MSOE Dimensions Magazine - Fall/Winter 2020-2021

FA L L / W I N T E R I

COVER STORY

Premier Destination: We Energies STEM Center at MSOE enhances campus Nursing Expansion 6 Fluid Raider Racers 9 STEM to Stern 18

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

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SOUND CHECK The Cream City Band kicked off Welcome Week 2020 with a virtual performance outside of Diercks Hall. The concert was livestreamed on Facebook and broadcast on WMSE. The entire community enjoyed the student band’s renditions of popular hits plus an original song from their upcoming album.

Dear Alumni and Friends, 2020 has been a year no one will forget. This fall we welcomed students, faculty and staff back to campus for the first time since spring. Over the summer, MSOE’s Raider Return Task Force worked hard to develop policies and procedures to ensure a safe return to campus, including masks, extra hand sanitizing stations, limited class sizes and socially distanced seating across campus. The fall quarter included a hybrid learning format, mixing online and in-person courses for students. We expect to continue in this manner through the winter. I am incredibly proud of the collaboration across our community to work together and find solutions during this unusual time.

We were excited to kick off the year with the opening of the new Robert Spitzer Dining Commons, We Energies STEM Center at MSOE, and the Ruehlow Nursing Complex lab expansion.

The highly anticipated Robert Spitzer Dining Commons opened at the start of the school year and is serving fresh and delicious meals to students, faculty and staff every day. The dining commons offers a wide variety of meals to choose from, all made from locally sourced ingredients. The renovated third floor of the Campus Center provides extra space for dining, studying and meeting at a safe distance.

Students from across the greater Milwaukee area have already begun exploring the wonders of the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE. The 10,000-square-foot education center is Milwaukee’s premier STEM destination for K–12 students.

The center features a flexible technology studio, a design and development lab, and a FIRST Robotics space. The FIRST Robotics space is a game changer for hundreds of students as it provides access to full-size playing fields, tools and mentors, allowing teams to practice on a regulation field before they compete. The STEM Center offers endless opportunities for Milwaukee’s youth to expand their knowledge and get hooked on STEM. I’m looking forward to seeing new programs and bright minds growing in the space.

The Ruehlow Nursing Complex lab expansion offers additional space for nursing students to gain hands-on experiences while practicing and applying the skills they learned in class, as well as an expanded student study area. Read more about how School of Nursing students are learning in the transformative space on page 6.

Although we haven’t been able to utilize all of these new spaces to their full potential due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful we can enjoy them at a limited capacity and safe distance. These are wonderful facilities and a great investment in the future of MSOE. I am very thankful for the MSOE community of students, faculty, staff, community partners, alumni and friends for coming together to overcome obstacles and make this year the best it could be. Thank you for keeping MSOE extraordinary!

Sincerely,

JOHN Y. WALZ, Ph.D. President

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IN THIS ISSUE

AT THE FOREFRONT

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OVERHEARD ...

“ Education is the critical catalyst for the communities we serve and STEM feeds and fuels everything we do as a company.”

—M SOE REGENT KEVIN FLETCHER, PRESIDENT

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.

AND CEO OF WEC ENERGY GROUP

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

6 Making Lab Practice Practical The School of Nursing rang in its 25th year with a new lab expansion to provide students with the practical, hands-on experiences MSOE is known for.

1 President’s Message 3 At the Forefront 8 Around Campus 18 In the Community 20 Raiders Wrap-Up 22 Impact 26 Class Notes 33 From the Archives

12 Campus Enhancements Drive Success Campus was abuzz with new construction projects over spring and summer, including the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE.

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The Ruehlow Nursing Complex expansion includes additional study areas outside of the lab.

ON THE COVER: A student plugs in his LEGO Mindstorm robot after programming it in the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE.

Editor JoEllen Burdue

Managing Editor Annette Pirrung

Creative Director Kristin Dunn

Graphic Designers Peg Houghton, Chase Patt

Contributing Writers Jillian Kokott, Colin Terrill, Dr. John Walz

Images Dr. Michael Carriere, Front Room Photography, Mark Hines, Rachel Hunter, Russ Piant, Gary Porter, Erol Reyal, Dr. Luis A. Rodriguez, Colin Terrill, Tricia Shay Photography 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 Editor’s Note: Several photos in this magazine were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Located on the ground level of Viets Field, the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE invites K–12 students to dive into STEM.

Fall/Winter 2020–21 Volume 35, No. 1

IT SHINES

New hardware for Diercks Hall Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, which opened in September 2019, celebrated its first anniversary with the addition of some new hardware— trophies and award plaques! Congratulations to Dr. Dwight and Dian Diercks, MSOE, Ramlow/Stein Architects and Mortenson Construction.

Milwaukee Business Journal: Real Estate Award for Best New Development – Education The Daily Reporter: 2019 Top Projects Award University & College Designers Association: Honorable Mention – Environmental Graphics American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Wisconsin Chapter: Bronze Design Award – Higher Education College Advertising Awards: Gold award for special events (grand opening)

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AT THE FOREFRONT

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

HATS OFF

A VIRTUAL NEW WORLD

“Spring” Commencement

Education during a pandemic

Like many events in 2020, Spring Commencement was postponed.

When it was finally held on Saturday, Sept. 19, things looked a little bit different than a typical MSOE graduation. Four small, socially-distanced, and safety-enhanced ceremonies were held to celebrate MSOE’s Spring graduates. Peggy Troy, president and CEO of Children’s Wisconsin, virtually received an Honorary Doctor of Nursing degree and told the graduates, “Today’s world is full of uncertainties but I have a feeling that this class, the Class of 2020, will prove to be one of the most resilient and courageous we’ve ever seen. You are here to change the world. By choosing your education at MSOE, you demonstrated your commitment to yourself and to your life’s work. Whether you chose nursing, engineering or business, you put a stake in the ground about the mark you want to leave on this world. Your chosen fields will take heart, stamina and passion, and don’t forget, brains! But you’ve already demonstrated these traits. You’ve made it here to this very important milestone. From this point forward, each of you in the class of 2020 is going to lead the way for the rest of us.” View one (or all four) ceremonies online at msoe.edu/commencement.

As the world is navigating a health crisis unlike anything that anyone living today has experienced, MSOE faculty and staff are committed to providing a safe learning environment for students and everyone on campus.

“My experience has been largely positive despite COVID-19. The students here are extremely kind and friendly. I’ve also had a good experience with most of my professors, and all of them seem to be really invested in my personal success,” said Katie Kuhn, a freshman biomolecular engineering major and member of the women’s soccer team.

But Kuhn admits the start of the school year wasn’t typical. “It was really hard to get to know people at first because of COVID, but I eventually found a great group of friends from my dorm floor and the soccer team. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but it’s all turning out OK. Overall it’s been challenging and fun.”

A detailed plan to reopen campus for the academic year was approved by the Milwaukee Health Department this summer. And the Raider Return Task Force continually evaluates the latest information, guidelines and recommendations for the pandemic and adapts MSOE’s operating policies and guidelines.

At the time of publication, Wisconsin was a hotbed of COVID-19 activity in the U.S. and colleges throughout the state and nation were dealing with increasing numbers of cases on their campus. But COVID-19 has not become widespread at MSOE. This is due, in large part, to the precautions that were put in place and to the good efforts by students, faculty and staff in following safety protocols in the Raider Return Plan: msoe.edu/raider-return.

Students are taking the pandemic seriously and exercising precaution in their social lives as well. They are being proactive in selfisolating if they have symptoms or suspect they were exposed, all in an effort to keep the community healthy.

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It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but it’s all turning out OK. Overall it’s been challenging and fun.”

—KATIE KUHN, FRESHMAN

“There is a sense of community and a sense of responsibility to each other within the residence hall community,” said Betty Albrecht, assistant dean of students and director of residence life. “In a recent Residence Hall Association meeting, one student commented that he ‘wants to protect the bubble we have.’”

For those times that a student must be quarantined on campus, the entire 12th floor of Margaret Loock Residence Hall is reserved for that purpose, as are a few rooms in the Grohmann Tower. MSOE also has off campus space available if needed, which it has not, to date. In fact, only a handful of students have been quarantined on campus at any given time.

The university is hopeful that hybrid learning will continue through the winter months, with the ultimate goal of resuming in-person learning as soon as it is safe.

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FEATURE STORY

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Making Lab Practice

PRACTICAL The School of Nursing rang in its 25th year with a new lab expansion to provide students with the practical, hands-on experiences MSOE is known for.

The 2,200-square-foot expansion of the Ruehlow Nursing Complex opened this fall, showcasing dedicated study areas for students to practice their skills and complete performance tests, as well as a simulation space that is adaptable to a variety of settings including board rooms, clinic, home care and community care.

Junior nursing students had a chance to apply the skills they learned in their Nursing in the Community course through a “disaster lab” in the new simulation space. The experience was developed by Robin Gates and Dr. Ruth Widder after receiving an MSOE Professional Development Grant.

The simulation learning activity presented groups of students with the challenge of entering a collapsed building with a number of patients of varying ages and levels of injury. The students were required to respond to the scene, secure a safe environment, triage patients and transport them to a safe area.

“We’re trying to prepare you for real life. In real life you’ll hear screaming, yelling and you have to try to keep your own emotions contained—because you’re human, too—while also staying calm and providing care. Walk in with the feeling that this could be your parent, sibling or friend that needs help,” Gates told students before entering the simulation.

At the start of the simulation, students entered a dark, crammed room with multiple manikin patients scattered throughout the space, each wearing a tag detailing description of injuries, breathing and heart rates.

The students worked as a team to read each patient’s description, determine who needed to be rescued and cared for first, and the best way to transport them to a safe area, such as by long board, wheelchair or being carried out.

Not only did the simulation prepare nurses for addressing and treating patients, it also offered insight on caring for others in the community.

“Nurses are part of the community. This disaster simulation lab helps prepare us and teaches us how to react to disasters in our own community to help others and serve as role models,” said Claire Brzenk, junior nursing student.

The School of Nursing has plans for additional simulation and practice labs for students in the new lab space throughout the year. The new space was made possible thanks to the generous support of Dr. Kathy Ruehlow ’72, MSOE Regent, and Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing alumna.

The Ruehlow Nursing Complex lab expansion provides opportunities for nursing students to apply what they learn in class and practice their skills individually (right) and with teams through simulations like the disaster lab (above, below).

In celebration of 25 years, the School of Nursing unveiled its new seal.

The School of Nursing Historical Committee, which includes graduates from both Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing (MCGHSN) and MSOE School of Nursing, worked with staff from the Marketing Communications Department to develop a new seal that matches MSOE’s brand and incorporates elements from the original 1896 MCGHSN pin.

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AROUND CAMPUS

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

MOVING UP

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Seandra Mitchell promoted to VP of student affairs and campus inclusion

Senior project team strengthened by hometown ties

Seandra Mitchell was named vice president of student affairs and campus inclusion at MSOE. In her new role, she will provide leadership and direction to help improve diversity and strengthen the climate of equity and inclusion at MSOE.

When biomedical engineering faculty grouped Kyle Kretzer, Elle Lanham, Santi OssaVelandia, Riley Rossbach, and Jamie Schara together for their senior design project, they had no idea 80% of the group were New Berlin Eisenhower High School alumni. “Knowing each other before coming to MSOE helped having a familiar face on campus. Working on our project, it was nice to have something in common,” said Kretzer. The group worked with BioRESEARCH Associates, a company that creates different diagnostic aids for dentists and orthodontists.

Their project, BioJVA (Joint Vibration Analysis) Device Optimization, was a redesign that incorporated Bluetooth into the device while maintaining the original quality of the signal. The team members were able to put their skills to the test while also learning how to work with one another to achieve their goals.

“I, along with the other vice presidents, am excited to have Seandra join our leadership team and I look forward to working with her in this new capacity,” said Dr. John Walz, president. “She has a proven track record of success and I know that she is also highly respected by students, faculty and staff across our campus.”

As vice president of student affairs and campus inclusion, Mitchell oversees the Office of the Dean of Students, campus life, multicultural affairs and the Raider Center for Academic Success. She plays a key role in developing and implementing training programs to raise awareness of diversity, inclusion and respect for MSOE faculty, staff and students. She currently serves as an advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers at MSOE and provides guidance to other MSOE student organizations to further strengthen their climate of inclusion.

I’m looking forward to working with students, faculty and staff across campus to enhance and build upon our already wonderful diversity and inclusion efforts.”

Award-winning designs Christine Boland-Prom, Blake Bostwick, Rebekah Janquart, Jamie Nguyen, Julian Sonn and Jamie Sykora took first place in the Water Environmental Federation (WEF) Environmental Category of the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) Student Design Competition. The civil engineering seniors prepared designs for two municipal wastewater treatment systems in the community of Joyabaj, Guatemala to serve 5,000 people. Currently, there is only a collection system in Joyabaj. Keeping operation and maintenance costs to a minimum were an extremely important design consideration, as was minimizing the use of pumps by utilizing the steep slope to gravity feed the system. Their work will be published in CSWater Magazine and they placed fourth in the Water Environment Federation’s design competition at WEFTEC-2020, the world’s largest annual water quality technical conference and exhibition.

—SEANDRA MITCHELL Diversity and inclusion are key elements to MSOE’s strategic plan. From student organizations to special cultural events and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, MSOE provides opportunities for the campus community to engage with individuals of different backgrounds and learn from one another. Mitchell’s new role was developed to further support MSOE’s commitment to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion across campus.

Mitchell also works collaboratively with the university’s CREATE Institute to strengthen the MSOE Mindset among graduates and engages with other Milwaukee organizations that can positively impact campus. She works with both the president and vice president of university advancement to develop fundraising targets and solicit philanthropic support for key initiatives. Mitchell has been part of the MSOE staff for more than a decade, most recently serving as Dean of Admissions. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from UW-Whitewater and is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration from Georgetown University.

Virtual Career Fair Practicing a firm handshake was not on the prep checklist for this year’s Career Fair. Instead, students polished their resumes and opened their laptops to virtually meet with potential employers at the 2020 Virtual Career Fair. Over the course of two days, hundreds of students met one-onone with company representatives in a video chat room to discuss job and internship opportunities.

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Fluid Raider Racers design fluidpowered bicycle The Fluid Raider Racers, an MSOE mechanical engineering senior design team, designed and built a two-wheeled vehicle for the 2020 NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, where they won the Best Presentation Award and a $2,000 cash prize. In addition, MSOE won $1,000 to invest in the 2021 competition team. Congratulations to Frerich Asmus, Kristof Barantke, Johanna Borschel, Trevor Howard, Luke Ponga, Justin Zielinski and their team advisor, Dr. Luis Rodriguez, assistant professor. They virtually competed against 15 other universities in April. The National Fluid Power Association’s annual Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge consists of designing and constructing a vehicle that utilizes hydraulic components to transfer, store and release the human power input by the rider.

MSOE’s team used electronically-controlled valves in their design so that only a switch needs to be flipped to change between the various hydraulic circuits.

AROUND CAMPUS

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

AT T H E

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

Faculty/staff achievements

Phi Beta Lambda has national success

Dr. Subha Kumpaty, Mechanical Engineering Department, and Dr. Jan Fertig, Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department, serve as principal and co-principal on MSOE’s first ever S-STEM award from the National Science Foundation. The grant will fund scholarships for 15 mechanical engineering students and is designed to support retention, academic success and career pathways in mechanical engineering.

A FATEFUL JOURNEY

Two Edmunds: Fitzgerald and Lewandowski—Their Mark on Milwaukee

Dr. Aruna Lal, School of Nursing, served as a commander of the B Company, 452nd Combat Support Hospital, as part of the Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force in New York City. She assisted in the coordination and running of a field hospital for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

DeAnna Leitzke ’98, ’08, CREATE Institute, received MSOE’s Johanna Seelhorst Werwath Distinguished Staff Award.

Through Red Cell Source LLC, Drs. Wujie Zhang and Jung Lee, Physics and Chemistry Department; and Gene Wright, Rader School of Business, were awarded an SBIR/STTR Assistance Micro-grant from the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization to obtain federal funding for commercialization of the red-blood-cell-like particle-based oxygen therapeutics developed at MSOE.

Through Dec. 20, 2020* Commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s fateful journey on the Great Lakes with the industrial works of Edmund Lewandowski at the Grohmann Museum’s latest exhibit, Two Edmunds.

Immerse yourself in the photographs, models, paintings and film related to the two Edmunds and celebrate perhaps the finest painter Milwaukee has ever produced.

Dr. Anthony van Groningen, Mathematics Department, was appointed the Public Information Officer for the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America.

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

MSOE’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) virtually attended the annual National Leadership Experience in June with their advisor, Dr. Katrina Moskalik. PBL is a national leadership organization for business minded college students. For the eighth year in a row, the MSOE chapter had members compete and place in the top 10 among more than 3,000 competitors from across the country. Congratulations to the students on their successes: Brett Diedrich, businessadministration: 3rd place in Cyber Security; Benjamin Kraft, computer engineering: 8th place in Programming Concepts; Felix Krause, business administration: 1st place in Global Analysis and Decision Making; 2nd place in Sales Presentation; Joshua Navin, computer engineering: 3rd place in Computer Concepts; Isaac Wiegand, actuarial science: 8th place in Personal Finance; 5th place in Job Interview. In addition, Wiegand was elected to national PBL office as the vice president of financial development for 2020–2021.

Dr. Anne Alexander received MSOE’s Oscar Werwath Distinguished Teacher Award.

Witness to History Dr. Eckhart Grohmann, MSOE Regent and university benefactor, was recently honored with the “Witness to History” award from the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The award honors those who have played a significant role in shaping and documenting our community’s history. The Grohmann family gathered at the museum to celebrate this honor. Visit grohmannmuseum.org to learn more about the collection and Dr. Grohmann.

OF NOTE

Dr. Eryn Hassemer was named an Engineering Unleashed 2020 Fellow.

Dr. Faisal Shaikh received MSOE’s Karl O. Werwath Research Award.

Dr. Wujie Zhang wrote a book, Nanotechnology for Bioengineers, which introduces bioengineers to the world of nanotechnology and inspires them to use nanotechnology to address some of the world’s biggest challenges.

COMING SOON! Jan. 22 – April 25, 2021*

Electric Steel: Recent Photographs by Michael Schultz Gallery Night Opening Friday, Jan. 22, 5–9 p.m.* The exhibition follows the success of Michael Schultz’ previous exhibitions at the Grohmann Museum and includes many of his recent photographs in a variety of electric steel mills.

Visit grohmannmuseum.org for a virtual tour and digital exhibitions through the Google Cultural Institute. *All dates subject to change.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Written by Drs. Jeff LaMack ’97, Icaro dos Santos and Olga Imas ’99, “Maintaining a Rewarding Biomedical Engineering Capstone Experience for Students in Remote Learning Situations” was published in a special inaugural issue of Biomedical Engineering Education Journal, “Teaching and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Dr. RJ Nowling received a two-year $174,232 award from the National Science Foundation for research on “Association Testing and Inversion Detection without Reference Genomes.”

Dr. Sheila Ross was elected to serve as president-elect of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN).

Dr. Larry Fennigkoh, P.E. ’74, ’86 was inducted into the 2020 class of Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Fellows.

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DONATE LIFE

Kidney sisters Would you give your best friend a kidney? Kristin Dunn, creative director in the Marketing Communications Department, did without thinking twice about it. Dunn donated a kidney to her friend Pepper LaMothe, a longtime dedicated Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) employee. To show her appreciation for Dunn’s generosity, the LaMothe family established a scholarship fund in Dunn’s name.

So far, $8,760 has been raised for the scholarship, which will be awarded to an MSOE nursing, Biomedical or Biomolecular student who also is an MPS graduate.

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FEATURE STORY

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Campus Enhancements Drive Success

We Energies STEM Center at MSOE is Milwaukee’s premier STEM destination.

Education is the critical catalyst for the communities we serve and STEM feeds and fuels everything we do as a company.”

A symphony of hammers, drills, saws, compressors, ­— MSOE REGENT KEVIN cranes and scissor lifts filled the air around campus FLETCHER, PRESIDENT for the past year—bringing a sense of excitement during the COVID-19 campus closure. Construction AND CEO OF WE crews were hard at work on four major projects: the We ENERGIES’ PARENT Energies STEM Center at MSOE, Hermann Viets Tower, CORPORATION WEC Robert Spitzer Dining Commons, and the Ruehlow Nursing Complex expansion.

ENERGY GROUP Announced in spring, the We Energies STEM Center was built out over the summer in existing campus space at ground-level on the northern side of Pamela and Hermann Viets Field. Three major partners, We Energies, Rockwell Automation and American Family Insurance, have supported the university’s efforts to develop the premier STEM destination in Milwaukee for students of all ages and home to all of MSOE’s STEM outreach efforts. These programs are designed to introduce students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing access to resources, mentoring, and hands-on, experience-based learning.

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“In 2017, MSOE made a strategic investment in STEM outreach by establishing a dedicated department to grow, sustain and develop a comprehensive STEM pipeline for all students in Milwaukee and beyond.

Since then, more than 10,000 students from 150 K-12 schools have participated in our programs,” said Dr. John Walz, MSOE president. “The We Energies STEM Center at MSOE is a game changer. We’ll be able to reach more students than ever before thanks to the commitment of We Energies, Rockwell Automation and American Family.”

In the age of COVID-19, the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE gives students opportunities for experiential, hands-on STEM learning—whether that’s through small-group events in the center, or virtual events. Many of MSOE’s STEM programs have moved virtual and the new center gives staff the space and opportunity to produce quality videos and programs that can be shared in an online environment.

We Energies, Rockwell Automation and American Family each bring a unique contribution to the STEM Center project, all to support the shared goal of

providing opportunities to bring together schools, local companies, community groups and organizations to create impactful, inclusive programming. The purpose is to create an accessible, dedicated space for all K–12 students to explore, create and define their future in STEM. We Energies is creating an opportunity that enables students from any school—public, private, charter and homeschool—to have access to hands-on, one-of-akind STEM experiences.

“Education is the critical catalyst for the communities we serve and STEM feeds and fuels everything we do as a company. This facility will provide critical hands-on learning opportunities and open avenues for students to participate in programs they may not otherwise have access to,” said MSOE Regent Kevin Fletcher, president and CEO of We Energies’ parent corporation WEC Energy Group. “We’re excited to partner with MSOE to engage and grow future leaders who will shape not only the energy industry, but also our world.”

Rockwell Automation is making it possible for MSOE to continue to support and expand the opportunities for all students to participate and succeed in FIRST Robotics programming. MSOE students, alumni and partners who mentor and support Milwaukee FIRST teams will have a dedicated place to enable all students to “go pro” in STEM through FIRST Robotics. Local teams have access to dedicated storage space, tools and work equipment. The Rockwell Automationsponsored FIRST Robotics development zone includes

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DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

a 1,500-square-foot FIRST playing field area where teams will have plenty of space to test their designs and practice for competitions. The center provides an opportunity to decrease barriers, and gives students access to resources they need to be successful in their STEM-related extracurricular activities.

“At Rockwell Automation we believe in expanding human possibility. In our communities, we make investments in students; our makers, builders, innovators,” said Patricia Contreras, Rockwell Automation vice president of global public affairs.

“Our commitment to address the opportunity and the belief gap for underrepresented students starts with our financial investments amplified by employee mentorship in our global headquarters, here in Milwaukee. Through the STEM Center, the power of innovation + technology + mentorship will inspire young minds. We know this partnership with MSOE will empower and inspire students to make the impossible possible.”

Employment in STEM-related jobs is expected to grow at 16% in the United States, far outpacing all other employment fields. In addition, jobs in STEM fields earn on average 10% more than jobs with similar education requirements. At the same time, there is a critical need for a more diverse workforce. Diversity and inclusion are an intentional and integrated part of the strategy for the STEM Center to truly empower and support all students in their exploration of STEM futures.

To support this, American Family is actively building a pipeline where all students have an equal opportunity to explore, engage and succeed in STEM fields, specifically in tech fields. American Family will bring expertise, guidance and support to programs ranging from artificial intelligence to coding for students of all ages.

“American Family is committed to Milwaukee, and as a partner and future neighbor, we’re proud to support MSOE and its passion to expand STEM education,” said Jim Buchheim, American Family community and social impact officer. “This center will provide a tremendous opportunity for a diverse group of students to participate in high-quality tech learning and prepare for successful STEM careers.”

Northwestern Mutual also has provided a major gift to support high-tech programming that introduces K–12 students to skills and opportunities to shape

NOW SERVING

Robert Spitzer Dining Commons

the future of technology. Ramlow/Stein Architects were the project developers and Catalyst Construction was the construction manager for this project. Additionally, Milwaukee Tool has gifted tools to help outfit the new STEM Center. MSOE Corporation member Scott Haag and his wife Linda have also made a gift in support of this project. Read more about the Haags on page 24.

MSOE.EDU/STEM

A variety of fresh, healthy dining options are now available to the entire MSOE campus community in the Robert Spitzer Dining Commons on the third floor of the Campus Center. The new space is meeting students’ expectations for healthy eating, and helps to nourish their body and soul. Named after the third president of MSOE, the dining commons offers a pleasant experience in a bright and inviting space. Thank you to our alumni, friends and corporate partners who funded this campus improvement.

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1 The Robert Spitzer Dining Commons offers a variety of food options made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

2 Comfortable booths with plastic dividers allow students to safely eat and study with one another.

3 Nutritious meals fuel students for long study sessions.

Community of Learners The transformation of Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall into Hermann Viets Tower continues. When complete, Viets Tower will be MSOE’s first living-learning community (LLC), designed to encourage academic success and give students with similar academic, social and personal interests the opportunity to live together, collaborate and share experiences. Construction is scheduled to be complete by August 2021, and was made possible through private philanthropy.

MSOE.EDU/VIETS-TOWER

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IN THE COMMUNITY

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Left: Middle school students row in unison on machines outside of the Milwaukee Rowing Club boathouse.

Below: Rachel Hunter ’20 (center) teaches middle school students how to program robots.

Caring at a distance A partnership between MSOE School of Nursing and the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi helped the sisters in a time of need and gave nursing students hands-on experience, all at a safe distance.

Typically, junior nursing students would visit a community organization or school in person as part of their clinical rotation. The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to take a new approach. Last spring, the community care clinical experience shifted to a “phone pal” program where students called the sisters to support them with conversation and companionship over the phone.

Through their calls, they were able to offer emotional health support and provide education on the pandemic.

rowing practice. The practice supplements the STEM session by reinforcing the importance of teamwork and dedication.

Afterward, the students are dropped off at home. The transportation, supervision and STEM education are provided by volunteers from the MSOE Rowing Team.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH

STEM to Stern combines learning and fitness STEM to Stern is a one-of-a-kind program that provides a unique combination of STEM education and competitive sweep rowing to middle school students from low-income, urban communities.

This program brings together African American and Latinx children on the Milwaukee River. Created in 2017 by Rachel Hunter ’20, a coxswain on the MSOE rowing team, STEM to Stern is a partnership between the MSOE Rowing Team, MSOE STEM Department and the Milwaukee Rowing Club.

“Without all three of these groups working together, the program would not be successful,” said Hunter. “Everyone involved has gone above and beyond to make sure that the program has the resources it needs.”

MSOE students pick up the middle schoolers after school and bring them to MSOE where they participate in FIRST LEGO League (FLL), an international robotics competition. Then they go to the Milwaukee Rowing Club boathouse for

“Pure joy, happiness, and lovely conversation is how I would describe my experience talking to one of the sisters,” said Anna Spaude, MSOE nursing student.

“These phone calls are a highlight for both of us. She and I made plans to keep in touch, and eventually I will visit her once it is safe to do so.”

Honors Program immerses into community The University Scholars Honors Program found a new home in the Innovations and Wellness Commons, a project in Milwaukee’s Lindsay Heights neighborhood created by nonprofit developer Walnut Way Conservation Corp.

“The new office will provide space where MSOE students and community members can work collaboratively on real-world projects that will benefit both MSOE learners and those who live in Lindsay Heights,” said Dr. Michael Carriere, director of the honors program and associate professor in the Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department.

Not only will the new space be more accessible for community partners, it also provides students with an immersive experience.

Both STEM fields and rowing are spaces not traditionally occupied by minorities.

STEM to Stern students have no previous experience in the sport of rowing. Most of them have little to no experience in robotics, programming or public speaking.

STEM to Stern opens the door for them to develop their technical skills and to explore new interests. They are given the opportunity to grow a variety of skills that will help them to overcome obstacles at home, at school, and in their future careers. It is a free program, thanks to generous donations from Milwaukee community members and volunteer hours put in by the MSOE Rowing Team.

“One of our goals is to have all the participants graduate from high school and pursue careers that will allow them to continue breaking down race and gender-related barriers,” said Hunter. She is building on the program’s success and is working to expand STEM to Stern with other rowing clubs throughout the U.S.

Students in the University Scholars Honors Program construct raised garden beds for the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.

“The best way to learn about a community is to spend time in it. The field office will allow our students to truly immerse themselves in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. This will strengthen the relationships that are necessary for servant-leadership projects to truly succeed.”

MSOEHONORSSEMINAR.COM

Virtual internship to reality A virtual biomedical engineering internship challenged students to develop, design and test a solution to address the need for enhanced use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Junior Noah Hutchinson’s group created a solution to a problem that many people experience daily: foggy glasses while wearing masks.

“Fog-B-Gone” is an inexpensive, moldable, thermoplastic nose piece that attaches to a mask, creating a better seal and preventing glasses from fogging.

Anna Spaude connects with the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

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RAIDERS WRAP-UP

FIELD OF DREAMS

Baseball returns to play The Men’s Baseball Team finally took the field for the first time at MSOE Raiders Stadium this fall. Their spring season was canceled, along with all spring sports at MSOE, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early October the team played a few exhibition games and had the opportunity test out their new home. “It’s a beautiful place to play,” said Steve Sanfilippo, head coach.

Thank you to Dr. Kathy Ruehlow ’72, MSOE Regent, for her support to make the facility possible for our students.

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

A leader on and off the field Athletics have been glorified all around the globe for as long as anyone can remember.

From Greco-Roman wrestling during the early days of Rome and Greece to the Super Bowl in modern times, tales of incredible plays and once-in-a-lifetime athletes are etched into the stories that we tell for generations. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s not what you do on the field that truly matters—it’s what you do outside of athletics that has the most impact.

Jack Turicek is a senior on the MSOE Raiders men’s soccer team, and while the defenseman from Brookfield, Wis. has only seen the pitch 13 times over the course of his three seasons played so far, his role on the team is much more important than playing in every game. Turicek, a captain for the 2020–21 season, works as the team tutor, helping underclassmen with the transition to college life.

“Coach Rob always talks about how everyone has a role on the team, even if they don’t start,” said Turicek. “I’ve really found a groove over these last two years and I feel even more comfortable and confident now that I’m one of the older guys.”

Turicek’s impact carries beyond his team.

Just one look at his resume will make you wonder how someone who hasn’t even graduated college has so much experience under his belt. Turicek conducted research on plasma treating ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene to make it more biocompatible for joint replacements, served as an Edison engineering intern for GE Healthcare, a mechanical engineering intern at Rockwell Automation, and was involved in two different startups.

One of those startups was Blue Mangoes, a nonprofit that traveled to foreign countries to build passive solar fruit dehydrators to give rural farmers a way to dry and preserve their overabundance of fruit instead of having it rot and going to waste. Although Turicek is no longer involved with the project, now known as Jali Fruit Company, he’s still their biggest fan.

I’m blessed with an awesome family to support me, an awesome education at MSOE, and awesome professors and friends to give me advice and help me enjoy my time here.”

—JACK TURICEK

“I was on the team for two years and got to do a lot of cool stuff. I started out as a designer of the solar fruit dehydrators, one that was built in Panama and the other in Kenya. I acted as the COO early on as well as the head of the social media team,” said Turicek.

Blue Mangoes also worked to build women cooperatives with the goal of promoting women’s standing and respect in their communities once properly trained to use the machines.

Turicek’s ambition is a pure product of the people and places he surrounds himself with.

“I’m blessed with an awesome family to support me, an awesome education at MSOE, and awesome professors and friends to give me advice and help me enjoy my time here.”

As for next steps, Turicek plans to apply for graduate programs starting next fall to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a special interest in multifunctional materials.

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IMPACT

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Leaving legacies on and off the field

He may be most recognized and remembered as a Hall of Fame defensive end and team captain for the Lombardiera Green Bay Packers of the 1960s, but the legacy of Dr. Willie D. Davis goes far beyond the gridiron.

The MSOE Regent Emeritus, who passed away in April at the age of 85, was a pioneer in the business world and the Black community. Not only was he one of the first African Americans named to multiple Fortune 500 corporate boards including ManpowerGroup, Fidelity National Financial and We Energies Corp. (WEC), he later became one of the first African Americans to own a Class A radio broadcasting license.

“MSOE is committed to attracting a diverse population of students.

Scholarships are one way we can help to provide access.”

— S EANDRA MITCHELL, VICE

PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AND CAMPUS INCLUSION

His passion for philanthropy and serving the community continued in his post-football career. In 2001, Davis co-chaired and founded the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends, a charitable organization created to assist various charities throughout Wisconsin.

Shortly after his passing, MSOE was notified by WEC that Davis had designated MSOE as a recipient of the WEC Director’s Charitable Award. The $200,000 award will be distributed to MSOE in the amount of $20,000 a year for the next 10 years. The money was unrestricted, allowing the university to decide what to use it for.

“One of the president’s priorities and a major goal within the university’s strategic plan is to increase diversity and inclusion on our campus,” said Jeff Snow, vice president of university advancement, “so it was only fitting we not only honor Dr. Davis’ legacy, but also use the Director’s Charitable Award to create a scholarship opportunity that will provide access for African American students.”

“MSOE is committed to attracting a diverse population of students.

Scholarships are one way we can help to provide access,” said Seandra Mitchell, vice president of student affairs and campus inclusion at MSOE. “By creating the Willie D. Davis Endowed Scholarship, we hope to make a positive impact in the lives of students and help grow and diversify the pool of engineering, business and nursing talent in Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin.”

Each year, MSOE will award $10,000 of the gift as scholarships, and the other half will go into an endowment to make the scholarship permanent.

Alumnus invites others to support Viets Tower For more than three decades, whenever his alma mater needed support, Dr. Gene Carter ’60 answered the call. The aim of Carter’s most recent generous gift is to get more alumni involved in the campaign to remodel MSOE’s oldest residence hall.

As the university approaches the completion of its more than $40 million campaign to transform the Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall into Hermann Viets Tower, Carter wanted to make a personal commitment in a way that would inspire others to give as well.

“I knew I wanted to help make this important project a reality, so I decided to pledge to match every dollar raised for the rest of the campaign dollar for dollar,” said Carter. “That way, my fellow alumni double the impact of their gifts.”

“I’ve always said MSOE students and graduates hit the ground running.

Give them a job and a lab and they will be able to solve just about any problem.

I wanted to do my part to make sure today’s MSOE students have that kind of space,” said Carter.

This is just the latest example of Carter’s transformative philanthropy. He and his wife Patricia endowed the Carter Academy, which offers a unique bridge program for students who might need additional preparation and support before entering MSOE’s engineering programs.

The Carter Academy also will have a dedicated space in Viets Tower.

Gene and Patricia have also funded scholarships, helped build MSOE’s STEM outreach programs, built labs and supported MSOE’s annual fundraising efforts.

“If you have walked through our doors as a student, a faculty member or as one of the many young people served by MSOE’s outreach programs, chances are you have been touched by the philanthropy of Gene and Patricia Carter,” said MSOE President John Walz. “Their kindness and giving hearts have helped change the lives of generations of MSOE alumni, and their latest gift will impact many generations more and hopefully inspire others to follow their lead.”

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IMPACT FACES OF PHILANTHROPY

To learn more

about supporting MSOE scholarships or the Gene Carter match, or hear how estate gifts make an impact at MSOE, contact Greg Casey, senior director of development, at casey@msoe.edu.

Answering the call “One alumnus I spoke with told me about some of the struggles he faced in school that led to him being a six-year student. Today he is very successful and working with one of his dream employers. He said if he can do it so can I,” said Alex Reid, a junior mechanical engineering student and Fall Phonathon worker.

Supporting STEM futures Scott Haag, MSOE Corporation member, and his wife Linda pledged $25,000 to support STEM outreach activities at the new We Energies STEM Center at MSOE. These programs are designed to introduce K–12 students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing access to resources, mentoring, and hands-on, experiencebased learning. Scott and Linda (pictured above) are passionate about youth education programs and the life-changing impact they can have for students in the greater Milwaukee area. Their gift will increase opportunities to bring together schools, local companies, community groups and organizations to create impactful, inclusive programming.

Paul Katzer endows scholarship for nurses Paul R. Katzer ’83 established the Paul Katzer Endowed Scholarship in Nursing to support nursing students in their final year of study at MSOE. The Katzer Scholarship will ensure that unexpected financial hurdles do not stand in the way of nursing students completing their degree. While Katzer earned his degree in industrial management, his gift supports MSOE nursing students because he admires the good that nurses create in the world. There is a documented shortage of nurses in the United States and the Katzer Scholarship will assist MSOE’s work to help fill the gap.

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

The program has raised more than $28,000 for the areas of greatest need on campus, and connects students like Reid with alumni who share their stories, reminding him why being a student at MSOE is truly extraordinary.

Each spring and fall, MSOE’s Office of University Advancement hires students to make calls and help raise support for the Fund for MSOE. It also is an opportunity for the students to share news from campus, seek career advice and sharpen their communication skills. More than 700 alumni answered the call this season.

If you happened to be on the other line, we want to say thank you for answering and playing a role in helping MSOE enhance the academic experience for students.

Faculty bequest enriches student experiences An estate gift from the late Dr. Steven Reyer (pictured at left), professor emeritus, and his wife Linda will enhance the work of MSOE’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department.

This past winter, MSOE students went with head-to-head against some of the most elite computer science programs in the world at the North American Championship of the International Competitive Programming Competition (ICPC)—all made possible thanks to an estate gift from former MSOE faculty member Dr. Steven Reyer and his wife Linda. Steven, professor emeritus, passed away in 2018.

For the first time in MSOE history, the university was able to send students to ICPC, held at Georgia Tech this year. Through training and competition, teams of three represent their university and invent trustworthy software systems to solve a range of complex, real-world problems.

“It’s amazing to think a small university like MSOE was competing against some of the top computer science schools in North America,” said James Lembke, computer science faculty member who accompanied the students. “In our first year of competition, MSOE ranked above Florida, Yale, NC State and Texas A&M.” The Reyer’s $600,000 bequest was transformed into the Steve and Linda Reyer Endowed Fund, which will enhance the work of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and provide meaningful experiences to students for years to come.

Save the date: Giving Tuesday MSOE is participating in Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1. This global day of charitable giving has helped thousands of nonprofits raise awareness and inspired countless others to give back at the beginning of the holiday season.

At MSOE, funds raised on this day will support health and counseling services, the MSOE student veteran’s organization and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

To learn more or support one of our causes, visit together.msoe.edu.

“In our first year of competition, MSOE ranked above Florida, Yale, NC State and Texas A&M.” — JAMES LEMBKE, COMPUTER SCIENCE FACULTY MEMBER

“Steve and I taught together for years and I know how dedicated he was to mentoring our students,” said Dr. Steve Williams, department chair. “When I learned of his gift, I was incredibly touched.”

“Without this gift we wouldn’t have had any financial means to send the students to the competition. Steve and Linda Reyer made this extraordinary opportunity possible for them,” said Lembke.

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CLASS NOTES

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

2000s Travis Thul 06 EET, completed his Doctor of Engineering from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Brad Borchers 07 ME, vice president of Hamilton Engineering and vice president of Trident Engineered Solutions, Sun Prairie, Wis. Lucy Paretti 09 AE, MEP department head, Barry Isett & Associates, was named among Lehigh Valley Business’ Forty Under 40 in Allentown, Pa.

2010s Brad Arnold 10 ME, resources manager, Calaveras County Water District, San Andreas, Calif.

Members of the Vandenbush family met for lunch on campus in September to celebrate son Aiden’s first day at MSOE. Left to right: Matt 97 CE (dad); Aiden, a high school student enrolled in two MSOE courses; Grayson, mechanical engineering sophomore; and Helton, mechanical engineering senior.

Dr. Michael J. Barber 82 EE MSOE Regent, was named chief diversity officer of GE.

Matt Lietzan 10 BUS, vice president of business development, Primus, Woodstock, Ga. Luca Hickman 11 EE, patent attorney, Henderson Franklin Law Firm, Fort Meyers, Fla. He also was selected as a 40 Under 40 honoree by Gulfshore Business magazine.

David Bozeman 15 MSEM, vice president of Amazon Transportation Services, was named to The Conservation Fund’s Board of Directors, which is based in Arlington, Va. James Vernola 18 MBAEL, K–8 instructional coordinator, Niles Township High Schools District 219, Skokie, Ill.

2020s Rogger Zapata Arriaga 20 EE, engineering development program, Milwaukee Tool, Milwaukee Daniel Bader 20 BME, technical solutions engineer, Epic, Verona, Wis. Drew Baumann 20 ME, navy officer, U.S. Navy, San Diego

Sreyashi Biswas 20 CVE, structural engineer, Harwood Engineering Consultants, Milwaukee

Caitlyn Gildemeister 20 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee

Christine Boland-Prom 20 CVE, wastewater engineer, Strand Associates Inc., Milwaukee

Shepherd Gill 20 BBA, junior account manager, Pinterest, San Francisco

Amanda Brown 20 BME, clinical imaging engineer, TRIMEDX, Milwaukee Trevor Brown 20 AE, mechanical engineer, KW Mission Critical Engineering, Milwaukee Jon Cameron 20 EE, motors engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis.

Joe Gilpin 20 SE, software engineer, Nelnet, Madison, Wis. Cassie Gliszinski 20 BME, technical solutions engineer, Epic, Verona, Wis. Daniel Szetu Gomez 20 SE, associate software engineer, Cognex Corporation, Milwaukee

Patrick Caravello 20 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee Sydney Chan 20 CE, associate field support engineer, Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee Joseph Ching 20 CVE, civil engineer 1, Fukunaga and Associates, Honolulu, Hawaii Jacob Christensen 20 CE, digital technology leadership program, GE Healthcare, Milwaukee Joe Crooks 20 AE, project manager, P.L. Freeman Co., Brookfield, Wis. Aleks Djuric 20 EE, electrical engineer, Andis Company, Sturtevant, Wis. Jaden Doornink 20 AE, mechanical drafter, Somerville Architects and Engineers Inc., Green Bay, Wis. Anson Dowd 20 ME, engineer 1, Komatsu Mining Corp., Milwaukee Bethany Edington 20 NU, registered nurse, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee Nazim Emini 20 CE, software engineer, Brady Corp., Milwaukee Amelia Fehlen 20 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee

Lucas Hass 20 CM, project engineer, CG Schmidt Inc., Milwaukee Gracie Horton 20 SE, full-stack software engineer, Direct Supply, Milwaukee Trevor Howard 20 ME, inside sales engineer, HVA Products, Mequon, Wis. Jacob Howell 20 CM, estimator, Greenfire Management Services, Milwaukee Robert Hrdi 20 EE, electrical engineer, Applied Technologies Inc., Brookfield, Wis. Nicole Jackson 20 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis. Collin Janke 20 CE, associate software engineer, Cognex Corporation, Milwaukee

Noe Gonzalez 20 SE software engineer, Corporate Technology Solutions, Milwaukee

Ciara Jarmin 20 BME, process technology engineer, DuPont, Memphis, Tenn.

Erin Johansen 20 NU, registered nurse, ProHealth, Waukesha, Wis. Jonathon John 20 CM, construction superintendent, Gilbane Building Company, Milwaukee Tori Johnston 20 BBA, process planner, Kohl’s, Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Patrick Graham 20 CE, software engineer, Leonardo DRS, Milwaukee

Jordan Kaegler 20 SE, software engineer, General Motors, Warren, Mich.

Joshua Gustafson 20 ME, , associate pathways engineering mechanical, Northrop Grumman Corp., Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Jon Kelsey 20 BME, application engineer, Aqua-Aerobic Systems Inc., Loves Park, Ill.

Kendel Gustisha 20 NU, registered nurse ICU, Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Milwaukee Kendall Hamlin 20 BME, biomedical service specialist 1, Davita, Milwaukee Megan Hanelt 20 CVE/MSCVE, structural engineer, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., Northbrook, Ill.

Katie Kershaw 20 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis. Jordan Ketchum 20 BME, biomedical engineering technician, Agiliti, Madison, Wis. Andrew King 20 EE, commercial sales engineer, Auer Steel & Heating Supply Co., Milwaukee Taylor King 20 NU, oncology registered nurse, Froedtert Health, Milwaukee

Collin Fischer 20 BME, product engineer, Konecranes, Milwaukee

Max Beihoff 20 SE, software engineer, GE, Milwaukee

Stephanie Gaston 20 BME, upstream process development scientist, WuXi Biologics, King of Prussia, Pa.

Brianna Berillo 20 BME, new product quality engineer, Stryker, Cary, Ill.

Kayla Gaudynski 20 ME, manufacturing engineer, Dutchland Plastics, Oostburg, Wis.

Christopher Betances-Leblanc 20 SE, software engineer, Direct Supply, Milwaukee

Rafael Reple Geromel 20 CE, test engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Milwaukee

Share your stories

_____________________________________________________________________________________

We love hearing from our alumni! Send your class notes to alumni@msoe.edu.

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CLASS NOTES Kiel Kivisto 20 AS, health and benefits actuarial analyst, Willis Tower Watson, Brookfield, Wis. JJ Klatt 20 ME, patent engineer, Foley Law Firm, Milwaukee Justin Koch 20 ME, manufacturing and process engineer, Advanced Plating Technologies, Milwaukee Byron Kowalski 20 ME, assistant project manager, Butters Fetting, Milwaukee Kyle Kretzer 20 BME, patent examiner, biomedical engineer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Va.

Lizzy Krupski 20 NU,

nurse extern, Froedtert Health, Milwaukee Abby Kurtina 20 NU, registered nurse, women and children’s services, Ascension, Milwaukee Daniel Lang 20 SE, associate software developer, Sentry, Stevens Point, Wis. Josh Lang 20 AE, electrical engineer, kW Mission Critical Engineering, Milwaukee Rachel Larsen 20 BME, rotational engineer, Phillips-Medisize, a Molex Company, Menomonie, Wis. Michael Larson 20 SE, software engineer, Artisan Partners, Milwaukee Allie Laurent 20 NU, ICU nurse, Froedtert South, Kenosha, Wis. Macen Leonardi 20 ME, mechanical engineer-in-training, MSA Professional Services, Jackson, Wis. Cheng Liang 20 CE, debugging engineer, Extreme Hardware Solution, Verona, Wis. Josh Maas 20 ME, mechanical design engineer, Global Power Components, Milwaukee

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Todd Mader 20 EE, electrical engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis.

Ryan Petter 20 CE, project engineer, Simple Innovations Inc., Sussex, Wis.

Yvonne Maginley 20 NU, navy officer, United States Navy, San Diego

Mario Ramirez 20 EE, test engineer, Leonard DRS, Milwaukee

Jack Manzara 20 CE, software embedded communications, Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bennett Rausch 20 CE, firmware engineer, FoxConn, Mount Pleasant, Wis.

Danny Martens 20 SE, full-stack software engineer, Paylocity, Schaumburg, Ill.

Zachary Rian 20 EE, graduate engineer, Realtime Utility Engineers Inc., Fitchburg, Wis.

Ian Martin 20 ME, technical solutions engineer, Epic, Madison, Wis.

Jensen Ritzow 20 BME, technical Solutions Engineer, Epic, Verona, Wis.

Michael Marvel 20 BBA, area manager, Amazon, Sussex, Wis.

Matt Rohan 20 SE, full-stack software engineer, Vail Systems Inc., Chicago

Phoebe Matel 20 BME, specification development lab technician, Silgan Containers, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Loveday Roman-Lemac 20 AE, structural engineer, Kiewit, Houston

Joe Maule 20 EE, electrical engineer, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis. Liz Meulemans 20 NU, registered nurse, Advocate Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee Devin Moder 20 BME, consultant, Avenair, Irvine, Calif.

Brittany Moore 20 AS, actuarial analyst, Milliman, Brookfield, Wis. Aaron Murphy 20 SE, software engineer, Acuity Insurance, Sheboygan, Wis. Max Mutza 20 ME, mechanical engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis. Eric Nelson 20 CE, electrician, Electrical Contractor, Milwaukee Mike Osep 20 AE, mechanical engineer, HGA Architects and Engineers, Milwaukee Adam Ostrowski 20 ME, design engineer 1, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis.

Steven Peterson 20 ME,

navy officer, U.S. Navy, Everett, Wash.

Hope Rosten 20 BBA, financial planning associate, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee Zach Runte 20 ME, rotation engineer, Williams International, Pontiac, Mich.

Collin Saad 20 ME, mechanical engineer, Midwest Engineered Systems, Waukesha, Wis. Joe Sanborn 20 ME, reliability and maintenance engineer, Gehl Foods, Germantown, Wis. Jordan Sanders 20 BME, field service engineer—transfusion service ambassador, Abbott, Appleton, Wis. Jamie Schara 20 BME, regulatory affairs specialist, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wis. Timmy Schick 20 EE, field applications engineer, WEC Energy Group, Appleton, Wis. Patrick Schmidt 20 ME, automation electro-mechanical engineer, Metalcraft of Mayville, New Berlin, Wis. Derek Schrimpf 20 ME, manufacturing engineer, Dramm Corporation, Manitowoc, Wis.

Guinevere Sieradzki 20 BME, technical solutions engineer, Haskris, Elk Grove Village, Ill. Chad Simmerman 20 EE, embedded systems software developer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis.

Kate Wallschlaeger 20 IE, industrial engineer, Plexus Corp., Neenah, Wis. Steve Wasielewski 20 SE, computer scientist, FBI-Minneapolis, Minneapolis Jacob Weaver 20 BBA, army officer, U.S. Army, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Haley Simon 20 NU, registered nurse, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City

James Skubal 20 ME, design engineer 1, Superior Diesel Inc., Tomahawk, Wis. Harry Snyder 20 ME, mechanical engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Milwaukee Julian Sonn 20 CE, project engineer, Selzer-Ornst Co., Milwaukee Sabrina Stangler 20 SE, software engineer, Direct Supply, Milwaukee Reed Stracener 20 CVE, project manager, Waukegan Steel, Waukegan, Ill. Josh Svehla 20 SE, software engineer, Discover Financial Services, Riverwoods, Ill. Peter Tamblyn 20 ME, mechanical design engineer, HeatTek, Ixonia, Wis. Erik Tank 20 EE, electrical engineer, Komatsu Mining Corp, Milwaukee Nathan Tremore 20 CM, product engineer, Layton Construction, Boise, Idaho

Brooke Scott 20 AE/CM, project engineer, J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Milwaukee

Tony Valente 20 ME, CEO, GT Enterprises, Milwaukee

Noah Shellons 20 IE, supply management analyst, Harley-Davidson, Milwaukee

Allison Vandenberg 20 ME, manufacturing engineer, Krueger International, Manitowoc, Wis.

Alexander Shulta 20 CE, associate systems engineer, Uline, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Alyssa Walker 20 NU, registered nurse, ProHealth, Waukesha, Wis.

Ethan Van Thiel 20 EE, electrical engineer, Faith Technologies Inc., Menasha, Wis.

Tamara Weaver 20 NU, 2nd lieutenant, U.S. Army, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tacoma, Wash.

Joseph Weber 20 CE, entry design and product engineer, Matthews International, Waukesha, Wis. Nikky Weise 20 ME, engineer, Milwaukee Tool, Brookfield, Wis. Jason Werner 20 EE, electrical design engineer, Milwaukee Electronics, Glendale, Wis. Kimberly White 20 BME, manufacturing engineer, Brunk Industries, Lake Geneva, Wis. Amy Williams 20 CVE, project engineer, Pepper Construction Company, Chicago John Wilson 20 CVE, product engineer, Kiewit, Fairfield, Calif.

Nate Windsor 20 ME, facilities engineer, ATI Forged Products, Cudahy, Wis. Sammie Wiskirchen 20 BME, biological technical sales engineer, Waukesha, Wis.

Devin Zillmer 20 ME, design engineer, J.W. Speaker, Germantown, Wis.

Marriages Sarah Etzel 15 NU married Clifford Schorr 15 EE on June 13, 2020 in Estes Park, Colorado.

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CLASS NOTES

DIMENSIONS FALL/WINTER 2020–21

Births Mason (left), born in June 2020 to Andrew 06 ME and Shauna CM 05, MSEM 08 Boyer with his cousin Everhett, born January 2020 to William and Heidi (Beilke) Carlson ’11 NU.

MSOE Alumni and Friends Tour

Germany Revealed

OCT. 15–26, 2021

Tour highlights include Rudesheim, Eisenach, Weimar, Dresden, Meissen, Berlin, Hamburg and Lübeck.

Contact Elaine Nap, MSOE alumni tours, at (414) 241-0733 for more information.

Golfers raised

$229,544 for student scholarships at MSOE’s President’s and Regents’ Golf Outings this summer.

To Charles 02 CE and Sarah Fastner, a son, Mason Charles, born May 20, 2020.

In Memory Roland De Rosier 49 ETE

Richard Rhodes 67 ME

Rolf Lanzkron 53 EE

Peter Bos 72 EE

David Plank 56 ACT

Richard Emmerich 72 MSEM

Thomas Egan 57 ME

Patrick Coleman 74 IM

Rodney Douma 59 EE

Donald Schwartzburg 74 IM

Robert Wade Jr. 61 ACT

Rick Wuorenma 77 EE

Scott Gordon 62 EE

Thomas Rossmiller 94 EE

Nicolas Kounelis 63 ME

Thomas Furdek 02 MSEM

Robert Czech 67 AAS

Zachary Calonder 13 ME

Honorable Dr. James I. Finley ’68 EE, passed away Oct. 4, 2020.

Finley earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from MSOE in 1968. He most notably served as the U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology from 2006 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. In this role, he provided oversight for program management, systems engineering, the Defense Acquisition University, the Defense Contracting Management Agency and Joint Advanced Concepts.

The Department of Defense awarded him with the Medal for Distinguished Public Service. In 2002, he founded the consulting firm The Finley Group LLC, and served as senior vice president of SecureRF Corp before retirement. In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor in Engineering from MSOE and in 2019 was inducted into the MSOE Alumni Wall of Distinction.

Paul Gutting, P.E., professor emeritus in the Mechanical Engineering Department, passed away April 15, 2020. Gutting taught at MSOE for 20 years.

Thank you!

Matt Mundt ’14 wins big on Shark Tank The sharks were eager to swim with MSOE alumnus Matt Mundt ’14 after he and his wife Angie Kupper (both pictured above) pitched their highly reviewed Sleep Pod by Hug Sleep startup on the nationally televised Shark Tank program Oct. 30. The husband and wife duo chose a $300,000 investment from sharks Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner in exchange for 20% equity in Hug Sleep. They received offers from all five of the sharks during the show. The Sleep Pod blanket (think adult baby swaddle) uses the same science behind weighted blankets, but without any of the downsides of heat, size and weight, to help get a better night’s sleep. The Sleep Pod uses four-way stretch material to provide compression, applying gentle pressure that hugs that body. After dozens of positive reviews by media outlets including Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Yahoo! and more, producers from ABC’s Shark Tank approached Mundt and Kupper, a mental health therapist, to pitch the start up.

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CLASS NOTES

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The sky is not the limit

B

MSOE SCHOOL OF NURSING

At the center of compassion and care for 25 years

Brian Manning ’10

Brian Manning ’10 knew he was destined to be an engineer ever since he was a kid, and he even has the “what do you want to be when you grow up” survey from kindergarten to prove it.

As a mechanical engineering student at MSOE, Manning was one of the original members of the rowing team—an experience that created many of his favorite memories at MSOE, including competing in the Dad Vails championship race when his team of “newbies” took home second place.

Manning went on to receive his master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University.

He also worked at a company in Chicago developing alternative-fuel internal combustion engines, and then proceeded to work at SpaceX where he was a responsible engineer on the Falcon 9 thrust structure.

Being in that SpaceX environment felt like being in the Apollo days of NASA and gave me a glimpse of the incredible things people can do when they are inspired.”

After receiving his MBA in London in 2018, Manning and some of his grad school friends started Xona Space Systems. The company is developing a new generation of high-accuracy position, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions for intelligent systems.

Delivered via a secure, high-power signal from low Earth orbit, the patent-pending Pulsar™ service from Xona aims to enable the next wave of connected technology.

Manning was inspired to start this mission after working for SpaceX where he witnessed a phenomenal company with a clear mission and a dedicated workforce.

In his free time, Manning enjoys building and racing motorcycles.

“Being in that SpaceX environment felt like being in the Apollo days of NASA and gave me a glimpse of the incredible things people can do when they are inspired. As the founding team was in the early days of forming Xona, I began to realize that this was the same type of team that could build something that would change the world. On top of that, we knew we would have a blast doing it, so we all figured we owed it to ourselves and each other to take the plunge and start Xona.”

Manning hopes Xona will help spread modern technologies across the country while keeping them safe and accessible for all users.

“There are a ton of modern technologies, such as autonomous cars, that have immense potential to benefit humanity, but to do so they need to be accessible and they need to be safe. This is what our system is designed to enable, whether it means keeping a car in its lane in the middle of a snowstorm, or safely landing a drone on a hospital masked in fog. Precise and reliable global navigation has potential to benefit an extremely wide range of markets.”

The Marquette, Michigan native and self-proclaimed “Yooper” would love to see the world of autonomy reach his hometown one day to keep the community safe while driving on snow-covered winter roads.

“The system we are developing is a big step in the right direction to help make this happen,” said Manning.

In 1995, MSOE opened the doors to the School of Nursing after a merger with the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing. Four years later, MSOE celebrated the first class of SON graduates.

The original MSOE School of Nursing laboratories (below) were located in the Allen-Bradley Hall of Science and featured a critical care lab and a basic care lab. Enrollment steadily increased each year, prompting the construction of the greatly expanded and highly-technical Ruehlow Nursing Complex in the Campus Center.

The first class of MSOE School of Nursing graduates.

Left to right: (back row) Steve Strunsee, Peter Hopkins, Bibiana Kassens Hopkins, Gina Sanfilippo, Jeffrey Conner; (middle row) Mary Strand, Evelyn Hansen, Tammy Marsh, Tracy Kanten Alexanian; (front row) Stacy Schweiger, Karen Miller.

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AN MSOE DEGREE PAYS OFF This time of year, prospective college students and their parents are evaluating post-high school plans.

Equally important are the caliber of education an institution is offering, and the long-term value of the degree. Those who attend MSOE quickly realize it is a solid investment in their future with an extremely high return. Several third-party organizations agree, as seen below. Find a complete list at msoe.edu/rankings.

9th Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs overall in the U.S.

Forbes America’s Top Colleges (every year since 2008) Money Magazine Best Colleges for Your Money (2020)

4th Best

msn Money Private colleges with the best return on investment (2020)

Computer Engineering Program in the U.S.

Princeton Review Best in the Midwest (every year since 2003)

6th Best

PayScale Inc. • Highest average early and mid-career salaries of any college or university in Wisconsin (2020-21) • Highest return on investment (ROI) of any college or university in Wisconsin, 71st best in U.S. (2020)

College for Veterans in the Midwest

11th Best Civil Engineering Program in the U.S.

Top Performer in Social Mobility

U.S. News & World Report (2021)

11th Best

5th Best

12th Best

8th Most

Mechanical Engineering Program in the U.S.

Value School in the Midwest

Electrical Engineering Program in the U.S.

Innovative University in the Midwest

Among the Best

Master of Science in Nursing Programs in the U.S.

8th Best

University in the Midwest