2024 President's Report

2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The Path We Choose Reaffirming the University’s Commitment to Our Founding and Ongoing Mission

Clarkson Grads in High Demand PAGE 14

Dynamic Alumni at General Dynamics PAGE 18

50 Years: Society of Women Engineers PAGE 28

Message From the President

The Path We Choose: A Renewed Focus on STEM

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, institutions are grappling with demands for lower-cost offerings, changing demographics, and the implications of evolving modalities.

To thrive in this environment requires a differentiated identity, a clear understanding of a university’s purpose, and steadfast adherence to mission amidst competing priorities.

When I assumed the role of President in July 2022, I emphasized that Clarkson is an institution that knows who it is and why it matters. Established over 125 years ago as a technological university, Clarkson has largely stayed true to its calling. However, like any institution on a dynamic journey, we made decisions along the way that deviated from our core mission — and have realized that doing more isn’t always doing better.

In the spirit of focus and differentiation, we recently made pivotal decisions to refine our identity and align ourselves with our founding and ongoing mission. With this comes the elimination of some degree programs that do not fall within our STEM-focused mission and the transformation of others into digitally relevant versions for today’s economy.

This move reaffirms our commitment to being a STEM institution that offers an incredible return on investment. Clarkson prepares students for highly sought-after, highly compensated, highly technical careers nationwide and globally. Our renewed focus ensures that all Clarkson students receive hands-on, practical experiences in technology, innovation and research, leading to outstanding job placement, top-tier salaries, and preparation for leadership roles in the corporate sector and new venture start-ups.

Making these identity-reinforcing decisions is our response to higher education’s existential crisis. It is the path we have chosen to secure the future of Clarkson and differentiate our education, research, and innovation. We are reinvesting in education, research, and industry relationships that our students and alumni need for successful futures and careers.

While focusing on STEM may not be the only way through the upheaval in higher ed, it is unquestionably Clarkson’s way.

Thank you for your continued engagement, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you.

Let’s Go Tech!

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

In This Issue

14 10

Reaching for the Stars Get the buzz on Prof. Bazzocchi’s astronautics and robotics workspace — the ASTRO Lab.

18 18

Deterrence and Security at Home Starts with Innovation

Status Quo Foes

General Dynamics executive Chris Montferret ’87 shares insights from his 36-year career in the defense industry and the company’s successful history of recruiting Clarkson graduates.

Innovators Conor Cullinane ’13, Matt Kane ’13 and Eli Kapas ’14 press the easy button and disrupt the autoinjector market.

Schoolie Springboards to Success

12

14

Christensen Sees Bright Future for Clarkson Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. reflects on his first year as President, Clarkson’s future and the data points that are steering the direction of the University.

25

Talent, hard work and Clarkson’s strong alumni network leads to early-career success for Emma Tidd TCS’21, ’23.

26

President’s Challenge Design a tangible take-away so unique that no one would ever throw it away: 560 students, 155 teams, and 150 faculty and alumni mentors work toward one hands-on goal.

28

SWE Celebrates 50 Years of Empowering Women Engineers Clarkson’s Society of Women Engineers hosts history-rich event for students, faculty, staff and alumni in recognition of the milestone.

30

Clarkson Pride Continues to Fuel Craig Conroy ’94 The Calgary Flames’ new general manager looks back on his NHL playing career and his lifelong connection to the Clarkson Golden Knights.

33

Gallucci ’16: What’s Next in Space The cofounder and CTO of SCOUT Space, included this year on Forbes 30 Under 30, shares why measures for regulating space traffic are essential — now.

ALSO INSIDE: Golden Knight Spotlight 02 / Class Notes 34 / Financial Report 49 / Board of Trustees 49

Visit Clarkson Online Go to clarkson.edu/magazine to view the digital version of this and previous issues of Clarkson magazine.

CLARKSON CLARKSONUNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY / 1

Golden Knight Spotlight Volume MMXXIII / Number 1 / January 2024 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

Michael P. Griffin MS’00 Patricia Lane Melissa M. Lindell Jake Newman Kris Ross Suzanne F. Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS

Josh Bartell ’96 Christine Collins Connor Frasier Nate Lashomb Kim Leeson Tricia McCormack Jacob McNamara ’16 Gerry Raymonda Baylee Szekeres ’23 Noah Willman clarkson.edu

CLARKSON is published two times per year

by Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699.

Circulation: 47,000 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.

Ives Joins Clarkson as Financial Affairs VP Clarkson has named JEFF IVES as its new vice president of financial affairs as of September 1.

For more than 10 years, Ives served as the assistant vice president of finance at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. During his tenure at Dartmouth, Ives led the institution’s annual budget, quarterly projection and longrange planning processes, working closely with academic and administrative colleagues to assess strategic initiatives leading into a fundraising campaign.

He implemented annual budget reallocations to encourage investment in new initiatives and eliminate lower-priority spending.

“We are very excited to have Jeff Ives joining the team,” says Clarkson President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. “Colleges and universities are facing financial challenges all across the nation.

We are so pleased to have someone as capable as Jeff here to help lead Clarkson through these times.”

Prior to Dartmouth, Ives served as the budget director at McGill University in Montreal for five years.

Ives’ corporate finance experience includes several roles at a large pharmaceutical company in New York City and Princeton, New Jersey; a risk management associate position at an insurance company based in Bermuda;

and a loan officer position for a commercial bank in Philadelphia.

He received his MBA from Duke University and his undergraduate degree in economics from Haverford College.

Ives has also been involved in several boards and advisory committees in his community, including serving on the board for The Dartmouth, an independent, student-run college newspaper; the Hanover, New Hampshire, Town Finance Committee; and the board of his church.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the finance team at Clarkson,” Ives said.

“I look forward to collaborating with faculty and staff at Clarkson to strengthen the institution’s financial position to support its goals.”

“I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH FACULTY AND STAFF AT CLARKSON TO STRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTION’S FINANCIAL POSITION TO SUPPORT ITS GOALS.” — JEFF IVES, VP of Financial Affairs

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Clarkson Launches BS in Healthcare The Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences is leaning into progress in the field by offering a new Bachelor of Science in Healthcare degree program as healthcare evolves.

This new program benefits students interested in any facet of healthcare, including preclinical, business, data analytics, public health policy, research and bioethics.

“Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors, and it’s changing rapidly,” says LENNART JOHNS, founding dean of the Lewis School of Health Sciences. “We have designed a curriculum with foundational knowledge and the flexibility to adapt to student interests and our changing world.”

Embedded within the core healthcare curriculum are the 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students, endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Student Affairs Committee on Admissions. The competencies fall into four categories: interpersonal, intrapersonal, thinking and reasoning, and science.

“As these are core competencies for clinical practice in healthcare, it makes logical sense that the competencies extend to all areas of healthcare, including clinical practice, business, policy and bioethics, to name a few,” says Johns. “Clarkson knows that these competencies matter, and they serve as the core of Clarkson’s education in healthcare.”

The new Healthcare major bolsters the already robust Lewis School of Health Sciences and is the latest option for Clarkson’s direct-entry healthcare programs. In this program, students complete four years of undergraduate study at Clarkson for a BS degree, then directly enter our master’s or doctoral program in their chosen healthcare field, as long as they meet the requirements and academic criteria.

Healthcare Partners New partnerships with Ohio Northern University (ONU) and Notre Dame of Maryland University will allow students to earn multiple graduate degrees concurrently, thus increasing their marketability and competitiveness in the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. While earning a doctor of pharmacy at their home institution, ONU and Notre Dame of Maryland students can simultaneously complete an online MBA in Healthcare Management, Master of Science in Clinical Leadership or Master of Science in Healthcare Data Analytics through Clarkson University’s David D. Reh School of Business.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 3

Golden Knight Spotlight

Clarkson to Advance Diversity of Bioengineering Workforce The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health awarded $660,475 to Clarkson as part of its Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) Research Education Experiences program.

With this grant, Clarkson will launch the BIOENGINEERING RESEARCH EDUCATION TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION IN STEM (BOREALIS) Scholars program to prepare a diverse cadre of students for careers in biomedical research. BOREALIS will be led

2023 BOREALIS Scholars

by Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering LAUREL KUXHAUS, Assistant Professor of STEM Education MELISSA RICHARDS ’06, M’06, PHD ’21 and Adjunct Research Professor ALI BOOLANI. The BOREALIS Scholars program will educate, encourage and support students to enter the bioengineering workforce by creating a pathway to bioengineering graduate study.

Three students per year will receive intensive mentoring, a hands-on introduction to laboratory research and paid research experiences as firstand second-year undergraduate students. They will also gain access to a series of educational

From left: Profs. Melissa Richards, Laurel Kuxhaus and Ali Boolani. experiences, including a summer bridge program, first and second academic-year activities and paid summer research experiences at the interface of engineering and medicine.

A distinguishing feature of the BOREALIS Scholars program will be comprehensive training on the science of effective mentoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for both students and mentors.

This program will build upon Clarkson’s strong history of welcoming sociodemographically diverse students to campus and ensuring that they have the necessary support and engineering skills to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

(From left)

Ciara Nuesi ’27 West Milford, New Jersey Major: Civil Engineering Minor: Biomedical Engineering Rose Leader ’27 Schenectady, New York Major: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Minor: Biomedical Engineering Jonathan Sanchez-Salgado ’27 New York, New York Major: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Minor: Biomedical Engineering

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Davidson ’26 Receives Inaugural Gary Kelly Award Professor Emeritus GARY KELLY left a lasting impression on the Honors Program. In honor of Kelly, who passed away in March 2023, Honors Director Kate Krueger and Professor Emeritus David Craig created the Gary Kelly First-Year Student Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates the Honors values of critical thinking, curiosity and ethical inquiry.

Honors student KIRBY DAVIDSON ’26, a chemistry and biomolecular science double major from Red Hook, New York, is the first award recipient. Davidson was selected by the first-year Honors faculty

as the most outstanding first-year student based on the outcome of early coursework.

“Winning this award means so much to me. I’ve worked really hard during my first semesters at Clarkson, and to be recognized by my professors in the Honors Program for the work I put in is something I’m really proud of,” Davidson says. “The Honors Program challenges me to think in a more interdisciplinary manner.

As a STEM major, most of my classes are heavily focused on the analytical side of things, but the Honors Program requires students

to think outside of our main disciplines and consider the effect our studies will have on the world around us.”

The Honors Program was established in 1996, with Kelly leading the program committee and design. Under his leadership, the program became the shared learning and research community that Honors students still experience today.

Ahmadi Publishes 800th Journal Article Robert H. Hill Professor of Mechanical Engineering GOODARZ AHMADI recently published his 800th peer-reviewed journal article.

Ahmadi, whose research interests include fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, computational fluid mechanics, aerosol transport and deposition, and other related topics, published “Selecting the Safe Area and Finding Proper Ventilation in the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus,” in the Journal of Energies.

Ahmadi has been at Clarkson since 1982. His research has garnered support from federal agencies, namely, the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, EPA and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, as well as several corporations, including GE, IBM, Corning, Xerox, Kodak and Dura Pharmaceuticals. Ahmadi recently served as interim provost for the 2022-23 academic year.

Ahmadi is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a fellow of the American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers (ASTFE). He received the 2016 ASME Freeman Scholar Award in Fluid Mechanics and ASME Fluid Engineering Division’s 90th Anniversary Medal. He was inducted into Phalanx, Clarkson’s highest honor society, in 2015 and

received the Clarkson Lifetime Research Achievement Award in 2015. He also received The Phalanx Commendable Leadership Award (2015), Clarkson’s Outstanding Advisor Award (1986, 1988, 2002), the Clarkson Distinguished Teaching Award (1988), the Pi Tau Sigma Distinguished Teaching Award (1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2021) and Clarkson’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award (2023).

He has been a member of the University’s Multi-Million Dollar Club since 2006. Ahmadi has also co-authored four books and given more than 1,340 presentations, including 196 plenary and keynote lectures, as well as invited talks at international conferences worldwide. His h-index is 78. He also serves on the editorial board and the Editorial Advisory Board of 12 international journals. He holds five patents.

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Golden Knight Spotlight

CAMP Hosts 25th Annual Symposium for Chemical-Mechanical Planarization The 2023 Symposium for Chemical-Mechanical Planarization (CMP) recently convened in Lake Placid, New York, marking a significant milestone as the event celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Organized by Clarkson’s CENTER FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS PROCESSING (CAMP), the symposium showcased distinguished experts from the semiconductor industry and academia alongside prominent leaders from New York’s Empire State Development (ESD).

The event, which has evolved into a premier platform for knowledge exchange and research discoveries in the CMP field, saw heightened enthusiasm this year, due to the catalytic influence of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 (CHIPS Act). The landmark legislation, designed to boost U.S. competitiveness, innovation and national security, has unleashed unprecedented opportunities for Clarkson to help elevate the United States’ semiconductor ecosystem and foster robust workforce development.

The program spotlighted key areas of CMP research, encapsulating the industry’s most pressing challenges and innovative equipment solutions. Keynote and plenary lectures from leaders in the field—representing companies such as Micron, Samsung, GlobalFoundries and Applied Materials—treated attendees to an insightful outlook for CMP over the next 10 years, offering a glimpse into the future of this critical technology.

President Christensen Signs Climate Commitment President MARC P. CHRISTENSEN, PH.D., P.E., recently signed the Second Nature Presidents’ Climate Commitment and spoke about his views on addressing climate crises. This commitment requires us to develop and implement a plan to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and establish a date to reach net zero, as well as to develop adaptation plans and increased resilience in the face of a changing climate.

“Clarkson has a long history of advancing sustainability initiatives,” says President Christensen. “I am pleased to recommit the institution under my administration to continue this important work.”

Clarkson has already made substantial strides with climate action planning as a campus. Notable successes include decreasing University heating, vehicle fuel and electricity, and greenhouse gas emissions by 44% while the square footage of buildings on the Potsdam campus has increased 53% since 2005.

The campus will continue to develop the means to reduce emissions further.

Above: Noah Bohl ’23 (left) and Prof. Susan Powers (right) look on as President Christensen signs the climate commitment. Below: Students display the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Andy Carswell of Micron Technology presents the keynote address at the 2023 Symposium for Chemical-Mechanical Planarization in Lake Placid, New York.

6 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Kienzle ’23 Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ABIGAIL KIENZLE ’23, a recent graduate of the civil engineering and Honors programs, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. The prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship will provide financial support for Kienzle to complete her PhD at an institution of her choosing.

Kienzle’s proposal focuses on characterizing the hydration reactions for limestone calcined clay cements (LC3), which are a sustainable and lower-carbon alternative to traditional cements.

Her research will answer basic questions about how LC3s harden, how the underlying processes can be controlled to produce desirable behavior for construction, and how this can help achieve a

new generation of resilient and sustainable civil infrastructure.

“I hope my work, both now and in the future, will promote more sustainable use of concrete, creating a positive impact on global crises that threaten the future of humanity,” says Kienzle, in keeping with the guiding principle of Clarkson’s Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, “Technology Serving Humanity.”

Kienzle completed her Honor’s thesis on the solidification behavior of rapid-setting calcium sulfoaluminate cements with Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Robert Thomas ’11, M’23, PHD’16.

Kienzle’s research was featured in a co-authored article in Construction and Building Materials in 2022. She twice presented her work at the

biannual American Concrete Institute (ACI) Convention, North America’s leading cement and concrete research event. In 2022, she was awarded the prestigious ACI Foundation Concrete Practitioner Fellowship. While at Clarkson, Kienzle also completed three summer internships and worked weekly shifts at the Writing Center. She was active in Clarkson’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving as president in 2022, and was the ASCE Concrete Canoe team captain.

Thomas Serves as Fulbright Specialist on Low-Carbon Concrete ROBERT THOMAS ’11, M’23, PHD’16, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, was selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board as a Fulbright Specialist at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in Telangana, India.

Thomas visited BITS Pilani for two weeks in August, where he collaborated with faculty on curriculum development to support emerging low-carbon concrete technologies, gave several research seminars and visited with students and faculty from BITS and neighboring institutions.

Concrete construction accounts for more than 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Thomas and his research team are working to change that.

“We are studying a lot of alternative materials that can reduce concrete’s carbon footprint, but the lack of education around their use and specification has prevented their widespread use in construction projects,” says Thomas.

“India makes more concrete than any country except China—nearly four times what we make in the United States,” he adds. “This amplifies the impact of low-carbon concrete technologies and the educational programs that help them get adopted.”

Fulbright Specialists share expertise with host institutions abroad and are selected based on their academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field and potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 7

Golden Knight Spotlight

Monroe ’22 Wins AIAA Zarem Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement STEPHEN MONROE ’22 will receive the Zarem Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for his paper, “Parallel Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Studies of the Performance of ONR Waterjet AxWJ-2.”

Monroe, who is pursuing a mechanical engineering graduate degree from Clarkson, was presented the award at the 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida, in January. In September, he will present his paper at the 2024 International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences in Florence, Italy.

The award, established by AIAA Honorary Fellow Abe Zarem, the founder and managing director of Frontier Associates,

is given annually to recognize graduate students in aeronautics and astronautics who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in their field.

As a senior at Clarkson, Monroe began learning computational fluid dynamics algorithms and high-performance computing in Professor Chunlei Liang’s research group. Now, during his first year of graduate study, Monroe is conducting unsteady Reynoldsaveraged Navier-Stokes studies of an Office of Naval Research (ONR) waterjet propulsion unit using parallel computers. Monroe is also performing large-eddy simulations (LES) of the same propulsion system to examine large-scale coherent structures in the flow field and finer and more detailed flow structures.

Monroe is determined to become a skillful computational fluid dynamicist in LES using open-source code before completing his master’s program.

While uncertain about a future in academia, Monroe intends to use the skills he’s developing at Clarkson to become a proficient propulsion system designer.

“Coming into the Graduate School, I only intended on achieving an MS degree. Having been recognized for my hard work by the Abe Zarem award, not only has my passion for research been rejuvenated, but my consideration of furthering my education has as well,” says Monroe.

Two Second-Place Wins for Clarkson CEM/SPEED Students Students from Clarkson’s Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Program and SPEED teams displayed their expertise at the 34th Annual Associated Schools of Construction Competition. The event drew teams from Drexel University, Vermont State University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Cal Poly, and Rochester Institute of Technology, among others.

Project manager SHAZOI HALL ’24, a civil engineering student from Jamaica, led the team to a secondplace win in the Preconstruction category, sponsored by Consigli Construction.

8 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

In the open category, any school can send a team or team alternates can pair up with students from other schools. In a whirlwind of 24 hours, Clarkson alternates teamed up with peers from the University at Buffalo to write, submit and present their proposal to problemstatement sponsor Baker Concrete Construction. The Clarkson/ UBuffalo team also placed second.

“Clarkson, over the last decade, has risen to the challenge,” shares Professor ERIK C. BACKUS ’97, PHD’23, director of Clarkson’s CEM Program and ASC Region 1 Director. “The teams they bring are serious competitors and make for ‘shovel ready’ engineers and construction professionals. This year was no different with another great showing.”

Clarkson Names Robinson Provost Longtime Professor and Associate Provost CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON has been named Provost. Robinson has been serving as Provost ad interim since July 1.

“We are thrilled to have Chris Robinson take on the permanent role of Provost here at Clarkson,” says President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E. “In his role as interim provost over the last several months, Chris has demonstrated his capacity to navigate complex and challenging sets of circumstances. It is clear to me that he has the disposition, wisdom, and skills to be an exceptional Provost for where we are now and into the future.”

Robinson holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from SUNY Albany and is highly published in the area of political theory.

As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, he engaged in research and courses in human rights and environmental political theory at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea.

Robinson’s research includes completing a book on contemporary political theory as a series of responses to political trauma and ecological catastrophe. He is also studying the politics of sustainable development and formulating a position dubbed Political Ecology that considers the larger political effects of acknowledging the illogic of limitless economic growth on a planet of limited natural resources.

“Clarkson has been my home for 25 years, and I look forward to continuing to serve this University community as provost,” Robinson said. “The current higher education landscape demands that we come together to solve problems in a creative and unified manner. I am eager to work with the diligent leaders at Clarkson to face these challenges and build on our roots to offer our students a strong education that serves humanity.”

Learn more about Provost Chris Robinson at clarkson.edu/people/christopherrobinson.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 9

Reaching for the Stars

U

nder the direction of Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Michael C. F. Bazzocchi, who joined the faculty in 2020, the Astronautics and Robotics Laboratory (ASTRO Lab) explores advanced concepts and performs innovative and transformative research in science and engineering. ASTRO Lab trains high-quality researchers and engineers, develops new technologies and provides novel solutions to problems in astronautics, robotics and society.

ASTRO Lab creates opportunities for students to explore engineering problems and develop novel solutions to the most pressing challenges in astronautics and robotics. Areas of core research include: • Asteroid Science & Engineering — Exploring the potential of small solar system bodies.

• Orbital Dynamics & Control — Planning trajectories and controlling the motion of spacecraft.

• Mission & Systems Design — Analyzing space systems and formulating concepts for new missions.

• Satellites, Formations & Debris — Tackling space debris, designing formations and miniaturizing spacecraft.

• Space Robotics — Advancing space operations and exploration through robotics.

• Terrestrial Robotics — Developing intelligent robots for the world’s most challenging environments.

• Industrial Robotics — Autonomizing robots for complex industrial challenges and applications.

• Personal & Assistive Robotics — Creating new robotic solutions that benefit people in their daily lives.

“We seek to foster the development of world-class researchers who are able to readily contribute to industry, academia and government programs in space and robotics” says Bazzocchi.

“We regularly welcome new students and researchers to the lab and encourage applications from all enthusiastic and talented individuals.”

Learn more and sign up to receive ASTRO Lab news and updates at astrolabresearch.com.

“WE SEEK TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD-CLASS RESEARCHERS WHO ARE ABLE TO READILY CONTRIBUTE TO INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IN SPACE AND ROBOTICS.” — MICHAEL C. F. BAZZOCCHI, Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

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Megan Michaud ’24

Michael Buchwald ’23

BUCHWALD ’23 WINS DISTINGUISHED STUDENT PAPER AWARD AT 2023 ASEE CONFERENCE MICHAEL BUCHWALD ’23 received the Aerospace Division’s Distinguished Student Paper Award for “Advancing Engineering Education Through University Ground Stations” at the 2023 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Conference. As an undergraduate student and researcher in Clarkson’s ASTRO Lab, Buchwald worked on the project with Prof. Bazzocchi.

“I am thrilled to receive the distinguished student paper award. I have been working on this project for several years with Professor Bazzocchi and am so excited that aerospace education professionals found my paper a worthwhile read,” says Buchwald.

Ground stations are essential for space missions to conduct data retrieval, telemetry, tracking and control and, due to cost, have been limited to the government and private space sectors. As a result, this has led to few laboratory activities that employ ground station technologies in engineering programs.

More recently, the cost of ground station components has decreased, along with an increase in publicly available designs, making ground stations more accessible to universities.

In his paper, Buchwald investigated the integration of ground stations into university curricula and outlined an approach to leverage ground stations to improve educational outcomes for aerospace engineering students.

This research was funded in part by the Clarkson Honors Educational Enhancement Scholarship and the New York Space Grant Student Support Fellowship.

MICHAUD ’24 SHARES ROBOTIC SATELLITE TEST BED RESEARCH AT ICRA LONDON MEGAN MICHAUD ’24, an undergraduate researcher in Clarkson’s ASTRO Lab, presented her robotic satellite test bed research for emulation of small spacecraft orbital motion at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2023 in London.

The goal of Michaud’s project is to design a mobile robotic system that can simulate the full motion of a small spacecraft in orbit. This would allow researchers to test new technologies and procedures for close-proximity operations in space, such as debris capture and on-orbit object mapping.

Michaud’s work is funded in part by the NASA New York Space Grant Women in STEM Fellowship and the Clarkson Honors Educational Enhancement Scholarship (HEES). While the project is still in its early stages, it has the potential to make a significant impact on the field of space robotics.

This research could help to develop new technologies and procedures for close-proximity operations in space, which could make space exploration safer and more efficient.

“I’m excited to have had the opportunity to present my research at ICRA,” says Michaud. “It was a great opportunity to share my work with other researchers in the field and to learn about the latest advances in space robotics.”

The NASA New York Space Grant Women in STEM Fellowship is a program that supports women in STEM who are pursuing research in space-related fields. The fellowship provides funding for research expenses, as well as travel and conference expenses. The fellowship has helped to support a wide range of research projects, from the development of new space technologies to the study of space weather.

The Clarkson Honors Program offers unique experiential learning opportunities to prepare promising Clarkson students. HEES supports “high-impact” experiences, including conference presentations.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 11

Status Quo Foes

Clarkson Friends Disrupt the Auto-Injector Market

by Melissa Lindell

Pirouette Medical, a cutting-edge pharmaceutical company that is changing the ways drugs are delivered, is the result of a chance meeting on the Clarkson campus over a decade ago.

Life has a funny way of bringing people together at just the right place and time.

In 2010, Conor Cullinane ’13, Matt Kane ’13 and Eli Kapas ’14 met at the Coulter School of Engineering. Cullinane studied aeronautical engineering while obtaining minors in biomedical engineering, mathematics and pre-med. Kane received a dual degree in aeronautical and mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics. Kapas received a dual degree in mechanical and civil engineering.

From left: Pirouette founders Matt Kane ’13, Conor Cullinane ’13 and Eli Kapas ’14

12 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

“

W

e became great friends and took several classes together,” Cullinane says. “During our senior year, we started the Rocket Divison project.

It was a research group housed within the Applied Aerodynamics Laboratory. Our group focused on developing a rocket test bed for an attitude control system. The goal was to create a modular system that large-scale model rocket enthusiasts could add to their rockets to control the trajectory and provide precise positioning of the rocket.”

The venture ended up being a mini-startup experience. “We managed the entire thing through conception, design, testing, manufacturing, funding and, finally, the launch — which was an educational outreach activity as well,” Cullinane says. “It laid the foundation for the entrepreneurial spirit that we all have.”

COMBINED INGENUITY After they graduated from Clarkson, the friends went different ways but always stayed in touch, knowing deep down that they would eventually work together again.

Cullinane obtained PhDs in Medical Engineering & Medical Physics at MIT and Harvard Medical School in the Health Sciences and Technology Program. Kane earned a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, where he developed and tested turbomachinery, which included

performance and vibration analysis. Kapas worked across multiple industries, including oil and gas, supporting the development of a new ethylene plant in roles ranging from quality control to supervision.

“It was a leap of faith for us to launch the company,” recalls Cullinane. “I began pitching investors, and we agreed that if I could raise $50,000, Matt and Eli would quit their jobs, and we would start the company.

While the three worked separately in various roles in industry, they always hoped they would have the opportunity to innovate together again and combine their shared love for tackling complex engineering problems with perseverance and a relentless work ethic — in true Clarkson fashion.

Together, they identified a need for a more portable, easier-to-use technology than existing epinephrine auto-injectors, like the EpiPen®, to help those with life-threatening allergies.

They started working on a solution as a side project and developed a technology different from anything else on the market. From there, Pirouette Medical was born.

“My first pitch, which was terrible when I look back on it now, was to a couple of former industry executives. They both thankfully saw through the unpolished pitching skills and recognized the significant potential of our innovation. Each separately notified me the next day that they were investing $50,000, and just like that, we had doubled our minimum threshold.

I was so excited to call Matt and Eli and ask them to quit their jobs, knowing the band was back together and we were about to embark on quite a journey together, just as we hoped.”

Traditional injectors have long been plagued by usability issues and exorbitant costs, leaving patients grappling with fear and anxiety. Pirouette’s patented auto-injector, however, changes the game entirely by placing healthcare in the hands of the patient, where the improved experience is built on increased access, improved safety, more effective treatments, better outcomes and the opportunity to deliver more efficient, lower-cost care.

BUTTONING UP THE BUSINESS Pirouette makes injections as easy as pushing a button. The trio has developed and patented a rugged, reliable, low-profile, disk-shaped, automated injection device (auto-injector) that is affordable, portable, intuitively simple and easy to use.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 13

“ We have 97% in a job in their first 60 days, with high-paying salaries.”

“The ratio of student debt to starting salaries is something we can be very proud of here.”

In First Year as President, Christensen Sees Bright Future for Clarkson

by Tom Graser

“ This is a life-changing place...we literally get to transform family trees.”

Reprinted with permission from the Watertown Daily Times, originally published on October 15, 2023. Edited for length.

14 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

J

ust shy of the first anniversary of his inauguration as Clarkson University president, MARC P. CHRISTENSEN said that when many colleges struggle to survive, Clarkson is in a position to thrive.

He said one sign is the continued interest from tech companies in Clarkson graduates.

“We had 207 companies at our fall career fair on campus,” Christensen said. “Those 207 companies brought about 500 people to campus to interview our students this fall. There were 19,000 job listings on our software portal for the students. For a small, private school like Clarkson, that’s absolutely astounding.”

As a traditional technological university, Clarkson has a significant advantage, Christensen said.

“We’re focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math),” Christensen said. “We are graduating the graduates most in demand in the country.”

Clarkson, he said, has been making an impact on its students for a long time.

When he was first announced as Clarkson’s 17th president, he started to hear from alumni.

“They all had incredible stories to tell and wonderful things to say about Clarkson,” he said. “At the core of every story they told about Clarkson, was that the education provided here made their life possible. And having that many alumni all saying the same thing — completely loyal to the education and the skills they learned here, that sustained them through an entire career.”

And it is not just the students who benefit.

“This is a life-changing place, not only for them, but if you think about our first-generation college students and Pell-

eligible students, we literally get to transform family trees,” Christensen said.

In a time when people are beginning to balk at the price of a college education, Christensen said people need to focus on the investment. The price isn’t the complete picture, he said.

“I would encourage people to think about the value of a college

“...207 companies brought about 500 people to campus to interview our students this fall.” education. There are places you could go to pay less for a degree, but what I want to know is, are they going to provide the value and the access? What do you get when you furnish an education like we do at Clarkson?” Christensen said.

“We have 97% in a job in their first 60 days, with high-paying salaries.

It is a return on investment. This is the biggest investment individuals are going to make. You may buy a house, but that house you live in for an average of seven years.

A college education is going to serve you for the rest of your life.

Clarkson students are able to earn in a way that they can pay back whatever student debt they face. The ratio of student debt to starting salaries is something we can be very proud of here.”

This year Clarkson has seen a year-over-year increase in enrollment. With a total of about 3,000 undergrads, there are 668 new undergrads this fall compared to 642 last year.

There has been an increase in post-grad students too. There are 455 new post-grad students this year compared to 343, and a total of 1,236 with more coming in January.

One change Christensen said he would like to see in enrollment is students from other parts of the country finding Clarkson.

Right now, 97% of Clarkson students come from the Northeast.

“In the North Country, Clarkson has a reputation that precedes it. We talk to anyone and they know what to expect from a Clarkson grad,” Christensen said.

“When I talk to places around the other parts of the country, they don’t know Clarkson as well yet. So that’s a privilege I have. I get to carry the message of this incredible institution out to other parts of the country. I want people all across the globe to know what a gem Clarkson is, sitting right here in the north country.”

Clarkson is adding micro credential opportunities for its students to create graduates ready to work for today’s high-tech employers.

Christensen said there has always been tension between academia and companies on what students should know when they graduate.

Companies want to hire graduates, but they want them to come with specific skills, while CONTINUED >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 15

PRESIDENT CHRISTENSEN’S FIRST YEAR AT CLARKSON

“It is astounding to me how many things are lined up for Clarkson in the future.

Bright days are ahead.” universities want students to be able to think, not just use tools.

“And so when the industry comes and says we love your students, but we want these skills, the traditional response from the academia has been, well, we’d love to get them those skills, too. But we have accreditation, we have all these basic pieces, we need to teach them how to think, how to learn — not a specific skill,” Christensen said.

Micro-credentials are one solution to the problem, he said.

“At Clarkson, that microcredential has to have three things in order to level up a student. It has to have a set of skills that the industry has defined as relevant,” he said. “The second thing it needs to have is a pedagogical designer who’s an expert in figuring out how to develop a hybrid system that has online courseware and the appropriate sort of testing mechanisms. And the third one, and this is what I think is really unique to Clarkson, is there has to be faculty associated with certifying the knowledge base.”

The micro-credential is as rigorous as a short course and when a student completes one, they get a stamp that says, this is what I know and here is what I learned, Christensen said.

“So imagine that you’re NYPA (New York Power Authority) and you want the engineers you’re

16 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

hiring to know certain pieces you use regularly. It’s the things you might be training them in during their first two years on the job,” he said. “You can create a microcredential for that, we’ll put the students through it and now the students that are headed into that sector know this is what the industry is looking for.”

Companies have supported courses at Clarkson in specific software applications like Python language syntax, which is used heavily in web development, data science and data analysis, machine learning, startups and the finance industry. Micro-credentials in digital transformation, advanced project management tools and techniques, and introduction to major building systems are some of the most popular, according to the university.

“ I get to carry the message of this incredible institution out to other parts of the country.”

Christensen said Clarkson’s relationship with state officials is invaluable and unique.

“When I realized the resources that the state government had put into Clarkson, a private institution, in the past, in terms of both its infrastructure and buildings,” Christensen said.

“We’re able to support job creation with the Center for Advanced Material Processing and in our Healthy Water Solutions Center. In other states, those typically reside only at state institutions. The fact that New York is forward-looking enough to realize that education and higher education lifts all boats is incredibly, incredibly attractive and forward-looking and basically, lets us unlock some value that a lot of places will have hidden away other places.”

Clarkson is positioned to be a big part of the Micron project in the Syracuse area, Christensen said. In 2022, Micron announced its plans to build the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in the history of the United States.

Micron intends to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to construct a new megafab in Clay, with the first-phase investment of $20 billion planned by the end of this decade.

Micron said the new megafab will increase the domestic supply of leading-edge memory, create

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES

“ If you’re not gaining, you’re losing ground... we’ve got to be pushing forward and advancing...” nearly 50,000 New York jobs and represent the most significant private investment in New York’s history.

“There’s two areas of expertise that Clarkson brings, that they have decade-long experience in.

The first is chemical-mechanical planarization,” Christensen said. “It’s how to take the semiconductor wafers — and as you put these tiny features and build up these mountains of transistor technology — how do you get it to keep it flat enough between steps to be able to continue to do smaller and smaller features? That’s something that we have 30 years of experience with.”

The other has to do with clean water. He said Micron has pledged to have water leaving the fabrication facility to be cleaner than when it went in.

“We had one of the first research contracts in place with Micron; it was on clean water because they knew how critical this was going to be for their green fab(rication),” Christensen said.

Empire State Development Commissioner Hope Knight, speaking at the recent Center for Advanced Materials Processing’s Chemical Mechanical Planarization Conference in Lake Placid, cited the economic impact of Clarkson’s CAMP, one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology in the state.

Over the past decade, CAMP has helped New York companies generate $245 million in economic impact, she said, creating and retaining nearly 400 jobs.

Christensen said they can’t get complacent despite his optimistic outlook for Clarkson.

“If you’re not gaining, you’re losing ground,” he said. “If we don’t keep moving, there are going to be other people who have great job placement statistics, who are graduating fantastic graduates, so we’ve got to be pushing forward and advancing all the time.”

Christensen recently led a values exercise with students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors as part of building up to a strategic planning activity.

“This has to be a 10-year audacious vision of who we are and what we should do. And so it started with the values to say, OK, these are the values of Clarkson,” he said.

They will determine what the institution is doing that impacts the community — What students and faculty are being recruited?

What new curriculum could be developed?

What new jobs could be created?

“And that becomes a playbook,” he said.

A little over a year ago, Christensen was in Dallas, fighting the heat and the traffic. He is in a very different place now.

“Nobody gets to Potsdam by accident,” Christensen said. “I’m here on purpose. We have things to do. It is astounding to me how many things are lined up for Clarkson in the future. Bright days are ahead.”

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 17

Deterrence and Security at Home Starts with Innovation At General Dynamics, Clarkson alumni apply their engineering, logistics and business skills to develop and manufacture reliable high-tech products and systems with advanced capabilities.

Their goal? To help protect the United States and its interests and promote global security.

by Suzanne F. Smith

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GENERAL DYNAMICS

18 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

T

he 21st century is off to a turbulent start.

Rising geopolitical tensions and complex, omnipresent challenges — like climate change and a fragile post-COVID economy — are providing fertile ground for political extremism and violent conflicts across the globe. These issues threaten the world’s stability, including the security of the United States and the American people.

For CHRIS MONTFERRET ’87, a leader and 36-year career veteran of the defense industry, successfully protecting the nation and building global security requires a 21st-century solution.

“That’s where innovation comes in,” he says.

“The development, manufacture and deployment of advanced technologies and systems is critical for deterrence and the success of U.S. military operations.”

Montferret is vice president of Strategy and Business Development for the Maritime & Strategic Systems business at General Dynamics Mission Systems. General Dynamics is the world’s fifth-largest aerospace and defense contractor, with 2022 global sales of $39.4 billion.

“Maritime & Strategic Systems is the focal point for Navy and strategic deterrence systems within General Dynamics Mission Systems,” he says.

“Our primary customers are the Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.

We provide mission-critical solutions and systems integration for manned and unmanned undersea and surface systems.”

Montferret, as the chief growth officer for the maritime and strategic systems line of business, is responsible for business development, customer and

partner relations and investment strategy, including investments in technology.

“Our products include sonar and combat systems, weapon command and launch systems, missile and torpedo guidance systems and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs). We also integrate communications, electronics and weapons systems onto Navy

“THE DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURE AND DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS IS CRITICAL FOR DETERRENCE AND THE SUCCESS OF U.S. MILITARY OPERATIONS.” — CHRIS MONTFERRET ’87

surface ships and submarines. We provide nuclear weapons safety and do a lot of restricted work for the Navy with undersea sensors and power distribution networks.”

Montferret began his career in the Edison Engineering Program at General Electric after graduating from Clarkson in 1987 with an electrical engineering degree. (He also earned a Master

of Engineering in Computer and Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1990).

“It’s a two-year rotational leadership training program and one of the best of its kind in the country,” he says. “When I graduated in the late 1980s, GE hired a lot of Clarkson engineering graduates. I had offers at three different GE locations, and I chose Pittsfield, Massachusetts.”

He landed in the Aerospace Division, which GE sold to Martin Marietta in the early 1990s.

Martin Marietta then merged with Lockheed. Later, in 1997, General Dynamics acquired $450 million of defense units from LockheedMartin, which included his unit.

“There have been a number of changes in ownership, but in actuality, I have always worked for the same company.”

He moved into the business side early in his defense industry career. At General Dynamics, he took on large-scale, multimillion- to billion-dollar business development and capture activities for various programs.

These included the Advanced Submarine Program, Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program, Air Force Strategic Programs and Undersea Systems, including Bluefin Robotics’ Autonomous Undersea Vehicle products.

He points to his technical knowledge, engineering training and the strong communications skills first developed at his Jesuit high school in New Jersey for his rise in the defense industry.

But he also credits the leadership opportunities and mentorship at Clarkson for preparing him for success.

“At Clarkson, which is a relatively small community, I was able to make strong connections with people and take on leadership roles. I was a class officer, a CONTINUED >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 19

resident advisor and active in the engineering honors society.

It was an easy place to develop relationships with faculty and staff who were accessible and invested in their students’ success.”

Making decisions around technology investments has been among his most important responsibilities. “There have been rapid developments in technology over the past few decades.

Obviously, this has had a huge impact on modern warfare and the defense industry.”

A Technological Advantage Today’s military battles are increasingly taking place on a technological field fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) systems, hightech weaponry, cyber and drone technologies, microelectronics, advanced materials and integrated communications and navigation systems.

Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Defense issued the 2022 National Defense Strategy of the United States (NDS). The unclassified document set forth a unified vision for the strategic direction and defense priorities

General Dynamics, the world’s fifth-largest aerospace and defense contractor, employs nearly 300 Clarkson alumni.

20 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

“AT CLARKSON, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY SMALL COMMUNITY, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE AND TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES.” — CHRIS MONTFERRET ’87

of the Joint Force in response to growing global security threats and emerging concerns over U.S. safety and security.

Among the report’s conclusions is that the U.S. must leverage its military advantage, which includes investment in advanced systems and capabilities. This means supporting the continued research and development of technologies like robotics, AI, quantum computing and lasers, as well as identifying and developing promising new technologies.

Defense companies must also hire the right people to successfully adapt these promising technologies into military-ready solutions.

“Many of the Clarkson students we hire at General Dynamics Mission Systems come through our engineering or manufacturing leadership programs,” says Montferret. “Both are highly selective. They require more than

a strong academic performance and technical background. We want to see extracurricular involvement. Candidates must be able to demonstrate leadership, creativity and strong communication skills. The expectation is that these are the people who will grow into future company leaders.”

“We put a lot of resources and time into developing our leaders, so we want a return on our investment,” says Montferret.

“It’s why we hire a lot of Clarkson engineering graduates. Clarkson students come very well prepared and advance here.”

Educating High-Tech Leaders WILLIAM JEMISON, dean of the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering at Clarkson, understands the constellation of workforce skills and knowledge that defense contractors and other high-tech manufacturing companies need. Jemison, who has a PhD in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

from Drexel University, started his career in the defense industry, developing radar systems for aircraft.

“The problems that the defense industry work on are very hard and very important, and the solutions must be successful,” says Jemison.

“Too much is at stake, including people’s lives.”

“General Dynamics has a longstanding partnership with Clarkson and our Career Center. The company recruits a lot of our engineering students. They know we educate students in a way that makes them highly competitive and successful at the company.”

The nation’s other top defense companies also partner with the University to recruit Clarkson graduates for internships and jobs.

“Clarkson graduates understand that approaching tough problems requires demanding technical skills, but it also requires persistence and a willingness to work through all of the facets

Chris Montferret takes Liam McNeil ’23 (left) and Jenna Russ ’20, MBA’23 (right) on a surface ship simulation at General Dynamics Mission Systems in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. of a problem,” says Jemison.

“Our team-based, project-based education helps our students learn how to work effectively on these problems. Clarkson students are doing design and team learning early and often. They understand how to meet demanding requirements. Our corporate partners recognize this.”

Clarkson has assembled over 380 external partners in industry, government agencies and research organizations. These partnerships provide students additional access to extracurricular opportunities, including co-ops, internships and service learning. On campus, engineering students participate in collegiate design and build competitions through the SPEED program and get involved in business and technology creation through a University-wide entrepreneurship initiative.

“All of this builds a strong foundation of technical knowledge and an appreciation for the process of innovation,” says Jemison.

Today’s company leaders also want students with skills uniquely suited to their industries.

One way to achieve this is for universities to work directly with a corporate partner to develop relevant courses. Often referred

to as micro-credentialing, these are short, co-curricular, highly specialized online courses. “The goal is to increase student preparedness and skill development for a particular company and industry,” he says.

“THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE STUDENT PREPAREDNESS AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR A PARTICULAR COMPANY AND INDUSTRY.” — WILLIAM JEMISON

Jemison is putting together a cluster of short courses on advanced manufacturing.

The first, developed by General Dynamics, is on agile manufacturing. “Agile manufacturing is a manufacturing methodology that strongly focuses on rapid customer response and is used by General Dynamics. Better-prepared students mean even fasteraccelerated success at a company.

Our engineering students get more than a degree; they get an industry-ready education.”

CONTINUED >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 21

Supply Chain Efficiency and Customer-Centered Solutions If the road to a robust national defense strategy runs through successful technological integration, then managing the supply chain — the complex flow, storage and transport of materials from purchase through manufacturing to finished products — is the driver.

PATRICK BECKER ’07, MBA’09 is the chief logistics engineer for all General Dynamics Mission Systems programs in Pittsfield.

He partners with supply chain management professionals and engineers to resolve material and technical issues for customers.

“I work with leadership and team members to develop customer-centered solutions in

the field of logistics engineering,” he says. “Our customers are warfighters, and it is rewarding to serve them.”

Logistics engineering focuses on efficiency and organization in a supply chain, including purchasing, transporting, storing, distributing and warehousing materials and finished goods.

One important lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of resilient and strategically organized supply chains. Problems or disruptions in a defense product supply chain can cause delays and shortages or impact quality, which can have substantial, even life-threatening, consequences in battle.

Becker arrived at General Dynamics in 2011 to work in materials management after nearly two years as an engineering planner at Raytheon Technical Services Company.

As an undergraduate at Clarkson, he studied civil engineering. “I had a passion for structural engineering,” he says.

“After graduation, I practiced it at an engineering firm for a couple of years. But I wanted to do something that had more social interaction, and that was dynamic to keep the subject matter interesting.”

Becker found what he was looking for in supply chain management. “I fell in love with the field,” he says. He returned to Clarkson to pursue

From left: Chris Montferret ’87, Holly Rossman ’23, Erica Tremblay ’14 and Patrick Becker ’07, MBA’09.

22 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

an MBA in Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM).

The GSCM program at Clarkson is recognized internationally for its excellence and consistently ranks among the nation’s best.

For Becker, a career in logistics allows him to use “both of my Clarkson educational experiences, leveraging my technical brain and my social, management brain,” he says.

“I OWE SO MUCH TO THE PROFESSORS AND RELATIONSHIPS I DEVELOPED [AT CLARKSON].”

— PATRICK BECKER ’07, MBA’09

His connection to his alma mater remains strong. He serves on the Reh School of Business Leadership Council, offering perspectives on the industry- and world-relevance of the curriculum while providing input into the School’s future direction.

Becker agrees with colleague Chris Montferret that the strong faculty-student relationships at Clarkson give the University — and its graduates — a competitive advantage.

“I owe so much to the professors and relationships I developed there,” he says. “The GSCM and E&M programs stand out because of the quality of the faculty, like FARZAD MAHMOODI, director of the GSCM program and AMIR MOUSAVIAN, director of the E&M program.”

Like other Clarkson graduates, Becker has found General Dynamics to be a good fit. “The company has a strong history of success with Clarkson students integrating well into its business and culture.”

“I HAVE BENEFITTED FROM GREAT MENTORS WHO HAVE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH. I AM ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND FOLLOW MY CAREER PATH.” — ERICA TREMBLAY ’14

The company culture, which emphasizes skill and career development, teamwork and strong mentorship, mirrors Clarkson’s learning environment.

“General Dynamics Mission Systems invests heavily in their employees to sharpen their skills. My leadership team has allowed me to pursue significant challenges and opportunities that yielded results; this willingness to support my (sometimes outlandish) ideas and take a chance on me has kept me here. I work with great people.”

The Best of Both Worlds ERICA TREMBLAY ’14 has spent seven years as a materials specialist at General Dynamics Mission Systems. She echoes Becker’s enthusiasm for the company’s positive work environment.

“I have benefitted from great mentors who have taught me so much. I am always encouraged to seek opportunities to develop and follow my career path. Having ownership of your career is incredibly rewarding. I feel like that is not something that most companies encourage.”

“The materials I work with make up the systems that we integrate into our U.S. Navy platforms,” she says. “For example, we are the systems integrator for a class of Expeditionary Fast Transport naval ships. We work with a shipbuilder in Mobile, Alabama. They build the ships, and we provide the systems for installation. My job involves

taking the engineers’ designs and ensuring the materials are ordered on time and delivered to the shipyard, where they integrate all the technology. Any failures in the yard — late, lost or damaged parts — are my responsibility, so I also do inventory management and tracking so everything delivers on time.”

“The challenge is making sure I am communicating clearly and concisely with many different groups who all have different needs but ultimately the same end goal. The most rewarding part? Seeing our end products in use and knowing I was a part of making that happen.”

Tremblay learned about the E&M program from her brother JUSTIN TREMBLAY ’10, ’13, who has BS degrees in Global Supply

Chain Management and E&M from Clarkson. “I had originally planned to be a math teacher, and I got a degree in mathematics from SUNY Potsdam,” she says. “But I began to rethink my plans. When I heard about the E&M program, it sounded like the perfect fit for me.”

It was a perfect fit. “It’s the best of both worlds. I got a robust education in the business aspects of industry and continued to build on my strong technical background.”

She rounded out her education by concentrating on data analytics. “Having the background in data analytics has been incredibly beneficial in what I do today at General Dynamics as much of my job involves analyzing data and developing plans based on that analysis.”

CONTINUED >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 23

Last October, Prof. Amir Mousavian took 40 E&M and engineering students to General Dynamics in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This is the first site visit since the program was suspended due to the COVID pandemic.

Tremblay is one of many E&M majors who have joined General Dynamics; many are working at Pittsfield as well as the company’s other sites.

“Success among our E&M alumni at General Dynamics and other high-tech companies is not surprising,” says Amir Mousavian, David M. Spatz ’68 Endowed Chair, associate professor and director of the E&M program.

“Our curriculum sets the stage for well-rounded students, preparing them effectively for the dynamic business world.

Our program is one of only two worldwide accredited by AACSB as a business degree and ABET as an engineering degree, underscoring its comprehensive approach.”

According to Mousavian, E&M students also benefit from Clarkson’s experiential learning approach and the favorable 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which fosters a personalized learning environment. “This dedication to the individual growth of our students, I think, is the main reason we rank among the top 25 Engineering Management programs nationally.”

Many students add a Global Supply Chain Management

24 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

concentration uniquely tailored to the E&M major. “This innovative concentration equips E&M students with the dual strengths of these two flagship programs, strategically positioning them to excel in logistics and supply chain roles,” Mousavian says.

A Strong UniversityIndustry Partnership All agree that Clarkson’s experiential learning approach, low student-to-faculty ratio and strong industry partnerships contribute to high placement rates and the career success of alumni across various industries.

But there is another critical factor: alumni loyalty. Clarkson alumni return to campus to represent their companies to

“OUR CURRICULUM SETS THE STAGE FOR WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM EFFECTIVELY FOR THE DYNAMIC BUSINESS WORLD.” — AMIR MOUSAVIAN

recruit students for internships, co-op opportunities and full-time positions.

“I got my job at General Dynamics through the Career Center and Clarkson’s alumni network,” Tremblay says. “I was hired by Pat [Becker]. Alumni networking is hugely important, and Clarkson does an amazing job with it.”

These days, Tremblay makes the 230-mile trip back to Potsdam twice a year to attend career fairs as a General Dynamics recruiter.

Among her most recent recruits to General Dynamics Mission Systems is EMMA TIDD TCS’21, ’23.

Tremblay’s professional engagement with Clarkson extends beyond the hiring process. With Becker, she is a point person at General Dynamics Mission Systems, working with Jemison and Duncan Adamson, assistant dean of Professional & Continuing Education, to bring the AGILE manufacturing microcourse to Clarkson. The two also coordinate site visits for Clarkson students.

“Going to Clarkson is one of the best decisions I ever made,” Tremblay says. “Because of that decision, I now have a career at General Dynamics that I love.”

SCHOOLIE SPRINGBOARDS TO SUCCESS

By Suzanne F. Smith EMMA TIDD TCS’21, ’23 first came to Clarkson as a “schoolie,” attending The Clarkson School (TCS) for her senior year of high school at the recommendation of one of her teachers.

The Skaneateles native arrived on campus in the fall of 2020 at the height of COVID restrictions.

“That was hard,” she recalls.

Despite the challenging start, she accelerated her learning and graduated in 2023 with a BS in Engineering & Management (E&M). Now, thanks to her talent and hard work — and a strong assist from Clarkson’s powerful alumni recruiting network — she is launching her career in materials logistics at General Dynamics.

Tidd began working for the company as a remote intern during her senior year at Clarkson. The internship led to a full-time job offer. “Clarkson alumna ERICA TREMBLAY ’14, who works at General Dynamics Mission Systems, reached out to the E&M program about an open position in logistics.

Professor JOHN MILNE P’18 recommended I apply.”

“My job title is integrated logistics specialist,” Tidd says. “Our team manages the flow of materials for a fleet of U.S. Navy ships. We work to get the engineers’ and technical teams’ materials needs communicated to the buying and planning departments, and we track all materials.”

“Our goal is to get materials where they are needed when they are needed.”

It’s a complicated process. But it’s the kind of challenge that Tidd likes. “I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my job. It’s like a big puzzle with many pieces.”

The combination of technical and business skills she acquired through her E&M degree and the University’s award-winning Global Supply Chain Management program provided her with the foundation that makes her effective in her new job.

“In materials logistics, I get to use both sides of my degree. I work with complex computer software, but I also need to communicate well and manage multiple variables.”

As a student, Tidd also benefitted from leadership opportunities and close relationships with faculty and staff. “Professor Milne was a mentor to me. During my senior year, I also worked closely with BRENDA KOZSAN ’87, MBA’90, associate head of The Clarkson School, as a student mentor for both PE100, a first-year seminar for TCS students, and for the Integrated Clarkson Experience (ICE) program, which pairs local high school students with Clarkson undergraduates.

Brenda was a wonderful influence throughout my entire Clarkson experience.”

Tidd took advantage of the David D. Reh School’s Global Business Programs, spending three weeks in Kenya and Uganda in 2022 with Professors AUGUSTINE LADO, Dorf Chair in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and BEBONCHU ATEMS, interim dean of the Reh School of Business. The following year, she went abroad to Spain, France and Italy during the spring break.

“I like to think I have grown and developed from these experiences,” she says. “I have a deeper appreciation for people from different backgrounds and cultures and a better understanding of just how big the world is.”

“I REALLY ENJOY THE PROBLEMSOLVING ASPECT OF MY JOB. IT’S LIKE A BIG PUZZLE WITH MANY PIECES.”

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 25

Clarkson Ignite

2023 President’s Challenge: Design. Build. Connect.

away — something collectible, small and light enough to mail — that demonstrates Clarkson’s innovative spirit to prospective students.

by Kris Ross

A

Clarkson tradition, the President’s Challenge asks students to use their skills, knowledge and campus resources to develop a unique solution to a real-world issue. This year’s President’s Challenge focuses on something practical yet critical to the continued success of Clarkson: generating excitement about the hands-on, interdisciplinary education prospective students will receive should they choose to attend Clarkson.

The inspiration for this year’s Challenge came from Clarkson’s Design, Build, Fly SPEED team and the leadership of Associate Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering KEN VISSER, who collaborated with his students and colleagues to create a 39-piece

LEGO model of their “Emerald Hawk” plane. The Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering gave these LEGO kits to prospective students to share who we are and what we do at Clarkson.

President Christensen, a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) fellow, also took the LEGO kits to the NAI annual conference this past summer, where the organization’s president lauded them during the opening keynote.

The replica is not just a representation of a specific SPEED team but rather the innovative nature of Clarkson’s students and faculty — from a project’s design to the build to the connections they promote.

To this end, why not tap our internal ingenuity? Who better than our students to translate the real Clarkson learning experience into a Golden Knight novelty?

The Task “Emerald Hawk” LEGO plane

Developing personalized connections with prospective students is critical to any university’s impact on the world.

While Clarkson already takes prominent steps to build these connections, we can continue to do much more.

The Goal In true Clarkson form, the learning goal of the Challenge is to provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the six-stage development process. Interdisciplinary student teams chose to work in one of eight categories related to academic majors.

Throughout the process, they worked alongside a faculty mentor, attended biweekly lessons by relevant subject matter experts and gained access to an exclusive Entrepreneurial Mindset microcredential course.

Design an interactive “tangible take-away” so unique that no one would ever throw it

The Outcome Over 560 undergraduate and graduate students across every academic major and class year assembled into 155 teams.

Teams developed their collectible with mentoring support from 28 faculty members and 125 alumni.

The teams presented their prototypes at the President’s Challenge Showcase on November 17. Faculty, staff, fellow students and other members of the Clarkson community toured the collectibles on display.

Using feedback from key Clarkson community members and a People’s Choice vote from the student body, one team in each of the eight categories was declared a winner. Judging criteria included the product’s interactivity, portability, and sustainability; price; aesthetics; alignment with Clarkson brand and values; “Cool Factor” and Presentation.

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The Purpose

PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE OVERALL WINNER TEAM 1 – SENIOR CITIZENS: Clarkson-themed Jenga-like blocks featuring University fun facts TEAM MEMBERS: Angelica DeGuardia ’24, Allyson Lloyd ’24, Corey Sulca ’24, Joseph Mascolino ’24 and Alexander Koproski ’24 FACULTY MENTOR: Jim Franklin, adjunct instructor

Subject Matter Experts — Our Alumni!

During each stage in the President’s Challenge, a subject matter expert provided participating student teams with an in-person lesson on the following topics.

STAGE 1: TEAM FORMATION / IDEATION

Brian Fratto ’13, PhD’16

STAGE 2: RESEARCH / PLANNING / FACULTY SUPPORT

Jamey Hoose ’01, MBA’15

STAGE 3: PROTOTYPING / BRANDING

Kevin ’11, PhD’14 and Charlotte MacVittie ’16

STAGE 4: SOURCING / SUSTAINABILITY

Matt Hawthorne ’19, MS’21

“IT IS VERY EXCITING FOR CLARKSON TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AN INTERACTIVE COLLECTIBLE THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THE HANDS-ON CROSS-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO EDUCATION WE TAKE.”

— ASHLEY SWEENEY, Director of Clarkson Ignite

CATEGORY WINNERS TEAM 4 – CLARKSON ROCKETRY: LEGO replica of the Rocketry SPEED team’s rocket TEAM 10 – TEAM GREEN AND GOLD: Clarkson-themed stress ball TEAM 38 – OH SHOOT!: Tensegrity phone stand that prominently features the letters “CU” TEAM 86 – PIECEWISE: Cylindrical Clarkson-themed puzzle maze TEAM 103 – MECHANICAL MAESTROS: LEGO replica of the Baja SAE SPEED team’s all-terrain vehicle TEAM 147 – KNIGHT LIGHT: Clarkson-themed “Knight Light”

STAGE 5: COSTING / PRODUCTION PLAN

Claire Liu ’19

STAGE 6: COMMERCIALIZATION / PRODUCTION PLAN

Professors Erik Backus ’97, PhD’23, Suresh Dhaniyala and Stephanie Schuckers

“It is very exciting for Clarkson to be able to give prospective students an interactive collectible that is meaningful to the handson cross-disciplinary approach to education we take,” says ASHLEY SWEENEY, director of Clarkson Ignite. “I think it will mean even more to them that current students designed and made that Ashley Sweeney collectible as well.”

Into the spring semester, the winning teams’ collectibles will be refined, manufactured and distributed to prospective students during Clarkson’s upcoming Accepted Students Days.

TEAM 156 – TEAM MCK: Clarkson-themed Newton’s cradle CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 27

SWE Celebrates 50 Years of Empowering Women Engineers

I

By Melissa Lindell

n 1950, 60 pioneering women engineers and engineering students made history as founders of the SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS (SWE).

On October 1, 1973, Clarkson women made their own history by establishing the first chapter of SWE in New York state. Fifty years and thousands of members and leaders later, the Clarkson section of SWE still thrives today.

SWE encourages the growth of women in the STEM fields — in the profession, on college campuses and in primary and secondary schools. Through professional development opportunities,

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community service projects and social events, SWE promotes engineering as a fun and rewarding profession and provides a strong community of female engineers.

For Professor Emeritus RUTH BALTUS, a chemical and biomolecular engineering professor at Clarkson, SWE was a perfect fit to deepen her mentorship and connections to women and girls interested in STEM. She served as faculty advisor from 1991-2001.

Baltus has fond memories from her 10 years as SWE advisor and remained involved until her retirement in 2020. The best part? “Working with the female students, watching them develop as individuals and gain confidence, and seeing local Girl Scouts have such a blast at our science activity night each year,” says Baltus.

Associate Professor JAN DEWATERS PHD’11 agrees. “SWE has a huge impact on Clarkson students, particularly females,” the longtime faculty advisor says.

“As a minority on campus, SWE offers female engineering students a cohort group where they can feel welcomed and share in their common experiences,” she says.

SWE is open to other STEM majors, and although membership is open to all genders and all majors, membership is predominantly female engineering students.

“Many SWE members develop close friendships and friend groups,” says DeWaters. “They offer special group housing for members...the group gives students a chance to feel ‘at home’ on campus. Over the years, students have commented that they joined SWE and found an immediate friend group, felt less alone and less alienated. SWE was a place where they felt they belonged.”

Baltus recalls attending the National SWE meeting in 2003, where she received the Outstanding Educator Award. “[Prof.] Amy Zander nominated me for this award,” she says. “It was really cool to attend a meeting that was nearly 100% women. I’m sure our students also gain a lot

Society of Women Engineers History ESTABLISHED: October 1, 1973 FOUNDING PRESIDENT:

KATHRYN (STOCKSLADER) HOSFORD ’74 OBJECTIVE: To stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life and demonstrate the value of diversity.

TIMELINE 1973 Founded on October 1.

1977 Voted Best Chapter in the United States; received a plaque and a check for $400 from Union Carbide to commemorate the achievement.

1978 from being surrounded by the outstanding women engineers who attend that meeting.”

Clarkson has good representation at the national SWE meeting, sending anywhere from 10 to 20 students each year to various locations around the country.

“I ASPIRE TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN STEM AND CREATE AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, FOSTERING THE SAME SENSE OF BELONGING THAT I EXPERIENCED.” — ALYSSA JULIANO ’25, SWE President

SWE at Clarkson Today Today, SWE is a global organization that still holds to its original, yet slightly evolved, mission: To empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a

positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.

Current Clarkson SWE President ALYSSA JULIANO ’25 and AYDEN ROLLINS ’25, vice president, are working to carry out that mission.

Both have engaged in SWE since their first year on campus.

“It felt reassuring to encounter women in STEM, especially in a school with such a skewed gender ratio,” says Juliano, an Honors engineering & management major who is also pursuing a minor in environmental engineering.

“I aspire to empower women in STEM and create an inclusive environment, fostering the same sense of belonging that I experienced.”

Rollins, who is studying computer engineering with minors in electrical engineering and mathematics, agrees that finding a sense of belonging is important to her.

“To be around women — because my classes are primarily men — I wanted a place where I belong,” she says.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 >

KAY BONNEY ’79, P’19; LINDA GRACE ’80; LISE (SCHEUCH) SIBICKY ’78, MS’80 and TRACY STIGERS ’79, MS’80 traveled to

Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the SWE student conference and national SWE convention.

Voted Best Section in the Northeast region.

Voted Best Section in the United States for a second year; received a plaque and a check for $400 from Union Carbide to commemorate the achievement.

1983 LINDA (PALLADINO) SCHUMACI ’84

co-chaired the View a Professional at Work (VIEW) program that took place on January 5-6.

1988 Voted best chapter in Region F. Received Corning Achievement Award.

Officially reached 150 members.

1990 Twenty Clarkson women attend 4th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference on January 19-20 organized by MICHELE CAMACHO ’92, AMY SANICKI ’93, P’27 and PROF. RUTH BALTUS.

2015 Twenty-three members attend Region F conference in Boston.

2017 Five members travel to Region F conference at the University of Connecticut.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 29

CLARKSON PRIDE CONTINUES TO FUEL CONROY ’94, CALGARY FLAMES’ NEW GM

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by Jake Newman

F

rom his seat in an NHL front office, CRAIG CONROY ’94 recalls fondly the beginning of his love affair with hockey. Now the general manager (GM) for the Calgary Flames, Conroy looks back on his lifelong connection to the Clarkson Golden Knights and how the roots of that love are planted firmly in the Clarkson hockey program.

“My grandfather and I went to every single Clarkson game. I was a little guy; half the time, I was running around Walker Arena, not paying attention,” Conroy chuckles.

After a few years as a rink rat in Potsdam, Conroy was ready to don the Green and Gold himself. It was a family legacy and a dream come true for a hometown kid.

“My dad played at Clarkson, and my two uncles did. I think it was just in my blood,” Conroy says.

Conroy spent four seasons playing center for the Golden Knights, accumulating 164 career points. After exploding for 26 goals and 39 assists during his senior campaign in Cheel Arena, he made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut for the Montreal Canadiens, who had drafted him 123 overall in the 1990 entry draft.

Conroy played 1,009 games over 16 seasons in the NHL. His stint in Montreal was a short one, logging 13 games over two seasons while bouncing between the Canadiens and their American Hockey League affiliate in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Conroy was then traded to the St. Louis Blues, a move he considers the jumpstart to his career.

“I got sent down to the minors for a few games, maybe five or six games, and then I was called back up, and I never was back in the minors again,” Conroy says. “I had a real good run in St. Louis.”

After five seasons with the Blues, Conroy was traded again, this time to the Calgary Flames.

His first stint in Calgary began in the 2000-01 season.

“At first, I thought, oh, they weren’t a very good team. My wife loved St. Louis, and my kids loved St. Louis. So it was a tough one,” Conroy recalls. “But once we got up there, the way the city embraced us and to be a part of that was incredible. We had an unbelievable run in 2004.”

“MY DAD PLAYED AT CLARKSON, AND MY TWO UNCLES DID. I THINK IT WAS JUST IN MY BLOOD.” The 2004-05 NHL lockout turned the league on its head, and Conroy’s reality was no exception.

In a time of flux, it was a fellow Golden Knight who stabilized things for Conroy.

“Fortunately for me, another Clarkson guy stepped in. DAVE TAYLOR [’77] signed me, which was pretty amazing. Dave signed me in LA, and I went into LA.” Taylor, who played at Clarkson from 1973-77, was the GM for the Los Angeles Kings from 1997-2006.

He signed Conroy, who played for LA for the next two seasons.

During Conroy’s time in Los Angeles, Taylor and the Kings went their separate ways, and Conroy soon followed suit. He was traded back to the city that had so embraced him and was once again a Calgary Flame at the start of the 2006-07 season. Five years later, he would play his last game in an NHL jersey.

When it came time for him to explore new options, it was obvious where that journey would start.

“I got traded back to Calgary and finished my career playing for the Flames in 2011. And when I did, I jumped into the hockey operations side. And that’s how my career started on that side,” Conroy recounts. “They had me doing a little bit of everything. I was getting experience with the development side, scouting, in all the meetings, hiring process, all the different aspects of it.”

That broad array of experience lends itself well to Conroy’s new role at the helm. But experience only shoulders some of the load.

Clarkson Green and Gold are stitched into the fabric of the National Hockey League. Those colors shone through for Conroy as he rose through the ranks.

Many of his fellow alums have been there to mentor the new GM. One such alum can draw from experience. Conroy is not the only Golden Knight currently serving as General Manager for an NHL franchise.

“JARMO KEKALAINEN [’89] has been amazing,” Conroy says of the Columbus Blue Jackets GM and former Golden Knight standout.

“If I have questions, if I need help, I know Jarmo is one of those guys I can lean on.”

The Clarkson connection also opened doors for Conroy at the international level. CHRIS CLARK ’98, who played for Clarkson from 1994 to 1998, brought Conroy into the CONTINUED >

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 31

“IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY FACES I RECOGNIZE WHEN I WALK BACK INTO THE ARENA. IT’S A GOOD FEELING BECAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS BE HOME TO ME, FOR SURE.” fold with Team USA for the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia.

“Chris Clark was the general manager of the U.S. team for the World Championships. He called me, and we got to work together,” Conroy said of his time with Team USA. “I was his assistant GM on that. Clark is a good friend, and who knows when we’ll be working together again one day.”

A Clarkson connection from his days on the ice also plays a role in Conroy’s managerial growth.

Taylor has had a continued influence on Conroy’s career beyond signing him as a player.

“Dave Taylor has been the one person that whenever I see, I am bouncing ideas off him,” Conroy said. “I’ve known him for a long time. And if I need help with anything or advice, he’s more than happy to help.”

The network at Conroy’s disposal is one resource from his time at Clarkson, but it is not the only one. The new GM says his education comes into play as frequently as his hockey knowledge.

“I think it helps in the way you manage people, the way you work with people. And I remember all the professors over the years, and I think, ‘Oh, yeah, I remember when they said this or that,’ or ‘I should probably think about this and go in a different direction.’” Conroy says.

“It’s been a long time — 18 years from when I finished Clarkson to when I got into the business side of things. But it’s amazing how quickly it comes back.”

Across the hockey landscape, Conroy says, people recognize Clarkson. He attributes that name

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recognition not only to the long tradition of success but also to the sustained quality of the program.

He credited the work of Head Men’s Hockey Coach Casey Jones for strengthening the reputation of Clarkson hockey.

“People just know how good a program it’s been,” Conroy says.

“From the time it started all the way through to what Casey’s done, I think it’s really got that prestige. And if you say, ‘Hey, I’m from Clarkson,’ people perk up. It means something in the hockey world. And it makes me proud. It’s a great program, and it will only get better with Casey being there.”

Conroy’s new role with the Flames mandates that he be in tune with the next generation of professional hockey players. It often requires travel to far-flung corners of the hockey world. It also gives Conroy a built-in excuse to return to where it all began.

When asked if he would be making a trip to Potsdam this season, Conroy excitedly says, “Always! That’s the one nice thing about my job — I get to watch hockey. And Casey always gives me a heads-up on the players to watch.”

Conroy speaks enthusiastically about his hockey career, his new role with the Flames, and the people who have helped along the way. When it comes to talking about coming back to Clarkson, the tone adjusts to one of pride.

“It’s just a great feeling to be back and see everybody,” Conroy said. “And it’s amazing how many faces I recognize when I walk back into the arena. It’s a good feeling because it will always be home to me, for sure.”

Remembering Corby Adams ’64 CORBETT “CORBY” ADAMS,

who became a successful businessman and realtor, was arguably one of Clarkson’s best athletes.

Adams was a member of the Men’s Hockey program from 1961-64 and the Baseball team from 1963-64.

“Corby was a big part of the early success of Clarkson hockey…one of the most impressive stat lines in the 102 years of the program [and] one of the inaugural members of the Clarkson Athletics Hall of Fame,” says Casey Jones, men’s head hockey coach.

During Corby’s run at Clarkson, the Golden Knights enjoyed some of their most successful seasons and one of the most prolific lines in eastern college hockey. Teamed with highscoring wingers ROGER PURDIE ’64 and BRIAN WILKINSON ‘64, Adams centered Clarkson’s “All-American Line.”

A 1964 All-American, Adams became one of the Golden Knights’ all-time leading scorers with 159 points on 76 goals and 83 assists in 78 games from 1961-64. Adams garnered first-team ECAC All-Star honors three times and Tri-League all-star esteem twice. Led by head coach Len Ceglarski, the team posted a three-year record of 59-14-4, three consecutive appearances in the ECAC Championship Tournament, and back-to-back showings in the NCAA Championship Tournament, including a second-place finish in 1962.

Although hockey was his dominant passion, Adams also excelled in baseball. He played under the late Hank Hodge in his junior and senior years and made a remarkable impression on the legendary coach. “Corby is one of those natural athletes who can do anything well,” Hodge once remarked. “Not only is he a natural hitter, but he makes some plays in the outfield that would be difficult for an experienced professional.”

Clarkson Confident

GALLUCCI ’16: WHAT’S NEXT IN SPACE SERGIO GALLUCCI ’16, cofounder and chief technology officer of SCOUT Space, is one of this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science. The recognition follows the young alum’s inclusion on the Forbes Next 1000 list in 2021.

Born and raised in rural northeast Brazil, Gallucci’s future interests were sparked by Clarkson’s application process.

“I never really thought about my horizons,” he says. “When applying to Clarkson’s Honors Program, I was asked, ‘If you could do any research project, what would it be?’ And I thought about what I could contribute to for the first time. My essay was about sustainability in spaceflight.”

Gallucci now leads a team of 20 focused on making space safer to operate in.

SCOUT has an office in Reston, Virginia, and provides space autonomy hardware and software to commercial and government clients, which have awarded the startup millions in contracts. The company, cofounded in 2019 with CEO Eric Ingram, has raised over $5.5 million from investors to usher in a new era of space safety and transparency. SCOUT launched its first prototype into orbit in 2021.

RIGHT TIME, RIGHT SPACE

PHOTO BY NOAH WILLMAN

“WHEN APPLYING TO CLARKSON’S HONORS PROGRAM, I WAS ASKED, ‘IF YOU COULD DO ANY RESEARCH PROJECT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?’ AND I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I COULD CONTRIBUTE TO FOR THE FIRST TIME. MY ESSAY WAS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN SPACEFLIGHT.”

Gallucci says that the 2020s are a decade for the history books. “We’re seeing unprecedented growth in the space domain and increasing awareness of its delicacy. Space will be dozens of times more crowded next decade. People are now recognizing this, and I’m glad to have helped evolve the conversation.”

Gallucci has led multiple studies and analyses of sensing to contend with crowding in the space domain over the past few years and credits sustained work with stakeholders for the team’s success.

“I don’t subscribe to ‘If we build it, they will come.’ We justify our forward thinking with validation in the technical community, deploying capabilities in orbit and working closely with mission partners.”

Learn more at scout.space.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 33

Class Notes ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1950s

CONRAD HOFFMAN ’53 (ChE) published

his third book, Assassination, a political thriller, in August 2022.

SOLOMON MORRIS CANTOR ’55 (EE) celebrated his 90th birthday on January 21, 2023. He notes that he “celebrated with my wife, our three children and their spouses, as well as all six grandchildren.

The actual event was held in March in order to minimize the risks of winter foul weather.”

HENRY (HANK) OKRASKI ’58 (EE) writes that he is “working with Sands Point Preserve Conservancy on Long Island, New York, to establish a Naval Simulation Museum dedicated to the years that the Navy was at the Long Island location (1946-1967).

The museum will include historical documents and a virtual gallery of simulations, as well as virtual simulators for students to experience flight. The museum will also have STEM features to interest our youth in careers in aerospace and simulation.

Seeking donations of vintage simulator technologies and an aircraft simulator cockpit for student play.”

CHARLES PERSCHETZ ’58 (ChE) and his wife, Sandra, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 2022.

ALBERT HALSTEAD ’68 (Cm) authored and published a book, Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2nd Ed., 2018, and released his first music album, Music for the Dark Parlor, on CD this year. Albert writes, “The CD includes six pieces of ambient, electronic music performed by my group, Sun’s Muse. Both creative projects were produced and published by my company, Leonine Productions, LLC, which was established in 1975 as in independent film production house and later branched out to book production and publishing and music recording and publishing.”

1960s

BARNEY ADAMS ’62 (BA) was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 for his “lifetime achievement.”

PAUL HEANEY ’63 (ME) notes his “frustrating attempt to inform the public that the pending California electric vehicle mandate will be a disaster. With my engineering background, I founded the Electric Grand Prix Corp. in 2012 to promote electric vehicle technology. I put on public and school presentations about EVs and their advantages. I also constructed an EV replica of the Carol Shelby Cobra (famous for its success in competition with the Corvette) and used it for many years for demonstrations.”

JON FOGELBERG ’63 (ID) had a new book published in April. Earth 2.0: Environmentalism Unleashed: Hopeful Wonders, Careers, Pioneers, and Activists aims to raise awareness of human-induced climate change.

The book includes a career guide to inspire young people to join the fight and a call to action for peaceful activists to influence our planet’s future environmental and energy policies.

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JAMES W. KENNARD ’66 (EE), an avid diver who has found more than 200 shipwrecks, authored the book Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery.

ELMER “STUB” ESTEY ’64, ’66

(ME; MS,IM) has written Oxcart Gold Rush: From Pompey Center, N.Y. to Sacramento – and Back, which documents five years in the life of a 19th century resident of Central New York, based on his journal. The book, now in its second printing, was published by Log Cabin Books.

DAVID SUITS ’67, ’69 (CE; MS,CE) has been included in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America for his professional integrity, outstanding achievement in his field and contributions to society.

DAN BARIGHT ’68 (SS) says that, since 1980, he has made “intellectual breakthroughs regarding community and transportation planning and development in a capitalistic and democratic society.”

After more than 50 years of flying private airplanes without an accident, LOUIS SERAFINI ’68 (CE) received the “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award” from the FAA.

1970s

Ferguson. The proud parents are Peter and Meghan Ferguson of Taunton, Massachusetts.

WILLIAM RAPIN ’76 (CEE) and his wife, Kim, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 23, 2023.

PAUL D. TONKO ’71 (ME) won his 2022 reelection race for New York’s 20th Congressional District.

staff, faculty or alumni today know the history of Clarkson’s Malone, New York, campus and the part it played in meeting the rapid growth of students post World War II.” ANAND CHAUDHURI ’72 (MS,ChE)

published a book in October of last year.

A Long and Winding Journey in America: Living My Best Life focuses on his time in the U.S. after moving from Calcutta, India.

BOB WASHER ’72 (CE) and his wife,

Debbie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 9, 2023.

THOMAS P. MURPHY ’74

(Mgt) is a principal with Jackson Lewis P.C., specializing in workplace law.

WILLIAM SHUSDA ’70 (CE) celebrated

BILL and Jo Ann (SUNY Potsdam ’74) FERGUSON ’75 (CEE) became

his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Sandi (SUNY Potsdam ’71), in July 2022.

grandparents for the first time with the birth of twin boys, William and Ethan

After living and working in Virginia for 50 years, JAMES VAN DEUSEN ’70 (CE) retired in January 2020 and moved to Albany, Oregon, to be near his son’s family.

(ME) and his wife, Jane, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 11, 2023.

They were married at Clarkson.

PETER FADDEN, P.E., ’71, ’74 (CE; MS,CEE), completed Clarkson’s First Extension Campus, a compilation of historical information on Clarkson’s Malone Campus from 1946-1951 in July 2022. He notes. “Few current students,

TIMOTHY M. HOGAN ’77 (CEE) received the 2020 Frank Clark Service Award (postponed from 2020) from the Rome Sports Hall of Fame for his service to Rome Youth Hockey.

MICHAEL SWEETON ’78 (ChE) was named Warwick Citizen of the Year last fall, as acknowledgment for his accomplishments as a 60-year Warwick, New York, resident, businessman and town supervisor.

JOSEPH E. GALLAGHER ’79

(Ac), the president and CEO of AFL, was listed on Greenville Business Magazine’s 50 Most Influential list for 2022.

DAVID RIVERS ’79 (ChE) retired in January of this year after 34 years of service with Corning Incorporated.

KEVIN TUBBS ’79 (ChE), vice president and chief ethics, compliance & sustainability officer at Oshkosh Corporation, was a featured guest on the Impact Podcast with John Shegerian.

The show features thought leaders who share how they are able to help make the world a better place on a daily basis.

THOMAS GILBERT ’79

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 35

Class Notes

CURRAN M. SIMPSON ’83, ’85 (Cm; MS,Cm)

was promoted to chief operating officer at REGENXBIO Inc. PAUL J. TRAVERS ’83 (ECE) is the founder, president and CEO of Vuzix, a smart glasses company.

RICHARD ANDREW “ANDY” CORADESCHI ’84 (CEE) became the director, Board of

GREGORY A. MACE ’80 (Ac) retired from almost five

decades running Adirondack Tire in Saranac Lake, New York.

1980s

MARK C. BISSONETTE ’81 (Mkt) was

appointed vice president, commercial lines underwriting, at First Chicago Insurance Company.

GEOFFREY M. AKIKI ’82 (ChE), president of HOYA LSI, won the Executive of the Year — Electronic Manufacturing Award during the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards.

JESUS BATISTA ’82, ’87 (MS,ECE; PhD,Eng) has been named a senior member of both IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery).

EVA GARDOW ’82 (ME), who is a technical executive at the Electric Power Research Institute, released an article about the EPRI Energy Storage Roadmap through Energy Central titled “A Roadmap to Clean, Safe Energy Storage” in November 2022.

MARTIN C. SCHWAB ’83 (Ac), a trusts and estates tax attorney at Bond, Schoeneck & King, was elected to the Central New York Community Foundation board of directors.

36 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Directors, for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Calabasas, California, in August 2022. He notes, “I believe we are at a seminal moment in Western States water use. Thankfully LVMWD has made smart and forward-thinking decisions over the years, and I am honored to be part of that process for the future.”

MARTIN A. HUBBE ’84 (PhD,Cm)

received the Division Technical Award & Harris O. Ware Prize in the Paper and Board Division of the 2022 TAPPI/PIMA Awards, which are given to professionals in the pulp and paper industry.

TOM SEXTON ’84 (CEE) was promoted to vice president at GZA GeoEnvironmental, an engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm in Norwood, Massachusetts, where he heads the Water Supply Practice.

After a 20-year global career with General Electric, GREG STARHEIM ’84 (ME) transitioned to the utility sector where he has been in senior executive leadership with three U.S. electric utilities. In July 2022, Greg was appointed as president and CEO of the Delaware Electric Cooperative, the retail utility serving approximately two-thirds of the state of Delaware.

ANDREW VERDERAME ’85 (ChE) is semiretired from the pharmaceutical industry but still doing some consulting. He is now co-owner of a premium tequila

brand, Cancion Tequila, that has launched in 15 states. Andrew says, “Alcohol distilling is pure chemical engineering!”

GREGG W. BAUMANN ’86 (ChE), a retired Navy captain, was appointed government program manager in the newly created government relations department at Resolve Marine.

TIM DASEY ’86 (ECE) published his first book, Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker. It is available in paperback and as an ebook.

MARY L. MILLER ’86 (IH) recently joined TRC Companies in the planning, permitting and licensing practice as strategic account director, focusing on client growth and development for energy transition and ESG services.

DANIEL RUSANOWSKY II ’86 (MS,BA), the radio play-by-play voice of the San Jose Sharks since the team’s inception in 1991, has been named the newest recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. He has called 2,411 regular-season Sharks games and been behind the microphone for all 241 of the team’s playoff games.

JOHN HOLLIDAY ’86 (ID) rode a total of 539 miles during the 2023 RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).

PATRICK MEANEY ’86 (ECE) received an IBM Quarterly Growth Award in 2022 for playing a vital leadership role in the bring-up, test and execution of the z16 IBM Z Mainframe (featuring the Telum chip). The award recognizes solutions-focused employees who utilize their expertise to drive rapid, measurable growth. Patrick also received his twenty-ninth Plateau Invention Achievement Award from IBM. This milestone represents 116 unique innovations and 149 granted patents. And, he was elected to the position of co-chair of the IBM Mid-Hudson Valley Technical Vitality Affiliate (MHVTVA) of the IBM Open Innovation Community. In addition, Patrick obtained an IBM Service Corps Alum badge for his leadership of the P-TECH Summer Internship program, which places high school STEM students as interns at various IBM sites in order to gain experience, grow their networks and apply their skills to solve industry and social problems.

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

THOMAS H. HOCHULI ’87 (ECE) is the

chief executive officer of Current Biologics, a cell and gene therapy manufacturing and development company.

CHRISTOPHER MONTFERRET ’87 (ECE) was appointed vice president

for strategy and business development in the Maritime and Strategic Systems line of business at General Dynamics Mission Systems.

SCOTT E. PALO ’87 (ECE), the Victor

Charles Schelke Endowed Professor at University of Colorado Boulder, was elected Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

STEPHEN E. GRATTO ’88 (ECE) joined the New Paltz Central School District as board of education superintendent.

EUGENE A. SHERIDAN ’88 (ECE) is the

co-founder and CEO of Navitas Semiconductor Corp., which creates gallium nitrate-based technologies.

MICHAEL J. BEAVER ’89

(ID) was promoted to senior director of supply chain at Reichhold Inc. CARL COMSTOCK ’89 (CEE) was awarded

the Indoor Track All Greater Rochester Girls Coach after leading the Williamson team to the Section 5 title.

RICK JOHNSON ’89 (ME) was named the first chief digital officer of Marvin, where he oversees the design of future-state enterprise technology and digital strategy, as well as its data and analytics initiatives.

ROBERT E. JOYCE ’89 (ECE) is the director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, where he oversees the Cybersecurity Directorate.

KEVIN JENS ’87 (ME) surpassed 4000 F-16 hours on July 8, 2022.

As the F-16 Director of Advanced Tactics Development for the Air Force’s Air Combat Command at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada since 2009, he is just one of only 52 U.S. Air Force F-16 pilots to achieve the 4,000 hour mark.

GREG LOTKO ’88 (Ma,CS), a senior vice president and general manager for the Mainframe Software Division at Broadcom, was featured on the big screen in Times Square as part of a campaign to raise awareness about all of the people that make the Mainframe great.

ANDREW P. MARCH ’89 (Mgt) is a commercial real estate banker at the newly opened Five Star Bank branch in Syracuse, New York.

1990s BRUCE S. HERMONAT ’90 (ME) is the director

of strategic accounts at Zahroof Valves Inc.

JOHN V. MARTINSON ’90 (ME), the chief operating officer of StatLab, was named one of the Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Dallas for 2022

by The Healthcare Technology Report.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 49

Class Notes

Issue 02

|

July 2022

SecurityJournalAmericas.com

Information, Analysis and Insights for Manufacturers, Installers and Senior Security Professionals

the “Airbnb of vacation co-ownership,” as the vice president of marketing.

CRAIG M. RABE ’92

p37 Produced in partnership with Genetec

(ECE) is the founder of First Class Networks, which specializes in IT support and cybersecurity protection.

expert insight

p34

head to head exclusive

Data-driven physical security

stadium security Discover how stadiums are being made safer amid tighter regulations

p18

comes of age Security Journal Americas speaks exclusively to Ajay Jain, Founder, President & CEO of Vector Flow

access control Dortronics reports on the latest touchless door control solutions

retail security How the retail industry is coping with an ever-changing world

AJAY JAIN ’90 (MS,MS) is the founder, CEO and president of Vector Flow, a company that uses machine learning and automation to improve physical security.

JAYSHREE SETH ’91, ’93 (MS,ChE;

PhD,ChE), a corporate scientist and chief science advocate at 3M, represented the company at the 2022 World Science Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

SEAN T. BENNETT ’92

(EE) is serving as the first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Hamilton College.

JEAN EXCELL ’92 (CE) was promoted

to vice president/program director at Parsons Corporation in August 2022.

WILLIAM NAGEL ’92 (EM) recently embarked on a groundbreaking venture with Plum CoOwnership, referred to as

MICHAEL J. HAYDUK ’91 (ECE) is the deputy director at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate.

WENDY S. WARNER ’92, ’94, ’96

(Cm; MS,Cm; PhD,Cm) joined TekniPlex Consumer Products as vice president of fast-moving consumer goods.

SCOTT CLARK ’93 (ChE) joined Bristol

Meyers Squibb’s Cell Therapy Business Unit as director of IT Cell Therapy Manufacturing Site Lead, playing a critical role in managing all corporate and locally supported infrastructure and digital applications at the new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Devens, Massachusetts. He is currently enrolled in the MIT Chief Digital Officer certificate program.

Thunder game. He skated for the B.C. (Broome County) Icemen in the United Hockey League from 1998-2002.

MARK W. ROGERS ’95 (CE) is the North Carolina regional manager of Ruston Paving Co. Inc. and recently worked on repaving a NASCAR-sanctioned shortrace track at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

SHANNON M. ROBINSON ’96 (TC) has joined Old Dominion University as the associate vice president of research and executive director of the ODU Research Foundation.

STEPHEN WEGZYN ’93 (ME) has been

an engineer in U.S. manufacturing for 30 years now. He has many patents and is most proud of his low-cost retractable pen patent and of developing the DTF process that has revolutionized textile decoration and was a game-changer in the industry.

CRAIG CONROY ’94 (BA), has been named General Manager of the Calgary Flames. He has served the Flames hockey operations in an executive capacity since his retirement from his playing career in 2011. Craig is also serving in the management group of the 2023 USA Hockey Men’s National Team.

PATRICE ROBITAILLE ’95 (BA), Clarkson’s 8th all-time leader in career points, was inducted into the Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame in April during a pregame ceremony before the Binghamton Black Bears and Delaware

38 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

JACKIE L. WALTERS ’95 (CE) is the director of operations at M3 Placement and Partnership.

JUAN MARTINEZ ’95 (Ac) received the

2022 Distinguished Graduate Award from his alma mater, Hunter College High School, for his demonstrated leadership and significant contributions to his profession. Juan also started a new role as head of Strategic Communications & Policy at Hopelab Foundation, a social innovation lab and impact investor working at the intersection of technology and youth mental health.

CHRIS CLARK ’98 (BA) was named the general manager of the 2023 U.S. Men’s National Hockey Team last October.

GEORGE DANNECKER ’98 (ChE) says, “I started Breccia LLC four years ago, and I’m proud to say it continues to grow earnings and clients year over year, as it supports companies’ energy transition and entrance into the ESG.”

MEREDITH (DALTON) RUTHERFORD ’96, ’97 (By; MBA) is co-founder and

CEO of Trybe Ecotherapy. Trybe is the first organization in New York state to provide nature-based clinical mental health services to treat individuals suffering from depression, anxiety and/ or trauma.

SNEHASIS GANGULY ’97 (PhD,ME) recently joined the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a senior industry analyst.

JEAN-FRANCOIS HOULE ’97 (BA) is the head coach of the American Hockey League team the Laval Rocket.

JULIET HURLEY ’97 (MBA) says that she is a breast cancer survivor who used holistic nutrition instead of chemotherapy. In addition, “Forever Changing Your Business in an EverChanging Business Environment” was service marked by Juliet when she lived in Oak Park, Michigan, and held a Residential Builder’s License.

CHAD KIAH ’97 (BA) was promoted to

director of finance and operations at ACCO Brands. “I started with ACCO a few days after graduating from Clarkson, and now, almost 26 years later, I’m still employed with a company that prides itself on being the ‘Home of Great Brands, Built by Great People.’”

BILL ATKINSON, P.E., ’98 (ME), a

member of the Clarkson Golden Knights Guild, was installed as the president of the National Society of Professional Engineers.

IRENE HODOR ’99 (CE) received the Society of Women Engineers Spark Award in October 2022.

2000s

BRIAN CORRIGAN ’00 (CpE) launched a video game development startup in Glenville, New York, last July. Rocket Science focuses on online multiplayer video game development and has its headquarters in Saratoga County, with offices in Austin, Texas, and the United Kingdom.

MATTHEW P. WEBER ’01 (CE),

a senior associate and structural engineer at SWBR, was elected to the company’s board of directors.

RON AYERS ’02 (MIS) received the 20222023 U.S.A. Hockey New Leader Award – Massachusetts District in May 2023.

The award is presented for contributions in growing or improving hockey within an affiliate, or for being a very positive person in performing affiliate activities.

STEVE GODLEWSKI ’03 (CE) has joined Fisher Associates, P.E., L.S., L.A., D.P.C., as a transportation group manager based in Albany, New York. With over 20 years of diverse experience in transportation engineering, Steve specializes in highway reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, roundabouts, complete streets design and trails. He will focus on transportation services in New York.

JOE LONG ’00 (CE) has been named director of the undergraduate coastal engineering program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington — the only program of its kind in the nation.

NICOLLE S. TULVE ’00 (PhD,CEE),

a research physical scientist with the EPA, returned to Clarkson in April to deliver the Hopke Distinguished Lecture.

ROBERT STODDARD ’01 (Ac) is KPMG’s lead U.S. tax partner serving the gaming industry. In this role he leads several marquee client accounts and regularly consults with KPMG’s global cross-functional gaming team, serving all industry verticals, including landbased casinos, iGaming, sports betting, fantasy sports, eSports, skill-based gaming, horse racing, B2B/B2C suppliers and affiliates. Robert has also been a featured speaker and panelist at various KPMG and external gaming industry conferences in the U.S. and Europe.

HEATHER FELI ’03 (ChE) was promoted within EnsignBickford Industries and joins the senior leadership team at Envirologix. In the role of director of operations, Heather oversees daily operations of all business segments of Envirologix, as well as develops programs for long-term growth and success. Heather has also received the International Council on Systems Engineering’s (INCOSE) Outstanding Service Award for her unrelenting dedication and transformative leadership in supporting and empowering women leaders to author and publish their work in the book Emerging Trends in Systems Engineering: Practical Research from Women Leaders.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 39

Class Notes

REBECCA M. PREVE ’03

(Py) joined the board of Citizen Advocates’ Fieldstone Foundation.

BRADY SHERLOCK ’03 (CE) was appointed as the director of the Division of Design at the New York State Office of General Services Design & Construction, a 500-person organization with approximately 75 licensed professional engineers and registered architects on staff. This core group uses the resources available through professional and service contracts to deliver a broad range of capital construction services.

KELLY O. CHEZUM ’04 (MBA) was elected chair of the Adirondack North Country Association.

She is the first woman to hold this position.

AARON GORDON UGC’06 (MBA) has been named director of finance and operations at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Most recently, Aaron served as director of student administrative affairs, strategy and planning at Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he had worked in various capacities since 2005.

ANTHONY GRIMALDI ’06 (AE) was

inducted as an Associate Technical Fellow at the Boeing Company. Tony is a production engineer in Boeing’s Vertical Lift Division.

ERIC TRELEASE ’06 (ME) and his son,

Silas, were sent by his church to the earthquake zone in Turkey in March.

They were part of a team that spent more than a week feeding 1,000+ hot meals per day, putting up tents for those whose homes were damaged and inspecting homes to see if they were safe enough to inhabit. This was just the first of three trips that Clarkson alumni and students will be taking to help with the earthquake relief effort.

40 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

AMY MURPHY ’04 (Mkt) was named an Up & Comer for Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County by South Florida Business and Wealth Magazine in 2022. This honor is given to “young professionals who have achieved excellence in their careers, shown a commitment to their community and demonstrated leadership.”

TRACY E. CARMODY ’04 (Py) has been named to the Board of Directors for the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA), serving as the chair of the Membership Committee.

She is the executive director and owner of Paths to Recovery Mental Health Counseling PLLC, located in Baldwinsville and Syracuse, New York, with services throughout New York state.

ERIC VALENTINE ’06 (EE) assumed the role of mission and strategy director at SRC Inc. in Rochester, New York, where he is focused on translating customer missions and trends to business specific strategy. Valentine joined SRC Inc. as a systems engineer in 2006 and, most recently, served as an engineering program manager.

GEORGE MCCAIN JR. ’07 (CE,Ph) became the president of McCain Consulting Inc. as it transitioned to its second generation of leadership.

In January, he succeeded his father, Gunner McCain, who founded the firm in 1990.

VIPRALI BHATKAR ’07, ’10 (MS,EE; PhD,ECE) accepted a position as senior director, Digital Health, at Bristol Myers Squibb in July.

DANIEL JOHNSTON ’07 (IE&M) is now the owner of A1 Shipping LLC in Hampton, Virginia.

JEFFREY V. SPRIGGS ’07 (MBA) joined the

board of directors at Citizen Advocates.

JOSEPH M. HERTLINE ’08, ’09 (ME; MBA) works at Indium Corp. as a product manager for solder materials.

KEVIN LOBDELL ’06 (eB) received his EdD from the University of Colorado Denver in May. He is Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations at the University of Colorado Boulder.

ELIZABETH (CASSADY) SCANLON ’17 (GSCM)

received her MS degree from the University of Colorado Denver in May. She is a Senior Coupa Consultant and Project Manager at CrossCountry Consulting in Denver and serves as president of the Colorado chapter of Clarkson’s Alumni Association.

environmental engineer at General Mills and serves as a trustee for the Village of Springville, New York.

2010s BRYAN J. MCCLURE ’08 (BTM) joined

Thiel College as the head coach of men’s lacrosse.

JENNIFER COOMBS ’09 (PS,FIA) has joined Ethos ESG (part of ACA Global) as the director of client success. She works to lead clients of the ESG fintech platform to create impact and develop competencies in sustainable investing at financial advising firms. Ethos ESG is a software/service provider of data and analysis on the impact of companies in a broad range of causes, such as racial justice, climate change, general equality and sustainable economies.

Jennifer also serves part-time with the College for Financial Planning as an adjunct professor and has been recognized for the prestigious InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 list for 2023 for her outstanding contributions to the financial services industry and her dedication to sustainable investing and educating advisers.

MARY PADASAK ’09 (ESP) was selected

as one of Buffalo’s 40 Under 40 for excelling in her career and for her community involvement. She is an

CRISTINA LIQUORI UGC’12 (MS,BA) was elected treasurer of the board of directors of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT), a global nonprofit organization and voice for the advancement of women in the industry.

Pirouette Medical, a pharmaceutical company founded by three Clarkson alumni — CONOR CULLINANE ’13 (AE), MATT KANE ’13 (AE) and ELI KAPAS ’14 (CE) — develops and manufactures drug delivery devices that offer more effective treatment, improved patient outcomes and more efficient, lower-cost care.

AMANDA P. GEARY ’13

(PS) returned to her alma mater as an assistant professor of business & law ethics.

BROOKE A. BUTKOVSKY ’15, ’18 (IE; MBA) was appointed director of volleyball operations at the University of Colorado Boulder.

KRISTIN DARBY ’14 (EE,CE) recently finished her MS degree requirements at the University of Vermont for community development and applied economics and started working as a professional water resources engineer at AES Northeast. She is coordinating with municipalities in northern New York and Vermont to design sustainable water resources solutions for drinking water and wastewater projects.

LUKE DIONNE ’14

DANIEL MATTHEWS ’13

(FIA) has taken over the 4th generation ownership of Matthews Pharmacy, an independent retail pharmacy located in Ellenville, New York.

ADAM P. MURLING ’13, ’20 (ChE; MS,EM) was promoted to technical services manager — USA at Indium Corporation.

(EM) was promoted to senior project manager/estimator in the Select Division at Wright-Ryan.

MATTHEW FLYNN ’14 (PS) was recently recognized by the New Hampshire Union Leader as a winner of its 40 Under Forty Award. He is an assistant county attorney in the Merrimack County Attorney’s Office.

Six Clarkson alumni were part of the Whiting-Turner team working on the construction of The Johns Hopkins Hospital North Tower Addition project, a new state-of-the-art laboratory research facility on The Johns Hopkins Medical Campus. DEREK MACIOCE ’04 (IE&M) and TYLER TOMENY ’15 (EM) managed the structural steel portion of the project. Clarkson team members (from left to right) are STEVEN BARNES ’13 (CE), Tomeny, Macioce, BRANDON HURLBURT ’16 (CE), SHAYNA STEARNS ’13 (EM) and ROBERT CAMPBELL ’17 (CE). This project is one of the largest, most complicated healthcare projects for Whiting-Turner on the East Coast. The total project is scheduled to be substantially complete in 2026.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 41

Class Notes

CARSON L. BURT ’15 (EHS,Cm) was promoted to technical support engineer at Indium Corporation.

OLIVIA M. EIBERT ’15

(By), a physician assistant, joined the surgical team at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

AQUILLA CHASE ’16, ’18 (By; MS,Be) graduated with her MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She is completing her residency in emergency medicine at Brown University.

COLBY R. EMMA ’16 (IE) joined the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball team as group sales executive.

KELSIE R. FOURNIER ’16, ’19 (By; MSPAS) returned to Clarkson as part of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital medical team, assuming the position of director of the Potsdam Campus Student Health Center.

CASSIA SUSLIK ’16 (By) was hired as a chemistry and environmental technician journeyman (apprenticeship) at Constellation’s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in 2022.

MEGHAN E. IRELAND ’17 (ChE) is the head blender at WhistlePig Whisky, which celebrated International Women’s Day in 2023 by offering a free, one-week externship at their distillery to young women.

NICOLE ZAINO ’18 (ME) defended her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the

University of Washington in June 2023. Her dissertation was titled “Walking and Rolling: Evaluating Technology to Support Multimodal Mobility for Individuals with Disabilities.”

PAUL BRACY ’18 (EM) was promoted to estimator in the Home division at WrightRyan.

KRISTEN HAYDUK ’18

(CE) joined G.A. Braun Inc. as a project manager on the sales and project management team.

MARISA C. CLARK ’19 (EM) joined Jefferson Community College as the women’s lacrosse coach.

AHAD ESMAEILIAN ’19

(MBA) was appointed the vice president of clean energy at Audubon Engineering Company LP. MARLAND QUINCE ’19 (IE) signed with the Coventry Blaze for the 2022-23 Elite League season.

2020s

ANTANAS C. BOBELIS ’20 (EE) joined D&B Engineers and Architects as an Engineer I in the electrical group.

NICO B. STURM ’20

(FIA) assisted the Colorado Avalanche in winning the 2022 Stanley Cup and now plays hockey for the San Jose Sharks.

42 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

JASON LADOUCEUR ’20 (MBA) graduated from Albany Law School in June 2022 with a master’s of science, with a concentration in financial compliance. He has also been promoted to supervisor of the Eastern Regional Control Center for National Grid.

LEAH PINNER ’20 (AE) says, “In December 2022 I graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with my MS in Aerospace Engineering, with concentrations in fluid dynamics and propulsion. In January 2023 I began my career at GE Aerospace in Lynn, Massachusetts, as an Edison engineer.

My first rotation is in aerodynamic design.”

AARON ASHTON ’21 (MS,EM) says, “I’ve started a new role as the data integration manager for our corporate quality group. I’ll be managing the strategic focus, standardization and direction of our quality and process data systems. I look back at the graduate program (MSEM) and the specialization on data visualization that helped me be interested in and land this position. I’m excited to support four tissue-making plants across Canada and the U.S. It’s a promotion and a wonderful opportunity.”

NATALIE FARNETT ’21, ’23 (GSCM; MBA) returned to her alma mater as assistant coach of the women’s lacrosse team.

DAVID CLARKSON ’22 (MS,EM) writes, “After a long time in the Fire/EMS field, I changed career fields in what some could consider a midlife crisis.

I decided that a career in aviation was what I wanted. I earned an FCC license with a Ship Radar endorsement and an NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician certification and became an FAAlicensed and certified A&P mechanic.

I got my foot in the door with my new career, as an aircraft electronics assembler. I then earned a Bachelor of Science and went to Clarkson for the MSEM. After earning the MSEM in 2022, I was promoted to senior associate, Engineering Services — Integrated Product Support. I credit Clarkson University in this milestone. The program and professors all helped prepare me for this incredible opportunity.”

LUKE A. GILLIS ’22

(MS,PAS) is a certified physician assistant in the Emergency Services Department of Canton-Potsdam Hospital and Massena Hospital.

SIERRALYNN MARIE A. JOHNSON ’22

(MS,PAS) joined Interlakes Orthopaedic Surgery, where she will practice as a certified physician assistant at Finger Lakes Health Commons.

LAUREN J. PECORE ’21 (IE) took over the family business, Adirondack Greenhouses, in Hopkinton, New York, and plans to put her business degree to work by streamlining the business and making it more self-sufficient.

ALEXANDER SAVOIE ’22

(AE) is a 777X structural analysis engineer at Boeing Civil Aircraft.

JACOB PEREZ GANGI ’22 (CE) joined the structural engineering team at Beardsley Architects + Engineers.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 43

Class Notes

MARRIAGES

BIRTHS & ADOPTIONS

MARY L. MILLER ’86 (IH), February 27,

CHRISTINE ’00 (Ac) and Martin JABAUT, a son, Sebastian John, April 15, 2022.

JOHN D. MURRAY ’90 (ME) and Brenda J Kiernan, October 29, 2022.

RAELEE GRIMM ’03 (CpE) and Joshua Tallent, a daughter, Julia Elaine, December 2, 2020.

2023.

JAMES CHRISTOPER VERBECK ’93 (Ac)

and Andrea Volpe, August 6, 2022.

Volpe – Verbeck

RACHEL BOZIWICK ’10, ’13 (Py; DPT), and JAMES LAING ’10, ’14 (MS,EvSE; PhD,EvSE), October 22, 2022.

KRISTEN LOVELL ’05 (IE&M) and Rob Brunell, a son, Bentley, March 27, 2021.

WENDY (SPINDLER) ’06 (ME) and JAY GIBLIN ’06 (Cm), a daughter, Hailey Beth,

November 11, 2021.

BRIEN T. ’11 (Comm) and Meghan E. O’KEEFE-WATSON (SUNY Potsdam ’11,

’15), February 18, 2023.

JOHN ’08 (IE&M) and Chelsea STEVENSON, a son, August 27, 2022.

KAYLEIGH THURSTON ’15 (AE) and Michael Atwell, July 3, 2022.

MICHELE ’09 (IE) and JEREMIAH JACOBSON ’22 (MS,SCM), a son,

VICTORIA VILLENEUVE ’16 (By,LS) married GARION URBANEK ’15 (AE) in

Boziwick – Laing

Emmett Arleigh, May 27, 2022.

AMANDA ’12 (Ma) and Andrew BERNSTEIN, a daughter, Ava, January 4,

November 2021.

2022.

SHAWNEE (OLSEN) ’17, ’21 (GSCM; ES,EM) and ZACH ROBERT ’17 (BIDA),

COURTNEY (JOHNSON) ’13 (AMS) and JOE ALBIKER ’13 (IE), a daughter, Evelyn

July 3, 2023.

Hope, August 12, 2022.

MEGAN (OLECH) ’18 (ChE) and ADAM HASKIN ’18 (ME) on July 23, 2022.

JOE GILBERT ’15, ’20 (ME; MS,EM), and Sarah Gilbert, a daughter, Nora, November 17, 2022.

GABI SPAZIANI ’18 (Py) and Jonathan

Guy, May 1, 2023.

Watson – O’Keefe

NICHOLAS ’16 (AE) and Katie DONATO, a son, Benjamin, April 2023.

RACHEL (JANSHEGO) ’17 (GSCM) and JAKE MUENCH ’15 (AE), a son, Jackson

Paul, April 5, 2022.

MATTHEW L. ’19 (ME) and Brittany DUNCAN, a son, Mason Edward, January

1, 2023.

Villeneuve – Urbanek

AARON ASHTON ’21 (MS,EM) and Christine Burke, a daughter, Alora Amari, September 3, 2022. They also finalized the adoption of their 13-year-old son, Kolby.

How to Submit a Class Note Olech – Haskin

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

Olsen – Robert

44 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Questions can be directed to alumni@clarkson.edu.

In Memoriam

1940s

Henry J. Schwalenstocker ’43 (Cm), 2023.

Sarkis K. Balukjian ’44 (CE), 2023.

Lawrence F. Humphrey ’47 (ChE), 2023.

Theodore A. Toedt ’47 (BA), 2009.

Frank C. Bohlander ’48 (CE), 2023.

Kenneth R. Hallock ’48 (CE), 2022.

Francis J. Iaria ’48 (ME), 2018.

Harry M. Steven ’48 (ME), 2023.

William C. Keeler Jr. ’49 (EE), 2022.

John G. Schvarczkopf ’49 (ME), 2021.

1950s

John M. Beaudry ’50 (ME), 2023.

Stuart C. Bourgeois ’50 (BA), 2023.

Robert L. Fitch ’50 (CE), 2023.

Richard E. Freer ’50 (EE), 2023.

Garnet C. Johnston ’50 (EE), 2023.

Randall C. Joslyn ’50 (EE), 2023.

Charles D. McCarthy ’50 (BA), 2023.

Charles R. Miannay ’50 (EE), 2022.

Norman W. Morrison ’50 (CE), 2022.

Gordon J. Nitsch ’50 (ChE), 2022.

Frederick G. Stein ’50 (ME), 2023.

John F. Waters ’50 (BA), 2023.

Alfred F. Bonazzoli ’51 (ME), 2023.

Murray Buchwalter ’51 (BA), 2022.

John G. Feeney ’51 (CE), 2023.

Andrew Ferguson ’51 (EE), 2023.

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

George Kopchik ’51 (ME), 2022.

Robert B. MacKenzie ’51 (EE), 2022.

Richard A. Sitterley ’51 (BA), 2023.

Frank Trapani Jr. ’51 (CE), 2023.

Robert H. Waters ’51 (ME), 2023.

William S. Adams ’52 (BA), 2023.

Raymond A. Caine ’52 (ChE), 2003.

Henry L. Friedman ’52 (MS,Cm), 2023.

Harold J. McNamara Jr. ’52 (ChE), 2022.

Karl A. Northrup ’52 (EE), 2022.

Lawrence H. Nuese Jr. ’52 (EE), 2021.

John J. Plunkett ’52 (CE), 2022.

Amardo J. Romano ’52 (CE), 2023.

James H. Smith ’52 (ME), 2022.

Sylvester J. Teclaw ’52 (BA), 2023.

Robert A. Varley ’52 (ME), 2023.

Donald E. Weller Sr. ’52 (BA), 2023.

Lawrence Cabrinety ’53 (ChE), 2023.

James R. Covert ’53, ’55 (ChE; MS,ChE), 2021.

Richard J. Dalphin ’53 (ME), 2023.

Raymond R. Greiner ’53 (EE), 2023.

Lawrence E. Kukacka ’53 (ChE), 2023.

James H. Reynolds ’53 (ChE), 2022.

Harold R. Ward ’53 (EE), 2023.

Dino Oliva ’54 (ME), 2023.

Edwin H. Schwarz Jr. ’54 (ME), 2023.

Dennis P. Sharon ’54 (CE), 2022.

Allan C. Shartrand ’54 (ME), 2022.

Kenneth E. Tiernan ’54 (EE), 2023.

Robert C. Walter ’54 (ME), 2023.

Richard W. Wolfley ’54 (CE), 2022.

Ambrose J. Andre Jr. ’55 (CE), 2023.

Neil W. Cayey ’55, ’64, ’65 (ChE; MS,ChE; PhD,ChE), 2022.

Edward P. Dewey ’55 (BA), 2022.

George F. Hanna ’55 (ME), 2023.

R. S. Smith Jr. ’55 (ME), 2023.

William K. Springfield ’55 (EE), 2023.

Robert W. Traver Sr. ’55 (ME), 2022.

Robert L. Buchtman ’56 (ME), 2021.

Charles S. Ehrlich ’56, ’02 (BA; H), 2022.

William J. Felter Jr. ’56 (ME), 2023.

John F. LaPan ’56 (ME), 2022.

Merle D. Melvin ’56 (CE), 2022.

John F. Mosca ’56 (ME), 2023.

Dale E. Smith ’56 (ME), 2022.

James L. Allen ’57, ’63, ’65 (CE; MS,CE; PhD,CE), 2023.

Ernest N. Balducci ’57 (ME), 2022.

Allen M. Borucke ’57 (BA), 2022.

Donald S. Buell ’57 (ChE), 2023.

Gerry R. Meadows ’57 (EE), 2022.

Herbert E. Miller ’57 (EE), 2022.

Howard W. Shea ’57 (ME), 2022.

George E. Wedekind ’57 (BA), 2022.

Stephen J. Ayers ’58 (ME), 2023.

John H. Charlebois ’58 (CE), 2023.

Joseph F. Dodd ’58 (ChE), 2023.

Philip W. Eignor ’58 (EE), 2019.

Anthony J. Fraioli ’58 (Cm), 2023.

Kenneth E. Gibbs ’58 (BA), 2023.

Frederick Kuenzel ’58 (EE), 2022.

James P. Mourt ’58 (ChE), 2023.

Frank T. Romano ’58 (ME), 2023.

Henry O. Schaab ’58 (ID), 2023.

Richard O. Spelman ’58 (BA), 2023.

Arnold G. Taranto ’58 (CE), 2023.

Floyd S. Wilber ’58 (BA), 2023.

Edmund C. Wild ’58 (EE), 2023.

Levi D. Allen ’59 (CE), 2023.

Frank M. Brault ’59 (BA), 2022.

James L. Davis ’59 (EE), 2023.

William G. Edwards ’59 (EE), 2023.

Robert B. Fancher ’59 (ChE), 2022.

Howard J. Guenther ’59 (ID), 2023.

Lawrence Kotowicz ’59 (ChE), 2022.

Clarwyn B. Long ’59 (BA), 2023.

Robert K. Lyman ’59 (ME), 2023.

Edwin J. Malkin ’59 (Cm), 2023.

John F. Minke III ’59 (EE), 2022.

Robert E. Wright ’59 (CE), 2023.

1960s

Charles J. Balistere ’60 (EE), 2023.

Frank J. Bellafato ’60 (ID), 2023.

Martin Buchholtz ’60 (EE), 2023.

Douglas C. Button ’60 (ME), 2022.

Richard A. Metzger ’60 (EE), 2023.

Donald W. Murphy ’60 (IEng), 2022.

Joseph T. Newman ’60 (ChE), 2023.

Mark M. Warshauer ’60 (BA), 2023.

Joseph O. Celtruda ’61 (EE), 2022.

Terry A. Coleman ’61 (ChE), 2022.

Earl A. Dehlman Jr. ’61 (ME), 2023.

Paul S. Kempf ’61 (ID), 2022.

John W. Rogers ’61 (ID), 2023.

John F. Dalphin ’62, ’73 (ME; PhD,Ma), 2022.

David H. Grimm ’62 (EE), 2023.

Robert S. Korba ’62 (CE), 2023.

David H. LeRoy ’62 (CE), 2023.

David E. Merritt ’62 (ID), 2023.

William W. Stebbins ’62 (EE), 2023.

Percy C. Tatem III ’62 (BA), 2023.

Peter L. Terry ’62 (ME), 2022.

Fay E. Tolman ’62 (ME), 2022.

Guy M. Williamson ’62 (EE), 2023.

Frederick C. Byham ’63 (MS,BSci), 2023.

Jean P. Chaintreuil ’63 (BA), 2023.

Robert M. Cullen ’63 (EE), 2022.

Jon P. Decker ’63 (ID), 2023.

Robert R. Henderson ’63 (CE), 2023.

Richard H. Miller ’63 (EE), 2023.

William C. O’Brien ’63 (ChE), 2022.

Douglas D. Ridley ’63 (BA), 2023.

Michael J. Rose ’63 (CE), 2022.

Corbett “Corby” Adams ’64 (Mgt), 2023.

William G. Ballard ’64 (IE), 2022.

Charles S. Carroll ’64, ’65 (ME; MS,ME), 2022.

Serge A. Cryvoff ’64 (ME), 2022.

Robert A. Haynal ’64, ’71 (ME; MS,ME), 2023.

Jack L. Hazen ’64, ’73 (Ac; MS,MS), 2023.

William B. Joy ’64 (ID), 2023.

David Kerness ’64 (ChE), 2022.

Daniel E. Peters ’64 (EE), 2021.

William D. Waffner ’64 (ME), 2023.

Jeffrey J. Bliemel ’65 (ID), 2022.

Henry Gibson ’65 (Ma), 2022.

Robert A. Johnson ’65 (Cm), 2023.

Steven Lutwin ’65 (ME), 2023.

Edmund J. Necrason Jr. ’65 (ID), 2023.

Henry J. Przybylowski Jr. ’65 (EE), 2022.

Richard H. Rose ’65 (ME), 2020.

Cecil M. Smith ’65 (CE), 2022.

Revis L. Stephenson Jr. ’65 (ID), 2022.

Dennis R. Carlson ’66, ’69 (ME; MS,IM), 2023.

David F. Humphrey ’66 (EE), 2023.

Daniel McCarthy ’66 (EE), 2018.

Richard J. Cardinal ’67 (ME), 2023.

Robert J. Goodwin ’67 (ID), 2022.

Steven Haut ’67 (SS), 2019.

John C. Hearsey ’67 (PhD), 2022.

Thomas E. Heffernan ’67 (CE), 2022.

CONTINUED > CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 45

In Memoriam

Arthur L. Hersberger ’67 (ID), 2023.

Richard E. Ives ’67 (Mgt), 2023.

Thomas H. McCabe ’67, ’72 (Mgt; MS,MS), 2023.

Harry Andersen ’68 (ID), 2022.

William N. Birkhoff ’68 (ID), 2023.

Michael S. Bladyka ’68 (ChE), 2023.

Stephen B. Chopyak ’68 (EE), 2022.

Jerry M. Dean ’68 (ME), 2022.

Ernest R. Fenton ’68 (ME), 2023.

Lawrence L. Grove ’68 (ME), 2023.

John Kendrew Jr. ’68 (Ac), 2023.

Ronald E. Lohrman ’68 (ME), 2023.

James “Jim” Mosakowski ’68 (MS,EE), 2023.

Oleg M. Pohotsky ’68, ’91 (ChE; H), 2022.

Craig M. Tarver ’68 (Cm), 2022.

Ronald P. Wells ’68 (CE), 2023.

Wilton S. Burton ’69 (EE), 2023.

John U. Chambers ’69 (EE), 2023.

Roger W. Gerby ’69 (Ma), 2023.

Dorothy Thomas ’69 (Ma), 2022.

1970s

Lawrence H. Allen ’70 (PhD,Cm), 2022.

Robert D. Bibb, MD, ’70 (ChE), 2023.

James L. Ford ’70, ’75 (EE; MS,IM), 2022.

Dale R. French ’70 (ID), 2022.

James D. Hankey ’70, ’71 (ID; MS,IM) 2023.

William R. Harwood ’70 (MS,Ma), 2022.

Gregory K. Jones ’70 (Ec), 2023.

Douglas E. Lutzy ’70 (EE), 2023.

Forrest V. Manzer ’70 (SS), 2022.

Paul V. Mayer ’70 (ChE), 2023.

John M. Oliveira ’70 (MS,Ma), 2023.

William R. Pippine ’70 (CE), 2022.

Richard F. Smith ’70 (Ac), 2022.

Robert E. Buhts ’71 (MS,Cm), 2023.

Gordon H. Fricke ’71 (PhD,Cm), 2023.

David J. Waterman ’71 (ME), 2023.

Gordon G. Bennett ’72 (ChE), 2023.

Kevin W. Brady Sr. ’72 (ID), 2023.

Michael R. Condon ’72 (ID), 2023.

William E. Cutler ’72 (ME), 2023.

Dennis M. Grey ’72 (SS), 2022.

Thomas J. Helms ’72, ’82 (Ma; MS,Ma,CS), 2022.

Raymond S. Jozwik ’72 (EE), 2023.

Jerry W. Kemp ’72 (SS), 2022.

Joseph E. Kuta ’72 (CE), 2023.

Rodger T. Marentis ’72 (ChE), 2022.

John J. Mereau ’72, ’73 (Ac; MS,Ac), 2022.

Walter “Fred” F. Ravetto ’72 (ME), 2023.

George S. Scharfe ’72 (Mgt), 2023.

Lyman R. Adams ’73 (MS,ChE), 2022.

Timothy K. Dorsey ’73 (ID), 2023.

Leon W. Heselton ’73 (MS,ES), 2023.

Richard J. Jackson ’73 (Ph), 2023.

Steven F. Martin ’73 (CEE), 2022.

Paul J. Rawluszki ’73 (ID), 2020.

46 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

John A. Cima ’74 (CEE), 2023.

Leon R. Cox ’74 (ME), 2023.

Christopher P. Dona ’74 (MS,IM), 2023.

Patrick M. Gillon ’74, ’93 (CEE; MS,MS), 2022.

Daniel Hoover ’74, ’78 (ID; MBA), 2023.

Larry R. Koch ’74 (ID), 2022.

Edward “Ed” J. Myers ’74 (ME), 2023.

Michael E. Chapski ’75 (Mkt), 2022.

Richard S. Eidens ’75 (ECE), 2014.

Ann-Patrice Hickey ’75, ’77 (ME; MS,ES), 2023.

Robert W. Matt ’75 (ECE), 2023.

Thomas M. Clere Jr. ’76 (ChE), 2023.

Spencer E. O’Boyle Jr. ’76 (InD), 2023.

Ellery Willett ’76 (ECE), 2022.

Alton B. Donahue ’77 (Mkt), 2022.

Paul J. Halter Jr. ’77 (MS,IM), 2022.

Joseph D. Osso ’77 (CEE), 2022.

Jay E. Barry ’78, ’80 (CEE; MENG), 2022.

Gregory J. Downer ’78, ’80 (ECE; MS,ECE), 2023.

Michael J. Kowalchuk ’78 (ME), 2023.

Timothy J. Murray ’78 (MBA), 2023.

Scott R. Stacey ’78 (SS), 2023.

Colleen E. Filiak ’79 (CEE), 2022.

Peter M. Hoffman ’79 (Mkt), 2022.

James R. Lucker ’79 (ECE), 2022.

Gregory J. Maley ’79 (ME), 2023.

Jean E. Salzmann ’79 (Mkt), 2023.

1980s

Douglas E. Albright ’80 (Ec), 2023.

Russell D. Bauder ’80 (CEE), 2023.

Gregory V. Bentley ’80 (CEE), 2023.

Robert L. Davies ’80 (CEE), 2022.

Paul S. Kapcio ’80, ’81 (ECE; MENG,EE), 2023.

Sook-Hui Kim-Peterson ’80 (MS,Cm), 2023.

Menzo Mims Jr. ’80 (SS), 2022.

Edward C. Dedrick ’81 (ME), 2023.

Robert A. Murdoch ’81 (ID), 2019.

Leslie W. Weisenfeld ’81 (MBA), 2022.

Thomas A. McEwen ’82 (ECE), 2022.

John M. Pavan ’82 (CEE), 2023.

Barry F. Schlereth ’82 (ECE), 2023.

Robert P. Bauer ’83 (ChE), 2023.

Karl F. Kascha ’83 (ECE), 2023.

Dominic Rinaudo ’83 (ME), 2022.

Amy D. Bradt ’84 (CS), 2023.

Eric S. McConnell ’84 (Ac), 2022.

Kristin B. Zawacki ’84 (CEE), 2022.

Richard P. Abato ’85 (ECE), 2023.

Phillip E. Church ’85 (ME), 2022.

Robert J. Secours ’85, ’87 (Mgt; MBA), 2023.

Gordon Sharpe ’85 (Mgt), 2022.

Richard P. Anderson ’86 (CEE), 2022.

Michael K. Harvey ’86 (Mgt), 2023.

Brendan Lynch ’86 (ECE), 2023.

Mark C. Morford ’86 (ID), 2022.

David C. Nasca ’86 (ECE), 2022.

James R. Talley ’86 (Mkt,CMS), 2023.

Thomas E. Devendorf ’87 (ChE), 2023.

Richard Hopkins ’87 (ID; MBA), 2022.

James R. Houghton H’87, 2022.

Steven P. Raby ’87 (Mkt, CMS), 2023.

Lawrence T. Rose ’87 (TC), 2023.

Robyn R. Smith ’87 (Mgt), 2022.

Hong C. Yan ’87 (PhD,Engineering), 2019.

Robert J. Krulcik ’88, ’89 (ID; MBA), 2022.

David M. Swirczewski ’88 (ID), 2022.

Kevin E. Hill ’89 (MBA), 2022.

Scott E. Stephans ’89 (ChE), 2023.

1990s

Carmen J. Lapine ’90 (CEE), 2023.

Henry Petroski ’90 (H), 2023.

Kenneth F. Rabideau ’90 (ID), 2022.

Andrew J. Westmacott ’90, ’10 (ME; MS,EGOM), 2022.

Craig T. Banaszewski ’91 (ID), 2022.

Shelly Ennis ’91 (MS,CEE), 2022.

Daniel R. Chaplick ’92 (Mkt,MIS), 2022.

Erik G. Harrsen ’92 (CS), 2022.

Daniel P. Ward ’92 (CEE), 2023.

Thomas A. Petschke Jr. ’93 (ME), 2023.

Charles P. O’Brien ’94 (MBA,Bus), 2023.

Jason D. Ellnor ’95, ’96 (IE&M; MBA), 2022.

Leslie L. Fey ’95 (Mgt), 2023.

Michael A. Muhlberger Sr. ’95 (MS,EGOM), 2022.

Michael G. Bliss ’96 (AE), 2023.

Matthew A. Nemier ’96 (ME), 2023.

Douglas “Doug” M. Thompson ’96 (ME), 2023.

Edwin A. Barry ’98 (EE), 2023.

Michael S. Frechette ’98 (CE), 2023.

Robert LeBel ’98 (MBA,BA), 2023.

2000s

Alisa A. Martin ’02 (MBA), 2023.

Russell Banks ’05 (H), 2023.

Brad T. Ciszewski ’05 (IE&M), 2023.

Betty A. Hinds ’07 (MBA), 2022.

Steven C. King ’08 (CE), 2023.

Alicen Morley ’08 (CS, PS), 2022.

2010s

Timothy A. Whitmore ’10 (MS,EGOM), 2023.

Ryan M. Douglas ’14 (AMS), 2023.

Sean M. Cole ’15 (ESP), 2022.

2020s

Taylor A. Segur ’20 (MS,EM), 2023.

Paul Musil ’21 (MS,EM), 2023.

Justin R. Howard ’23 (AE), 2023.

Stone F. Mercurio ’26 (ME), 2023.

SPECIAL FRIENDS OF CLARKSON

Ernest Fenton ’68

Prof. Johndan Johnson-Eilola

Mary Plane H’85

Ernie Fenton, who served as Delta Upsilon president in his senior year, earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He was inducted into Phalanx, Clarkson’s highest honorary society, in 1968. Following graduation, Fenton attended Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. From there, he completed various specialty training courses, including underwater demolition and Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape training.

While deployed to Vietnam in 1969, he was the officer in charge of a 13-man Seabee team unofficially dubbed the “dirty dozen.” He ultimately earned a Bronze Star with Valor for his leadership and courage.

Johndan Johnson-Eilola joined the Clarkson community in 2000. He was the Communication, Media and Design department chair and a professor. He was also the long-time chair of Clarkson’s Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research (2011-2021) and served as director of Clarkson’s Eastman Kodak Center for Excellence in Communication (2000-2004).

Mary Moore Plane, widow of President Emeritus and former Trustee Robert A. Plane, lived a full and active life of unwavering service.

Fenton’s second assignment took him to the newly opened Palmer Research Station in Antarctica. The “Fenton Glacier” was named for his remarkable and daring scheme to rescue a British scientist in medical distress and get him to safety.

Resuming his stateside life, Fenton worked for Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard and Raychem before founding Fenton Associates.

He had several venture capital projects and consulted for many large investors and principles of large companies before he retired after a successful 35-year career.

Johnson-Eilola gained international recognition for his contributions to finding intersections between practice and theory. He was considered an expert in hypertext theory and practice, online communities and the politics of technology. He authored or edited seven books, two textbooks, and more than 50 journal articles and book chapters during his career. He worked on research projects funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation, the New York State Department of Education, Procter & Gamble, Apple Computer, Ford Motor Company, Hewlett-Packard and others.

He also served as a keynote and featured speaker at the Conference of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication, the Watson Conference on Rhetoric, and the College Composition and Communication Conference.

Throughout his career, Johnson-Eilola won several awards for his teaching and research, including the 2006 NCTE Award for Best Book in Technical Communication for Datacloud, the 2005 NCTE Award for Best Collection of Essays in Technical Communication for Central Works, and the 2005 Distinguished Book Award from Computers & Composition for Writing New Media.

Johnson-Eilola graduated from Michigan Technological University, earning his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD.

After earning degrees at Cottey College, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Syracuse University, she moved to Ithaca, New York, where she was a program director at Cornell University. She met and married Bob, a professor of chemistry and later provost at Cornell. They married in 1963 and moved their family to Potsdam in 1974 when Bob took the helm as president of Clarkson.

When Bob took the position of president of Clarkson in 1974, the pair worked as a team to carry out a successful financial, academic and institutional expansion of Clarkson College of Technology, which became Clarkson University during their tenure. Long interested in K-12 education, Mary advocated for forming The Clarkson School. She received an honorary degree from Clarkson in 1985 for her service.

During their time at Clarkson, the Planes were simultaneously developing a farm winery, Plane’s Cayuga Vineyards, in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Mary held primary responsibility for vineyard operations and marketing. As the first female vineyard and farm winery owner/manager in the region, she mentored other businesses, especially women managers, providing invaluable support across the industry. In 1983, she pioneered the creation of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the first wine trail in the nation.

When Bob retired from Clarkson in 1995, they sold the vineyard and relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they were active volunteers. After Bob died in 2018, Mary continued to volunteer, even after she lost most of her eyesight.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 47

“ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN BE A SCARY PATH, BUT THERE CAN BE HUGE REWARDS.” — CONOR CULLINANE ’13, Pirouette Medical President & CEO Pirouette Medical From emergency treatments like epinephrine for severe allergic reactions to Naloxone for opioid overdose, Pirouette’s vision encompasses an array of drug applications. They’re not just offering a product; they’re ushering in a new era of healthcare. With a wealth of experience in the engineering and pharmaceutical space, the company’s founders seek to not only save lives but empower humans.

Although it could have been Pirouette Aerospace, the trio chose to advocate for patients and tackle a

THE PATH OF PERSISTENCE “Entrepreneurship can be a scary path,” Cullinane says, “but there can be huge rewards. For us, it’s all about the team. I am selling our team’s ability to make the product successful. It is all about our work ethic, persistence and willingness to walk through walls to succeed in the face of adversity.

If you have a good team, you can be successful.”

“I think the biggest thing you get from a Clarkson education that you don’t get anywhere else is that you start as if you are already in industry.

Clarkson bridges that gap between

college and industry. You get that broader experience without even having to leave the campus, thanks to the incredible faculty and staff sharing their knowledge and experience with you,” Conor said. “You learn to take common sense and intuition and apply them to any scenario. I have not seen that anywhere else. They allow students to succeed and learn by taking their hands off the wheel and giving them the freedom to learn and grow.”

Outside the classroom/lab/office, the trio can be found flying (Cullinane and Kane are pilots), going on multiday hiking adventures and continuing a favorite Clarkson pastime: spontaneous road trips.

Learn more at pirouettemedical. com.

SWE at 50

Engineers” was followed by a Q&A session with Professor of History LAURA ETTINGER. The documentary, supported by the National Science Foundation and produced by Ettinger, looks into the experiences of pioneering women engineers who graduated from college in the 1970s.

Later, the women gathered for a SWE Through the Decades dinner attended by alums — including three of the founding members of SWE — and current students, faculty members and Clarkson trustees.

They delved into SWE’s history with a panel that included Prof. Baltus, DIANE DIFRANCESCO ’77 and CAROLYNE

SHULTES ’23, who provided insights and answered questions about various decades of SWE at Clarkson.

The weekend concluded with a Planetary Pancakes breakfast, co-sponsored by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Office, featuring NASA Network Integrity Manager Jena Garrahy, who shared insights into cutting-edge work occurring in space exploration.

“Each individual was involved in the engaging talk about all the exciting ventures and breakthroughs at NASA. This was a great way to wrap up the weekend and celebrate Clarkson SWE,” say Juliano and Rollins.

> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Celebrating 50 Years Juliano and Rollins, with Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access JENNIFER BALL and members of Clarkson’s SWE, planned several on-campus events to commemorate the milestone.

A screening of the film “Trailblazers: The Untold Stories of Six Women

Karel K. Czanderna ’77 (left) and Isabel Haspil ’27 and Gilada Ekpo ’27 engage in discussion after the screening of “Trailblazers.”

48 / 2024 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

specific need in healthcare innovation.

They launched Pirouette Medical and haven’t looked back.

Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2023

Clarkson University Financial Report

2023

2022

Cash and equivalents Accounts receivable, net Pledges receivable, net Notes receivable — students, net Other assets Rights of use lease assets Investments Property, plant and equipment, net

$8,633,427 12,656,151 9,728,810 3,970,836 3,957,118 1,642,112 228,240,005 212,069,246

$12,045,212 9,635,261 11,629,549 4,654,706 4,060,608 1,002,453 227,006,119 215,187,349

Total Assets

480,897,705

$485,221,257

ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

LIABILITIES

Accounts payable/accrued expenses Deposits and advances Other liabilities Right of use lease obligations Long-term debt Total Liabilities

$3,460,401 9,953,381 36,346,607 1,658,383 77,649,470

$5,256,512 10,911,166 35,845,586 1,010,128 80,245,681

$129,068,242

$133,269,073

NET ASSETS

Without donor restriction With donor restriction

$139,701,592 212,127,871

$146,777,853 205,174,331

Total Net Assets

$351,829,463

$351,952,184

$480,897,705

$485,221,257

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

NEW TRUSTEE

Clarkson University Board of Trustees OFFICERS Thomas L. Kassouf ’74 Chair

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

Simoon L. Cannon ’97

Peter J. Devlin ’80

Thomas G. Capek P’15

Christina A. Dutch ’91

President & Founder Melanina Organics LLC

University President

Senior Vice President & Chief Engineer Corning Incorporated

Nancy D. Reyda ’81

Amy E. Castronova ’04

Vice Chair

Bayard D. Clarkson Sr., MD, H’74 Distinguished Vice Chair

President Leadership Alchemy

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

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

Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

David K. Heacock ’83

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

Kelly O. Chezum ’04

Lauretta M. Chrys UGC ’98

Sanjeev R. Kulkarni ’84

Vice President for Financial Affairs & Treasurer

TRUSTEES Anthony B. Bouchard ’85 President & Chief Operating Officer CDM Smith, Inc.

Kathryn E. Campbell ’03

Vice President/Head of US Product Strategy & Development Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC

Founder, President & CEO The Fabric Net

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

Jeff Ives

Rajan Raghavan ’82 Nancy D. Reyda ’81

President Clarkson University

Assistant Secretary

President & Chief Executive Officer CACI International Inc.

Senior Vice President & Manager (Ret.) Texas Instruments Silicon Valley Analog

Lauretta M. Chrys UGC’98 Secretary

John S. Mengucci ’84

Managing Director & COO (Ret.) Bank of New York Mellon

Jean E. Spence ’79 David A. Walsh ’67

Executive Vice President & COO (Ret.) Citizens Bank

Professor, Electrical Engineering Princeton University

Executive Vice President & COO (Ret.) United Therapeutics

Bayard D. Clarkson Sr., M.D. H’74

Kenneth S. Lally ’79 Founder SimuTech Group

James F. Wood ’64

Member, Molecular Pharmacology/Chemistry Sloan Kettering Institute

Earl R. Lewis ’66

Kathleen H. Cline ’85

G. Michael Maresca P’18

President KTC Construction

Karel K. Czanderna ’77 President & CEO (Ret.) Flexsteel Industries Inc.

Chairman of the Board (Ret.) Flir Systems Inc. Interventional & General Radiologist President St. Lawrence Radiology

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

Robert R. Ziek, Jr. ’78 President ZSource, Ltd.

Thomas G. Capek P’15 Capek is senior vice president and chief engineer at Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science and a longtime Clarkson corporate partner. He leads Corning’s Manufacturing Technology and Engineering organization and the Global Engineering function.

Capek will serve on the Financial Affairs Committee and the Facilities Subcommittee, bringing not only his corporate vision but also his perspective as a former Clarkson parent to his service.

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY / 49

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID POTSDAM, NY PERMIT NO. 78

DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS Box 5510, 8 Clarkson Avenue Potsdam, NY 13699

REUNION 2024 / SAVE THE (NEW) DATE! / JUNE 21-22, 2024 Reunion Weekend is earlier this year. Mark it on your calendars!

Night, Knights!

Did you know Clarkson is in the direct path of the 2024 total solar eclipse? On Monday, April 8, 2024, Potsdam will darken for 3 minutes and 14 seconds — from 3:24 p.m. to 3:27 p.m. The next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. is in 20+ years (August 23, 2044), while New York state won’t see another for 120 years! Learn more at science.nasa.gov/eclipses or connect with us via email at community@clarkson.edu.