MSOE Dimensions Magazine - Spring/Summer 2024

WORLD CHAMPIONS

Mozee Motorsports took first place in the hybrid vehicle category at the 2024 SAE Formula Hybrid + Electric competition at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This marks their third world championship. Thirty-two teams attended and Mozee Motorsports was the only hybrid team that passed 100% of the inspections including the tilt test, pictured here. They also were awarded first in project management and second in design. Teams must submit technical reports and go through a series of judging and inspections at the speedway. The vehicles are then tested on a 1.6-mile full road course.

Dear Alumni and Friends,

In 1952, W. Wallace Cannon Jr. became the first African American to graduate from MSOE with a Bachelor of Science degree. I was honored to participate in a ceremony in May with Mr. Cannon’s family to launch the W. Wallace Cannon Jr. Alumni Society, a new Black alumni affinity group at MSOE. It was an afternoon of celebration featuring remarks from me; Dr. Michael Barber ’82, MSOE Regent and member of the Society Leadership Council; Jeff Snow, vice president of university advancement; and Mr. Cannon’s son, Stephen. In addition, a commemorative plaque describing Mr. Cannon’s achievement was unveiled. I invite you to read more about Mr. Cannon, his achievements and the new affinity group on page 32.

In March we welcomed a team of peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to campus for an on-site visit as part of our reaffirmation of accreditation. The HLC visit was an opportunity for external reviewers to evaluate the quality of our academic programs, support services and overall educational experience. Accreditation by the HLC is a mark of excellence and ensures that our university meets high standards of quality and accountability, and it is a process we go through every 10 years.

Faculty and staff prepared for months leading up to this visit, gathering materials for our “assurance argument” which provides evidence to the HLC accrediting body. While the peer reviewers were here, they met with faculty, staff, students, administrators and members of the MSOE Board of Regents. I am extremely proud to report they were impressed with everything MSOE is doing. While we don’t have a final report from the HLC yet, we anticipate a very positive outcome. We will provide an update at msoe.edu and in the next edition of Dimensions.

I also want to provide an update on an announcement we made last year when Dr. Kendall Breunig ’79, MSOE Regent, made a gift to MSOE that led to the acquisition of the building at 310 E. Knapp St. and our plans to transform it into an academic facility. Those plans have been paused for now, as the current tenant, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is still working to secure a new location for their operations. The silver lining in this is that they will continue to pay rent to MSOE for this facility as they search for a new location.

Looking ahead, it is going to be a busy summer for MSOE and for the City of Milwaukee. The STEM Center at MSOE is offering a wide variety of programming for students in grades K-12; we are hosting week-long residential camps for high school students to explore our majors; and we look forward to welcoming our alumni to the annual Summer in the City reunion. In July, the city will welcome the Republican National Convention to downtown. About 50,000 delegates, media, law enforcement and staff are expected to attend the event, giving MSOE ample opportunity for international visibility. And in September, we are hosting eight teams from surrounding schools to compete in Make48 at the STEM Center. Make48 is an event where a design challenge is presented and teams have 48 hours to create a prototype. The event will be filmed for a TV documentary airing on This Old House Makers Channel on Roku!

Sincerely,

JOHN Y. WALZ, Ph.D. President

“Having a project that could make a di erence has been a huge motivator for me. It put things in perspective

me, and I want to continue working on

projects that make a di erence when I graduate.”

MILES OQUENDO, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SENIOR

ON THE

Seniors Jordyn Sievert (left) and Emma Braun worked with their senior design team to develop a customizable brachytherapy device for cervical cancer patients.

From customizable cancer treatment to snowboarder crash detection, devices designed by MSOE students have life-saving potential.

Several teams made their debut for the MSOE Raiders during the 2023-24 season, including women’s lacrosse.

The flagship publication of Milwaukee School of Engineering. With stories inspired by our mission and vision, Dimensions shines a light on our students, faculty, alumni and campus events, all while highlighting the values that unite us.

Editor

JoEllen Burdue

Managing Editor

Annette Pirrung

Creative Director

Kristin Dunn

Graphic Designers

Peg Houghton, Marley Mendez

Production Manager

Leigh Ann Hass

Contributing Writers

Jillian Kokott, Rachel Schmidt, Dr. John Walz

Images

Kylie Bridenhagen, Margaret Dwyer, Cannon Family, Front Room

Photography, Dan Hansher, Kevin Harnack, Hoyt Leitzke, Liz Doering Photography

Bryan Pechacek, Dr. Prabhakar Venkateswaran

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/SUMMER 2024

Volume 38, No. 2

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

Mellowes Family continues legacy of support to transform residence hall

Regents Hall will have a new name and a new look thanks to a gift from MSOE Regent Dr. John A. Mellowes and his wife, Linda Mellowes, pictured at right. The couple has committed $2 million to MSOE to support renovations for the residence hall.

This summer, air conditioning will be installed, new furniture will be put in place, building mechanicals will be improved, and the lobby will be renovated. An apartment suite for the hall director will also be added. The four-story building is a suite-style residence hall accommodating up to 88 students.

Dr. Mellowes knows housing is one of the many factors prospective students consider when visiting campus, which is one of the reasons he and his wife were happy to support the project.

Regents Hall was originally made possible thanks to the long-held dream of the MSOE Board of Regents. This residence for students was dedicated, in gratitude and appreciation, to the past, present and future members of the MSOE Board of Regents who, through their volunteer service and philanthropic support, give inspiration and direction to the great forward progress of Milwaukee School of Engineering. In that same spirit, Regents Hall will be renovated and renamed Mellowes Hall.

A dedication of the space is planned for Tuesday, Aug. 20.

NAVIGATING THE SEAS

Roscoe R(A.I.)der debuts on msoe.edu

MSOE introduced a chatbot named Roscoe R(A.I.)der to its website. The new chatbot serves as a useful tool when surfing the website to learn more about the university. Roscoe R(A.I.)der went through a series of testing before launching, including a “Bust the Bot” event with user experience students. They provided valuable feedback that led to updates in the chatbot prior to launch. To utilize Roscoe R(A.I.)der, simply click on the red circular icon in the bottom right corner of the screen at msoe.edu. Then, click in the chat box and ask away! Roscoe R(A.I.)der will surf the website to promptly answer your question. Still have questions? MSOE will always welcome your calls at (800) 332-6763.

MSN program ranked among best in the U.S.

The MSOE School of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing program was named to The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Online Nursing School Master’s Programs and among the 2024 Best Nursing Schools: Master’s ranking in U.S. News & World Report

MSOE Rader School of Business receives accreditation

The Rader School of Business at Milwaukee School of Engineering has been granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for all graduate and undergraduate business programs. Less than 10% of the world’s business schools hold accreditation. The Rader School of Business offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations and System Management, and Technical and Business Management (AAS to B.S. transfer program). At the graduate level, the Rader School of Business offers a Master of Business Administration, MBAs with the option to specialize in Advanced Business Strategy using A.I. and Analytics, or New Product Management, and a Master of Science in Engineering Management with options to specialize in Advanced Business Strategy using A.I. and Analytics or New Product Management.

ACBSP ignites a standard of excellence for business education accreditation through student involvement and achievement, innovative curriculum development and research-based teaching methods, as well as setting accreditation standards based on the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence. ACBSP accredits business, accounting, and business-related programs at the baccalaureate, master, and doctorate degree levels worldwide.

ACBSP’s student-centered teaching and learning approach, which is measured and analyzed for quality, ensures that students gain the right skills from their educational investment. Institutions with programs accredited by ACBSP are committed to continuous improvement that ensures their business program will give students the skills employers want.

“Students and industries alike have long recognized the unique potential of an MSOE business degree working at the intersection of business and technology. Our students are creators renowned for their readiness to excel, entrepreneurial mindset, and exceptional analytical abilities,” said Dr. Ruth Barratt, chairperson of the Rader School of Business. “Business school accreditation is the culmination of three solid years of work by dedicated faculty and staff. It symbolizes the high caliber of our applied educational approach, cementing our commitment to shaping future leaders in business and technology.”

Spring Commencement

MSOE’s Spring Commencement was held on May 11 and featured two ceremonies. Nearly 500 students received their degrees. MSOE Regent Matt Burow ’99 received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering and delivered the keynote address during the afternoon ceremony. Burow founded Catalyst Construction in 2004 and serves as its current president and CEO. In 2022, Burow partnered with NBA champion Pat Connaughton to cofound Three Leaf Partners, a startup real estate development firm. Burow became a member of the MSOE Board of Regents in 2021 and was inducted to the MSOE Wall of Distinction in 2023. He graduated from MSOE in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has been involved with the university throughout his career, mentoring students and supporting campus improvements. In addition to serving as an MSOE Regent, Burow is a board member for Christian Family Solutions, Board Chair for Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Foundation board at CUW, and WLC Regent.

Tina M. Chang, chairman and CEO of SysLogic Inc., delivered the keynote address during the morning ceremony. Chang has leveraged SysLogic to launch four technology start-ups (SysSpark LLC, Cyberspect LLC, WillBridge LTD and Ghostscale LLC). Prior, Chang worked for Andersen Consulting (Accenture). She currently serves on the boards of STRATTEC Security Corporation, Weyco Group and Central States Manufacturing. She holds leadership and board responsibilities with Alverno College, Children’s Wisconsin, MMAC, Midwest Cyber Security Alliance, Milwaukee Police Department Foundation, Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Wisconsin Policy Forum, Teach for America, Waukesha County Business Alliance and YMCA of Greater Milwaukee. Chang received a BBA degree with an emphasis in Marketing and International Business from UW-Madison, and attended the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, where she specialized in environmental accounting and European commerce.

EECS Department changes structure

MSOE’s largest academic department, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will be split into two distinct departments effective Aug. 1, 2024. Increasing interest in programs resulted in the EECS student population growing to more than 1,000 students across seven degree programs. This represents nearly 40% of MSOE’s total enrollment.

Dr. Sheila Ross, who has served as chair of the EECS Department since 2021, will chair the new Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering Department (ECBE). This department will include the biomedical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and perfusion programs. Dr. Chris Taylor, who served as vice chair of the EECS Department, will be interim chair of the new Computer Science and Software Engineering Department (CSSE). It will encompass the computer science, software engineering and machine learning programs.

With this change, the student experience won’t be affected. There are no changes being made to degree programs, courses or facilities.

Dr. Matt Burow ’99 addresses the graduates.

New Center Helps Professionals Upskill for Future Success

MMSOE has launched the Center for Professional Education (CPE) with valuable new opportunities for professionals to prepare for the future and lead adoption and application of new technology and professional skills. Under the leadership of Dr. George Kroeninger, executive director of professional education, months of research and outreach to alumni, employers and business partners have helped identify the greatest training and development needs.

The new Center for Professional Education centralizes MSOE’s existing non-credit continuing education offerings and will greatly expand learning opportunities for professionals and industry partners.

“Through the CPE, we want to ensure professionals have access to the highquality continuing education and training they need to excel and advance in their careers while also supporting the ongoing workforce development needs of industry partners,” said Kroeninger.

Based on research, the Center for Professional Education will be expanding its offerings in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, project planning, technology proficiency (i.e., artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics), technical sales, project management, supply chain and systems thinking, among others. These will be delivered through a variety of formats including consulting and customized training solutions; workshops and seminars; webinars and online programs; conferences and special events.

One example includes a new series of online professional certificates in artificial intelligence, all taught by MSOE professors, which will focus on the topics of A.I. Literacy, A.I. Applications, and A.I.

Business Strategy. These freestanding certificates are audience specific with the A.I. Literacy certificate targeting front-line knowledge workers, the A.I. Applications certificate supporting the work of data users/superusers, and the A.I. Business Strategy certificate assisting leadership in key decision making within organizations. These offerings are currently under development and will be launched in fall 2024.

The Technical Sales Workshop for Professionals, taught by Sean Ebert (above), focuses on e ective strategies to build customer relationships, close sales and grow revenues.

“We partnered with UPCEA to perform this primary research and found there was a consensus among employers and MSOE’s Corporation Board members on the importance of professionals and organizations being technologically proficient, particularly in data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, programming and database management,” said Kroeninger. “Board members felt that professionals should be adept at utilizing technology to enhance decision making and streamline processes, while employers expressed a willingness to invest in employee training of relevant technical skills.”

“ Business leaders expressed a desire for continuing education that is relevant to their organization and not just generic.”

DR. GEORGE KROENINGER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Both groups felt strongly that soft skills, to include change management, leadership, communication and problemsolving, were equally as important for both professional and organizational development.

“More than two-thirds of the alumni who responded to our survey (69%) said they are interested in keeping their skills up to date through continuing education,” Kroeninger continued. “Business leaders expressed a desire for continuing education that is relevant to their organization and not just generic.”

To address this need, and to help those who want to embark on a transformative journey toward professional and organizational success, the CPE offers the “MSOE at Work” program. MSOE at Work features consulting and customized training programs delivered at the worksite or in private online courses. These programs are designed to meet the needs of both businesses and individuals, providing immediate workplace application and empowering individuals and teams to apply their knowledge

to solve the problems facing their organization.

MSOE’s Fluid Power InstituteTM will continue to hold its popular seminars on hydraulics, fluids, contamination control, and more. Registration for these courses will be streamlined through the Center for Professional Education.

If you’re interested in upskilling your workforce, or continuing education to keep your skills up to date, advancing your career or earning a promotion, increasing your salary or achieving a personal goal, reach out to the Center for Professional Education at (800) 321-6763 or cpe@msoe.edu.

MSOE.EDU/CPE

Disaster workshop prepares nursing students to take action

In the world of health care, no two days are the same. Health care professionals have to act fast and work as a team while addressing an endless string of unexpected elements. To prepare students for life after graduation,

MSOE’s School of Nursing collaborated with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to host a disaster workshop for junior nursing students and MCW residents.

The hands-on workshop challenged interprofessional teams of these students and residents to care for a patient experiencing a chemical exposure in the emergency room, triage patients in a mass casualty event following a tornado, and assist a victim who was trapped under a beam after a simulated explosion.

“Working with the interdisciplinary team was even better than I could’ve imagined,” said Kayla McQuestion, MSOE nursing student.

“The MCW resident in our group did a really good job at explaining everything as we went, which was really helpful.”

Throughout the simulation, the MCW residents asked MSOE students for assistance and checked in to see if they had questions or any other ideas while caring for the patients. This collaboration gave students an inside look at what their future careers will look like.

“Our nursing students will be working with physicians when they graduate, so this experience allows them to learn how to collaborate and communicate effectively when caring for a patient,” said Dr. Carol Sabel, School of Nursing professor and chair.

Students make their mark at Midwest Instruction Computing Symposium

More than 30 students and two faculty members attended the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS) at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Groups of students presented technical papers as well as participated in programming and robotics competitions. The MICS is a regional conference dedicated to providing an educational experience to students and instructors at higher education institutions. MSOE teams left their mark in several different competitions:

• Best Student Paper Award, first place: NourishNet: Proactive Severity State Forecasting of Food Commodity Prices for Global Warning Systems by Sydney Balboni, Ella Bruce, John Cisler, Caitlyn Grant, Grace Ivey, Benjamin Paulson, Tyge Plater and Brett Storoe.

• Best Student Paper Award, third place: Reading Between the Lungs: Evaluation of Deep Learning Model Architectures for COVID-19 Classification on Segmented

Chest X-rays by Theodore Colwell, Mitchell Mahnke, Evan Schubert and William Sebelik-Lassiter.

• Programming Competition, fourth place: Mitchell Johnstone, Sam Keyser and Adrian Manchado.

Actuarial science students take fourth in Bucks Hackathon

Have you ever wondered how ticket prices at a Milwaukee Bucks game are determined? Actuarial science students Owen Podziemski, Allie Ladwig, Colton Lindquist, Nicholas Maier and Thomas Packer set out to put a method to the pricing at the third annual Milwaukee Bucks Hackathon Engineered by Modine. The team was tasked with creating a pricing tier system for premium seating in the Fiserv Forum, which includes the lofts, lounges and other areas that are not within the general bowl seating. “We used multiple statistical methods like linear regression and clustering to determine which aspects of the games were key influencers on premium ticket revenue,” said Podziemski. The group’s deductions led them to creating a tree model with 11 possible routes to take that lead to one of four end tiers for ticket price. They presented their findings to the judges and advanced to the final round where they took home fourth place overall in the competition.

The Leader in A.I. and Machine

Learning video wins an Emmy

MSOE’s commercial highlighting artificial intelligence education won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement for Commercial – Single Spot or Campaign in the 2022–2023 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards. The 45-second spot was produced in partnership with MSOE’s Marketing Communications Department and CI Design, a Milwaukee-based marketing agency. The video features real student projects using next generation technologies to showcase MSOE’s position at the forefront of artificial intelligence education. Watch the video online at vimeo.com/763384964

Students compete to optimize health care facilities

Over 48 intense charette hours, students from five universities with backgrounds in architecture, nursing, engineering and construction management were tasked with envisioning a solution to the question of how health care design can effectively meet the needs of dense and diverse communities. The challenge centered around the creation of an urgent care facility that offers same-day medical care for minor health needs while addressing critical factors such as carbon neutrality, adaptability to future threats like pandemics, equitable access to health care, and the creation of a functional, healing environment. Representing MSOE at the AIA/AAH PDC Student Challenge in San Diego, California were architectural engineering students and faculty (pictured, left to right) Dr. Habib Arjmand Mazidi, Serra Brehm, Christabelle Chukwuma-Ugwu, Daphne Milkert, Elisa McMahon and Douglas Nelson. Milkert was part of this year’s winning team.

Student Award Winners

Congratulations to the nearly 100 students who were nominated for leadership awards for the 2023–24 academic year.

Christian Garcia was chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Fred F. Loock Outstanding Student Award. This award is presented annually to the MSOE senior student, who, in the opinion of the faculty, most notably combines an excellent academic record and has at the same time demonstrated leadership and professional bearing in extracurricular or community service activities. It is the most prestigious student testimonial that MSOE bestows. In addition, Garcia received the 2024 Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students and the Thomas W. Davis Student Leadership Award.

Prior to enrolling at MSOE, Garcia served as an Infantry Squad Leader in the U.S. Army from 2016 to 2021. His military experience empowered him to shape his leadership skills and strategic planning abilities. He showcases his leadership skills across campus and in the community. Garcia is committed to global health and community service. He volunteered his time through Global Brigades in Honduras and Panama where he provided health care in underserved communities and served as president of the Medical Brigade. Outside of MSOE, Garcia works as a nursing extern in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at St. Luke’s Advocate Aurora Health.

Christian Garcia, senior nursing student, received the Fred F. Loock Outstanding Student Award from Dr. John Walz.

Daniel E. Sahs Memorial Award for Service

Ava Montoya, civil engineering

Diversity and Inclusion Student Advocate Award

Louisa Essuman, civil engineering (posthumously). This award was accepted by Alhagie Boye on her behalf.

Aimei Nie Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Student Champion

Richard Santos, chemical and biomolecular engineering

Student Employee of the Year

Lucas Migliaccio, civil engineering

Female Senior Scholar Athlete

Emma Halverson, women’s soccer, industrial engineering

Male Senior Scholar Athlete

Donovan Carter, men’s basketball, finance

Female Senior Athlete of the Year

Kaitlyn Rodman, track and field, biomedical engineering

Male Senior Athlete of the Year

Blake Hall, baseball, mechanical engineering

Nursing Leadership Award

Jacqueline Lynch

Vincent Canino Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Seniors

Christina Clark and Tyler Gallun

Matthew W. Fuchs Outstanding CAECM Student Award

Clare Dejewski, civil engineering

Bill Nash Outstanding First-Year Student Award

Joseph Batterman, architectural engineering

Fraternity and Sorority Life Member of the Year

Tourne Massalongo, biomedical engineering

Northwestern Mutual Outstanding Actuarial Science Students

Ben Bettag

Grace Ellington

Laynee Fry

Ian Fusick

Gavin Graham

Ethan Green

Ava Larson

Ethan Odea

Lanen Reith

Mitch Roeglin

Brenna Sheehan

James Zippay

Hacksgiving: Generative A.I. for Good

The inaugural Hacksgiving: Generative A.I. for Good competition challenged students to develop an innovative A.I.-driven solution that would streamline the patient screening process for Next Step Clinic. Next Step Clinic helps families in Milwaukee who have concerns about the mental and developmental health of their children. The clinic was looking for an A.I.-driven solution that could enhance operational efficiency, minimize wait times and provide educational value to patients. First place went to Team Skippy for their chatbot design. Team members included Sydney Balboni, Ella Bruce, John Cisler, Caitlyn Grant, Ben Paulson, Tyge Plater and Brett Storoe.

PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT

MSOE team enters Shell Eco-Marathon Americas competition

MSOE’s very own Team Carbonair competed at the 2024 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas—one of the world’s leading energyefficiency engineering programs for students. The Shell EcoMarathon Americas competition was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Carbonair participated in the Prototype

Internal Combustion Engine competition in which student teams design and build a single-cylinder vehicle that will yield the highest fuel economy measured in miles per gallon.

This was the first time in five years MSOE participated in the Shell EcoMarathon. The group, advised by Dr. Prabhakar Venkateswaran, vice chairperson of the Mechanical Engineering Department, achieved the goals they set for themselves: pass technical inspections and complete test runs at the competition. Unfortunately, they only completed two laps due to engine reliability issues. A full registered run is four laps (about 9.5 miles). At the event, the team worked 12-hour days fine tuning their vehicle, readying it for inspection, and solving last minute mechanical issues. Overall, the team had to overcome significant adversity to complete their goal, but they walked away with their heads held high and excited for the future.

“Team Carbonair is committed to inclusion and we are proud of our members’ backgrounds,” said Chris Imholte, mechanical engineering senior. “Many of our members did not know how wrenches, bolts, drills or other tools worked and gained this competency through working directly on the vehicle. If you look at the make-up of our team, you’ll see a diverse team of empowered individuals. We take this as evidence that we are a welcoming and inclusive club on campus where everyone has inherent value with important contributions on the vehicle. Going to Indianapolis and competing has given further inspiration to the future of the vehicle and team, and we are excited to build upon the base that was set this year.”

AT THE

Crossing the DMZ: A Contemporary Look at Working Women

Photographs

by Dennis Darmek

Open through Aug. 23, 2024

Although he is a Milwaukee-based artist, Dennis Darmek’s photography has a global view. Often touching upon the enduring bond between the United States and Vietnam, Darmek’s experiences as a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War guide his art. Crossing the DMZ is the third media project of his that explores that connection. Spanning from video art to a photography book, Darmek contemplates Vietnam in the years since the war, as well as the lasting relationship between American and Vietnamese citizens. This third iteration of Crossing the DMZ examines the economic impact of Vietnamese women and acknowledges the influence that the war has had on Vietnam, from a scarred landscape to the tourist industry that emerged in recent years.

COMING SOON!

Gil Reid and Friends: Working on the Railroad

Sept. 6–Dec. 22, 2024

Gallery Night Event: Oct. 18, 5-9 p.m. featuring a Gallery Talk with Chris Burger at 7 p.m.

Sometimes called the “railroad industry’s very own Picasso,” Gil Reid’s work ranks among the all-time great railroad art. Gilmore Wiley Reid (1918-2007) was born in St. Louis but, following his service in the second World War, made his lifelong home in Wisconsin where he practiced as a commercial artist for decades. Reid worked for Kalmbach Publishing in Waukesha from 1956 to 1978 as an illustrator for Trains and Model Railroader magazines. He also created illustrations for Amtrak’s annual calendars from the 1970s to the early ’90s, among his other work for books, posters and prints.

Reid’s longtime friends and collectors, Rita and Chris Burger, have established an archive of his art and Amtrak calendar work at the Grohmann Museum from which this exhibition is drawn. From initial sketches to printed product, the railroad art of this amazing watercolorist will be joined by other images of railroading from the museum’s collection, including work by O. Winston Link, David Plowden and others, including Chris Burger himself.

A must-see for any railfan, be sure to catch this rare display before it leaves the station!

Gil Reid (American, 1918–2007), Grooming the Iron Horse, 1984, Watercolor, 15 x 20 ½ in.

Market Vendor with tourist poster, Hoi An, Vietnam, 2017

Faculty/Staff Achievements

Kristen Belan ’02, Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, CAECM Faculty Appreciation Award

Dawn Blessing, Raider Shop, Fraternity and Sorority Life Advocate of the Year Award

Thomas Baker, Raider Center for Academic Success, Student Advocate Award

MSOE’s Johanna Seelhorst Distinguished Staff Award was given to Jerry Cleveland, Custodial Services. The annual award honors excellence of character, outstanding ability, a high order of integrity, loyalty and dedication, and a sincere willingness to cooperate with others in maintaining the highest standards of staff performance and service.

Dr. Mitzi Dobersek, Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, MSOE Diversity and Inclusion Advocate

MSOE’s Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award was given to Dr. Kseniya Fuhrman, Mathematics, to recognize excellence in teaching and is voted upon by students. Awardees must have a minimum of seven years of full-time service to MSOE and exemplify the values and beliefs of MSOE’s founding family.

Dr. RJ Nowling, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, STEM Forward 2023 Young Engineer of the Year

Dr. Jane Paige, School of Nursing, DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators

Dr. Sheila Ross, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2024 Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) President’s Award

Seandra Mitchell, Student Affairs and Campus Equity, presented “Redefining our University-Wide DEIB Lens through the Quality Initiative Process” with Dr. Kimberly Underwood, KMU Consulting Group, at the 2024 HLC Conference in Chicago.

Natalie Villegas ’12, CREATE Institute, served as a keynote speaker at the Women Developing Wisconsin Conference.

Publications

Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department

Dr. Michael Carriere, Gannett Newspapers op-ed: “Teens defy Gen Z stereotype about political apathy thanks to civics.” Chapter: “Toppling the ‘Cinderblock in the Sky’: ‘Negative’ Architecture Education at Columbia University in the 1960s,” in Histories of Architecture Education in the United States, Peter L. Laurence, ed. (NY: Routledge, 2023)

Dolores Greenawalt, “Boosting Confidence for ESL Students: How Faculty Can Help Them Overcome Language Hurdles,” HigherEdJobs

Dr. Tammy Rice-Bailey, co-authored chapter: “How Do You Want to Live…or Die? A Case Study Examining Advance Directive Forms and User Advocacy,” in Amplifying Voices in UX: Balancing Design and User Needs in Technical Communication

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department

Dr. Ahmed Sayed, “Biodegradable suture development-based albumin composites for tissue engineering applications,” Scientific Reports

Mathematics Department

Dr. Dylan Heuer, “Partial Alternating Sign Matrix Bijections and Dynamics,” The Electronic Journal of Combinatorics

Dimensions awarded Gold at Educational Advertising Awards

The Fall/Winter 2023-24 issue of Dimensions received the Gold Award at the 39th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, the largest educational advertising awards competition in the United States. The issue competed against the best in the country and was evaluated based on the following criteria: creativity, marketing execution and message impact. The awards are judged by a panel of industry specialists.

Life-Saving Senior Projects

PPicture this: you’re snowboarding with friends on secluded backcountry trails when you suddenly lose control and hit a tree. Your friends didn’t see you fall, so you’re alone. No cell phone service. No way of getting out without assistance. This was the situation senior Brody Ping found himself in a few years ago. Another skier fortunately found him nearly two hours later and notified ski patrol. “Being in this situation was extremely stressful and I thought that there can be better ways for ski patrol to know that a person is hurt rather than word of mouth from other skiers or snowboarders on the mountain,” said Ping.

This experience inspired Ping and his team to develop a solution for their electrical engineering senior design project. Ping and “Slope Savior” team members MacKenzie Caves, Miles Oquendo, Aiden Ramstack and Andrew Wachtel, all electrical engineering majors, set out to develop a solution that would assist ski patrol in locating and helping crashed skiers and snowboarders, which is especially useful in backcountry environments where ski patrol isn’t patrolling.

The team’s solution works in two parts: the Beacon and the Station. “The Beacon is a chest-mounted device worn by the skier or

snowboarder,” explained Ping. “When the rider gets into a possibly injurious crash, ski patrol is notified of the rider’s location via the Station device. The Station can then help ski patrol navigate to the location of the injured rider.”

The team explained the Beacon’s major features are crash detection, determining crash location and communicating with ski patrol. The Station’s major features are displaying information relevant to crashes to ski patrol, and providing a way to navigate to the injured rider. It is also vital the two devices are able to send data between each other.

From left: Aiden Ramstack, Miles Oquendo, Andrew Wachtel, Brody Ping and MacKenzie Caves developed a solution to assist ski patrol in locating crashed skiers and snowboarders.

The Slope Saviors’ system includes a Beacon and a Station (pictured here) to help ski patrol.

“The Beacon’s crash detection is accomplished with an accelerometer, which senses changes in acceleration, and the crash location is provided in the form of GPS coordinates,” said Ping.

To help ski patrol in situations where the rider may be buried in snow, the Beacon is also equipped with a speaker that can be activated by ski patrol via the Station to further assist in locating the injured rider.

Slope Savior team members are proud of the fact that their project could be used to help someone in need. “As a snowboarder myself, I am happy to think that our project could help people feel safer on a ski hill, which in turn would result in more people feeling comfortable enough to try either skiing or snowboarding,” said Caves.

“Having a project that could make a difference has been a huge motivator for me,” said Oquendo. “It put things

Biomedical engineering seniors developed customizable brachytherapy applicators for cervical cancer treatment.

in perspective for me, and I want to continue working on engineering projects that make a difference when I graduate.”

A tailored approach to health care

Brachytherapy is a cancer treatment during which radiation is given directly into the body, as close to the cancer as possible, through an implanted device. It was first used in 1901 and has become more sophisticated over the past century. However, there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach for the devices, which can make it challenging to deliver the brachytherapy. Commercially available brachytherapy applicators have fixed lengths, which may not be optimal for all patients.

A team of biomedical engineering seniors partnered with physicians at the Medical College of Wisconsin to develop a brachytherapy device that offers adjustability in terms of the lengths

and diameters of its applicators for customization for individual cervical cancer patients.

The “Tailored Brachytherapy Solutions” team included Emma Braun, Katherine Goberman, Zoe Rush, Jordyn Sievert, Lexi Such and a senior from Rufus King High School, Emily Liebl. They developed a system of interchangeable applicator tips that can be inserted into a standard obturator base, gliding sleeves and a positioning template. The interlocking pieces guarantee accuracy when physicians deliver treatment. The students’ applicators are 3D printed using a biocompatible polymer—greatly reducing the cost and lead time of traditional manufacturing. Applicators currently on the market cost $200, but the 3D printed version is only $6 and can be printed right in the hospital.

“The population for cervical cancer might not be as large as the population of the

Right: Partnering with the Medical College of Wisconsin, from left, Lexi Such, Jordyn Sievert, Katherine Goberman, Emma Braun and Zoe Rush developed a system with 3D-printed interchangeable applicator tips that can be customized to each patient for cancer treatment.

United States, however making sure those patients are cared for and treated correctly and in a way where they feel comfortable is super important,” said Such. “And we know how expensive medical treatment is, so anything we can do to help reduce costs is invaluable.”

The team conducted mechanical and biocompatibility testing following ISO 10993 standards for accelerated degradation and in vitro cytotoxicity testing. These tests enabled them to optimize the material selection for sterilization as well as specific properties desired by clinicians.

“Knowing this early in our career that we could be doing something that actually has an impact is really cool,” said Sievert.

Liebl’s involvement in the project was part of the Senior Design Scholars Program which gives participants mentoring experiences and opportunities to enhance team building, cross cultural communication and analytical skills in STEM. They also get hands-on experience with a collegiate level project. This program is funded by American Family Insurance. Scholars must be admitted to MSOE prior to participating. Liebl will be attending MSOE in the fall and majoring in user experience (UX).

“It was really nice to be on campus, get to know other people, meet professors and work on a real project,” said Liebl.

The Slope Savior and Tailored Brachytherapy Solutions projects were two of 22 senior projects in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department that were supported by alumnus Bob Radke and Field Theory Consulting.

Thwarting terrorists

Computer engineering and computer science students teamed up on a project to detect terrorist attacks on power substations using machine learning, artificial intelligence and a hand-built transformer coolant tank simulator. Russell Collins, Josh Grant and Matthew

Left: Machine learning and A.I. were a major focus in this project to detect terrorist attacks on power substations.

Above: Matthew Melotik works on the transformer coolant tank simulator his team created. It includes sensors that collect data which can help detect terrorist attacks.

Melotik (computer engineering) and Aidan Holcombe, Ian Kirkpatrick and Dave Waas (computer science) simulated coolant pressure and temperature sensor data on transformers for normal operation and operation under an attack, then created machine learning models that detected anomalies in the sensor data to signify an attack. Their goal was to reduce the response time during an attack— preventing further damages, lessening the impact on the community, and increasing the likelihood of the terrorist being apprehended. Their project was sponsored by Dynamic Ratings.

Preventing injury

Repeatedly lifting and transferring packages can take its toll on a person’s body and lead to injury. Millipore Sigma sponsored a mechanical engineering project to improve its shipment packaging operations. The current process involves a two-level conveyor belt system where the upper belt brings containers filled with products to fulfill an order. The operators then manually package and weigh the boxes, lift them and place them onto the lower belt. Millipore Sigma purchased electric scissor-lift tables to lift and lower the packages. Amanda Brunelli, Jake Larson, Harrison Nemcek, Nathaniel Weiglein and Nolan Wojciechowski worked to increase the safety and efficiency of the packaging line by automating the process of transferring the packages between conveyor belts.

Amanda Brunelli demonstrates an electric scissor-lift table that can help prevent injury on a packaging line.

VISIT MSOE.EDU/DIMENSIONS FOR A PHOTO GALLERY AND VIDEO FROM SENIOR DESIGN PROJECTS.

CREATING A SCENE

Framing Milwaukee

Framing Wisconsin is an innovative project aimed at transforming urban green spaces in Wisconsin into interactive art installations. The project designs and installs frames, swings or other shapes that inspire pedestrians to stop and take a selfie of themselves in the frame. These Instagrammable moments are designed to capture the beauty of county parks in Wisconsin’s largest cities: Milwaukee and Madison.

The project is a collaboration between MSOE’s CREATE Institute, Forward 48, Hoan Group, Joy Engine and Light the Hoan. Through the CREATE Institute, MSOE students took on an experiential learning project where they designed frames for two locations in Milwaukee: Bradford Beach and South Shore Park.

These installations are more than just structures; they serve as gateways to showcase the scenic landscapes, blending natural and urban aesthetics. “Framing Milwaukee” specifically focuses on creating unique experiences for both locals and tourists, encouraging engagement with the environment and providing opportunities for memorable, picturesque snapshots. They will be installed this summer.

Cast in Steel Competition heats up Grohmann Museum

More than 200 students from 42 universities around the world came to the Grohmann Museum for the Cast in Steel competition. Sponsored by the Steel Founders Society of America (SFSA), the competition challenged university students to use modern steel casting tools to creatively design and produce a functioning version of a Halligan bar—a multipurpose tool used by firefighters to gain access to building spaces, vehicles and for a multitude of other emergency uses. Pittsburg State University, from Pittsburg, Kansas, was awarded as the Grand Champion.

Bringing art history to life

The German Art History class brought its textbooks to life during the annual trip to Germany over winter break, Dec. 28–Jan. 9. The group traveled to Vienna, Austria and Munich, Germany to visit several museums, ranging from the art of Gustav Klimt to BMW motor creations. This trip is one of several short-term study abroad opportunities offered at MSOE. Unique to this course, students are able to apply the things they learned in class to the artwork they viewed in the different museums. “Almost everything we discussed in class we were able to view in person, so it was nice having background information on the styles, periods and artists that we saw in the museums, and be able to apply that same information for artists that we hadn’t seen before,” said biomedical engineering student Lexi Such. “For example, the Alte Pinakothek has a lot of renaissance styled art, many of which have religious themes. I would not have known the iconography behind many of the paintings before taking this class.”

Dr. Patrick Jung, Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department, teaches the German Art History class and has been taking student groups on this trip for years. The short-term trip is an opportunity to experience different cultures and learn beyond the classroom. Margaret Dwyer and Dr. Nadya Shalamova, Humanities, Social Science and Communication; and Marina Bernovich, Grohmann Museum, attended the trip along with more than 30 students.

LEADERS OF CHARACTER

Women Developing Wisconsin

MSOE’s Center for Professional Education hosted the annual Women Developing Wisconsin (WDW) Conference at Diercks Hall. The theme for 2024 was Leading with Character: Fostering Greatness. Women Developing Wisconsin helps women of all ages build strong support networks and learn from each other. Focusing on women in male-dominated industries such as construction, business, finance, technology and real estate, the group promotes leadership through learning sessions, empowerment panels and networking opportunities. This year’s conference featured a keynote address from Natalie Villegas ’12, director of

the MSOE CREATE Institute, entitled “Leadership’s Secret Ingredient: Knowing Yourself.” A panel discussion on selfgrowth and the cultivation of others featured Athena Agoudemos, Small Business Development Center; Liz Brodek, City of Wausau; and Rachel Hunter ’20, Husco and STEM to Stern. Pictured below, Wendy Harris, regional innovation officer at Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub, shared her story in a keynote address, “Experiences Define Your Path – Your Career in Crescendo.” Special thanks to conference Gold Sponsors PieperPower and We Energies Foundation.

Fluid Power Action Challenge

The annual Fluid Power Action Challenge sponsored by MSOE and the National Fluid Power Association returned to campus this spring. Thirty-nine teams from throughout southeastern Wisconsin participated in the STEM-based competition that challenges middle school students to solve an engineering problem using fluid power. The students work in teams to design and build a fluid power mechanism and compete against

other teams in a timed competition. Congratulations to Nashotah Homeschool, which was named the Overall Winner. Maple Dale School Team 9 won the Portfolio Award of Excellence; Milwaukee Homeschool Team 1 won the Team Challenge Award of Excellence; Lake Mills Middle School Team 2 won the Tom Wanke Design Award of Excellence; and Bayside Middle School Teams 1 and 2 tied for the Teamwork Award of Excellence.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Athletic programs make a splash in debut seasons

Clockwise: Garin Schilling stays cool, calm and collected in the competition. Katie Herbst takes a breath with the finish line in sight. Molly Pekala springs into action for the women’s lacrosse inaugural season.

As Raider Athletics continues to expand its offerings, announcing new varsity teams such as bowling, women’s hockey and women’s wrestling, MSOE saw multiple teams make their debut during the 2023–24 season. MSOE’s inaugural swim and dive team competed this winter, led by Head Coach Joel Rollins. “I couldn’t be more proud of the achievements and successes of our swimmers,” said Rollins. “Our swim team was led by captains Chloe Moran and Spencer Guercio. Their dedication, commitment and exemplary leadership were instrumental in guiding the team through a remarkable debut season.”

In their historic first season of competition, the Raiders did not show any signs of being below the competition as MSOE captured two outright wins on the men’s side. In their first ever meet, the Raiders emerged victorious over Carroll University 95-88, courtesy of Chance Mason’s win in the 100-yard butterfly. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Mason, Geurcio, Drew Esson and Garin Schilling also walked away champions.

On the women’s side, Ava Pike led the way all season for the Raiders, racking up eight top-three finishes, including winning the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the Carroll Tri-Match to begin the season. “The first season for the MSOE swim team was a journey of triumphs and dedication,” said Moran. “The team was not just about setting records but also about the teamwork needed to get through workouts, the resilience and the pride in paving the way for the future team.”

At the Private School Championships, the swim and dive team displayed their talent and determination, with the men securing a third-place finish and the women taking fifth overall.

This spring, the Raiders also opened the era of women’s lacrosse under Head Coach Terra Ringo.

“This season was filled with excitement and learning curves. With lots of hard work and focus, we were able to pull together as a team and have a competitive season,” said Ringo.

The Raiders team features a handful of players who, before this season, had never picked up a lacrosse stick or competed in the sport, including senior women’s soccer player Molly Pekala. Just recently, Pekala was named NACC All-Conference Honorable Mention alongside Lilly Johnson as the program’s first all-conference members. “After being a soccer player all my life, I went into the inaugural women’s lacrosse season with no expectations,” said Pekala. “Little did I know, I would learn to love the sport and bond with the team through all the highs and lows.”

If you were to ask the team what their favorite moment was from this season, every player would give you the same answer: the first win in program history. On March 28 on Viets Field, the Raiders made history with an 11-7 victory over Augustana and brought new light to their season. “I’ll never forget the moment of our first win at Viets Field. Seeing everyone’s faces filled with pure joy and happiness. Our hard work finally started to show,” said Pekala.

Ringo added, “Winning at a collegiate level is not an easy task to do, and because of our determination we were able to pull off multiple wins in our first year. We paved the way for what this program will be and are so proud of that.”

From there the Raiders finished the season picking up three more wins to finish 4-10, including two conference victories over Concordia Wisconsin and Illinois Tech, falling just short of the NACC Tournament. Despite a disappointing end to their season, the tools are all there for success in the future, Ringo is certain. “We are excited to see what heights this program reaches next season and are grateful for everyone who contributed on the ground floor. Without the players’ grit and dedication, none of this would be possible.”

MSOE Raider Athletic Fund

Throughout the history of MSOE Raiders Athletics, the women and men who’ve represented the university on the field of play have been able to rely on the generous private support of MSOE alumni, friends and companies.

MSOE Athletics has a new resource to keep them competitive in Division III Athletics: the Raider Athletic Fund. Gifts to the Raider Athletic Fund help MSOE’s varsity sports teams sustain excellence by providing resources for new equipment, team travel and competitive opportunities that would be unavailable to them otherwise.

“MSOE student athletes come to us because they want to receive an excellent education and compete for championships,” says Director of Athletics Bill Massoels. “They compete in 28 team sports, and having the flexible resources of the Raider Athletic Fund allows us to make sure all our teams have the resources they need to represent the university in intercollegiate competition.”

Donors who support the Raider Athletic Fund may choose to direct a portion of their gift to the individual sports team of their choice.

TO MAKE A GIFT TO THE RAIDER ATHLETIC FUND VISIT GIVE.MSOE.EDU/G/DONATION

Growing Extraordinary Together

“Without the scholarships I received, I may not have been in a financial position to attend MSOE.”

MSOE Regent and alumnus Dr. Daniel Moceri ’76 attributes much of his success to the education and life lessons he received from MSOE. Now he’s encouraging alumni to join him to make those experiences possible for the next generation of MSOE students.

In January, Moceri put up a generous $500,000 match to help MSOE launch the Growing Extraordinary Together Scholarship Campaign. The campaign provides a dollar-for-dollar match for any new commitments of $25,000 or more to support scholarships.

“Today the cost of education is a stretch for most people,” said Moceri. “I remember the sacrifices my parents made for me to attend. I see so much promise in today’s students and their abilities to be future leaders in solving technical problems in society. While no one of us can solve all the issues that exist today, we can make a small difference, one student at a time.”

Moceri supports his alma mater in a variety of impactful ways. For the last decade, supporting the education of students through scholarships has been a personal passion.

“Today the cost of education is a stretch for most people. I remember the sacri ces my parents made for me to attend.”

DR. DANIEL MOCERI ’76 MSOE REGENT

In 2014 he started the Daniel J. Moceri ’76 Scholarship, which provides support to eight engineering students each year. Meeting these students and hearing their success stories is an incredible feeling for him.

MSOE Regent and alumnus Dr. Daniel Moceri (second from left) celebrates his induction into the MSOE Wall of Distinction in November 2022 with his children.

Interested in supporting the scholarship match program?

Contact Greg Casey, senior director of development, at casey@msoe.edu or (414) 277-4510 for more information. Learn more about the Growing Extraordinary Together Scholarship Campaign:

“I am thrilled to be able to play a small part for scholarship recipients as they walk across the stage and graduate. It is even more exciting as an employer to watch these young women and men contribute from the time they set foot in the workforce to when they become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Moceri says while he’s extremely grateful for the doors that his MSOE education opened, his motivation to give back in more meaningful ways was instilled in him through his late wife, Sharon.

“She was my role model when it came to helping others. MSOE was always one of our top non-profits to support, and it’s where our legacy continues to help make a difference today.”

Today he’s hoping his story inspires other alumni in the MSOE community to make this commitment.

“I strongly encourage all MSOE alumni to pay it forward. One day that student who was able to attend MSOE because of your generosity will also be able to pay it forward, and you will feel like you are on top of the world.”

Perfect Record of Giving

“MSOE provided an education that made me more valuable in the workplace, and it feels right to give some of that back to the school.”

Since graduating from MSOE, Brent Folbrecht ’97 has demonstrated his commitment to paying it forward by giving annually for over 25 years to benefit his alma mater.

Ironically, attending MSOE wasn’t even on Folbrecht’s radar until his father, Gary Folbrecht, encouraged him to take a campus tour. He says the visit was what ultimately sold him on enrolling.

“I made my decision after the 30-minute tour. I still remember hearing Metallica blaring loudly from one of the dorm rooms as we drove away.”

Folbrecht graduated in 1997 with a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a minor in technical communication. He said during his time as a student he enjoyed the challenges of his courses and the connections he made with peers and professors. “I visited Dr. Mallmann in the Physics and Chemistry Department 10 years ago and he gave me a pair of polarizers that I still carry in my wallet today. He was one of my favorite professors.”

In December 1997, Folbrecht made the first of many gifts to support MSOE.

“My motivation behind giving started with just enjoying my time spent at MSOE. Then, after starting my first job, I realized I was better prepared for many assignments than my coworkers from other schools. I credit the hands-on, practical nature of my MSOE education for giving me this advantage at the beginning of my career.”

In the early 2000s, Folbrecht started living and working in Taiwan, where it wasn’t as easy to support his alma mater. “This was the era before you could pay bills via the internet, so I had one of my sisters handle my finances. I made sure she sent checks on my behalf to MSOE.”

When Folbrecht returned to the U.S., he moved to Minnesota and married his wife, Ruby, whom he dated while in Taiwan. He started working for Cummins, a global technology corporation, as a technical writer. Today, he remains at that company working as an engineering systems project manager. In this position, he utilizes his expertise from MSOE across many fields. “I play a variety of roles on projects related to engineering computer systems, business processes and data analysis.”

Folbrecht continues to support MSOE and has a passion for helping students. “Higher education can be expensive. I appreciated the scholarship support I received when I attended MSOE, and I enjoy helping the current students in return.” He now maintains his perfect record of giving by utilizing monthly recurring gifts to the university.

Historic Giving Day for MSOE

Thank you to everyone who supported MSOE’s annual Giving Day on April 18. We once again doubled the number of supporters and surpassed our goals. More than 600 gifts to MSOE came from student ambassadors’ promotions. Gifts made on Giving Day support scholarships, athletics, academic departments, student clubs and more!

This year, students participated in Giving Day through a series of engaging and meaningful activities including an ice cream social, MSOE Cash Cab, and placing red flags on University Terrace.

FACES OF PHILANTHROPY

A Lifetime of Goodwill

“We need more MSOE graduates and feel this commitment to helping students attend MSOE meets that goal.”

Jim ’78, ’03 and Karen Livingston will create an endowed scholarship with a future gift from their estate. This gift will provide need-based scholarship support for engineering students. Jim credits MSOE as the basis for everything in his career as well as giving him lifelong friends.

In addition to holding three degrees from the university, Jim has lived out MSOE’s servant leader mindset alongside his wife, Karen. Before retirement, he worked for Goodwill Industries in its work services division, overseeing a workforce of over 400 people with disabilities. The scope of his work included registering the division to the ISO 9001 standard; helping maintain the standard and continually passing audits. Karen taught special education in southeastern Wisconsin and volunteered with the Special Olympics.

Together the couple has spent decades serving others and hopes that recipients of their future scholarship do the same. “With this gift we hope that MSOE students are able to finish their studies, graduate and become leaders in their field,” said Jim. “Additionally, we hope they too have a desire to help others as they have been helped in their education.”

To learn more about supporting MSOE scholarships or hear how estate gifts make an impact at MSOE, contact Greg Casey, senior director of development, at casey@msoe.edu.

In University Terrace, each flag displayed represents a Giving Day donor, serving as a powerful reminder of the support and unity within our MSOE community.

Anna Zaleski 15 IE was voted the 2023 Best Female Vocalist in Milwaukee by readers of the Shepherd Express. Zaleski is one of four talented musicians in the band FM Rodeo.

1990s

1950s

Howard Crane 57 NRTT retired from his computer systems engineer position at Virginia Department of Education.

Benjamin Templin, 91 AE was promoted to president of Scherrer Construction in Burlington, Wis.

Thomas Johnson, 92 CS&E software analyst, Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga.

William Martin 93 CS&E, 01 MSE, developed new patents 11,513,483, 11,579,597, and 11,778,759.

Christopher Matte 98, 99 MET, project manager, MSOE Rapid Prototyping Center, Milwaukee

Joy Barker 99 EE celebrated seven years as founder and CEO of Skyline Scientific, a defense contracting firm specializing in electro-optical space based systems.

Gregory Ragsdale 99 MIS, technical architect – network, Heartland Business Systems, Green Bay, Wis.

Christopher Vanderhoef 99, 01 EET, computer support specialist, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee

2000s

Brent Arnold 01 AE, senior estimator II, Mortenson Construction, Milwaukee

Jeffrey Spenner 03 ME, 09 MSEM, group manager – new product development, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., Brookfield, Wis.

Adam Friedman 08 AE, 09 MSST, vice president/principal, CSD Structural Engineers, Milwaukee

2010s

Jon Seboe 10 MSEM started Lean Leader LLC, a consulting practice focused on helping manufacturing companies with interim/fractional leadership roles, lean manufacturing, operational excellence, project management, and supervisor training.

Matthew Olsen 11 AE/CM, managing director, Mesirow, Chicago

Alexander Rathke 17 ME, sales manager, Kubota Engine America, Chicago

Courtney Wenzel 18 ME, senior engineer, Ariens Company, Brillion, Wis.

2020s

Brian

Denny 20 SE manager application development, MSI Data LLC, Milwaukee

On Monday, Aug. 26 MSOE is hosting the 35th annual Regents’ Golf Outing at the University Club of Milwaukee. It’s a great opportunity for Regents, Corporation members, alumni and friends of the university to enjoy a fun day of golf that supports MSOE scholarships. If you’re interested in sponsoring a foursome or donating items for the auction, sign up at msoe.edu/rgo.

Class of ’23 Graduates

Valerie Allen 23 NU, new grad RN –trauma floor, Scripps, San Diego

Catherine Beckett 23 NU, RN mental health nurse, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee

Erika Burks 23 CVE, traffic engineer, raSmith, Brookfield, Wis.

Chelsea Clark 23 NU

surgical ICU registered nurse, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Haley Doherty 23 NU, RN, Ascension St. Joseph, Milwaukee

Ricardo Flores 23 AE, structural engineer I, Kiewit Corporation, Houston

Damian Williams Gamba 23 CVE, project engineer, Michels Corporation, Milwaukee

Emma Halverson 23 IE, talent development program, Beckhoff Automation, Savage, Minn.

Jagger

Hammer 23 ME industrial engineer, Quest Engineering, Richfield, Wis.

Katherina Her 23 NU, registered nurse, St. John’s Hospital, Maplewood, Minn.

Julia Kaiser 23 NU, ER nurse, Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee

Daniel Mabry 23 IE, project engineer, TAPCO, Milwaukee

Anastacia Menemenlis 23 NU, graduate nurse, Rogers Behavioral Health, West Allis, Wis.

John Nelson 23 NU, nurse, Rogers Behavioral Health, Milwaukee

Jessica Oratch 23 UX, user experience researcher, Direct Supply Inc., Milwaukee

Madeline Peterman 23 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Healthcare, Milwaukee

Isha Rana 23 MSE, applications engineer, Volvo Trucks, Dublin, Va.

Joshua Rist 23 SE, product support engineer, Force America Distributing LLC, Brookfield, Wis.

Francisco Salazar 23 ME

continuous improvement engineer, Interlake

Macalux, Sumter, S.C.

Liam Schilter, 23 IE fabrication engineer, Kohler Power Systems, Saukville, Wis.

Cara Schlagel 23 CM, CAD technician, Wells, Waukesha, Wis.

Christian Trujillo 23 EE, project engineer, Corrigan Corporation of America, Gurnee, Ill.

Gisselle Vasquez 23 CM, project engineer, The Boldt Company, Milwaukee

Save the dates!

Sept. 7

5th Anniversary of Raiders Stadium

Sept. 13

5th Anniversary of Diercks Hall

Sept. 16

Matt Stachelski

Annual Bike Ride

Oct. 4–6

Homecoming

Marriages

Adam Oehlers 18 BM married Elizabeth Krupski 20 NU surrounded by fellow MSOE alumni and friends: Jacob Binash 18 ME, Benjamin Wozniak 18 SE, Taylor King 20 NU, Trevor Crain 18 BM, Dr. John Walz, Andrew Miller 18 CM, Andrew Lewis 18 BM, Sydney Stephens 17 BIOE, 18 MBA, Brandon Wenzel 18 AE, Mason Sauder 17 ME, Tegan Miles 18 IE, Ryan Runke 19 ME, Nicole Brusk 20 NU, Nathalie Adamonis 15 BM, Jessica Kilmer 20 NU, Erin Johansen 20 NU, Elizabeth Meulemans 20 NU, Jacob Alvarez 20 ME, Joseph Krupski, Moira Walz and Dr. Victoria Carlson-Oehlers.

Amanda Ksioszk 19

BME and Joe Amato 14 AE, married at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee on March 23, 2024.

Stephen Hauser, P.E. 18 CVE and Ariana Hauser were married Nov. 4, 2023.

The founders of MSOE’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Chapter were honored with the DEIB Legacy Award on May 10. Pictured from left: Keith Crawford ’82, Marcellus Cruthird ’83, Andre Ash ’82, Tim Settle ’82, Perry Bishop ’82, Ernest Simons ’82, William Briggs ’82, Dr. Jackie-Herd Barber ’84 and Dr. Michael Barber ’82.

The annual Alumni Tailgate in Phoenix is a popular event where alumni and friends gather to cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training.

In Memory

Eric Mildebrath 53 EE

Shirley Engelmann 55 NU

Dwight Moore 57 ME

Donald Riegleman 57 EE

Theodore Salkowski 57 ACT

Larry Brooks 59 EE

James Dankowski 59 EE

Randolph Dimond 59 IET

James McNellis 59 EE

Donald Noard 59 INDT

Reuben Vollmer 59 MET, 61 ME

Robert Pettingill 60 MET

Kenneth Prushiek 60 CET, 86 IM

Zvi Galani 63 EE

John Fowler 64 EE

Robert Bunting 66 ME

Ruth Norman 66 NU

John Hanusa 67 EE

James Isacson 68 CET

Gerald Guptail 70 ME

William Miller 70 EE

Thomas Styczynski 70 ME

Robert Treleven 73 EE

Timothy Del Ponte 74 EE

Garry Gorr 77 ECET, 96 EET

Frederick Urfer 81 IM

Andy Talsma 82 ECET, 84 BMET

Dennis Garven 85 CET, 86 EET, 11 MSEM

Gerald Madison 93 EET

Jessica Olson 97 BME

Kelly Peters 00 MSEV

Sara Vanderlin 10 ME

Dr. Vincent Canino 67 EE, 69 MSFPET, passed away on Feb. 9, 2024. Canino began working at MSOE in 1964, retiring in 2008. During his time at MSOE, he established the biomedical engineering program, which he chaired for more than 20 years, and was involved in developing MSOE’s M.S. in Perfusion program, the first in the country. Canino also was the technical director of the Jarvik 7 artificial heart transplant team at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Patricia Carter, wife of Dr. Gene Carter ’60, passed away in March 2024. For over three decades Pat and Gene Carter have supported MSOE and its mission. Their private philanthropy to MSOE has helped the university establish a variety of important programs and initiatives including the Carter Academy, MSOE STEM, the Gene Carter Usability Lab and the renovation of the Robert Spitzer Dining Commons. The couple has also supported the education of generations of MSOE students through the Gene and Patricia Carter Endowed scholarship.

Professor Emeritus Paul E. Feuerstein, P.E. passed away March 14, 2024. After working in industry for many years, he joined the faculty in MSOE’s Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department, retiring in 2000 after 27 years of service.

Kenneth McAteer passed away Feb. 14, 2024. McAteer began his 47-year career at MSOE in 1959 as assistant to the director of the evening division. A jack-of-all-trades, he later became an education counselor, assistant to the dean of engineering, registrar, director of housing, vice president of student life and campus facilities, assistant to the president for campus planning, director of placement and vice president of operations. McAteer also received the Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award.

Louisa (Louie) Essuman passed away Jan. 25, 2024. She was a member of the class of 2025, majoring in civil engineering at MSOE, and was highly involved in activities and organizations on campus and around the world. Essuman found her passion for giving back to the community when she was 12 years old and a participant in the Right to Dream Academy, a youth association soccer academy based in Ghana that emphasized participants’ character outside of the sport. During breaks from the academy, Essuman would teach children in the Cape Coast, Ghana. She continued playing soccer in the United States at a prep school in Connecticut and for the University of Tennessee before transferring to MSOE and playing for the Raiders. She had five internships in three different countries. Her first was at an oil and gas company in Ghana while she was in high school. Next, she interned at a construction management firm in Cairo, and last summer she served in a dual internship with a real estate firm and civil design firm.

CLASS NOTES

A Life of Service

W. Wallace Cannon Jr. ’52

M“My father was always trying to make a di erence and had a strong commitment to helping others,” said Phillip Cannon.

This is one of several fond memories W. Wallace Cannon Jr.’s sons shared of their late father, who was recognized at a special ceremony in May as the first African American to receive a bachelor’s degree from MSOE.

Wallace’s journey to MSOE was typical of many students in the 1940s and ’50s, yet his heritage and background made it unique. Born in 1927 in Woodruff, South Carolina, he was one of nine children and a grandson of former slaves. His father was known as the self-taught “electrical guy,” having worked for Bell Telephone and helped wire businesses in Woodruff. Wallace took an interest in learning his father’s trade at an early age, but at the time, schools in the south were segregated and African American children were not educated beyond the eighth grade.

Still, the importance of earning an education was instilled amongst the family, said son Stephen Cannon. “My grandfather had a fourth-grade education and yet he and my grandmother still stressed the importance of education to their eight daughters and their namesake son.”

As a result, after the eighth grade, Wallace enrolled at Mather Academy in Camden, South Carolina, a private boarding school for African Americans, and earned his high school diploma in 1944. After graduating at 17, he enrolled at Hampton Institute (known today as Hampton University) but enlisted in the U.S. Marines when he turned 18, wanting to give back to his country and make a difference.

He served for over a year and was honorably discharged, then re-enrolled at Hampton Institute. While there, he joined the Army ROTC program and graduated with the Inaugural Commissioned class in 1948. Although Wallace had vocational training, he still wanted to pursue an engineering degree. A recipient of the G.I. Bill, he moved to Milwaukee to attend MSOE. He graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, apropos to his early years working alongside his father.

Milwaukee was a special place for Wallace. It’s where he met his wife, Essie May Willis, and developed a lifelong friendship with classmate Lloyd Kohnhorst ’52. In 1952, Essie joined Wallace in Buffalo, New York and they got married, and he continued his professional career as an electrical engineer for Bell Aircraft. Kohnhorst also moved to Buffalo and worked with Wallace at Bell Aircraft.

The young couple started a family in Buffalo, welcoming sons Reginald, Peter and Robert. In the late 1950s, the family relocated to Columbus, Ohio where Wallace worked for North American Aviation as a systems design engineer. The move was made a bit easier for the family, as Kohnhorst also relocated to Columbus and worked with Wallace at North American Aviation—giving them the opportunity to maintain their friendship and raise their families together.

“I remember my father sharing stories with us about ‘SMOEY,’” said son Peter Cannon, who noted his father would affectionately refer to MSOE as “SMOEY,” suggesting that the pronunciation was an inside joke among MSOE graduates.

The couple had two more sons, Stephen and Phillip. During that time, Wallace also earned an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He spent 30 years with

American Aviation before retiring in 1989 as a Project Manager for Rockwell International (which had acquired North American Aviation).

Throughout his career and beyond, Wallace was deeply active in his community. He volunteered his time and leadership as a 32nd Degree Mason, with Habitat for Humanity, IEEE, his church, the Boy Scouts and more. He also stayed engaged with MSOE, supporting the university’s annual fund for many years. In 1987 he was honored by MSOE as “Outstanding Alumnus of the Year.”

To honor both the memory of Wallace and commemorate his legacy at the university, MSOE named its new Black alumni affinity group after him. “The W. Wallace Cannon Jr. Alumni Society” was developed to bring together Black alumni through opportunities to engage with the university socially and professionally and provide a connection between alumni and current students. This affinity group is one of many new initiatives by MSOE’s Alumni Relations Office to bring alumni with similar backgrounds together to connect and help the university grow.

At a special ceremony in May, MSOE announced the W. Wallace Cannon Jr. Alumni Society and unveiled this plaque, which will be displayed within the Alumni Plaza of MSOE’s University Terrace.

Pictured above, from left, are W. Wallace Cannon’s sons Reginald, Robert, Stephen, Peter and Phillip Cannon.

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

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New CoBots offer human-robot collaboration

Four new CoBots (collaborative robots that work directly with humans) as well as Industry 4.0 units are now available in MSOE’s Robotics and Automation Studio for use by mechanical and industrial engineering students. This new equipment was made possible thanks to a donation from David French ’97.

The Industry 4.0 units simulate a factory’s ordering, production and delivery processes and are programmable by students through logic controllers. This specific equipment allows students to gain critical insight and hands-on experiences with modern manufacturing systems and creates a state-of-the-art robotics and automation lab.

“At MSOE, we are committed to experiential learning,” said Dr. Sudhir Kaul, Mechanical Engineering Department chair.

“Equipment such as CoBots and automation/Industry 4.0 units allow us to incorporate the use of this equipment into projects where students can learn to integrate and apply engineering principles instead of being passive learners.”