DIMENSIONS Milwaukee School of Engineering Magazine
Senior Editor: Sandra Everts Editor: JoEllen Burdue Managing Editor: Pamela Seiler Design Coordinator: Leigh Ann Hass Graphic Designers: Andrea Davies, Peg Houghton Contributing Writers: JoEllen Burdue, Brian Gibboney, Loreen Pace, Kent Peterson, Pamela Seiler, Hermann Viets, Ph.D. Contributing Photography: Joey Contreras, Andrea Davies, Dr. Eric Durant ’98, Frank Habib ’09, Mark Hines, Peg Houghton, Kip Kussman, Pamela Seiler, Athletic Department Permission to reprint, in whole or in part, articles contained in this publication is hereby granted, provided a version of the following credit line be used: Reprinted with permission of Milwaukee School of Engineering. Please direct all correspondence, news, corrections and changes of address to the address below. Also, if you receive more than one copy of any Dimensions, please mail or fax us the address panel from each issue. We will make every effort to prevent future duplicate mailings. Dimensions also is available on MSOE’s website (msoe.edu/dimensions) and as part of MSOE’s mobile app. If you prefer to receive Dimensions electronically rather than a printed hard copy, please email everts@msoe.edu with that request, and provide your name and email address. Use, reproduction or storage of the name, address or other information about any individual identified within this magazine is strictly prohibited and constitutes misappropriation of corporate property.
Dimensions
Marketing and Public Affairs Department Milwaukee School of Engineering 1025 North Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202-3109 Phone: (414) 277-7135 Fax: (414) 277-7453 Email: everts@msoe.edu Website: www.msoe.edu If you would like to refer a prospective student to MSOE, please visit www.msoe. edu/alumni/refer_a_student.shtml Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Volume 26, No. 3
President’s Message The economic weakness bedeviling the U.S. and Europe over the past several years has caused a reexamination of jobs and careers. As the unemployment rate of recent college graduates hovers near 50 percent, the importance of gainful employment is a subject of great interest and concern. When one has a good job, other good things happen. Conversely, a good deal of unhappiness, even to the point of civil unrest, can be the result of unavailable or unsupporting jobs. The good news is, at MSOE we prepare our graduates to go beyond good jobs to a career—a succession of related jobs that form a pattern of growth and responsibility. A recent survey by PayScale.com found MSOE graduates had the highest average starting salaries of any Wisconsin institution. The same was true for mid-career salaries. In addition, our placement rate for graduates this past year is again very high, at 94 percent. These outstanding results are due to the efforts of our faculty and staff to create and deliver exciting, timely and demanding programs. But a key element of this success is the willingness of our students to put in the hard work necessary to achieve the high level of performance MSOE requires. Perhaps the best result is the outstanding character of our own graduates; particularly their ability to postpone gratification until the job is done. A widespread embrace of this character asset would go a long way toward solving the national problems we face. We can be thankful our graduates possess it. We wish you and yours a well deserved rest over the Christmas holidays in preparation for a bright new year! Sincerely,
Hermann Viets, Ph.D. President