Iowa Engineer 2023

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

ENGINEERING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

AT THE FRONTIER OF TECHNOLOGY ISAAC JOHNSON, 2023 ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING GRADUATE IN THIS ISSUE: ANN MCKENNA NAMED NEXT COE DEAN BME STUDENT LEADS DANCE MARATHON 30 SONG, HARWOOD EARN CAREER AWARDS

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

TABLE OF C O N T E N T S 1

Greeting from Dean Nembhard

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Ann McKenna selected as next College of Engineering Dean

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Center for Hydrologic Development expands national reach

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Guided by the light

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Witold Krajewski presents at UI’s 40th Presidential Lecture

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Keri Hornbuckle named 2023 UI Distinguished Chair

The University of Iowa College of Engineering Office of the Dean 3100 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences Iowa City, Iowa 52242–1527

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Casey Harwood earns NSF CAREER Award

Phone: 319-335-5764 Fax: 319-335-6086 iowa-engineer@uiowa.edu engineering.uiowa.edu

14 Testing automated driving on rural roads

Iowa Engineer is published for College of Engineering alumni and friends

18 Iowa Technology Institute hosts 7th International Digital Human Modeling Symposium

Dean Harriet Nembhard Director of Marketing and Communications Jason Kosovski Editor Brian Morelli Copy Editor Melanie Laverman

10 Xuan Song receives NSF CAREER Award 12 Leaving her mark on Iowa engineering

16 UI research lab torn apart by tornado

20 Staff member represents CoE at FIRST Global Competition in Geneva 21 Lichtenberger Engineering Library receives Patent & Trademark Resource Center designation 22 Faculty Achievements 24 CEE students’ plans for pocket neighborhood come to life

Contributing photographers Hailey Boileau, Aneta Goska, Simone Stecker UI Photography: Tim Schoon and Justin Torner

25 Kim “Avrama” Blackwell named DEO of Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering

Contributing writers Kristine Roggentien, Breanna Shea, UI Office of Strategic Communication

30 BME student to lead Dance Marathon 30

Design Benson & Hepker Design © 2023, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 522421316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (TDD), diversity@uiowa.edu.

26 At the frontier of technology

32 Like ice cream? Thank a ChemE 34 Robotics competitions inspire drive to engineering 36 ISE student named cadet group commander of Air Force ROTC 37 Alumni support LatinX students interested in STEM degrees 38 The University of Iowa bridges four generations of the Ashton family 40 Honored Alumni Awards 43 Graduation by the Numbers 44 In Memoriam: William “Bill” Edward Eichinger, 1954–2023 45 Alumni News 49 In Memoriam

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

F R O M TH E D E AN

The distinctive work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni is nothing short of transformative.

HARRIE T B. NEMBHARD, DE AN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, R OY J. C A R V E R P R O F E S S O R O F ENGINEERING

Greetings from the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa!

We are delighted to bring you this year’s issue of Iowa Engineer. Among the themes in this magazine, you will find that excellence, resilience, and community stand out.

Our faculty members have been recognized with some of the highest university and professional honors, such as being named a University Distinguished Professor, delivering the annual UI Presidential Lecture, and receiving the highly prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.

The academic experience in our College of Engineering means not only that our students receive an outstanding education but that they also see the connections between engineering and our broader society, the need to spark excitement for students interested in STEM fields, and how leadership roles in the college and across campus will position them for success beyond Iowa.

Throughout the year, the college has faced new, unexpected challenges such as when a tornado touched down in Coralville, destroying one of our research facilities. We were grateful that there were no injuries to our faculty, staff, or students. Just as we did during the pandemic, we made the necessary pivots and adjustments that allowed our work to continue and move forward.

follow its many successes. The distinctive work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni is nothing short of transformative. I continue to be inspired by the ways this college is improving human health, stewarding environmental resources, and developing emerging technologies, which will impact every aspect of our lives. I have enjoyed interacting with our ambitious and entrepreneurial students, who I am confident will go on to change the world. I have met many alumni whose careers beyond this campus have made the world safer, more accessible, and more sustainable.

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this campus community and provide leadership for this wonderful college.

Harriet B. Nembhard Dean, College of Engineering Roy J. Carver Professor of Engineering

As many of you know, my time as dean of the College of Engineering ended July 1, 2023, when I took on the role of president of Harvey Mudd College. The University of Iowa and its College of Engineering will always be a special place for me, and I will continue to

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Ann McKenna selected as next College of Engineering Dean Ann F. McKenna, vice dean of strategic advancement at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University and professor of engineering in the Polytechnic School, has been named dean of the University of Iowa College of Engineering. She will begin on Aug. 16.

McKenna has been at Arizona State University since August 2010, serving in numerous roles including director of the Polytechnic School, interim vice dean for research and innovation, and chair of the Department of Engineering.

McKenna succeeds Harriet Nembhard, who announced in December 2022 she had been named president of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, and began the new role on July 1.

“Dr. McKenna is an accomplished leader, researcher, and teacher, and I am confident her innovative mindset will strengthen and grow the College of Engineering for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel. “I am excited by her vision for the college and her plans to enhance partnerships across campus.”

“It is clear the University of Iowa is a special place that embodies a collaborative spirit and values working across disciplines to develop innovative and impactful solutions to complex technological challenges.”

A N N F. M C K E N N A , INCOMING DE AN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

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McKenna was one of three finalists invited to the UI campus in late April and early May to interview for the deanship. The search was led by a committee co-chaired by Sara Sanders, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Jun Wang, the James E. Ashton Professor of Engineering and interim department executive officer of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

McKenna earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1988; a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in 1991; and a PhD in engineering education from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2001.

Before joining Arizona State University, McKenna served as a program director at the National Science Foundation in the Division of Undergraduate Education and was the director of education improvement in the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Her research focuses on entrepreneurial thinking in the context of engineering faculty mentorship and curricular innovations, design teaching and learning, and inclusivity in higher education engineering structures, culture, and policies.

In 2019, she was named an American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Fellow for demonstrating outstanding contributions to engineering education. She has twice been the recipient of the ASEE best overall paper award (1998 and 2011), as well as the recipient of the outstanding paper award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers/ASEE Frontiers in Education conference (1997).

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the dean of the College of Engineering. It is clear the University of Iowa is a special place that embodies a collaborative spirit and values working across disciplines to develop innovative and impactful solutions to complex technological challenges,” said McKenna. “I am thrilled to join such a talented and dedicated community to help advance and grow the College of Engineering.”

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Center for Hydrologic Development expands national reach The College of Engineering (CoE) established a new research center, the Center for Hydrologic Development (CHD), designed to improve the prediction and management of water-related hazards. CHD draws on the expertise of IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering.

Funding for the center comes from the new $360 million Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), based at the University of Alabama and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The CoE expects to receive up to $21 million from CIROH in the first five years.

Larry Weber, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the new research center, expects CHD to play a

critical role in helping the National Weather Service achieve its goal of a water- and weather-ready nation.

“The new Center for Hydrologic Development will build on the work of the Iowa Flood Center and provide a mechanism for researchers and students to expand flood center innovations beyond Iowa,” said Weber, who is also co-founder of the Iowa Flood Center.

CHD will focus on several key areas of research supporting CIROH’s commitment to advance the forecasting of floods, droughts, and water quality to improve decision-making. The new center will support a team of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars seeking experience in cutting-edge hydrology and informatics research.

Leveraging IFC’s expertise in hydroinformatics (water information systems), CHD will help NOAA advance web-based visualizations of critical waterrelated data. IFC’s innovations, such as the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS), will serve to fasttrack the wide-scale implementation of new tools to support CIROH. “We have this unique opportunity because of the vision and leadership of the Iowa Legislature in establishing the flood center in 2009,” said Witold Krajewski, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Iowa Flood Center.

“The new Center for Hydrologic Development will ensure Iowa remains a national leader in hydrologic research and education.”

CIROH consists of a constellation of about 30 academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government and industry partners across the United States and Canada that will work together to support four broad themes: water prediction, hydrologic modeling, hydroinformatics, and the impacts of social, economic, and behavioral sciences on water prediction.

TOP LEFT: The Center for Hydrologic Development will support CIROH’s efforts to improve and enhance flood maps for the nation that more accurately communicate current and projected risks.

LEFT: The Iowa Flood Center hosted CIROH Executive Director Steven Burian to exchange ideas and discuss opportunities to accelerate research and education and outreach to build resilience to water-related challenges. Of the nearly 30 CIROH members and partners, the University of Iowa was the first to receive an in-person visit.

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GUIDED BY THE

Fatima Toor’s research shines in the College of Engineering

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a child, Fatima Toor was aware of the environmental threats facing the world. The magazines she read discussed the permeation of pollution on the planet and its impact on health.

That curiosity and concern guided Toor as she advanced through school and has continued to influence her professional career as a researcher and scholar.

“I’ve always been very interested in developing technology that would better the environment and health,” said Toor, a University of Iowa (UI) associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and the Lowell Battershell Chair in Laser Engineering. “All of these technologies I am developing have a place in medicine and environmental monitoring.”

While seeking solutions to these grand challenges continues to drive her, expertise in photonics, or the study of light, is Toor’s instrument. Toor designs photonic devices that detect, generate, or manipulate light.

This manifests in a diverse portfolio of studies: infrared sensors to help farmers apply fertilizer more efficiently, the use of light to treat sarcoma, a rare and deadly form of cancer, and integration of photonic and electronic materials to improve optoelectronic devices, such as high-performance computers, sensors, and photovoltaic cells.

Collaboration is fundamental to Toor, who joined the College of Engineering in 2014. She holds an appointment as an associate professor of physics and astronomy and is an associate member of the UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center - Experimental Therapeutics team.

Toor partners with the Carver College of Medicine on a study using infrared lasers that can preferentially ablate tumorous tissues while avoiding healthy tissue. This could lead to less-invasive surgical tumor ablation, resulting in faster recovery times and fewer side effects.

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Professor Fatima Toor (left) examines data with students Daniel Keefe, Tyler Nelson, and Xavier Uhrmacher (second from left to right) in a laboratory in the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories building.

“This research effort allows us to be very targeted in the treatment of solid tumors as well as other pathological conditions, such as plaque in veins that can lead to stroke,” Toor said. “This is innovative, and that is what makes it so exciting. It is really going to impact patient care.”

Toor has emerged as a leader in her field and on campus, as well as a valued mentor to students.

“Without her insightful eye over my work and her dedication to the research field, I would not have the dedication and appreciation towards conducting research that I have today,” said Jacob Sindt, a former research assistant in Toor’s lab who earned an electrical engineering degree in 2023.

Along with colleague John Prineas, a UI professor of physics and astronomy, Toor was named the 2022 Iowa Innovator of Year by the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center for a mid-infrared semiconductor optoelectronics startup. Also in 2022, Toor was announced as a senior member of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and was appointed chair of the UI Faculty Senate Research Council.

“Engineers can innovate in a way that can change the world,” Toor said. “You can be part of inventing something that has never been thought of and can make a positive difference in our daily lives.”

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Krajewski presents at UI’s 40th Presidential Lecture Witold Krajewski, director of the Iowa Flood Center, and Kristy Nabhan-Warren, associate vice president for research, delivered Iowa’s 40th presidential Lecture in March in the International Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union.

The lecture was titled “Rivers of Discovery: UI Research, Iowa, and the World.” Krajewski and Nabhan-Warren explored how research from the UI matters to our regional, national, and global understanding of our past, present, and future.

“There is no better way to honor 40 years of the Presidential Lecture series than to highlight the cutting-edge research being done at Iowa by these two exemplary faculty members,” said UI President Barbara Wilson. “They embody this institution’s values, and like our state’s rivers, their important scholarship flows to people and communities of the state of Iowa and the world.”

“[Witold Krajewski and Kristy Nabhan-Warren] embody this institution’s values, and like our state’s rivers, their important scholarship flows to people and communities of the state of Iowa and the world.”

BARBAR A WILSON U N I V E R S I T Y O F I O WA P R E S I D E N T

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Krajewski also is the Rose and Joseph Summers Chair in Water Resources Engineering, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and a research engineer at IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering.

Krajewski has led the Iowa Flood Center since its inception in 2009 and was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2021. He is internationally recognized for his advances in flood prediction and flood risk reduction, which has turned Iowa into a more flood-resilient state and serves as a model for other states across the country. His research in hydrometeorology, remote-sensing, and water resources engineering has resulted in more than 250 journal publications.

Krajewski earned a Master of Science in environmental engineering and a PhD in water resources systems from Warsaw University of Technology in Poland.

The Presidential Lecture Series provides an opportunity for distinguished faculty members to present significant aspects of their work to the greater university community and general public.

The university established the annual series to encourage intellectual communication among the many disciplines that constitute the UI, as well as to provide a public forum for scholarship, research, and creative achievement. The series is made possible by the generosity of donors of unrestricted gifts to the UI Center for Advancement.

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Hornbuckle named 2023 UI Distinguished Chair The prestigious honor recognizes faculty nationally and internationally renowned for their scholarship, teaching, and service Keri Hornbuckle, Donald E. Bently Professor of Engineering, was named a recipient of the 2023 University of Iowa Distinguished Chair.

The accolade represents one of the most prestigious honors granted to faculty members at Iowa. It acknowledges scholars who are distinguished at a national and global level, and have made significant contributions to the university, the state of Iowa, and beyond through outstanding achievements in research, teaching, and/or service. Those selected for the honor receive additional financial resources to support their professional activities, enabling them to further extend their scholarly impact.

She has published more than 100 research studies in prestigious scientific journals. After her appointment as director of the Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) in 2018, she led the program’s successful renewal of a $13 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her ISRP studies on PCBs in public schools, indoor air, building materials, and children’s blood have been widely cited and featured in major media outlets, leading to important policy changes.

Hornbuckle, along with Mark Blumberg, F. Wendell Miller Professor and chair in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, will hold the title of UI Distinguished Chair for the duration of their faculty appointments at Iowa. In accepting the title, they will relinquish their previously held endowed positions.

“We are proud to honor and celebrate the contributions of these esteemed faculty members with the University of Iowa Distinguished Chair,” said Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost. “Our two newest honorees have had a profound impact on our university and within their respective fields. Their exceptional scholarship, along with their commitment to teaching excellence, elevates our institution and inspires our next generation of leaders.”

Hornbuckle joins Michelle Scherer, professor of civil and environmental engineering, as an honoree from the College of Engineering. Scherer earned the honor in 2021.

Hornbuckle, who has been a faculty member at Iowa for 25 years, is an internationally recognized leader in environmental engineering. Throughout her career, she has focused on the exposure and emission of air pollutants, including insecticides, herbicides, surface active compounds, fragrances, and industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

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“I want to flip the concept on its head – take FSI from something to be avoided and turn it into a well-understood and wellcontrolled aspect of day-to-day design.

Doing so can open up new avenues for improving the fuel efficiency and the safety of transportation by air, land, and sea.”

C A S E Y H A R W O O D, A S S IS TA N T P R O F E S S O R O F M E C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G

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Casey Harwood earns NSF CAREER Award to study fluid-structure interactions

ENGINEERED

structures and the fluids, such as air and water, that surround them are constantly interacting. The flapping of a flag or the humming of power lines in a strong breeze are near-daily reminders of these mutual interactions.

The interactions also produce important effects on bridges, aircraft wings, and ship hulls.

At worst, it can lead to catastrophic infrastructure failures, such as the infamous collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. These structures also impact the flow of fluids around them and, if properly controlled, could lead to safety and performance improvements.

This dynamic known as the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) is at the heart of the research of Casey Harwood, University of Iowa assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and the focus of Harwood’s new National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.

“Fluid-structure interactions are everywhere, affecting transportation and infrastructure that the world relies on,” Harwood said. “Despite that, the engineering community lacks rigorous methods to study and understand these interactions.”

Engineers are skilled at designing around the potential hazards of FSI, Harwood said, but he sees value in understanding these interactions.

“I want to flip the concept on its head – take FSI from something to be avoided and turn it into a well-understood and well-controlled aspect of day-to-day design,” Harwood said.

“Doing so can open up new avenues for improving the fuel efficiency and the safety of transportation by air, land, and sea.”

Harwood views the NSF CAREER Award as a statement that scientists and engineers recognize the importance of FSI research and education. The CAREER grant is among NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty. The five-year, $604,690 CAREER grant will support the project titled “Understanding and Harnessing the Dynamics of Complex Fluid-Structure Interactions.”

Harwood, who joined the UI College of Engineering in 2017 and is also a researcher at IIHR— Hydroscience and Engineering, said the current experimental methods do not paint a complete picture of the potential hazards or the realizable benefits of fluid-structure interaction.

When a structure is immersed in water, for example, the water can increase the effective mass of that structure by as much as 500%, but the way that additional mass is distributed – as well as the effects of bubbles, waves, or currents – is not captured by existing experimental methods. Vibration of structures also produces small motions in the surrounding fluid that Harwood hypothesizes can be used to make wings and propellers more resistant to stall or to reduce the drag of objects like tractor trailers or ship hulls.

As part of the grant, Harwood plans to conduct a series of experiments to attain a deeper and more actionable understanding of the mutual effects of flexible structures and fluids upon one another. The goal is to leverage the information for smarter, safer, and more efficient design, modeling, and monitoring and, ultimately, improved safety and performance.

Harwood expects to involve graduate and undergraduate research assistants, with pipelines for paid assistantships, for-credit projects, and involvement with student outreach initiatives on and off campus. He also plans to initiate a project-based workshop for secondary school students in a rural and economically disadvantaged school district in Washington state.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWARD: HTTPS://NEW.NSF.GOV/FUNDING/OPPORTUNITIES/ FACULTY-EARLY-CAREER-DEVELOPMENT-PROGRAM-CAREER

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IOWA ENGINEER 2023

Xuan Song receives NSF CAREER Award to research novel ceramic manufacturing methods CAREER Program is NSF’s most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty

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University of Iowa engineering professor has received the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to advance research of ceramic additive manufacturing, which could benefit industries, including health care, defense, and energy.

Xuan Song, James A. Chisman Faculty Fellow and associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, is studying the use of water-based ink to fuse ceramic particles in the additive manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing is commonly referred to as 3D printing.

“Winning the CAREER Award is a great recognition of my research and education efforts in ceramic additive manufacturing in the past years,” said Song, who is also a faculty affiliate of the Iowa Technology Institute and directs the Additive Manufacturing Research Lab. “It will allow my lab to further mature our patent-pending additive manufacturing technology towards commercialization and enable us to promote advanced manufacturing to younger generations, in particular underrepresented groups.”

The CAREER program is NSF’s most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the “potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.”

Additive manufacturing offers immense potential to create complex ceramics used in specialty applications, including thermal insulators, armors, implants, and sensors.

Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing can be more efficient, enhance design freedom, and enable superior properties.

However, additive manufacturing of complex ceramic parts on an industrial scale has been challenging due to issues such as cracking and carbon contamination.

Song believes the use of water-based ink holds promise. This ingredient followed by compression and a mild heating process would eliminate the need for an organic binder, which has led to many of the known problems.

Through the five-year CAREER Award, Song will fine-tune the theory by studying numerous variations and aspects of the process.

If successful, this process will enable complex thick-walled ceramic component manufacturing on a commercial scale and help accelerate wider adoption of ceramic additive manufacturing in many industries.

“This research is expected to establish new manufacturing capabilities that can create complex industry-level ceramic products with novel design and unprecedented properties, such as sonar transducers, bioceramic implants, space engines, and construction structures, and will significantly reduce the production time,” Song said. “It will also significantly reduce energy consumption and avoid hydrocarbon and greenhouse gas emissions in ceramic additive manufacturing.”

The award will also have an educational component, including “Print-in-the-Dark-Side” for students with vision impairment, “Ceramic Art 3D Printing” for K-12 students, and crossdiscipline ceramic printing initiatives for undergraduate students.

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LEAVING HER MARK

her time as dean of the College of Engineering, Harriet Nembhard focused on raising visibility of the college’s research strengths, supporting undergraduate and graduate student success, and building community throughout the college while also expanding partnerships across campus.

“What brought me to Iowa remains true today – this is a small college of distinction with a close-knit community of innovative and committed faculty and staff, enterprising students, supported by dedicated and accomplished alumni,” said Nembhard.

“Whether we are working to mitigate floods, protect data, improve health care, or advance new automated technologies, the work that we do has a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of Iowans and people across the country and around the world. Our students leave here as ethical and globally aware engineers who understand that engineering innovation has a societal impact and that we must consider the equitable distribution of technology and information in all aspects of the engineering process.”

RIGHT: Dean Nembhard engages with students at the fall block party.

Nembhard took a keen interest in enhancing the undergraduate and graduate education experience in the College of Engineering through curricular and cocurricular offerings. She spearheaded establishing the Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Pathways (LEaPP) Academy, which is designed to broaden student experiences through engagement with successful alumni, programming focused on the societal impact of engineering, and fostering a culture of leadership among engineering students. She also sought new directions for both the Hanson Center for Communication and the Virginia A. Myers NEXUS of Engineering and the Arts.

Taken together, these initiatives provide the college’s bright, engaged, and energetic students with a rich set of opportunities for enrichment and growth across the entire span of their academic career. Additionally, master’s and doctoral programs have benefited from new courses and certificates on artificial intelligence, modeling and simulation, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.

During her tenure, several other strides were made, including junior faculty development initiatives leading to several CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF), large grant initiatives leading to NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track-II grants with

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Iowa State University, the creation of the new Center for Hydrologic Development, and the transition from the National Advanced Driving Simulator to the Driving Safety Research Institute. Nembhard was also committed to supporting staff and was instrumental in the creation of a collegiate tuition assistance program and in setting aside a pool of funds for staff professional development activities.

One goal of the college’s Strategic Plan, revisited and completed after Nembhard joined the college, is to expand the number of faculty members by 20 over the next five years. To date, the college has hired 11 new faculty members, including a new department chair, whose research and scholarship will build on the college’s strengths in engineering for human health, engineering for the environment, and engineering for emerging technologies.

Of course, having joined the college in summer 2020, Nembhard faced some unexpected challenges brought on by the upheaval of higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not being able to interact with colleagues and students in face-to-face settings, Nembhard noted that the pandemic taught her several leadership lessons.

“Among the many lessons we learned during COVID-19 a central theme emerged: agility,” said Nembhard. “We needed to establish channels for crisis communication to inform students, parents, and the entire college community of the evolving situation and plans moving forward. We needed to keep students engaged and support their physical and mental wellbeing by checking in with them and providing them with systems in areas such as academic advising, counseling, and career services. We needed to change delivery of courses and labs by using new digital platforms and asynchronous learning.”

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ON IOWA ENGINEERING “Dean Nembhard navigated the college through challenging times, starting with the global pandemic and ongoing shifts in higher education due to demographic and other national trends. The Dean’s Office during her tenure was a hub of activity, and all of us are grateful to her for her caring, calm, and expert leadership, leading to dynamic changes and strategic initiatives that will have a lasting impact on the college.”

H . S . U D AY K U M A R , A S S O C I AT E D E A N F O R G R A D U AT E P R O G R A M S , R E S E A R C H A N D FA C U LT Y

Emerging from the pandemic, Nembhard worked diligently to foster a renewed sense of community in the college, returning to in-person awards and recognition ceremonies, distinguished lectures, and alumni events as well as establishing new gatherings such as the fall block party where students could engage with student organizations, employers, and departments at the festive event outside of the Seamans Center.

Recognized for her leadership and commitment to advancing STEM education, Nembhard was recruited to become the next president of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, a role she began on July 1, 2023. At Harvey Mudd, Nembhard will continue her national leadership focusing on the significant changes in higher education, notably the need to produce STEM graduates who can meet the needs of humanity and society.

“Students who graduate with STEM degrees are uniquely positioned to protect lives and livelihoods while also improving quality of life for people everywhere,” said Nembhard. “I have seen firsthand the kinds of ground-breaking work produced by our students who have been mentored by faculty and staff whose transformative research defines the impact that STEM education can have on society.”

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Representing rural America

Testing automated driving The University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute is leading the way in testing a highly automated vehicle on unmarked and gravel roads, in winter weather, and at highway speeds.

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unique characteristics of rural roads make them more dangerous than urban roads: unpaved surfaces with no lines, sharp curves, the presence of farm equipment, etc. While 19% of Americans live in rural areas, nearly 50% of traffic fatalities occur on rural roads.

This is why automated vehicles (AVs) need to be tested in rural areas, not just in large cities: to find out where the technology works well and— more importantly—where and why it doesn’t.

“As part of the U.S. ADS Demonstration Grant program, we’re the first to take on this challenge in rural America and provide a public data set to show where the technology needs to improve before widespread implementation can even be considered,” explained Omar Ahmad, project manager of the Automated Driving Systems (ADS) for Rural America project. Ultimately, the project—funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation—aims to represent rural areas and facilitate the development of AV technology for all road types.

Alec La Velle, a University of Iowa industrial engineering alum and now a staff design engineer, is one of the team’s three safety drivers. “My job is to monitor the system’s automation to provide a safe and comfortable ride, while looking out for any situations where the automation may have issues so I can take over manual control of the vehicle,” he explained.

A few key findings of the project have included: •

The automation does not change how it drives when the weather is poor, and precipitation buildup can blind the sensors.

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Narrow gravel roads with loose shoulders pose a challenge for AVs as they drive in the right lane vs. drive down the center, as is typical of human drivers.

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The vehicle may not be able to classify all hazards and will slow for non-threatening objects such as dust clouds.

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The vehicle’s sensors may not “see” far enough to safely turn onto a highway where traffic is moving at 55+ mph.

Situations like these make it essential for the safety drivers to have intimate knowledge of the system’s limitations. “After countless hours of test drives, I’ve developed an understanding of how the automation behaves so that I can predict the need to intervene and avoid any potentially hazardous situations,” La Velle added.

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Next to the safety driver sits the co-pilot, who acts as a second set of eyes, monitors the system status, and can input data flags when something noteworthy occurs. The project has also recruited local riders to gather data on their perceptions of the technology.

“Despite these challenges, overall we’ve shown that the technology shows great promise in rural areas and that there is a thirst for this technology, especially from those who have limited transportation options,” said Ahmad.

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on rural roads

A NEW NAME FOR DRIVING RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA The University of Iowa National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) has been renamed to the University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute (DSRI) to better reflect the unit’s established expertise in driving simulation and emerging work in on-road driving research.

“We’ve been doing on-road research for more than 15 years, and we collaborate with virtually every college on campus, so it’s time we carry a name that better represents our interdisciplinary capabilities and broader mission of safer roads for all,” said Dan McGehee, director of DSRI and associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, emergency medicine, public health, and public policy.

As part of the UI College of Engineering, NADS obtained more than $27 million in funding over the past decade for on-road research studies alone, not including simulator studies.

Throughout its history, its research has been entirely self-funded through competitive contracts with the government, industry, and foundations. “We hope this new name will also help expand access to funding opportunities by clearing up any misperceptions that we only do simulation,” added McGehee.

Alec La Velle (driver’s seat) and Omar Ahmad sit in a custom-built automated Ford Transit used for studying automated driving systems at the University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute. La Velle earned a BSE in 2017 in industrial engineering with a focus in manufacturing and design.

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James Street Laboratory was unoccupied at the time, and no one was injured

UI RESEARCH LAB TOR

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University of Iowa’s James Street Laboratory in Coralville, Iowa, was in the direct path of an EF2 tornado that tore through the area in the afternoon on March 31. The tornado had wind gusts up to 125 mph and was one of 30 confirmed tornados in eastern Iowa that day. The laboratory was unoccupied at the time, and no one was injured.

The building sustained significant damage. The tornado ripped off about a third of the roof, crumpled nine of ten large overhead doors, slammed a truck into the side of the building, and collapsed a 30-foot-tall concrete block wall on the west side of the building. With help from UI Emergency Management, the city of Coralville, and many other internal and external partners who provided support, the building was secured, and plans to rebuild are underway.

“We are devastated to see the damage to this engineering facility,” said Harriet Nembhard, dean of the College of Engineering. “Although it’s a significant loss, we were relieved to learn that no faculty or staff were injured. Engineers are resilient. We will rebuild, and we will continue our critically important research.”

The James Street Laboratory was home to two scale models of the Santa Clara River that IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering (IIHR) researchers had built to study sustainable fish passage by using a vertical slot fish ladder. Each model was about 40 feet wide and 100 feet long, requiring 300 tons of sand and 100,000 gallons (about 378,541 L) of stored water to study how sediment deposition can keep water and fish moving freely through the Freeman Dam. The laboratory has supported the design and construction of large-scale physical hydraulic models for clients across the country, including major hydroelectric utilities and municipalities in the states of Washington, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and California.

IIHR is planning to get back into the existing space to resume research activities. The Iowa Board of Regents has approved funding to repair the laboratory, including reconstructing the building and repairing the HVAC, plumbing, specialized research equipment, and other systems.

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Photos taken shortly after the EF2 tornado on March 31, 2023, reveal the significant damage to the James Street Laboratory, building contents, and vehicles.

RN APART BY TORNADO

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Alumni of the University of Iowa’s Virtual Soldier Research group gathered for a photo at DHM 2022 at the Iowa Memorial Union.

DHM Best Paper Award winner Xianlian Alex Zhou (center) poses with conference chair Karim Malek (left), and Gunther Paul, co-chair (right).

Chris Murphy, application developer for ITI, presents at DHM 2022.

Marco Tena Salais, research assistant at ITI (left), and Jasbir Arora, UI civil and environmental engineering professor emeritus (right), sit in the audience during DHM 2022.

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Iowa Technology Institute hosts 7th International Digital Human Modeling Symposium

THE

University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI) hosted the 7th International Digital Human Modeling Symposium (DHM) in collaboration with the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) Technical Committee. The 3rd annual Iowa Virtual Human Summit (IVHS) presented by Booz Allen Hamilton was held immediately following.

The three-day event occurred on Aug. 29-31, 2022, at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City, with a virtual option for those who could not attend in person.

DHM focused on academic advancements in the field of digital human modeling, while IVHS focused on industry application.

ITI was selected to host DHM 2022 by the IEA Technical Committee. The symposium had most recently been held in Skövde, Sweden; Montreal, Canada; and Tokyo, Japan. ITI Director Karim Malek was the chairperson of DHM 2022. DHM co-chair was Gunther Paul, adjunct associate professor at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.

DHM 2022 proved to be a reunion for Virtual Soldier Research (VSR), an ITI research center that has led the way for digital human modeling research at UI and beyond. VSR is well known for Santos and Sophia – physics-based, biomechanically accurate human avatars that specialize in human behavior prediction.

VSR and UI alumni to visit included Esteban Peña, Joo Kim (00BSE, 05MS, 06PHD), Jingzhou “James” Yang (03MCS, 03PHD), Mahdiar Hariri (12PHD), and Xianlian Alex Zhou (07PHD). Also in attendance were current VSR members Chris Murphy, Rajan Bhatt, Marco Tena Salais, emeritus professor Jasbir Arora, and Malek, who directs the VSR research group.

The event was especially sweet for Zhou, who earned a PhD in mechanical engineering at UI in 2007 under advisor Jia Lu and conducted research at VSR. Not only was Zhou able to reconnect with his former campus, he earned the “best paper” award for DHM 2022.

“It feels great to come back to Iowa City and meet so many old friends and professors who I had interactions with,” said Zhou, associate professor of biomedical engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. “I especially enjoyed walking around the campus like I did so many times about 15 years ago.

On top of that, winning the award is a surprise but also a special honor that I will always feel proud of.

Go Hawkeyes!”

Zhou presented a study examining a predictive simulation model intended to find optimal assistance from exoskeleton devices to lower-limb joints such as hips, knees, and ankles, in order to significantly reduce the metabolic cost of human walking.

DHM included 50 peer-reviewed presentations.

University of Iowa Libraries published conference proceedings. They are available at https://pubs.lib. uiowa.edu/dhm/. A selection committee carefully reviewed the presentations and named winners in four categories.

More than 100 people registered for the event, with approximately half participating remotely and the other half in person. The in-person audience included attendees from approximately seven countries and 15 states within the U.S. The virtual audience expanded representation to more than 13 countries and 20 states domestically.

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Staff member represents CoE at FIRST Global Competition in Geneva Rebecca Whitaker is the coordinator for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Programs at the University of Iowa College of Engineering. FTC is a middle and high school-based program in which teams of students design, build, and program robots to complete tasks. Under Whitaker’s direction, the CoE has been the Affiliate Partner organization for FIRST Tech Challenge since 2009. Through this partnership, the Iowa program has become known across the world as a leader with FIRST Tech Challenge.

Whitaker was invited to attend the 2022 FIRST Global Competition October 13-16, 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here are her reflections about the event.

In October 2022, I was fortunate to have been able to attend the 2022 FIRST Global Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of FIRST Global is to inspire leadership and innovation in youth from all nations by empowering the students through education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

This robotics program – for students ages 14-18 – strives to have one team representing each country.

FIRST Global strives to be the Olympics of youth robotics. The opening ceremony kicks off with a parade of flags and teams representing different countries.

In Geneva, there were 162 teams, each representing their own country. Additionally, there was one team, “Team Hope,” with students who were refugees.

Another 17 teams competed virtually, due to various political barriers. Each team receives the same robot kit, and they must make a robot to accomplish tasks with that kit of parts. Depending on shipping, customs, and other political barriers, some teams received their robot when they arrived at the event.

Other countries had qualifying tournaments for the best team to advance to represent their country.

The theme of the challenge changes each year, but all of the themes are related to grand challenges facing the world. The theme for the 2022 FIRST Global was Carbon Capture, which highlighted the importance of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to reduce and prevent its accumulation in the atmosphere. Beyond the robot, the teams could participate in a research project, which was sponsored by XPRIZE, called the New Technology Experience. The teams were able to learn about the impact of carbon dioxide in their country and develop their own innovative solutions to combat it.

Three teams were recognized for their innovation to technology.

My role was to coordinate the tours for the VIPs who attended. The VIPs included representatives from XPRIZE, various UN ambassadors, FIRST Global sponsors, and celebrity guests, including Will.I.Am. I am a member of the planning committee for the 2023 FIRST Global Event in Singapore and look forward to participating.

Whitaker worked with a variety of volunteers while in Geneva. These volunteers hailed from Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe.

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Initiative provides individual inventors access to additional resources from federal agency

Lichtenberger Engineering Library receives Patent & Trademark Resource Center designation

The University of Iowa Lichtenberger Engineering

Library is now part of a select group of higher education institutions across the country—and the only one in Iowa—to be designated a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The PTRC is a resource for those with personally owned inventions, such as student inventors and inventors from the community. It offers individuals from the university and throughout the state the ability to tap into the rich services provided by the USPTO’s vast networks of experts on intellectual property, which includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. It also serves as a resource for University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) staff as they work to protect faculty inventions owned by the university.

“The Lichtenberger Engineering Library has an abundance of experience promoting and delivering information and instruction services to the campus community and public, which is an essential element of the mission of the UI Libraries and university,” said John Culshaw, Jack B. King University Librarian.

“We’re very pleased to now have this opportunity for our skilled and dedicated librarians to continue collaborating to serve individuals looking to develop something impactful.”

“We congratulate the Lichtenberger Engineering Library for undertaking this initiative, and the USPTO looks forward to working together to extend these important opportunities to as many individuals as possible,” said Robert Berry, manager of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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The Lichtenberger Engineering Library offers a number of ways to learn more about intellectual property and how to access patent records, including oneon-one assistance, trainings, and workshops. It also collaborates with a number of campus partners such as the UIRF, which is part of the Office of the Vice President for Research; the College of Engineering; the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC); the Pomerantz Business Library; and others.

The Lichtenberger Engineering Library also maintains an active instructional schedule, which includes on-campus lectures and classes covering intellectual property topics as a part of its information literacy program. These sessions are available as for-credit classroom work as well as open to the public.

The UIRF works to obtain intellectual property protection on innovations created by researchers through their work at the university and partners with industry for the commercial development of new products and services. While the UIRF manages patent protection for university-owned inventions, until now there has been no resource on campus for those with personally owned inventions. In addition, access to patent records can serve as an asset for university faculty conducting basic research—often scientific discoveries, especially those from industry, end up in published patent applications even if they are never published in traditional academic journals.

“UIRF is particularly excited that this resource is now available for our faculty start-up companies,” said Marie Kerbeshian, assistant vice president and executive director for the UIRF. “As these companies create their own intellectual property independent of the university, they are now able to seek advice that will help them develop a strong intellectual property portfolio.”

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FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

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Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering

Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Nicole M. Grosland, associate dean for academic programs and professor of biomedical engineering, was selected for Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program. The ELATES program is a national leadership development program designed to promote women in academic STEM fields, and faculty allies of all genders, into institutional leadership roles.

The cohort of ELATES Fellows included 30 faculty members from over 25 institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada.

Jun Wang, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, was announced as American Geophysical Union’s 2022 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award recipient. The Ascent Award recognizes excellence in research and leadership in the atmospheric and climate sciences. The James E. Ashton Professor of Engineering and interim chair of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering maintains a prolific research portfolio while mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and serving as assistant director of the Iowa Technology Institute.

Jerald Schnoor, professor of civil and environmental engineering, delivered two important lectures.

He was a featured speaker at the 2022 World Food Prize, the flagship event of an Iowabased nonprofit that aims to “sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.” The Allen S. Henry Chair in Engineering also gave the 2022 Grand Challenges Arntzen Lecture at Arizona State University. The topic is “Sustainability in the Face of Climate Change.”

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Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Soura Dasgupta, an electrical and computer engineering professor and F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor, is a principal investigator on a $3.2 million interdisciplinary research project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The study investigates if electroencephalogram, an established test for seizure disorder, can be used to accurately diagnose Parkinson’s disease, differentiate it from similar disorders, track its progression, and optimize treatment. The research team also includes neurologists Ergun Y. Uc and Nandakumar Narayanan and Jeffrey Dawson, a biostatistician.

The 2022 Iowa Aviation Economic Impact Report recognized the importance of the Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) to Iowa’s aviation industry. The Iowa Department of Transportation report highlighted OPL as a “cutting-edge facility that is leading the way for advancements in (uncrewed aircraft systems) technology.” The flight test laboratory is directed by Tom “Mach” Schnell, Jim “Max” Gross Chair in Engineering, professor of industrial and systems engineering, OPL’s chief test pilot, and associate director of the Iowa Technology Institute.

Caterina Lamuta, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has been named to the Office of Naval Research 2023 Young Investigator Program. The highly competitive program targets early career researchers who demonstrate prior academic achievement and potential for significant scientific breakthroughs. Lamuta is working to create “Softopus,” a soft underwater robot with the form and capabilities of a real octopus. The intelligent robot will be capable of performing adaptive texture modulation, manipulation, and locomotion.

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CEE students’ plans for pocket neighborhood come to life In Fall 2022, the ribbon was cut on a new residential development in Maquoketa, Iowa. What makes the homes unique are their price tags and the extensive slate of partners that coalesced to bring them into existence.

Bear River Cottages is a pocket neighborhood of 10 homes built around a shared green space and located in the northwest quadrant of Maquoketa. The twoand three-bedroom homes, which all promptly sold and have current residents, are each about 1,000 square feet and cost $150,000.

CAPSTONE PROJECT ADDRESSES HOUSING NEEDS Original designs for the neighborhood were created by University of Iowa civil and environmental engineering students in conjunction with the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Studies’ (IISC) partnership with the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA). Morgan Kinney (18BSE), Mayra Corona (18BSE), and Tanner Schropp (18BSE) worked on the plans for their senior capstone project during the 2017-18 academic year.

The project was part of a request by the city of Maquoketa to attract more families to the area and provide much-needed affordable housing. Via a 2015 housing study, city administrators knew they would need at least 300 single-family, workforce-affordable homes by 2025.

The town, which has about 6,000 residents and is located equidistance between the larger communities of Dubuque and Davenport, attracts visitors to its namesake caves and other outdoor activities. Like many smaller Iowa communities, it struggles to maintain and grow its population.

STUDENT PLANS REDUCE OVERALL COSTS According to current Maquoketa City Manager Joshua Boldt, what the city wanted from the students was challenging: “You had to create as lean of a home as possible while still giving each structure its own character.” He added that each home needed to be the same square footage and have the same siding but not look the same. “That’s not easy to do without making it really boring!” he said.

The students’ work was spot on. Their plans led to a concept design by commercial engineers that the city was able to pitch to the Iowa Economic Development

Tanner Schropp, Morgan Kinney, and Mayra Corona

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Kim “Avrama” Blackwell named DEO of Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering

Authority and the Federal Loan Home Bank in order to gain assistance for low-income home building.

The two organizations, along with IISC, were among 16 partners that combined forces to make the development a reality.

Kim “Avrama” Blackwell, professor of bioengineering at George Mason University, has been named the DEO of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering. The appointment is effective August 16, 2023.

The students’ plans for the pocket neighborhood, which they defined as “a condensed housing development guided by the intention to create a more tranquil and sustainable living environment while providing a strong sense of community,” addressed issues of grading, sewer service, stormwater management, and utility extensions.

Boldt said their work was of such high quality that the costs for official plans from a commercial firm were significantly less than they would have been otherwise.

Blackwell is a world leader in the computational modeling of calcium dynamics and signaling pathways underlying neuronal plasticity. Her research investigates the mechanisms whereby particular spatiotemporal patterns of inputs produce changes in synaptic plasticity and intrinsic excitability. As part of this research, she creates novel software, using both deterministic approaches and stochastic approaches, either stand-alone or in conjunction with other neural modeling software, in order to address otherwise intractable problems.

IISC PART OF NETWORK OF STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP

Blackwell holds a BS in biomedical engineering from Boston University as well as an MSE in systems engineering, a VMD in veterinary medicine, and a PhD in bioengineering, all from the University of Pennsylvania.

Along with financial contributions from partners, other ways in which the neighborhood was made possible included lowering of the interest rate by the Iowa Finance Authority, waiving of extension costs for each home by the Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility, and sales of the land for just $10 by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors. It truly took a village to build a village.

Blackwell succeeds Joseph Reinhardt, who served as BME DEO for nearly 12 years.

The project broke ground in 2019, and homes were ready for buyers in fall 2022. At the ceremony in September, Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, said, “It proves that we can grow our population one family at a time with the right housing for our robust workforce and investing in the economy where jobs are thriving.”

The pocket neighborhood was one of about 20 projects completed by IISC in partnership with ECIA. Other projects included a land bank feasibility study by the College of Law’s Community Empowerment Law Project; a storytelling and community development plan co-led by students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs and the Center for the Book that led to creation of a splash pad in the town of Delmar; and a strategic communications plan for ECIA developed by students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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An engineer driven by faith and family

2023 ECE GRADUATE ISAAC JOHNSON HOPES TO WORK

AT THE FRONTIER OF TECHNOLOGY INTENTIONALLY OR NOT, Isaac Johnson embraced the College of Engineering slogan “Engineer … and something more” during his time at the University of Iowa.

The 2023 electrical engineering graduate leveraged his college career to build a solid and diverse foundation inside and outside of the classroom.

This meant excelling in school and exploring other interests through activities and organizations.

“Isaac’s proactive and positive approach to his engineering education have allowed him to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

Simply put, he approaches engineering, problem solving, and collaboration with a confident excitement that is hard to teach.”

T Y L E R B E L L , A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R O F ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

“Everything built its way up to my senior year,” the Dubuque native said. “Getting out of my comfort zone and finding opportunities to lead really prepared me for the next phase of my life.”

Some activities were more leisurely or satisfied a curiosity, such as pickleball, spikeball, Scuba certification, ballroom dancing, and a negotiations class.

Other organizations were central to Johnson’s life.

In the Iowa chapter of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), a student electrical engineering club, Johnson rose to president, spearheading a variety of events and mentoring younger students. Working as resident assistant for three years offered key lessons in leadership and managing others.

Rashad Hanna, a Burge Hall Coordinator, served as Johnson’s supervisor when he was a resident assistant.

“Isaac is the kind of leader that every supervisor wants on their team,” Hanna said. “He’s passionate about seeing students succeed, and his interactions

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with everyone come from a genuine place of care.

Isaac embodies being a student leader amongst his peers by setting examples, having a heart of humility, and using his creativity to problem-solve challenges.”

By far the most meaningful endeavor was a collegebased Christian ministry called the Salt Company, in which Johnson engaged in a variety of capacities including Bible study leader.

“The thing that made the biggest impact has been being part of the Salt Company,” Johnson said. “It has changed my life here on campus.”

Faith and family were constants that helped carry Johnson on his busy journey through college. A mind for engineering and a love for interacting with people have also served him well.

Isaac is one of three Johnson brothers to attend UI and the second brother to graduate with an engineering degree.

“I always liked the idea of electrical energy and how energy flows,” said Johnson, noting his father was also an electrical engineer. “I want to understand how our devices work.”

As Johnson looks to life after college, he has a job as a systems engineer with Collins Aerospace, based in Cedar Rapids, serving as a liaison between Collins engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard with a focus on displays and systems in the Chinook helicopter.

“Isaac’s proactive and positive approach to his engineering education have allowed him to succeed inside and outside of the classroom,” said Tyler Bell, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Simply put, he approaches engineering, problem solving, and collaboration with a confident excitement that is hard to teach.”

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In the long term, Johnson wants to work on the frontier of technology creating opportunities for humans to do things they have not before. The foundation built in the College of Engineering and at the University of Iowa has prepared him for that path.

“Since before college started, people said, ‘college goes so quickly,’” Johnson said. “And it is so true. If you make the most of every single hour, every single day, you will get the most of the experience. I enjoyed every bit.”

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Isaac Johnson helps attendees of an IEEE event in Spring 2023 create a holster for a laser pointer they programmed to draw a design.

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BME student to lead Dance Marathon 30 AS

a seventh grader, Sushma Santhana (24BSE), like many in Eastern Iowa, prayed for Austin “Flash” Schroeder, a 14-year-old who battled and succumbed to a form of T-cell lymphoma in 2014.

A priority this year is connecting student dancers with families, such as through volunteering at the hospital, so the students can truly see the impact of Dance Marathon, as Santhana has been able to experience.

Inspired by Flash, Santhana volunteered with Dance Marathon and started a Dance Marathon chapter, which raised $130,000 during her time at the newly opened Liberty High School. Now a rising senior studying biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa (UI), Santhana has been named executive director of UI Dance Marathon 30.

Santhana’s passion for making a difference for cancer patients extends beyond Dance Marathon into her professional aspirations. She is focused on becoming an engineer who designs medical devices specifically for children with cancer.

“I wasn’t originally planning to apply because it seems like a big commitment,” Santhana said. “After the event in February, it was such a great experience and I met so many great families. That gave me the push to want to do more.”

UI is one of five founding institutions of Dance Marathon, a student-run organization centered around an annual 24-hour event in which volunteer dancers raise money for pediatric cancer research and to support pediatric cancer patients and their families.

UI Dance Marathon has raised over $34 million, including pledging $5 million to name the 11th floor of the Stead Family Children’s Hospital the University of Iowa Dance Marathon Pediatric Cancer Center.

Santhana’s task is much more than overseeing the “big” event. It is a year-round effort of outreach, attracting sponsors, holding smaller events, meetings, and more.

Santhana leads a 200-person team of student leaders – including 13 directors and 40 chairpersons – and works with two professional staff to put on the event, which attracts approximately 1,000 participants annually. The next dance will be the second to return to in person after two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I see Dance Marathon as providing emotional support for children and families when they feel the world is terrible,” the North Liberty native said. “And then on other side as an engineer, I can approach it by making devices that support them physically.”

“I see Dance Marathon as providing emotional support for children and families when they feel the world is terrible.

And then on other side as an engineer, I can approach it by making devices that support them physically.”

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Like ice cream?

THANK IF

seeing liquid nitrogen ice cream created excites people about chemical engineering, Omega Chi Epsilon (OXE) is all for it.

The University of Iowa (UI) chapter of the chemical engineering honor society pops up ice cream stands in the Seamans Center at the Party After the (UI Homecoming) Parade and during finals week to highlight a tangible example of chemical engineering at work.

“Seeing the kids’ faces – their eyes get so wide – is so rewarding,” said 2022-23 OXE Vice President Kiana Resch, of Palatine, Illinois. “I love being able to show people this is what ChemE is all about. This is what a ChemE can do.”

It takes about 45 seconds to flash freeze the batter.

A ladle of liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit is poured into a mixing bowl as a Bosch drill with a whisk attachment blends the ingredients.

Safety is paramount. Protective gloves, closed-toe shoes, and a cryogenic freezer called a Dewar for liquid nitrogen storage are some of the measures to keep OXE members safe.

“You can get frostbite within seconds if not handled properly,” said 2022-23 OXE President Josh Halverson, of Iowa City. “Safety is a big part of chemical engineering. We take various precautions to prevent an incident, and we have several steps to mitigate if something happens.”

Patrons can get a bowl of freshly made ice cream with their choice of toppings – chocolate and caramel syrup, sprinkles, whipped cream and more – at $2 per serving. The proceeds help cover the supply costs and raise money for future events.

The event is a visible way for two-year-olds through retirees to learn about chemical engineering, said

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A CHEME

“I love being able to show people this is what ChemE is all about.”

K I A N A R E S C H , 2 0 2 2–2 3 OX E VICE PRESIDENT

C. Allan Guymon, longtime OXE advisor and Sharon K. Tinker Process Safety Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

“It gives students a visible example of the types of things chemical engineers do,” he said.

The ice cream recipe, tools, and process have been handed down from one OXE group to the next for several years. Each cohort strives to improve something, such as updating the standard operating procedure, enhancing safety protocols, or upgrading equipment.

The current leadership team of Halverson, Resch, and Sam Mittal, of Bartlett, Illinois, all graduated in May with chemical engineering degrees, so new leaders will emerge to keep the tradition going.

“I am excited to see who takes over and see what they do with it,” said Mittal, who served as 2022-23 OXE treasurer.

ABOVE: Members of OXE pose during a pop-up liquid nitrogen ice cream event at the Seamans Center.

RIGHT: OXE member and spring 2023 graduate Anthony Scarpelli mixes liquid nitrogen ice cream.

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Robotics competitions inspi AS

a high schooler at Davenport West, Alexa Christiansen’s life revolved around FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. The student organization known for robotics competitions instills a variety of skills with a focus on STEM (science, technology, education, and math).

FIRST is how Christiansen connected with peers at a new school, gained skills such as marketing, leadership, and collaboration, and became inspired to pursue a career in engineering.

“I learned how to solve problems,” said Christiansen, now a University of Iowa student on track to graduate with a mechanical engineering degree in 2024. “That was the first time I thought, ‘I want to be an engineer. I want to go to school for engineering.’”

Winning did not hurt either. Her team won the 2016-17 Inspire Award and the 2017 World Championship. Their robot was not only well designed – successfully launching wiffle balls into a central hoop, for one activity – but the team secured sponsors, marketed events, developed engineering processes, fabricated parts, and established and mentored younger teams.

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ire drive to engineering “I enjoyed it all so much,” Christiansen said. “I couldn’t pick which aspect was my favorite. Leadership allowed me to be involved in all aspects. I really enjoyed the competition side, and I liked teaming up with people to solve problems.”

Iowa appealed to Christiansen in part because it had a FIRST program.

In college, Christiansen has transitioned from participant to volunteer, organizer, judge, mentor, and coach.

Rebecca Whitaker, the program delivery partner for FIRST Tech Challenge, Iowa, based at the College of Engineering, has known Christiansen since high school and has worked with her in college.

Whitaker describes Christiansen as enthusiastic, always positive, friendly, energetic, and driven and willing to do her best.

“It is always encouraged for FIRST alumni to give back when they are in college, and Alexa has gone beyond that,” Whitaker said. “In addition to volunteering, Alexa also mentors three teams.”

While FIRST has been a mainstay throughout college life, Christiansen has had a diverse array of experiences. She has served as a teaching assistant for thermodynamics, a course taught by Al Ratner, a professor of mechanical engineering. She participated in an internship with Collins Aerospace and conducted research in a lab led by Jun Wang, a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering. She has also worked her way through school at employers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Cottage Grove Place, a senior community in Cedar Rapids.

“Robotics through it all was the passion,” Christiansen said. “It was what made me happy.”

“That [a high school robotics competition] was the first time I thought, ‘I want to be an engineer.

I want to go to school for engineering.’”

ALE X A CHRISTIANSEN (ME , 24)

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ISE student named cadet group commander of Air Force ROTC The University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Lab (OPL) hosted the Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 (Det 255) award ceremony and the installment of a new cadet group commander. OPL and Det 255 have a collaborative relationship.

Isaac Eigner-Bybee (22BA), a research assistant at OPL, was installed as the new cadet group commander. Eigner-Bybee is a graduate student of Tom “Mach” Schnell, the Captain Jim “Max” Gross Chair in Engineering and OPL director.

RIGHT: Isaac Eigner-Bybee was installed as the cadet group commander of the Air Force ROTC Detachment 255.

BELOW: Cadets of the Air Force ROTC Detachment 255 gathered for a ceremony at the Operator Performance Lab.

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The cadet group commander is a student role in command of the 49 student cadets in Det 255, which is based at the University of Iowa. As the new group commander, Eigner-Bybee urged the cadets to fulfill their potential as students, leaders, and athletes.

The detachment’s professional officers presented numerous awards recognizing cadets’ achievements in academics, fitness, and leadership.

Eigner-Bybee is pursuing a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering under the mentorship of Schnell, a professor of industrial and systems engineering and also OPL’s chief test pilot.

The Mediapolis native’s research focus is studying the role peripheral vision – or the lack thereof – plays in spatial orientation for a pilot in a limited-visibility situation. He is involved in testing the benefits of a helmet-mounted display with augmented reality filling in the periphery vision.

During the ceremony, Det 255 was presented with a plaque recognizing it as the best small detachment in the northwest region. Det 255 has also been named the national best small detachment for 2022. OPL has a working relationship with the U.S. Air Force, periodically hosting sessions of the Air Force Test Pilot School. OPL also regularly employs graduates from the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, who come to Iowa to complete PhDs under Schnell’s mentorship.

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

Alumni support LatinX students interested in STEM degrees Two alumni from the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa have focused their work on providing resources for LatinX students who have expressed an interest in engineering and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.

In 2004 Ed Moreno (88MS) and Dr. Carol Moreno (83DDS) created the West Liberty Youth Dream Catchers (WLYDC), which “empowers children through mentoring and scholarship to attain a postsecondary education.” Caroline VanIngen-Dunn (83BSE) is the senior director of the Center for Broadening Participation in STEM (CPB-STEM) at Arizona State University, “a research organization specializing in developing and implementing inclusive and equitable educational strategies specifically for underrepresented students in STEM.” Moreno, who is a current West Liberty, Iowa, school board member, saw an opportunity to help students pursue higher education through empowerment, mentoring, and scholarship.

“As a first-generation student myself, I know firsthand the challenges students face, especially when they do not have family members who can mentor them about the college experience,” said Moreno.

“Mentors are everything. WLYDC mentors can help kids get excited about their future and can assist with collegiate preparation. WLYDC also provides scholarships of $2,000 a year for four years of undergraduate and graduate education.”

Foundation’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Alliance program to Accelerate Latinx Representation in STEM Education (ALRISE).

“We are focused on creating processes and resources for STEM faculty and staff at both Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and two-year colleges, which are often a first destination for students pursuing fouryear degrees,” said VanIngen-Dunn. “We provide training on cultural responsiveness and awareness as well as tap into underserved communities, which have not been well-served by companies that can provide internships or full-time employment.”

Among its goals, CBP-STEM is focused on increasing the number of underrepresented students in STEM education and the number of skilled and prepared workers for the STEM workforce. It serves students who have not traditionally been well represented in STEM fields, including first-generation college students and students from rural communities. Its support includes helping individual faculty members with incorporating broadening participation strategies in their proposals and assistance with implementing appropriate messaging for student recruitment into STEM fields as well as creating welcoming environments that keep students in STEM. Both Moreno and VanIngen-Dunn have taken their work as Iowa engineers and translated it into impact in their local communities and beyond.

Retiring in 2015 after 36 years in the water industry, Moreno is now focusing on supporting Iowa students, particularly first-generation, underrepresented students from West Liberty, Muscatine, and Columbus Junction. Moreno has been president of the West Liberty (WL) League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) since 2016 and is co-chair of the Iowa LULAC Education Committee. WL LULAC recently awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships to West Liberty students, many of whom attend the UI. Moreno is also a board member for the UI’s Latino-Native American Alumni Alliance.

At CBP-STEM, Caroline VanIngen-Dunn and her team work to address the reasons for an achievement gap between Hispanic students and white students pursuing higher education. Her work is supported by a $10 million grant from the National Science

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

37 13

The University of Iowa bridges four generations of the Ashton family A century-long connection to the University of Iowa brought the Ashton family back to Iowa City to receive the Family Spirit Award.

GROWING BY: T YLER STRAND

up in a family of engineers, Jim Ashton (64BSCE) was destined to follow in the footsteps of his elders at the University of Iowa. He and his older brothers—George D. Ashton (61BSCE, 71PhD) and Bill Ashton (62BSCE, 63MS)—witnessed the rewards of hard work from their father, Frank W. Ashton (30BSCE), who joined the Rock Island District (Illinois) Army Corps amid the Great Depression. He applied for a janitor position, though the corps hired him as a civil engineer—and he rose through the ranks to become its chief engineer 50 years later. The three brothers also participated in frequent engineering discussions with their father and uncles George C. Ashton (23BE) and Ned L. Ashton (25BE, 26MS), who were the first generation of Ashton brothers—and sons of George S. Ashton—to earn UI engineering degrees.

as recipients of the university’s Family Spirit Award during Family Weekend festivities. The award honors a Hawkeye family who supports the UI and contributes toward bettering the state of Iowa.

At the family cabin north of Clinton, Iowa, Ned Ashton brought out the slide projector to share projects he was working on, including bridges, restorations, and a large radio telescope. It was only a matter of time before the second generation of Ashtons undertook major projects of their own. “From a very young age, I knew that engineering was an honored career and lifestyle,” said Jim Ashton, who earned advanced degrees at MIT and Harvard and directed a team of international manufacturing subcontractors that produced the F-16 fighter plane. “I don’t think it ever occurred to me that I would study anything else.”

LASTING IMPACT

Throughout more than 90 years, 30 members of the George S. Ashton family of Davenport, Iowa, graduated from the University of Iowa, including nine from the College of Engineering. On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, the Ashton family were recognized

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“The university has given our family very much,” said Jim Ashton, whose sister, Janet Ashton Ross (58BA), was an award-winning artist who met her husband, Timothy A. Ross (61BA, 63MA, 72PhD) at Iowa.

“We have tried to give a little back—and when we’ve been able, it seemed appropriate to help others get the same education and experiences.” Across four generations, the Ashton family has attended Iowa for a combined 104 years, including 43 in the College of Engineering.

Bill Ashton’s path toward engineering was further influenced by his father introducing him to a couple of staff members at the College of Engineering.

“Their emphasis on quality and ethics had a lasting impact on my professional career in design and public works,” said Bill, whose wife, Ann Milligan Ashton (88BS), is a fellow Iowa grad. He became a professional engineer and president of Ashton Engineering, which has helped design trail systems and bridges across Iowa, including the High Trestle Trail Bridge near Madrid. “The (college) instilled in me the understanding that any job requires a team of many different abilities.”

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

The three second-generation brothers each had their own unique specialties and skills. George D. Ashton—who wed UI graduate Nancy Murray (62BA, 69MA)—participated in the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research and worked with the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory on research surrounding river ice processes and problems. He and his brothers were inducted into the college’s Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy, and Jim Ashton’s support includes three named professorships: the James E. Ashton Professorship in Engineering, the George D. Ashton Professorship in Hydraulics, and the William D. Ashton Professorship in Civil Engineering. The UI engineering legacy continued with Bill Ashton’s sons, Steven W. Ashton (95BSE) and David J. Ashton (88BSE), who married Mary Kay Eckerle Ashton (88BSN). David and Mary Kay’s daughter, Abby Ashton Kelly (16BS), followed Mary Kay’s path into the health care industry.

EFFORTS BEYOND ENGINEERING The Ashtons’ work ethic also led to athletic success and numerous accolades, including eight Iowa letterwinners. In 2004, Bill Ashton and Jim Ashton made the lead gift that led to the naming of the Ashton Cross Country Course in honor of their coach, Francis Cretzmeyer (36BA, 38MA). “That gift was in return for the discipline, motivation, and enthusiasm instilled in us by Cretzmeyer and our teammates,” said Bill Ashton. “Their encouragement made us better people and helped us throughout our careers to overcome adversity, obtain measurable goals, and manage multiple objectives.”

Ned Ashton was an All-American swimmer for the Hawkeyes and served as a professor of civil engineering at Iowa. He and his wife, Gladys Brooker Ashton (26BSPE), had three daughters, Joye Ashton McKusick (51BSPE, 74MA), Ruth Ashton Johnson

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(55BA), and Jane Ashton Nelson, who carried forth the active Hawkeye legacy in other ways. McKusick, who married track and cross country letterwinner Severt Jack Davis Jr. (56BA), was a member of the Iowa Mountaineers and an avid swimmer. She later married Marshall McKusick, a professor emeritus of anthropology at Iowa. Ruth Johnson was lead drummer of the Scottish Highlanders and competed on the field hockey and swim teams before becoming a decorated swim coach. She inspired her husband, Ronald Johnson (64MA), to become a water safety instructor. Jane Nelson attended Iowa for two years, and her husband, Sherman Nelson (57BSCE, 62MS), earned a civil engineering degree at Iowa and was a letterwinner for the men’s swim team. George C. Ashton’s daughter, Carol Ashton Kelly (51BA), is one of eight biological second-generation Ashtons who attended Iowa.

Multiple generations of the Ashton family gather for a photo at the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center during Family Weekend festivities in fall 2022.

McKusick’s three children, Karen Davis Leibold (77BS), Deborah Davis Germann (81RADT), and Lorraine Davis-DeLong (85BS), are all UI graduates.

The Hawkeye ties grew when Karen Leibold wed Charles Leibold (76BA), who served as lead drummer for the Iowa Scottish Pipes and Drums. Bill Ashton’s daughter, Patricia Ashton Rolfstad (93BA), married Iowa wrestling letterwinner Erik T. Rolfstad (93BA), while the most recent UI alumnus is Gregory Germann (17BBA), son of Deborah Germann and her husband, Keith Germann (76BBA). The Hawkeye family also includes Gregory Germann’s wife, Morgan M. Germann (16BA).

Whether it was in the classroom, engineering lab, athletics, or life, the Ashtons have demonstrated a high standard in all their pursuits. “Across four generations of the Ashton family, the University of Iowa and the College of Engineering are held in high esteem for setting us up for careers and doing productive and rewarding things,” said Jim Ashton.

“It is great to feel so good about a university that has played a major role in shaping many in the family, in the ability to do things—and do them honorably.”

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Honored Alumni Awards In 2023, the University of Iowa College of Engineering introduced the Honored Alumni Awards to recognize alumni for leadership in the profession, service to the College, early career accomplishments, and career achievement. The program included a day full of tours, activities, and engagement on campus on April 13, 2023, capped with a banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn at which 11 distinguished alumni were honored.

DISTINGUISHED ENGINEERING ALUMNI ACADEMY • Dr. Kim Elsbach, BSE, 1985; MS, 1987 • Dr. Sudhakar Reddy, PhD, 1968 • Becky Svatos, BSCE, 1982

ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD • Stephanie Rasing, BSE, 2011

OUTSTANDING RECENT ALUMNI AWARD • Suman Sherwani, BSE, 2019

ALUMNI MERIT AWARD • Michael Fiddelke, BSE, 1999, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering • Rhett Livengood, BSE, 1985, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering • Dr. Sherri Long, BSE, 1980, Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering • Tom Mepham, BSE, 1986, Department of Mechanical Engineering • Kevin Meredith, BSE, 2001, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering • Ed Moreno, MS, 1988, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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IOWA ENGINEER 2023

CLOCKWISE: Kevin Meredith Dean Harriet Nembhard and Dr. Kim Elsbach Stephanie Rasing; Becky Svatos (left) meets with students Honored Alumni Awardees tour the Seamans Center Annex Honored Alumni Awardees at the evening banquet.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

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Honored Alumni Awards

CLOCKWISE Daniel McGehee, Dr. Kim Elsbach, Becky Svatos, and Stephanie Rasing (left to right) at the Driving Safety Research Institute Dr. Sherri Long Suman Sherwani Tom Mepham Rhett Livengood (second from left) with students Hima Joseph, Sam Mittal, and Emily Wolf (left to right) Gary Christensen, Soura Dasgupta, Dr. Sudhakar Reddy, and Tom Casavant (left to right).

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IOWA ENGINEER 2023

GRADUATION

BY THE NUMBERS 22-23

7

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH A SECOND MAJOR

148

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH A MINOR

22

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH A CERTIFICATE

54

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH UNIVERSITY HONORS

4

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH ENGINEERING HONORS

55

CANDIDATES GRADUATING WITH DISTINCTION

429 BSE DEGREES 59 MS DEGREES 30 PHD DEGREES UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

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In Memoriam: William “Bill” Edward Eichinger, 1954–2023 The College of Engineering is sad to note the passing of William “Bill” Edward Eichinger, 68, a licensed engineer who taught civil engineering tools and fluid mechanics in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa for 20 years. Eichinger passed away on January 30, 2023, at his home in Hickory, North Carolina.

Born April 26, 1954, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, he was the oldest of five children born to the late Leo and Marian Oberhofer Eichinger. Eichinger graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1976 and later returned to teach physics.

He was honorably discharged from the Army as a major in 1991 and transitioned to civilian life with a PhD in physics from the University of California, Davis. Eichinger traveled and lived all over the world, including at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, as well as in South Korea and Slovenia, doing scientific research for both military and civilian projects. The 2016 Fulbright Scholar became a visiting professor at the University of Slovenia. During his 20 years at Iowa, Eichinger received three major teaching awards along with many other awards, held the William D. Ashton Endowed Chair, and retired as professor emeritus in 2019. During his career, he published 400+ scientific papers and a scientific textbook and was on the cover of Scientific American.

Eichinger’s love for teaching and working with bright young minds all over the world was evident. During his retirement, he was an adjunct professor at LenoirRhyne University in Hickory. He was an extraordinary and gifted teacher and was highly active in mentoring student organizations such as the Concrete Canoe at Iowa and the Rocket Club at Lenoir-Rhyne. He fondly recalled a road trip with his wife, Leanne, to deliver the students’ rocket to Space America for launch.

After his daughter, Heidi Holder, and her family moved to Hickory, the Eichingers soon followed.

Eichinger is remembered for an unmatched love for his grandchildren and being a beacon of pride at their concerts and sporting events. He spent his last weekend shagging balls with his grandson and attending a volleyball tournament for his granddaughter. Survivors include his loving wife of 46 years, Leanne Marie Darrow Eichinger; his beloved daughter, Heidi Holder, and her husband Chris of Hickory; and two grandchildren, Darrow Holder (14) and Bronwyn Holder (13), both of Hickory.

“Prof. Eichinger was a brilliant and creative physicist interested in remote sensing of the atmospheric boundary layer as well as an engineer’s engineer. Students often commented on how they enjoyed Prof. Eichinger’s pragmatic and structured approach to engineering problem solving; for Bill no problem was too easy or too hard for him to address.”

L A R R Y W E B E R , E D W I N B . G R E E N C H A I R I N H Y D R A U L I C S , P R O F E S S O R O F C I V I L A N D E N V I R O N M E N TA L E N G I N E E R I N G , D I R E C T O R O F I I H R— H Y D R O S C I E N C E A N D E N G I N E E R I N G

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IOWA ENGINEER 2023

ALUMNI NEWS

1980s Robert Steckel (80BSCE) recently retired as a structural engineer and owner of a structural engineering consulting firm in Cedarburg, WI. He remains active with the Structural Engineers Association of Wisconsin, Structural Engineering Emergency Response Team, Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Wisconsin Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue, and All Hands and Hearts.

Rhett Livengood (85BSChE) accepted a position as director of sales enablement in the Data Center & AI group at Intel in Santa Clara, CA. In addition, he was named a national officer in Theta Tau, a national engineering professional fraternity, as Candidate Chapter Director.

Gregory Kirsch (87BSE) is partner and head of the intellectual property department at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta, GA. Kirsch co-edited and co-authored Bioinformatics, Medical Informatics and the Law, published by Elgar Legal Publishing.

Robert Furhmann (98BSE) is a senior managing director at Accenture in the greater Chicago area, IL. Grant Robbins (98BE) is vice president of Americas operations for the Safety & Industrial Business Group at 3M. Craig Robinson (98BSE) is an environment health and safety specialist at Carboline in Dayton, NV. Amy Theis (98BSE) is a group leader of reactive hazards at AcuTech Consulting Group in the greater Chicago area, IL.

2000s Doug Bender (02BSE) is an engineering section manager at HNTB in Chicago, IL.

Ken Wacha (05BSE 14MS 16PHD) is a research hydrologist at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Ames, IA. Tara Olds (07BSE) is director of connected and automated vehicles at Minnesota Department of Transportation in St Paul, MN.

Brandon Gillentine (15BSE) is a project manager at Metropolitan Steel Inc. in Chicago, IL. Richard Gonzalez (15PHD) is a senior manager of quality control for microbiology operations at Amgen in Puerto Rico.

Rachel Bruflodt (18BSE) is a controls engineer at John Deere in Dubuque, IA.

2010s

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Khaled Kayali (20BSE) is pursuing an MBA at University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and is a project manager at Midwest Interventional Systems in Maple Grove, MN. Baike She (20PHD) is a postdoctoral associate at the University of Florida.

Howard Chen (10BSE, 12MS, 17PhD) started as an assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering at University of Alabama – Huntsville.

Frances Grantham (05BSE) is a senior director of product management at Oracle.

Francis Hart (20BSE) is a project manager at WRH in South Amana, IA.

Kyle Losik (17BSE) is a mechanical design engineer at Acuity Brands in Des Plaines, IL.

Angel Cardenas (18BSE) is a cost model engineering manager at Grainger in Mundelein, IL.

Amy Collins (00BA 05MS) is vice president of HBK Engineering in Chicago, IL.

2020

John Zanussi (15BSE) is a process engineering manager at Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, MN.

Tony Stuntz (03BSE, 07DDS) is an angel investor at Bluffs Capital in Fort Myers Beach, FL.

1990s Raymond Richards (93BSE, 94MS, 97PhD, 10MBA) is vice president of the Dynetics Group Software Director, a subsidiary of Leidos in Owens Cross Roads, AL.

Nathan Quarderer (05BS 10MS 20PHD) is an education director at ESIIL (Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab) in Boulder, CO.

John Lamping (10BSE) is the Cedar Rapids Resident Construction Engineer at the Iowa Department of Transportation in Cedar Rapids, IA. Sean Fleming (15BSE) is an AI business development manager at NVIDIA in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

Tom Rose (18BSE) is an application engineer at Intellihot in Vernon Hills, IL. Carlos Varela-Hernandez (18BSE 23MBA) is a warehousing and logistics manager at BAE Systems in Cedar Rapids, IA.

2021 Monim Adam (21BSE) is an assistant engineer at Burns and McDonnell in Kansas City, MO. Levi Amstutz (21BSE) is a clinical field rep at Boston Scientific in Iowa City, IA. Christian Arnett (21BSE) is commissioning into the U.S. Army as an active-duty officer in military intelligence with a branch detail in infantry.

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Samuel Berry (21BSE) is an airborne radio systems engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Alexandra Humston (21BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Texas Tech University.

Bryce Timmons (21BSE) is a rotational position engineer at Phillips-Medisize in New Richmond, WI.

Elena Baptiste (22BSE) is a technology transfer scientist at Fresenius Kabi in Melrose Park, IL.

Joseph Boettcher (21BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Austin Kibler (21BSE) is a hydraulic engineer at M&W Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Kristen Zaeske (21BSE) is an associate R&D engineer at Medical Murray in North Barrington, IL.

Caleb Barnett (22BSE) is a sales engineer at EMT Engineering Sales.

Brendon Buchanan (22BSE) is a manufacturing process engineer at Proctor & Gamble in Iowa City, IA.

Jesse Bolander (21BSE) is a mechanical engineer at PRVN Consultants in North Liberty, IA.

Louis A. Lenz V (21BSE) is an application engineer at ESP International in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Daniel Zirtzman (21BSE) is a design engineer at Hall and Hall Engineers Inc. In Hiawatha, IA.

Luis Barrera (22BSE) is an AI consulting analyst at Accenture in Chicago, IL.

Maggie Burds (22BSE) is a biomedical engineer at Athena GTX in Johnston, IA.

Evan Bradley (21BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Christopher McMichael (21BSE) is a design engineer at Mestek Machinery in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Ryan Bartling (22BSE) is an engineering tech at Heartland Asphalt in Mason City, IA.

Nolan Burson (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at Northeastern University.

Noah Brown(21BSE) is an engineer in training at Stanley Consultants in Muscatine, IA. Joseph Chapski (21BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Greyson Davis (21BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Iowa.

Amy Dideriksen (21PHD) is a senior engineering manager at Avionics Advanced Technology Development in Melbourne, FL. Noah Douglas (21BSE) is a software engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Austin Duffy (21BSE) is an assistant civil engineer at Burns & McDonnell in Denver, CO, and is pursuing a Master of Science at Purdue University Online.

Molly Meade (21BSE) is an associate research and development engineer at Medical Murray in North Barrington, IL. Claudio Mema (21BSE) is a software engineer in the lead engineering program at GE Transportation, a division of Wabtec Corp.

Patrick Michael (21BSE) is an industrial engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Nasim Abu-Dagga (22BSE) is a mechanical test engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Aden Alfred (22BSE) is a construction engineer at HR Green Inc. In Chesterfield, MO.

Teagan Bell (22BSE) is a technical solutions engineer at EPIC in Verona, WI. Benjamin Bernard (22BSE) is a system engineer at Fresenius Kabi USA in Lake Zurich, IL. Nicholas Berta (22BSE) is an associate software engineer at T-Mobile in Frisco, TX. Kaleb Bierstedt (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Iowa.

Elliott Pakala (21BSE) is a mechanical product engineer at Raymond Corp. in Muscatine, IA.

Quintin Blad (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of WisconsinMadison.

Sophie Schultz (21BSE) is an industrial engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Valerie Boksa (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Duncan Szpara (21BSE) is a project engineer at Timmons Group in Richmond, VA.

Noah Healy (21BSE 22MS) is a design engineer at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City, IA.

Achala Thippeswamy (21BSE) is an R&D engineer at Boston Scientific in Maple Grove, MN.

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Ben Abolt (22BSE) is a project engineer at USG Rainier, OR.

Nolan Osland (21BSE) is a civil engineer at ShiveHattery in Iowa City, IA.

Justin Hannemann (21BSE) is an engineering technician at Terracon in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Jonah Heberlein (21BSE) is an integration engineer at Epic Systems in Madison, WI.

2022

Skylar Baum (22BSE) is a perfusionist assistant at Perfusion Solution Inc. in Urbana, IL.

Eritrea Ande (22BSE) is a consultant engineer at FM Global in Park Ridge, IL. Dorothy Anderson (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Washington.

Hailee Ausenhus (22BSE) is a quality engineer at Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, IA.

Brianna Brennecke (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Minnesota.

Matthew Brimeyer (22BSE) is an RFP consultant at McClure Engineering in North Liberty, IA. Daniella Brown (22BSE) is a design development program associate at HNI Workplace Furnishings in Muscatine, IA.

Alexander Brown (22BSE) works at Schlumberger in Oslo, Norway.

Kalynn Burton (22BSE) is a transportation engineering associate at the Iowa Department of Transportation in Davenport, IA. Garret Caltrider (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Iowa.

Madelyn Case (22BSE) is an associate scientist at Abbott Laboratories in Illinois.

Matthew Cavoto (22BSE) is an RF electrical engineer at Alive Telecom in Mokena, IL. Drew Chamberlain (22BSE) is an advisory associate at KPMG in Dallas, TX. Katie Cheeseman (22BSE) is an associate software engineer at Best Buy in Richfield, MN. Jack Cheville (22BSE) is a resin chemical engineer at Axalta Coating Systems in Fort Madison, IA. Gannon Courtright (22BSE) is an EDP Engineer at John Deere in Ottumwa, IA. Riley Cranston (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Snyder & Associates in Cedar Rapids, IA. Isaac Creech (22BSE) is a design engineer at EN Engineering in Chicago, IL.

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

ALUMNI NEWS

Thomas Dau (22BSE) is a field engineer at Orion Marine Group in Tampa, FL. Hannah DeBruin (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Ethan DeGuzman (22BSE) is a software developer at General Motors in Austin, TX. Lucas Duff (22BSE) is a software engineer at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, IA. Kristine Eischeid (22BSE) is an EIT at Bishop Engineering in Iowa City, IA. Tyler Eldred (22BSE) is a test engineer at Sierra Nevada Corporation in Englewood, CO.

Pamela Friede (22BSE) joined the Engineering Development Program for Product Engineering at John Deere in Dubuque, IA. Jacob Fuhrmeister (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Iowa.

Tessa Fuller (22BSE) is a regulatory and clinical affairs specialist at CIVCO Medical Solutions.

Abbey Floyd (22BSE) joined the Supply Chain: Early Career Development Program (EDCP) at HNI in Muscatine, IA. Aaron Fobian (22BSE) is a product development engineer at RTP Company in Winona, MN.

Wendy Houston (22BSE) is an optimized operations engineer at 3M in Monroe, NC.

Brett Jones (22BSE) is a commissioning engineer 2nd Lieutenant Helo Pilot at IMEG – U.S. Air Force.

Maria Hsieh (22BSE) is an R&D engineer at Intel in Chandler, AZ.

Mason Kannel (22BSE) is a project engineer at Centro Inc in North Liberty, IA.

Brandon Hu (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Minnesota.

Geraldine Kelderhouse (22BSE) is an aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin in Atlanta, GA.

Matthew Hall (22BSE) is a systems engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Drew Hambly (22BSE) is an entry-level bridge engineer at AECOM in Middleton, WI.

Cade Gerlach (22BSE) is a value analysis engineer at TAPCO in Brown Deer, WI.

Jordan Hanna (22BSE) is an environmental engineering consultant at Trinity Consultants in Portland, OR.

Mitchell Glazier (22BSE) is a tool design process engineer at Maclean Fogg Metform in Savanna, IL.

Ernesto Flores (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Shive-Hattery in West Des Moines, IA.

Luke Hageman (22BSE) is a software engineer at John Deere in Des Moines, IA.

Hayden Gavette (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Baylor College of Medicine.

Alex Farfan (22BSE) is an RF engineer at Motorola Solutions in Chicago, IL.

Fan Fei (22PHD) is a postdoctoral researcher at HP.

Carter Johnson (22BSE) is an HVAC systems engineer at Setpoint Mechanical in Johnston, IA.

Mitchell Hall (22BSE) is a systems engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Nihaal Gill (22BSE) is a solutions engineer at Deloitte in Chicago, IL.

Caden Fedeler (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Faheem Hossain (22BSE) is a supplier quality engineer at Collins Aerospace in Winston-Salem, NC.

Kathryn Garn (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Rice University.

Kobey Embrey (22BSE) is a manufacturing engineer at HNI in Muscatine, IA.

Dean Farwell (22BSE) is a senior embedded engineer at Athena GTX in Johnston, IA.

Liam Hagan (22BSE) is an embedded software engineer at Ainstein AI in Lawrence, KS.

Chandler Goeke (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Joseph Greif (22BSE) is a controls engineer at E91 Engineering in Davenport, IA. Kennedy Grimstad (22BSE) is a project engineer at Gracon LLC in Lafayette, CO. Jessica Grundmeyer (22BSE) is pursuing a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

Megan Grunst (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Grant Hemphill (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Nicholas Hentges (22BSE) is a software engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Caryssa Hermanson (22BSE) is an associate design engineer at Harley Davidson in Milwaukee, WI. Joseph Hershey (22BSE) is a systems engineer at Raytheon Missiles and Defense in Arizona.

Peyton Hobson (22BSE) is a software development engineer at Publicis Sapient in Denver, CO. Shane Hochstetler (22BSE) is a civil EIT at LT Leon Associates in Des Moines, IA. McKenna Horstmann (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Case Western Reserve University.

Rys Huehnergarth (22BSE) is a software engineer at Herzog in Hiawatha, IA. Kyler Hugg (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Cage Civil Engineering in Lisle, IL. Matthew Huinker (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Foth Infrastructure and Environment in Des Moines, IA. William Hunnius (22BSE) joined the Software Engineer Program at JP Morgan Chase in Chicago, IL. Moayad Ibrahim (22BSE) is a field technician at Management Data Systems International Inc in Alpharetta, GA. Bryce Jacobson (22BSE) is a software engineer at Herzog in Cedar Rapids, IA. Mark Jancaric (22BSE) is an associate battery manufacturing engineer at Tesla in Austin, TX. Justin Jasper (22BSE) is a design engineer at John Deere in Waterloo, IA. Chad Johnson (22BSE) is a project manager at Larson Construction in Independence, IA. Zachary Johnson (22BSE) is a software engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Madison Kemerling (22BSE) is a software engineer at BAE Systems in Cedar Rapids, IA. Zackary Kijowski (22BSE) is an engineer at Oshkosh Defense in Oshkosh, WI. Pierce Knarr (22BSE) is a continuous improvement engineer at Alliance Laundry Systems in Ripon, WI. Caroline Krapfl (22BSE) is a mechanical engineer at Shive-Hattery in Cedar Rapids, IA. Payton Krueger (22BSE) is an associate maintenance and reliability engineer at SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA. Carson Kruse (22BSE) is a product design engineer at RFA in Horicon, WI. Holland Kuchel (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Wake Forest University.

Nina Laskowiecki (22BSE) is a consultant engineer at FM Global in Park Ridge, IL. Abby Laures (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign.

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Zachary Leali (22BSE) is a project engineer at Open Systems International in Medina, MN. Evan Leiting (22BSE) is a systems engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Connor Lichamer (22BSE) is an RF hardware design engineer at Nokia in Naperville, IL. Megan Lindmark (22PhD) is a technical program manager at EOS International in Marcala, Honduras.

Julian Llorens Sierra (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at New York University.

Zachary Logsden (22BSE) is a continuous improvement specialist at H2 Solutions in Longmont, CO. Jack Lynn (22BSE) is a data scientist at Genesis10 in Minneapolis, MN. Kelsey Lyons (22BSE) is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Makenna Maguire (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Villanova University.

Nicholas Marmitt (22BSE) is a supply chain associate at PepsiCo – Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids, IA. John McAtee (22BSE) is a system administrator at Epic Systems in Madison, WI. Jessica McElwain (22BSE) is an engineer at Bohannan Huston in Englewood, CO. Joshua McLean (22BSE) is a software engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

48

William Meyer (22BSE) is an industrial engineer at Nudo in Springfield, IL.

Harvin Neth (22BSE) is a manufacturing engineer at John Deere in Moline, IL.

Pareen Mhatre (22BSE) is an EP associate clinical specialist at Abbott in Minneapolis, MN.

Hieu Nguyen (22BSE) is an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City, NY.

Tristan Miller (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Ellen O’Connell (22BSE) is an associate R&D engineer at Medical Murray in North Barrington, IL.

Carli Mlsna (22BSE) is a technical solutions engineer at Epic in Madison, WI.

Samantha Olson (22BSE) is a structural EIT at Hubbard Merrell Engineering in Flagstaff, AZ.

Jolee Mohr (22BSE) is an engineer at HNTB Corp. in Denver, CO. James Momberg (22BSE) is a process safety engineer at Fauske & Associates Inc. In Burr Ridge, IL. Alexis Morales-Foote (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Snyder & Associates Inc. In Ankeny, IA. Christopher Mott (22BSE) joined the Data Analytics Development Program at John Deere ISG in Urbandale, IA, and Austin, TX. Alex Mounivong (22BSE) is a civil water engineer in the North Wind Group at LBYD Federal in Denver, CO. Arden Mroz (22BSE) is a systems engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton in Beavercreek, OH. Katelyn Murhammer (22BSE) is a project engineer at cGMP Consulting Inc. in Lake Forest, IL. Ralph Nahra (22BSE) is an embedded security software engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Trevor Neis (22BSE) is a design engineer at Terex Corporation in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Noelle Ossenkop (22BSE) is a software engineer at Raytheon Intelligence and Space in Aurora, CO. Joseph Parmenter (22BSE) is a software engineer at BAE Systems in Cedar Rapids, IA. Jared Parr (22BSE) is an air quality consultant at Ramboll in Salt Lake City, UT. James Paulson (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Luke Pearson (22BSE) is a software engineer at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, WA. Mira Peckler (22BSE) is an electrical engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Daniel Phetmanysay (22BSE) is an electrical engineer at Modus Engineering in Waterloo, IA. Ty Pottebaum (22BSE) is a design engineer at E91 Engineering in Davenport, IA. Cameron Poulsen (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at Georgia Tech University.

Anvay Pradhan (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Tucker Schoenfelder (22BSE) is an associate maintenance engineer at Hormel Foods in Austin, MN.

Kelly Pyburn (22BSE) is a field clinical representative at Boston Scientific in Chicago, IL.

Jessica Schroeder (22BSE) is a consultant engineering at FM Global in Park Ridge, IL.

Cole Quint (22BSE) is an associate sales engineer at Molex in Lisle, IL.

Dylan Schuchard (22BSE) is pursuing a Juris Doctor at Drake University.

Stefan Radovic (22BSE) is an analyst in the solutions engineering profile in government and public services at Deloitte Consulting in Austin, TX.

Carson Schuler (22BSE) is a graduate civil engineer at HBK in Chicago, IL.

Kathryn Rhode (22BSE) is a mechanical engineer at SNF Flopam in Plaquemine, LA. Elias Rocha (22BSE) is a project engineer at USG in Torrance, CA. Charles Roethler (22BSE) is an application consultant at RSM in Denver, CO. Jiayang Rong (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Pittsburgh.

Kawther Rouabhi (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of Colorado – Boulder.

Elena Ruppenkamp (22BSE) is a technical solutions engineer at Epic Systems in Verona, WI. Andrew Sabin (22BSE) is a mechanical engineer at Shive-Hattery in Iowa City, IA. Jake Santi (22BSE) is an associate engineer at ComEd in the Chicagoland area, IL. Jack Schaefer (22BSE) joined the Field Representative Development Program at John Deere in Moline, IL.

Yasmin Segura (22BSE) is an aseptic processing engineer at AbbVie in Waco, TX. Jaxen Shaw-VanNatta (22BSE) is an electrical engineer at RFA Engineering in Dubuque, IA. Anthony Shirazi (22BSE) is a consultant engineer at FM Global in Park Ridge, IL. Hannah Short (22BSE) is a data analytics engineer at GATX in Chicago, IL. Jack Sieleman (22BSE) is a propulsion flight controller and systems engineer at NASA – KBR in Houston, TX. Chuck Smith (22BSE) is a U.S. Navy Officer – civil engineer at the U.S. Navy Civil Engineering Corps.

Louis Solovy (22BSE) is a staff technology consultant at Ernst & Young in Chicago, IL. Konnor Sommer (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Bradley Spore (22BSE) is a building services designer at Axiom Consultants in Iowa City, IA. Zach Starman (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

IOWA ENGINEER 2023

ALU MN I NEWS

Tessa Steffen (22BSE) is a smart manufacturing engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA. Tyler Steuer (22BSE) is an industrial engineer at RiteHite in Dubuque, IA.

I N MEMORIAM

Kian Weimer (22BSE) is a band 7 backend systems software developer at IBM in Rochester, MN, and is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Ashika Sudheesh (22BSE) is a PrIME rotational engineer at Collins Aerospace.

Waylon Weirather (22BSE) is an associate engineer at Ameren Keokuk Energy Center.

Ryan Summers (22BSE) is a mechanical systems designer at IMEG in Naperville, IL.

Mary-Kate Wesley (22BSE) is a mechanical engineer at Pratt and Whitney in West Palm Beach, FL.

Steven Susmarski (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Luke Wiebel (22BSE) is a quality engineer at Collins Aerospace in Fort Worth, TX.

Ann Thomas (22BSE) is a software engineer in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle in Redwood City, CA. Trevor Thornburgh (22BSE) is pursuing a Master of Science at University of Iowa.

Benjamin Tinker (22BSE) is a medical scribe at Capital Orthopedics in Clive, IA. Margaret Trowbridge (22BSE) is a civil engineer at Fehr Graham in Rockford, IL. Alexander Underwood (22BSE) is a field engineer at Singh and Associates in Milwaukee, WI. Jared VanSpeybroeck (22BSE) is a liaison engineer at the Boeing Company in Charleston, SC. Joseph Verry (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD and MD at the University of Cincinnati.

Kai Vessey (22BSE) is a green building consultant at C-Wise in Iowa City, IA. Benjamin Von Arb (22BSE) is an electrical component engineer at United Launch Alliance in Centennial, CO.

Grace Williamson (22BSE) is pursuing a PhD at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Charlie Wolfe (22BSE) is a software engineer at Apple in Cupertino, CA. Sasha (Alexandra) Zelenski (22BSE) is a software engineer at Qualtrics in Seattle, WA.

2023 Brooke Bowman (23BSE) is an industrial engineer at FCA Packaging in the Quad Cities.

Logan Hammond (23BSE) is a project engineer at Collins Aerospace.

Prince Landu Mbungo (23BSE) is an electronic technician at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

1940s

Jerry Thorius (69BSCHE) Douglas Wallace (68MS, 71PHD) John Wallace (68BSME)

Robert Chaney (48BSME)

Theodore Werch (68BSME)

Leland Hausler (47BSME)

Ronald Wieben (68BSME)

Russell Swearingen (49BSME)

Stephen Wood (67BSME) Ronald Wright (63BSME)

1950s Charles Blunt (59BSME)

1970s

D. L. Chinburg (59BSEE, 60MS)

Ronald Bechler (75MS)

Wayland Hicks (51BA, 56BSCE)

Misganaw Demissie (73BSCE)

Jared Hills (59BSME)

Donald Johnson (72BSEE)

Jerry Hulman (58BSCE, 67MS)

Lawrence Kerr (77BSEE)

Gary Long (59BSME)

Gary Leighty (79BSME)

Lyle Minkler (55BSME)

Merlyn Vocke (71PHD)

Dale Max (57BSCHE) Jack Mortley (58BSEE, 60MS) Charles Nosley (58BSEE) Edward Rising (59PHD) Richard Schmickle (55BSCE)

1980s

Charles Swift (58BSCE)

Ismail Celik (80PHD)

Melvin Vander Hoek (59BSEE)

Harlan Ratcliff (88MS)

Charles Warren (58BSEE, 58MS)

1960s

1990s Joseph Haman (94BSE)

Charles Anderson (61BA, 61BSME) Paul Arvidson (67BSME) Gerald Barnes (61BSCE, 70MS) James Bockholt (65BA, 65BSCE) John Cotter (66BSME)

2000s Alexander Daboub (09BSE)

Michael Dougherty (68BSME) Vijay Gupta (68MS) Duane Krob (67BSME) Thomas McSwiggin (61BCSE, 62MS) John Roberson (61PHD) Charles Rukgaber (67BSCE) Kenneth Scott (60BSCE)

2010s Benjamin Alvarado (19BSE, 19BSE) Douglas Champagne (14BSE) Jeffrey Johnson (11BSE)

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Office of the Dean 3100 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences Iowa City, Iowa 52242–1527

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