Rising engineering sophomores from 13 Penn State campuses participated in Jump Start, a new summer program that aims to increase retention rates in the College of Engineering, held May 15 to June 9 at University Park.
JULY 2017
FEATURES
Justin Schwartz Selected as New Dean of Engineering

Justin Schwartz has been named the new Harold and Inge Marcus Dean in the College of Engineering, pending approval by the University Board of Trustees at the July meeting.

Schwartz, currently the Kobe Distinguished Professor and Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University, will start his new appointment on August 15 .  

"Justin Schwartz brings a wealth of leadership experience, research knowledge, and a thorough understanding of diversity and inclusion to his new position as dean of Penn State's College of Engineering," said Nicholas Jones, executive vice president and provost. "We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by an engineering scholar of his stature and accomplishments who not only will advance the vision of the college, but also of the University as a whole."  >>  
Amy Freeman Takes Over as President of Women in Engineering ProActive Network

Amy Freeman, assistant dean of engineering outreach and inclusion, began her one-year term as president of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) on July 1. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado,  WEPAN is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1990 to be a catalyst for change to enhance the success of women in engineering professions.

"I am excited to contribute to an organization that is focused on positively enhancing the academic and professional culture of engineering," said Freeman. "One of WEPAN's long-term goals is to achieve 50 percent women in the profession by 2050. I look forward to working with our strong network of men and women across the nation to bring us closer to this benchmark."   >>  
Amy Pritchett Appointed Head of Aerospace Engineering

Amy R. Pritchett has been named head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, effective August 15.

Currently, Pritchett is the David S. Lewis Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). She is also the director of Georgia Tech's Cognitive Engineering Center and is a joint professor in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

"Amy won over our community with her unique approach of technical rigor and sense of community," said Amr Elnashai, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. "Her leadership style will undoubtedly propel the department to new levels of accomplishment while maintaining and even enhancing its technical and social fabric."   >>  
Karen Thole Nominated to American Society of Mechanical Engineers Board of Governors 

Karen Thole, distinguished professor and department head of mechanical and nuclear engineering, has been chosen as a governor-nominee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Board of Governors; her term will begin in July 2018.

"I am honored to have been chosen in this leadership role for ASME to advance the organization's strategy," Thole said. "I have devoted most of my professional service to ASME over many years, which has been quite rewarding. I look forward to continuing to make an impact through the role of being a governor."  >>  
Gursahaneys' Gift Enhances New 
E-Knowledge Commons

Alumnus Naren Gursahaney ('83 M E) and his wife, Judy, have made a $500,000 gift to fund the very heart of the E-Knowledge Commons, a new student-centered collaborative space set to open this fall in the Reber Building.

"We are thrilled to be able to participate in such an exciting project that will create a dynamic learning environment for Penn State students and enhance their overall academic experience now and into the future," said Naren Gursahaney >>
RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS
AROUND THE COLLEGE
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant to develop new contraception technology >>
  • Flexible flagella fight flow >>
  • Two-part system turns stem cells into whatever you want >>
  • Research progressing on how to spur wide use of aviation biofuels >>
  • Matthew Parkinson named director of the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory >>
  • Student-built satellite aims to provide insight on effects of solar storms >>
  • Happy Valley LaunchBox helps startups soar >> 
  • Center for Online Innovation in Learning funds Nicholas A. Meisel's virtual reality project >>
UPCOMING EVENTS

AUGUST 12
Summer Commencement >>

SEPTEMBER 9
College of Engineering Alumni Tailgate (Penn State vs. Pittsburgh)

OCTOBER 3
Silicon Happy Valley  >>

OCTOBER 17-18
Materials Day 2017: Hot Topics in Materials  >>

STAY CONNECTED: