MSOE
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Plans unveiled for residence hall renovation ... pg. 4 Senior projects challenge students ... pg. 12 Esports offer new competitive club sport ... pg. 21
early riser |
Senior Jerica Kotarak has a lot to fit into her day.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dear Alumni and Friends, While our academic year is about to come to a close, things are not slowing down on campus. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing all of our seniors’ work during the annual Senior Project Showcase on Friday, May 24. The late nights and hard work all of a sudden seem not so bad, as family and friends gather on campus to see their projects and celebrate their successes with them. I encourage you to come to campus and join the celebration. In April we made an exciting, and much anticipated announcement. It’s no secret that our residence halls are in need of some attention. I’m happy to announce we will be starting the planning and design phase for a major overhaul of our oldest and largest one, Roy W. Johnson Hall. Our residence halls must be more than simply places to live. They need to support and enhance our academic mission. MSOE’s vision statement challenges the university to set the standard for preparing the leaders who will solve the diverse technical challenges of the 21st century. This vision requires us to think about the needs of our students holistically and to create an experience that extends and supports their learning beyond the classroom. The residence hall will be transformed into a Living-Learning Community (LLC) and will offer comprehensive in- and outof-class learning environments that foster heightened levels of student engagement with faculty, peers and their own learning. At one of my previous universities, we developed an LLC for the students and I saw firsthand the benefits of intentionally creating spaces for students to collaborate and relax. Read more about this on page 4. Work continues on Raiders Stadium, currently under construction a few miles north of campus in Glendale, Wisconsin. It will be home to MSOE’s baseball team and the Nicolet High School boys baseball team. I can’t wait to hear the crack of the bats in our new stadium! We’re also moving right along on Diercks Hall. We’ll be dedicating the building and celebrating its grand opening Sept. 13. Visit msoe.edu/diercks-hall for updates. More than ever, MSOE is the place to be—a place where we’re rethinking what’s possible. Sincerely,
John Y. Walz, Ph.D. President
Innovation reigns! MSOE’s float, designed by the Residence Hall Association, was named Best Float of the Milwaukee St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was complete with rotating gears! The parade kicked off MSOE’s annual St. Patrick’s Week celebration.
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IN THIS ISSUE
14–17
Up for the Challenge
There isn’t anything standing in the way for Jerica Kotarak, who is a biomedical engineering senior, decorated student-athlete, and cadet executive officer in the Army ROTC. Follow along with her for a day. See story on page 14.
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Spotlight on Leadership: Dr. Ronald Jensen ’74
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Community of Learners
6–9
Highlights
10–11
Drawing on Her Talents
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Senior Projects Prepare Students for Life After Graduation
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At the Grohmann
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Faculty Feature: Doug Nelson, P.E.
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Fanning the Flame
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Esports Fuel Competitive Drive
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Raiders’ Wrap-up
24–28
Alumni on the Move
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From the Archives: It’s electric!
Upcoming Events May 18 24 25
Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Senior Project Showcase MSOE Senior Project Showcase Commencement
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Junior Visit Day
July
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Summer Programs for High School Students Private College Week Senior Visit Days Summer in the City Alumni Reunion Open House
August
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Preview Day for high school juniors and seniors Preview Day for high school juniors and seniors
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Grand Opening: Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall Matt Stachelski ’11 Memorial Bike Ride
For more information and events visit: msoe.edu/campus-life/calendar Athletic events: go-raiders.com Fluid Power Professional Education Seminars: msoe.edu/seminars Professional Education courses: msoe.edu/professional-education
Dimensions
Milwaukee School of Engineering Magazine Editor: JoEllen Burdue
Contributing Writers: Kristen Kubisiak, Loreen Pace, Mary Raebel, Colin Terrill, Dr. John Y. Walz
Managing Editor: Annette Pirrung Creative Director: Kristin Dunn Graphic Designers: Peg Houghton, Chase Patt
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Contributing Photography: Alexis Countryman, Lucas Grohmann, Mark Hines, Norberto Haro, Jerica Kotarak, Gary Porter, Erol Reyal, Laura Segall
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. Address correspondence to Dimensions magazine, 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202; marketing@msoe.edu; or (414) 277-7117.
Spring 2019 Volume 33, No. 2
SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP Dr. Ronald Jensen ’74
Dr. Ronald Jensen ’74, MSOE Regent, saw exponential growth in his career because he mastered the art of taking on new and difficult challenges. He began his career at Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) as a manufacturing supervisor. Based on his intense study of Design of Experiments, he applied these techniques to better understand complex actions and interactions occurring in manufacturing and steel foundry processes. He formed a team of engineers and scientists to run factorial experiments, then stochastic and deterministic mathematical models were used to manipulate the processes to achieve improved performance. Jensen also lectured about using these techniques to optimize manufacturing processes. Over the years, Jensen was promoted to increasingly more responsible management positions and became OMC’s vice president of manufacturing and an elected officer. He oversaw all U.S. and Mexican engine and accessory plants, and was responsible
“If I would have stayed in one job for my whole career, I would not have become as skilled. You need new experiences and challenges to make you better.” for global marine manufacturing strategy and corporate capital planning. Jensen has participated in the development of nine product and process patents, including a process to perform high-speed “mixedmodel” engine production in a “Just-inTime” inventory system. “It’s important to be nimble and always look for a new challenge,” said Jensen. “Doing something that’s comfortable is fine, but you don’t expand your own capabilities. You grow as a result of those experiences, and I enjoy that.” Jensen was promoted to president of OMC International Group and was responsible for all sales, marketing and manufacturing plants in China, Australia, Brazil, France, Belgium, Canada and Sweden. He opened
a major sales office in the Middle East to mainly service large commercial fishing businesses and turned the International Group from a loss to a profit during his first year, in the face of strong Japanese competition. After leaving OMC, Jensen spent a number of years as a turnaround CEO, primarily focused on creating shareholder wealth for small- to mid-sized companies. He oversaw the regeneration of three distinct companies and executed 15 acquisitions to change the structure of these companies by adding new technology, finding synergies and increasing volume. Jensen’s final professional role before retiring was as president and CEO of Paper Pak Industries (PPI), a manufacturer dedicated solely to absorbent mediums for the food, medical and safety industries. “Through my education at MSOE and my experience I was able to see what was needed for these businesses to survive and ultimately prosper,” he said. “If I would have stayed in one job for my whole career, I would not have become as skilled. You need new experiences and challenges to make you better.”
MSOE Regent Ronald Jensen ’74 and his family celebrate his Honorary Doctor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering degrees, which he received from MSOE during Winter Commencement.
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MSOE’s oldest residence hall will be transformed into a Living-Learning Community. A series of 2-story
collaboration hubs will be constructed in a southern-facing, glass enclosed addition overlooking the Milwaukee skyline. Below, left to right: Modernized rooms and living spaces will be flexible and designed to serve the diverse needs of all students; the building will be renamed Hermann Viets Memorial Tower; collaboration hubs will support group work and interdisciplinary projects.
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Reimagined Residence Hall Grows our Community of Learners A wave of excitement flowed through the crowd of students, faculty, staff and supporters who gathered on April 29 to hear President John Walz announce that MSOE will begin planning and designing a major renovation and expansion of Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall (RWJ). Walz’ vision is to transform the building into a Living-Learning Community (LLC) to encourage academic success and give students with similar academic, social and personal interests the opportunity to live together, collaborate and share experiences. The excitement grew as the crowd learned MSOE has received $32 million in philanthropic commitments to support the $37 million renovation. The transformation will include 48 additional rooms and a series of twostory collaboration hubs constructed in a southern-facing, glass enclosed addition overlooking the Milwaukee skyline. LLCs are unique housing groups that allow students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and enable the university to continue fostering the growth of the MSOE Mindset, which identifies graduates as leaders of character; responsible professionals; passionate learners; and value creators. LLCs create comprehensive in- and out-of-class learning environments that offer heightened levels of student engagement with faculty, peers and their own learning. When work is completed, the hall will be renamed the Hermann Viets Memorial
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Tower in honor of the late Dr. Hermann Viets, MSOE’s fourth president. Regarded as a high-impact educational practice, LLCs have shown demonstrated impact on student engagement, retention, graduation and personal success by integrating students into a community of like-minded learners. The new space will help MSOE to continue attracting high-caliber students from around the globe, improve student satisfaction, and give them a residential experience to match the quality of the education they are receiving. Modernized rooms and living spaces will be flexible and designed to serve the diverse needs of all students. New restrooms, a central study area and a kitchenette will round out each floor. The renovated ground floor will offer a completely updated dining experience as well as new classroom space and collaboration hubs to expand the community focused spaces within the building. These intentionally structured communities of learners allow MSOE students to pursue their passions, explore and develop new interests and emerge as well-rounded professionals ready to tackle tomorrow’s problems. Preliminary design work by UihleinWilson/Ramlow-Stein Architects has begun. The goal is to have the renovated facility open for the fall 2021 term.
Upper floor Scan these codes with your smart phone for a virtual look inside the building.
msoe.edu/viets-tower
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HIGHLIGHTS
New brand strategy helps MSOE stand out Everyone at MSOE is encouraged to rethink what’s possible, and that sentiment is at the heart of the university’s new brand strategy. The new brand helps position MSOE as a growing, agile institution making a global impact through innovation. “We are telling our story in a more compelling and cohesive fashion, by building on the history of MSOE and carrying our momentum forward,” said Dr. John Walz, president. The new brand was developed from qualitative and quantitative research with students, faculty, staff, alumni, prospective students and MSOE Regents. It is based on key
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points of differentiation that came through consistently across audiences and also aligns with MSOE’s new mission, vision, values and strategic plan. “From day one, our students work through real-world problems sideby-side with faculty who are proven leaders in their fields,” said Saj Thachenkary, vice president of marketing and community engagement. “The MSOE brand needs to convey this dynamic educational experience across all communications and strategically position MSOE among the top colleges and universities in the world.”
$2.5 million pledged to Diercks Hall Making headlines • MSOE’s School of Nursing has a 100% NCLEX pass rate and a 98% first-time pass rate for 2018. MSOE also has been ranked No. 1 out of 39 nursing schools in the state of Wisconsin by Mountain Measurement in their most recent NCLEX Program Report (April– October 2018). • Dr. Tim Herman and Mark Hoelzer, Center for BioMolecular Modeling (CBM), were invited speakers at the European Bioinformatics Institute on Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge, UK. Their presentations focused on bringing molecular biology to life for secondary teachers and students through 3D printed molecular structures.
To date, more than $2.5 million has been pledged to name spaces within MSOE’s new Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall and support the programs and technology within. Donations have come from individuals, alumni, former faculty members, board members and local companies including PieperPower Corporation, Northwestern Mutual, the Rexnord Corporation, Elaine Nap, Dedicated Computing, LogistiVIEW, Pindel Global Precision, Dr. Bernard A. Cohen, Dr. Michael Barber ’82, Dr. Jackie Herd-Barber ’84, Dr. Ronald Jensen ’74, Dr. Joe ’85 and Lynette Noworatzky, Dr. Bob and Jo Wagner and Barb Wagner Karol, Hans Schroeder, Dr. Edward ’68 and Arlene Raether, and Brent J. Folbrecht. In addition, Generac has provided an in-kind gift relating to emergency electrical power for the facility. Visit msoe.edu/diercks-hall for more details.
• Dr. Wujie Zhang, associate professor of biomolecular engineering, was named a Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner.
• MSOE took first and third place in the national Associated Schools of Construction student competition. • Kaylie Butt and José Diaz Frias, both industrial engineering seniors, were awarded second and third place, respectively, in the IISE North Central Region Undergraduate Paper Competition.
• The Society of Automotive Engineers received the 2019 Honeywell Outstanding Collegiate Branch Award.
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• The Cyber Raiders Organization for Networking (CRON) won the Wisconsin Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.
Students, facuty and staff signed the final piece of steel before it was lifted into place at Diercks Hall during a topping off celebration Dec. 17, 2018.
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• Students won the $10,000 first place prize in the national MCAA Student Chapter Competition.
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DIERCKS HALL GRAND OPENING Details to come msoe.edu/newsroom DIMENSIONS x SPRING 2019
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SXSW ignites MSOE University Innovation Fellows The University Innovation Fellows’ latest travels took them to the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas in March where they engaged with more than 600 people through six “stokes,” which are activities to help teams loosen up and become mentally and physically active. They also collaborated with Fellows from other universities. “We’re excited to bring everything we learned from the sessions and conversations with other Fellows back to MSOE. SXSW truly embodied the startup and entrepreneurial culture. Seeing the joy and appreciation from both the speakers’ and audience’s perspective gives us excitement to further pursue change on our campus and the surrounding Milwaukee community,” said MSOE Fellow Sabrina Stangler.
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Professor wins Foxconn Smart Cities competition Dr. Jeffrey Blessing, Rader School of Business professor, was one of 12 Foxconn Smart Cities Smart Futures competition winners, which began with 325 entrants— including Drs. Michael Carriere and Jeong Woo who advanced to Round 2. Winners each received a $5,000 prize and the opportunity for Foxconn to invest in their idea. Blessing proposed cyber-secure smart cities by using AI technologies to build cybersecurity devices, processors and networks that are immune to malware. His proposal also was chosen as a finalist in the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.
Sabrina Stangler explored Austin, Texas during the SXSW Conference.
CREATE Faculty Fellows Dr. Brad Dennis, Dr. William Farrow, Dr. David Howell, Dr. Richard Kelnhofer, Doug Nelson, P.E., Dr. Jane Page, Dr. Nadya Shalamova, Gene Wright and Dr. Wujie Zhang comprise MSOE’s first team of CREATE Faculty Fellows, and are focusing on faculty, student and community programming. Over the next four years, faculty and students will be engaged in iterations of programming including a professional learning workshop series for
faculty, a curriculum integration program, an MSOE Mindset Speaker Series, multiple student activities, and the policies and processes for robust experiential learning opportunities. In addition, Howell and Dr. Kelly Ottman will lead faculty development efforts in their two-year terms as associate co-directors of faculty development. msoe.edu/create
Gene Wright (left) and Dr. Eric Baumgartner
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EXITO Ceremony honors students MSOE held its first annual EXITO Ceremony in February, honoring all Hispanic and Latino students completing their degrees this year. Each student received a sarape stole to wear with their cap and gown during Commencement. The stoles were presented to them by a special family member or friend.
From the Great White North to the White House HMS Resolute in Search of Sir John Franklin, painted in 1850 by Franรงois Musin, recently was added to the Grohmann Museum collection. The painting captures the history of the British ship before it became the Resolute Desk at the White House.
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Drawing on Her Talents
In a black and white sketch that Kiana Jeremiah holds dear to her heart, a smiling woman with a haku lei crowning her thick wavy black hair holds a twinkling-eyed infant in a Tahitian headdress. The woman is Kiana’s mother Dori. The tot, and artist behind the portrait, is MSOE senior Kiana. In the free time that’s not occupied by industrial engineering homework or basketball—Kiana is team captain and a guard for the MSOE Raiders—she can be found with her sketchpad and graphite drawing pencil, creating portraits for family and friends. Kiana started drawing 10 years ago. She received her art education at the kitchen table in her family’s Streamwood, Illinois home. There she was instructed by her father Donald, a self-taught artist who has made a successful side business out of his talent. “It was a lot of fun, sharing that with him,” Kiana said. “It took me a while to get the concept of shading, but I’ve come a long way. Now, I’d say I am almost better than him.” Most of her sketches are based on photographs. The photo with her mother was taken during a family trip to Hawaii, where Kiana’s parents were born and raised. Kiana started drawing for enjoyment, but it wasn’t long before others noticed her talent. Since then, she has been commissioned for countless portraits. For fun she started a new tradition with the MSOE women’s basketball team, creating portraits of the outgoing seniors that she
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presents to them during Senior Night. Most recently, Kiana has been working with her father on a special project, “Portrait of a Soldier,” which is a traveling exhibit that honors the fallen soldiers of Illinois. Each soldier who has died since 9/11 is memorialized with a pencil sketched portrait. The soldier’s family receives the original drawing, while a copy is incorporated into the traveling exhibit. Almost 300 soldiers have been drawn since the beginning of the project. “It’s a huge honor,” Kiana said.
The project also resonates on a personal level with the Jeremiahs, because Kiana’s grandfather was killed in Vietnam. On average, an individual portrait takes anywhere from 6 to 10 hours to draw. Kiana has drawn five portraits while she’s been completing her senior year. Her images, and 30 completed by her father, will be unveiled at a special Memorial Day exhibit at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. “I feel proud to see all of Kiana’s growth from when she started drawing to now,” Donald said.
Kiana Jeremiah has been working with her father on a special project, Portrait of a Soldier, which is a traveling exhibit that honors the fallen soldiers of Illinois.
Clockwise from top left: Detail from one of Kiana’s drawings; image from the Portrait of a Soldier traveling exhibition; image of Kiana as a toddler with her mother; Kiana’s parents, Donald and Dori Jeremiah, come to all of her basketball games.
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Andrew Schmitt, Michels’ real estate and property manager (red hard hat), works with a team of MSOE seniors on their proposal for a six-story hotel in Milwaukee’s Harbor District.
Senior Projects Prepare Students for Life After Graduation Around campus, seniors from all majors are gathering in labs and conference rooms to put the finishing touches on their papers, projects, internships and presentations. They are on the cusp of realizing the crowning achievement of their MSOE experience—the senior project. The MSOE community, as well as family and friends, come together to honor these efforts and see what students have learned during the university’s annual senior project showcase before Spring Commencement. Project ideas typically take shape in
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the fall of senior year. Individually and on teams, students spend the next nine months trying to solve a problem, improve a product or process, or create something entirely new. Guided by faculty advisors and partners in industry—these projects are more than just a grade. Architectural engineering and construction management students are flexing their academic muscles on the $100 million River One project, Michels Corporation’s mixed-use development involving co-sponsors Michels and Gilbane
Construction. The development features offices, apartments, mixed-use commercial, restaurants and a hotel on a six-acre site overlooking the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. Two student teams are working on a solution for the hotel, while one is developing the office building. “Senior design has been an awesome experience, but that’s not to say it has not been tough! Since the project really started to take off in fall quarter, the entire process has been a real test of time management and collaboration. I really have enjoyed the
Senior projects are a rite of passage and culmination of everything students have learned at MSOE. At left, the "Goliath Construction" team created a 3D model of its River One Product. The 2019 Senior Project Showcase will be held Friday, May 24 throughout campus. All are invited.
" From the tight schedule and technical depth, to the interaction with your advisor/customer, the senior design project gives you a glimpse of the engineering cycle in the real world." —Betsy McBride '17
experience and the challenge that it has provided for me and my teammates,” said Riley Buol, a construction management major. His team, “Goliath Construction,” is developing a six-story hotel with 100 rooms and street level retail/commercial space. To prepare for the project, they interviewed representatives from Michels and the City of Milwaukee. They had to take the site’s geography into consideration as they designed the structure, and also planned the mechanical systems for the building. “MSOE and the amazing students presenting their projects have a lot to be proud of. It was an honor for Michels to participate in the MSOE Senior Project.
The future of construction is in very good hands,” said David Stegeman, chief legal officer and senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions and real estate for Michels. Betsy McBride, who graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, reflected on the practical value of the senior project. “From a technical perspective, the MSOE senior design project is the most ‘life-like’ project an engineering student could experience,” she said. McBride’s senior design team participated in the NASA Robotic Mining Competition, which challenges students to design and build a mining robot that can maneuver on simulated Martian terrain and excavate
regolith from the ground. Her team focused on the electrical system and autonomous operation using image recognition and radar detecting systems. “From the tight schedule and technical depth, to the interaction with your advisor/ customer, the senior design project gives you a glimpse of the engineering cycle in the real world,” said McBride, who is now an electrical engineer in Lockheed Martin’s Engineering Leadership Development Program. “For me, this is when everything really came together, and I realized I was made to be an electrical engineer.”
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UP CHALLENGE for the
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You have to get up pretty early to keep up with senior Jerica Kotarak. As a cadet executive officer in MSOE’s Army ROTC program, by 5:45 a.m. Kotarak has already dressed, had a granola bar and reported for formation. “You really don’t need as much sleep as you think,” she said. The most senior cadet at MSOE, Kotarak is second in command of the Golden Eagle Battalion, which is composed of 130 cadets across five universities: Concordia, Marquette, MSOE, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside. “She is a role model for all cadets,” said Lt. Col. Ioannis E. Kiriazis, a professor of military science in the Army ROTC. “Diligent and hardworking. One of our best and brightest.”
If there were times in her life when Kotarak wasn’t sure what the future might hold, this biomedical engineering major from Muskego, Wisconsin was always sure about track and field. She was introduced to the sport in middle school. Her first triple jump was as a freshman at Wind Lake High School when she was asked to fill in for a sick teammate. “I had never done it before,” she said, but that didn’t stop her from crushing the school record that had withstood 29 years of challengers. At MSOE, Kotarak has been equally impressive— making Raider history as the first athlete to qualify for six NCAA meets or compete in as many as 10 events.
In May, Kotarak will be a Distinguished Military Graduate—a designation bestowed upon the top 20 percent of cadets in the nation—and she is due to commission as a second lieutenant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
“I start from about 100 feet back and have to run the exact same way every time in order to get the proper footing on the board to not scratch, and maximize the distance of the jump,” she said. “I can always feel when it’s a good jump because it feels like I am flying through the air.”
“Waking up at 4 a.m., you have to think about the big picture,” she said. “I knew it would be worth it, in the end.”
Kotarak was less sure, however, about where she would land after she started college. “I wanted to attend MSOE, I knew that. But
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I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was a sophomore when I joined ROTC.”
Biomedical Engineering Society, Society of Women Engineers and Lambda Zeta Nu sorority.
The experience has been eye-opening.
“I like to stay busy,” she said. And most days, from 4 a.m. until 12 a.m., that’s exactly what she is, buoyed by catnaps on the bus to track meets, and shots of five-hour energy drinks—as needed.
“Not only does it challenge me both physically and mentally,” she said, “being in the ROTC has enabled me to have so many opportunities to make a difference.” From distributing clothes and personal care items to homeless veterans in Milwaukee, to training members of the armed forces and visiting schools in Uganda, Kotarak’s experiences have been transformative. “The ROTC Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program enabled me to go to Africa and become totally immersed in another culture,” she said. “I learned about another way of life and met cadets from all over the country.” Kotarak credits ROTC for the leadership and time-management skills she uses to organize an overflowing schedule. She’s also a senator in student government, a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and the student chapters of the national
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Family support in the forms of group texts, meals and occasional favors also help. “My mom will cook for me sometimes, or my dad will take me out to lunch, which is really nice to have,” Kotarak said. Her parents and brother do their best to attend her track and field and ROTC events, and Kotarak tries to make time to be a cheering section for her brother, who is a track athlete at UW-Lacrosse. “We are always in contact,” she said. While not everyone may be able to walk a day in Kotarak’s shoes, anyone can make the most of their time at MSOE—even if they aren’t sure where exactly the road will lead on day one. “It’s OK not to know,” she said. “But make the most out of your experiences.”
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Clockwise from top left: Jerica Kotarak visited schools in Uganda and became totally immersed in their culture through the ROTC Cultural Understanding and Leadership program. Kotarak sprints to the finish line fueled by determination and five-hour energy. As a cadet executive officer, Kotarak rises before the sun to train other cadets in the Army ROTC program.
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AT THE GROHMANN Roll Up Your Sleeves: Photographs by Jim Brozek May 17–Aug. 18, 2019 Opening Night Gallery Talk with Jim Brozek Friday, May 17, 7 p.m. Gallery Night Open House Friday, July 19, 5–9 p.m. True to the Grohmann Museum collection’s theme of “Man at Work,” the latest exhibition documents workers plying their trades. Milwaukee photographer Jim Brozek developed his own brand of participant observation by working alongside these workers and documenting their craft. To truly understand his subjects and capture their essence, he first sought to understand their working life and motivations. In the process, he discovered much more about them than merely what they do for a living. Roll Up Your Sleeves provides a broad view of Brozek’s work. From the farm fields of northern Wisconsin, to scenes from a New Mexico ranch, Great Lakes shipping, local construction projects, and even artists performing their trade, his catalogue of work is defined by work. At once an examination of hard work and a tribute to the worker, this exhibition opens a window to the predominant facet of our culture—human industry.
Coming up at the Grohmann Museum: C. Lewis, Brick Recycler, 1995
Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee Sept. 6–Dec. 29, 2019 Opening Night Curator’s Presentation Friday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. Nash automobiles, Merkel motorcycles, Evinrude outboards, Johnson Controls environmental systems, MasterLock locks, and Stereo-Realist cameras—these are but a few of the Magnificent Machines of Milwaukee; a one-of-a-kind exhibit filled with one-of-a-kind inventions. grohmannmuseum.org
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FACULTY FEATURE Doug Nelson, P.E. Doug Nelson, P.E. never intended to go back into academia full time. He had been working in private industry for 12 years, after leaving a 20-year career in teaching. But then his wife showed him a job announcement from MSOE. “Why am I reading my resume?” he asked himself. But it was the job announcement he was reading. Nelson took the offer to teach plumbing and fire protection design at MSOE in 2011, as well as coordinate Civil Senior Design for the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department. And in 2019, he assumed the roles of CREATE Faculty Fellow and Pieper Family Endowed Chair for Servant-Leadership. Being able to bring his real-world experience into the classroom is rewarding, said Nelson, but so is managing students in a servant-leadership methodology. Nelson grew up on a small farm in New York state and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from Cornell University. He was on sabbatical from teaching at Morrisville State College when he was offered a position with a manufacturer of onsite water treatment systems. That job would lead him to Wisconsin and eventually to another job as a consulting design engineer. Even if he didn’t know the term servantleadership before coming to MSOE, it had always been a part of Nelson’s life: as a young member of Future Farmers of America and as a volunteer firefighter at Cornell University, in his ambulance service and church activities, and in the community projects he now leads at MSOE. “A lot of people accuse me of not being able to say no,” said Nelson. That willingness to serve and his expertise attracted the attention of the Community Plumbing Challenge. Nelson was asked to lead Team USA in competitions that created clean water and hygiene solutions for impoverished areas of the world. He has
traveled with students to competitions in Singapore, India, South Africa and Jamaica. But one summer as Nelson’s team flew over the Appalachian Mountains, something dawned on him: “There were plenty of people below this plane who could use our types of help and assistance.” Nelson has since focused as much as he can on community building closer to home. He is now working with students to develop
an empty lot next to the Tricklebee Café, a pay-as-you-can café run by the Moravian church on Milwaukee’s north side. Nelson is an avid bicyclist, logging around 5,000 miles a year. He does three or four charity rides annually, including the Trans New Hampshire bike ride, a 250-mile, three-day ride for muscular dystrophy. He rides for his two grand-nephews who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Helping students develop a Servant-Leader Mindset is one of Doug Nelson’s priorities.
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Fanning the Flame Three years ago, Samantha Hoover was one of two dozen high school girls who spent the day on campus learning about mechanical engineering through the FLAME (Female Leaders Advocating for Mechanical Engineering) Project. As part of the new program, Hoover toured laboratories, heard from faculty about different mechanical engineering careers, and teamed-up with other girls to build a self-propelled “car” out of common household items. Now a sophomore mechanical engineering major at MSOE and president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering student chapter, Hoover has gone from mentee to mentor, organizing the third annual FLAME event for other young girls who want to learn more about mechanical engineering. FLAME is one of several outreach opportunities ASME and the Society of Women Engineers student chapters organize throughout the year. “FLAME had a big impact on me when I was in high school,” she said. “Being on the other side of that as an event organizer is an amazing feeling.” Hoover has always been interested in engineering. Mechanical engineering specifically appealed to her because of its breadth. “I wanted the option of trying different areas—robotics, automotive or HVAC,” she said.
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Sophomore mechanical engineering major Samantha Hoover transitioned from mentee to mentor at the MSOE FLAME event in 2017. Hoover was a participant in the inaugural program when she was a senior in high school.
Attending the FLAME Project as a Muskego High School senior helped solidify her interest. “I wanted to be confident that I was making the right choice in what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said. “FLAME gave me that confidence.” As an event organizer, Hoover sees even more value in the FLAME Project. “Depending on the type of student attending, they will get different things out of it,” she said. “For some it’s an exploration of mechanical engineering, for others it can help clarify what the field of mechanical engineering encompasses.”
The impact of faculty and volunteers who participate in the event cannot be overstated, Hoover said. “They could be responsible for sparking something in one of the attendees that could change her future and awaken a passion for mechanical engineering.” FLAME attendance has been growing steadily since its debut, and this year marked the largest number of participants yet. “This year faculty members from the Milwaukee School of Excellence joined the event so they could understand what we do,” she said. “They loved the idea and wanted to bring more girls to experience this event. That makes me really proud.”
Esports Fuel Competitive Drive Esports are taking the world by storm, and MSOE is now the latest university to offer a competitive program. At MSOE, esports is a club sport and teams will scrimmage and compete against colleges nationwide in sanctioned tournaments for major video games such as League of Legends, Hearthstone, Dota 2, Overwatch, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Because it is a club sport, MSOE will regulate student eligibility and participation. “Video gaming has long had the stereotype of being a solitary activity, but that is no longer the case. Thanks to technological advancements, the esports industry has grown exponentially and millions of people worldwide consider themselves gamers,” said Kip Kussman, dean of students. Gabriel Olaciregui is one of those gamers. “I joined MSOE esports because I am a competitor by nature. Playing sports throughout my life brought me this quality. These teams have come and gone, but video games have been a constant,” said the mechanical engineering major. “Being on one of MSOE’s Esports Club teams fuels my competitive drive throughout the year.”
Esports leagues are structured much like basketball, hockey or any other traditional sport. And just like other extracurricular activities— especially those that are team based—esports are another way to help students develop their soft skills. “Team work, showing dedication, time management and social engagement are important to character development,” Kussman said. Esports have become so popular, even sports news outlets like ESPN and Fox Sports have dedicated sections of their websites for coverage. Professional athletes are personally investing in teams, and the NBA established the 2K League. The Milwaukee Bucks are one of 17 professional basketball organizations sponsoring a team. The Kern Center serves as home base for esports with a designated space and gaming setups for team members to practice. Students in the Esports Club also manage team logistics with their staff advisors, Michael Hinder and Erick Johnson.
Members of MSOE’s new Esports Club get ready for an upcoming Rocket League tournament. Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game.
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RAIDERS' WRAP-UP
Palesse named to Academic AllAmerica Second Team
Matt Kirmse
Kirmse brings home three postseason honors Matt Kirmse keeps racking up the honors. The men’s basketball junior added three more after this past season, being named to both the Google Cloud Academic All-American® Third Team and the NABC Division III All-District Second Team and the Division III Private School Player of the Year by Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. Kirmse, the NACC’s 2018-19 Player of the Year and member of the NACC All-Conference First Team in back-to-back years, dominated the courts this past season. He averaged 18.9 points per game, easily leading the team in that category, and started in all 26 contests. His 42.6 shooting percentage from behind the arc places him in sixth on the single season record book, and his 75 three-pointers led the conference for the second straight season. Kirmse had seven games with 25 points or more during the 2018-19 campaign, highlighted by a 35-point performance against Concordia-Chicago on January 19. With 208 career treys, he breached the top five in the Raider’s career records, landing him in fourth. He also is ranked 13th all-time with 1,127 career points.
MSOE men’s basketball senior Jason Palesse has been named to the 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Second Team for NCAA Division III men’s basketball. Palesse started all 26 games the Red & White played this past season, the second straight season in which he was part of the starting lineup for every initial tipoff. Palesse averaged 10.6 points per game this season, while dishing out an average of 5.5 assists and shooting 48.6% from the field. His 144 assists are good for fourth place in team single season history, which also put him at the top spot for assists in the NACC this season. Palesse ended his career with 812 points and 379 assists in 100 games played, ranking him with the third highest assist record in the Raiders’ record books.
Hockey makes postseason tournament First-year hockey head coach Graham Johnson led his team to their second straight NCHA tournament this past February, having a 10-13-4 record overall but going 7-8-3 in conference. The team, which qualified for the fourth seed in the NCHA-South, fell to Adrian in the first round of the playoffs by the score of 3-1. Sophomore Rock Boynton and juniors Zack Davis and Evan Kearns were selected to the 2018-19 NCHA All-Academic Teams, as the team averaged 2.67 goals per game.
Zach Davis
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Head coach and MSOE Athletic Director Brian Miller was named NACC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
Baseball pitches in to help visually impaired MSOE’s Baseball Team, in collaboration with Vision Forward Association, hosted its fifth annual beep baseball event for area youth who are blind or visually impaired. The event gave children a unique opportunity to play baseball in a way that was adapted to rely more on sound than sight. Several hands-on experiences taught them baseball fundamentals. They handled bats, balls, mitts and catcher’s equipment. When it was time to play ball, the students took the field alongside MSOE’s players. The bases and balls beeped—giving the students cues to help support them while playing. Many youth with vision loss often are excluded from athletics because of their vision loss. This event also gave MSOE students the opportunity to fully understand the daily challenges that vision loss can cause, and inspire them to include these considerations in their future careers as problem solvers, product designers, engineers, business professionals and nurses.
Track and field wraps up indoor season Both MSOE track and field teams wrapped up the indoor portion of their 2019 slate, seeing positive results in each of their showings during the NACC Indoor Championships. Jesse Lambrecht earned Indoor Freshman of the Year at the NACC Championships, as he was runner-up in the 5,000 meters and returned to action five hours later to finish sixth in the 3,000 meters. The men’s team finished fourth, just 2.5 points shy of third place. Senior Jerica Kotarak led MSOE women’s track and field team to a third place finish. Kotarak won both horizontal jumps (she is undefeated at NACC championships in both events) and added a fourth place finish with a personal best in the 55-meter dash.
Jesse Lambrecht
Jamie Spanbauer
Men’s and women’s basketball advance to postseason The MSOE men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoyed successful seasons filled with tight competitions. Completing a historic run in which they went 21-5 and earned a piece of the NACC regular season crown, the men’s team fell to Illinois Tech in the semifinals of the NACC Men’s Final Four, which was played inside Hotchkin Arena. The women’s team saw their 13-13 season close against Concordia-Wisconsin in the opening round of the NACC tournament. The team went 11-9 in conference, good for sixth place in the regular season, and averaged 55.9 points per game while shooting 38.5%. Senior Jamie Spanbauer was named to the NACC All-Conference First Team after averaging 12.8 points-per-game, which ranked her as 10th in the league. In addition, she chipped in 31 three-pointers (seventh in the league) at 34.7%. She pulled down 3.5 rebounds and added two assists per game, all while playing an average of 28.6 minutes per game. DIMENSIONS x SPRING 2019
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ALUMNI ON THE MOVE
Congratulations to the 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. The latest class of inductees was honored in January during a special ceremony recognizing their athleticism, leadership and sportsmanship. Chris Brandt ’10 (volleyball) Matt Burzon ’07 (hockey) Carol (Smith Cayo) LeValley ’12 (basketball) Jordan Keizer ’13 (hockey) Max Martin ’12 (volleyball) Austin Meier ’12 (basketball) Matthew Olsen ’11 (wrestling) Virgil Pope ’11 (wrestling)
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New Assignments
1980s Joseph Razo ’83 CET, ’85 ETE, director – strategy development, business and regional avionics, Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Ramya Easwaran ’97 CE, senior technical project manager, Healthcare Management Administrators, Bellevue, Wash. Darren Campbell ’98 ME, president, Hayes Performance Systems – Bicycle Group, Mequon, Wis.
2000s
1990s
Katrina Benishek ’03 IE, senior process improvement engineer, Delta Dental, Stevens Point, Wis.
Matthew Bratzke ’92 AE, vice president of construction, La Macchia Group LLC, Milwaukee
Karen Dettmer ’03 AE, ’15 MSEV, superintendent, Milwaukee Water Works, Milwaukee
Eric Frank ’94 EET, controls engineering manager, Faustel Inc., Germantown, Wis.
Timothy Schuettpelz ’03 AE, electrical engineer, Performa, De Pere, Wis.
Alfredo “Al” Gomez ’04 AE/CM, vicepresident/operations, McCarthy Building Companies Inc. – Southern Region, Houston Aaron Schneider ’06 AE/MSEV, regional manager, J.F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac, Wis.
2010s James Durand ’13 SE, senior software engineer, Atlassian, San Francisco Adam Hurtz ’15 CM, project manager, Beeler Construction Inc. Gregory Borsari ’17 AS, actuarial analyst, MetLife, Warwick, R.I. Alexander Rathke ’17 ME, inside sales engineer, Cummins Inc., Oak Creek, Wis. Caleb Bahr ’18 CE, firmware engineer, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Brookfield, Wis. Benjamin Blacklock ’18 MIS, automation controls engineer, Temple Controls Systems, Cudahy, Wis. Daniel Brandner ’18 ME, ensign, United States Navy, San Diego, Calif. Daniel Copeland ’18 IE, simulation consultant, Dematic Corp., New Berlin, Wis. Brittany Daniel ’18 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee Ashley Fozio ’18 NU, registered nurse, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mina Gaffney ’18 BE, project manager, Cubismi Inc., Madison, Wis. Trevor Hacker ’18 SE, test engineer, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee
Sunshine and smiles were the theme of the day at the Alumni Tailgate and Milwaukee Brewers’ spring training game against the Chicago Cubs in Arizona. Top: Kirstin Stahl, guest of Duane ’98, ’01 and Tina Gilson. Bottom: Benjamin, Joe Circello’s ’75 grandson. DIMENSIONS x SPRING 2019
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ALUMNI ON THE MOVE
From Intern to Vice President Matthew Guth ’00 had always been fascinated by technology. As a teenager, the Racine, Wisconsin native could often be found tinkering on his 8-bit home computer (a Commodore 64). Today he is the vice president of development at MSI Data, a growing Milwaukee business that develops workforce automation software. “Probably what I like most about MSI Data is the variety,” Guth said. “Our customers are in so many unique industries that there is always something new to be working on.” Guth, who earned his degree in computer engineering—at the time there was not a software engineering program at MSOE—began his 20-year career at MSI Data as a software development intern. “MSOE always emphasized internships and I did a few,” Guth said. “It’s a great way to get exposed to different companies and figure out what you like to do. Now as an employer I like internships because students become embedded in the culture of the company and when they graduate, they stay here—greatly reducing overall recruitment costs.” Guth’s internship with MSI Data turned into a full-time position that has since evolved and expanded, and so has the business. “We’ve grown from 10 to more than 60 employees,” Guth said. “I’ve had an exciting vantage point, being able to experience the growth firsthand and helping to build MSI Data’s flagship software, Service Pro.” As the vice president of development, Guth said he is involved with the business as much as the technical aspect of software now. His typical day involves project and design meetings, emails and employee mentoring. “It’s a team atmosphere here,” Guth said. “That’s how we achieve great things.” The sky is the limit for MSI Data—and Guth.“I really enjoy what I am doing, and I look forward to seeing what is next for MSI,” Guth said. “We’ve grown from a smallto medium-sized business; in the next two to three years we could be even larger. Who knows?” Guth also has some advice for MSOE students as they apply for jobs and internships: “The interview process is just a part of life,” he said. “Don’t be too nervous about it. It’s important, and you want to do well, but there are always other opportunities.” MSOE graduates have an advantage, Guth said, because employers are looking for problem solvers. “Because of MSOE’s curriculum, it’s something students learn naturally,” Guth said. “I always tell my teams: ‘Try to give customers what they want, which is sometimes different than what they are asking for.’ That’s the job of the problem-solver.”
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Emorie Harty ’18 NU, registered nurse, Froedtert Health, Milwaukee Joshua Held ’18 EEX, application engineer, CBRE|ESI, Brookfield, Wis. Angela Jaeger ’18 UXCD, design and usability analyst I, FIS Global, Milwaukee Austin Keegan ’18 EE, electrical engineer, Essity, Appleton, Wis. Ronald Krueger ’18 EE, digital electrical engineer, Plexus Corp., Neenah, Wis. Mikayla Landowski ’18 BE, residential counselor, Rogers Behavioral Health, Oconomowoc, Wis. Sean Lynch ’18 EE, compliance engineer I, Electronic Theatre Controls, Middleton, Wis. Anirudh Mandalapu ’18 MIS, data specialist, Penrod, Milwaukee Tegan Miles ’18 IE, sales/purchasing/ marketing, Miles Truck Inc., Salem, Wis. Andrew Miller ’18 CM, project engineer, Turner Construction Co., Chicago Carley Mitus ’18 EE, commercial leadership program, GE Healthcare, Nashville Coua Moua ’18 NU, research nurse, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Christopher Nelson ’18 BM, assistant manager, Rack Attack Chicago, Chicago Lauryn Przekurat ’18 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health, West Allis, Wis. Hunter Ring ’18 CM, field engineer, Southland Industries, Phoenix Marissa Schultz ’18 NU, registered nurse, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Rachel Semenak ’18 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health, West Allis, Wis. Neil Slomczewski ’18 EE, field service engineer, The Novo Group, Ixonia, Wis. Damien Spencer ’18 IB, supply chain specialist, CNH Industrial, Racine, Wis.
Andrew Stoehr ’18 CE, software engineer, HED Inc., Hartford, Wis. Amy Xiong ’18 EE, controls engineer, Eaton Corp., South Milwaukee, Wis.
Marriages Brittney Christensen ’09 IE, married James Stromski on Sept. 21, 2018. Scott Huennekens ’10 ME, married Julie Crawford on Aug. 4, 2018.
Births To Jessi and Christopher Luedtke ’98 AE, a daughter, Declynn, born on Jan. 2, 2019. To Alicia and Joseph Roethle ’03 ME, ’12 MSEM, a son, Levi, born on Dec. 15, 2018.
We didn’t see any triple toe loops or Salchows, but we did see plenty of huge smiles! Thank you to all who came to the annual Alumni Family Skating Party at the Kern Center. Top, left: Ashley (Harmeyer) Haas ’08 enjoyed the event with her son Brycen and husband Rob. At left: New this year, a face painter added another element of fun to the party.
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ALUMNI ON THE MOVE
Achievements Robert Bonfiglio ’83 CET, ’84 EET has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” for 2018. Theresa Lehman ’98 CM was a featured speaker at the Wisconsin Women in Green Power Breakfast on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2019. C. Patrick McShane ’98 MSEM has been given the grade of Fellow by the IEEE Board of Directors for his leadership in safety, performance and sustainability of power transformers. Erika Holland ’07 NU received a Master of Science in Nursing from MSOE.
Meghan Scanlan ’14 AE/MSST earned her Professional Engineer designation for the State of Wisconsin. Shelby Struble ’15 NU received a Master of Science in Nursing from MSOE. Lauren Dudley ’16 IE received a Master of Science in Engineering Management from MSOE. Jeff Jurgens ’16 BM received an MBA from MSOE. Abigail Vogt ’16 NU received a Master of Science in Nursing from MSOE. Janelle Carreon ’17 NU received a Master of Science in Nursing from MSOE.
Jeffrey Koehler ’11 MSE has been given a Heroes of Wisconsin award by the USO Wisconsin organization. Jason Mankowski ’11 NU received a Master of Science in Nursing from MSOE. Alexander Harbour ’13 AE earned his Professional Engineer designation for the State of Wisconsin.
NOMINATE TODAY! ALUMNI WALL OF DISTINCTION We are now accepting nominations for new members to be inducted into the MSOE Alumni Wall of Distinction. Nominations are due June 1, 2019 and should be submitted online at msoe.edu/nomination. Questions? Contact Cathy Varebrook, director of alumni affairs, at (414) 277-4523 or varebroo@msoe.edu.
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In Memory Donald Engebos ’46 RHVACT Orvel Utech ’48 ET Lloyd Kohnhorst ’52 EEP George Yamamoto ’52 ACT Raymond Ingold ’57 RTT, ’60 EEC Jay Erdman ’58 EEP Donald Hrycay ’58 EEP Vernon Lensing ’60 CT Leonard Goetzka ’61 EEP John Villman ’63 ME Vernon Hockerman ’65 ECET, ’76 BIM Antoinette (Lisecki) Krystowiak ’66 NU Paul Tsakires ’69 ECET, EET John VanBergen ’77 EET Ugo Okoro ’91 MSE David VanKammen ’06 MET Gerald Piette ’61 ME passed away Feb. 24, 2019. Piette was an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department for more than 20 years. Kathleen “Kitty” (Bannach) Schular passed away Jan. 4, 2019. Schular was the director of MSOE’s health services from 1997 to 2002. Jimmy Banks, MSOE men’s soccer coach and intramural coordinator, passed away April 26, 2019. Banks took the helm of the MSOE soccer program in 1999. Under his leadership the Raiders played in back-toback NCAA Tournaments and had several Academic All-American athletes. Banks was repeatedly named conference Coach of the Year. Prior to coaching, he was a professional soccer player with the Milwaukee Wave and a World Cup player on the United States National Team.
It’s electric! Students displayed their projects, including a Tesla demonstration, during the “School of Engineering” open house in 1936. The Tesla coil produced a 12-foot spark, filled with 1,200,000 volts of man-made lightning. DIMENSIONS x SPRING 2019
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ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND
SUMMER
IN THE CITY July 12–14, 2019 msoe.edu/reunion