division and Customer Equipment Services Division. Retiring from Kodak after 30 years of service, Trowbridge continued to be very active at Clarkson as chair of two successful capital campaigns and several terms as a member of the Board of Trustees. He received an honorary degree from Clarkson in 1994 and was named a trustee emeritus in 2004.

Clarkson University Financial Report

Clarkson University Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

Thomas L. Kassouf ’74

Chair

Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.

University President

Kenneth S. Lally ’79

Vice Chair

Bayard D. Clarkson Sr., MD, H’74

Distinguished Vice Chair

Lauretta M. Chrys UGC’98

Secretary

Kelly O. Chezum ’04

Assistant Secretary

Kenneth J. Kline

Treasurer

TRUSTEES

Anthony B. Bouchard ’85

President and Chief Operating Officer, CDM Smith, Inc.

Kathryn E. Campbell ’03

Vice President/Head of US

Product Strategy & Development, Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC

Simoon L. Cannon ’97

President and Founder, Melanina Organics LLC

Amy E. Castronova ’04

Vice President, Orbis Technologies

Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. President, Clarkson University

Lauretta M. Chrys UGC ’98

Executive Vice President & COO, Citizens Bank

Bayard D. Clarkson Sr., M.D. H’74

Member, Molecular Pharmacology/Chemistry, Sloan – Kettering Institute

Kathleen H. Cline ’85

President, KTC Construction

Charles R. Craig

Sr. Vice President Administration & Operations, Science & Technology, Corning Incorporated

Karel K. Czanderna ’77

President & CEO (Ret.), Flexsteel Industries Inc.

Peter J. Devlin ’80

President & CEO (Ret.), Fish & Richardson, PC

Christina A. Dutch ’91 Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

David K. Heacock ’83 Senior Vice President & Manager (Ret.), Texas Instruments, Silicon Valley Analog

Thomas L. Kassouf ’74 President (Ret.), Snap-on-Tools Group

Georgia Keresty ’83 Global Head, Medical Sciences & Development Operations, Takeda Pharmaceuticals R&D

Sanjeev R. Kulkarni ’84 Professor, Electrical Engineering, Princeton University

Kenneth S. Lally ’79

Founder, SimuTech Group

Earl R. Lewis ’66

Chairman of the Board (Ret.) Flir Systems Inc.

G. Michael Maresca P’18 Interventional & General Radiologist, President, St. Lawrence Radiology

John S. Mengucci ’84

President and Chief Executive Officer, CACI International Inc.

Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2022

Rajan Raghavan ’82

Founder, President & CEO, The Fabric Net

Nancy D. Reyda ’81

Managing Director & COO (Retired), Bank of New York Mellon

Frank R. Schmeler ’64, P’91, ’93

Chairman (Ret.), Albany International Corp.

Jean E. Spence ’79

Executive Vice President (Ret.), Mondelēz International, Inc.

W. Ashley Twining ’82

President, Viking-Cives Group

David A. Walsh ’67

Executive Vice President and COO (Ret.), United Therapeutics

Dennis G. Weller ’71

Chairman of the Board, Structural Associates, Inc.

James F. Wood ’64

Director, Energy Institute

Director, U.S. – China Clean Energy Research Center, Advanced Coal Technology Consortium, West Virginia University

Robert R. Ziek, Jr. ’78

President, ZSource, Ltd.

NEW TRUSTEE

Nancy D. Reyda ’81

Reyda retired in 2021 as managing director and chief operating officer of technology for Bank of New York Mellon. Previously, she was the managing director, chief operating officer and head of Transformation and Change and Risk and Control for Bank of America’s Global Banking and Markets Technology. She held similar roles at Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers. In Reyda’s third term on the board, she will serve on the Audit Committee.

DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS

Box 5510, 8 Clarkson Avenue

Potsdam, NY 13699

The six former Clarkson women’s hockey players who competed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were honored on October 1 with a ceremony to raise their Olympic Banners into the rafters of Cheel Arena. From left: ELLA SHELTON ’20, ERIN AMBROSE ’16, SAVANNAH HARMON ’18, JAMIE LEE RATTRAY ’14, RENATA FAST ’16 and MICHAELA PEJZLOVÁ ’20. SEE PAGE 22