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Summer 2025
Volume 2 Issue 5
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Dear Washkewicz Community,
It has been an exciting semester of change and achievements. While we had several retirements this academic year, we have also welcomed some amazing new staff members. You will meet them later below.
We celebrated our College and University Valedictorian Chloe Amoroso, Graduate Student of the Year, Amit Choudhari, and other deserving students, staff and faculty recognized at our annual College Awards program. Our Senior Design program culminated with outstanding winners and achievers in special competitions.
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Thank you to our industry leaders and faculty who supported their efforts. The Choose Ohio 1st program also hosted a successful poster session, which I am happy to share. Several of our students participated, and placed, in the annual Monte Ahuja Hackathon.
Congratulations to our faculty who were awarded research grants and patents this past quarter.
Among other notable changes within the College, we officially welcomed eSports to our College. We, through the CSU Continuing Education division, are offering additional micro-credentials for you to choose from and other summer (and early fall) programs to keep you intellectually busy.
I hope you enjoy this power-packed issue as much as I did. Have a great summer!
Warm regards,
Richard T. Schoephoerster, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor, Washkewicz College of Engineering
Cleveland State University
| | COLLEGE AWARDS & RECOGNITION | | From Canvas to Cosmos: CSU Valedictorian Chloe Amoroso’s Journey from Art Student to NASA Glenn Research Center | |
Congratulations to Chloe Amoroso on being named Valedictorian for Class of 2025.
When Chloe M. Amoroso walked across the stage as valedictorian of the Cleveland State University with a 4.0 GPA. She majored in Mechanical Engineering in the Washkewicz College of Engineering. It marked not just the culmination of years of academic rigor, but the fulfillment of a bold pivot—one fueled by curiosity, grit, and a dream to reach the stars. Read more here.
| |  | Amit Choudhari Named CSU’s 2025 Student of the Year: A Legacy of Leadership, Research, and Excellence | |
Congratulations to Amit Choudhari for being named Graduate Student of the Year by the Graduate College. (Pictured with Department of Mechanical Engineering Chair, Dr. Jerzy Sawicki on left)
A doctoral student in engineering, Amit’s CSU journey has been defined by scholarly dedication and a passion for impact. Among his many awards are the Graduate Student Leadership Award (2023 and 2025), the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2024), and the Excellent Achievement Award for Doctoral Research (2024). His research also earned Best Poster at the Undergraduate Summer Research Poster Session in 2023. Read more here.
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College Awards
Most Outstanding Staff Member, Erin Elosh, BS, MSM
Faculty Teaching Award, Dr. Josiah Owusu-Danquah and Dr. Sanchita Mal Sarkar
Faculty Research Award, Dr. Prabaha Sikder
Faculty Service Award, Dr. Lili Dong
Dean's Award, Dr. George Chatzimavroudis and Dr. Sathish Kumar
Peer Teacher Outstanding Leadership Award, Simon Richard
Peer Teacher Outstanding Performance Award, Yuvaraj Vagula
Student Organization of the Year, Sisters in STEM
Department Valedictorians
Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Rutger Dumm
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chase McConaugh
Computer Science, Logan Davis
Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, Philip Salopek
Engineering Technology, Josh Merchbaker
Mechanical Engineering, Chloe Amoroso
To view all College and Department awards please click here.
| | Hooding and Induction Ceremony | On Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 9 a.m. in the Berkman Hall Auditorium graduating seniors took the oath of an engineer and pledge of the computing professional. They receive either a pin or steel ring, in some cases both, as a visible attestation to their commitment to ethics and professionalism in their profession. Graduate students were also hooded by their department leadership. The event took place just prior to commencement. | Associate of the University, Retiree Joanie Hundt (pictured above right with Dr. Joanne Belovich, National Governor and Executive Director of Cleveland Innovation and Professor, Chemical & Biomedical Engineering), was honored by the Order of the Engineer, Board of Governors with the 2024 Outstanding Link Coordinator Award. “This award was developed by the Order to recognize the outstanding efforts of link coordinators throughout the nation who have provided exemplary service to the Order in the development, organization, and administration of a regional link and their ring ceremonies. This award is in recognition of your outstanding leadership in the organization of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Order of the Engineer, held at Cleveland State University in 2022, in addition to your past thirteen years of exceptional service to the Order.” View event photos here. | | WELCOME NEW STAFF MEMBERS | | Courtney Nudell, Assistant Dean, has almost two decades of recruitment and retention experience. She is passionate about providing comprehensive support to students throughout their entire collegiate journey. Prior to this role, she worked in Cleveland State's School of Education and Counseling, where she managed a nationally recognized paid urban educator program with Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Outside of work, she loves yoga/hiking, arts, and spending time with her husband and two boys. She is originally from central NY but has grown to love all things, Cleveland. | | | |
Essence Bates, MSW, Assistant Academic Coach, is a dedicated Social Worker. She has a passion for making meaningful connections and providing support to those in need.
“I approach my work with empathy, respect, and passion, ensuring that each person I have the privilege of working with feels heard and supported throughout their college journey. I am excited about working with you and continuing to provide support to those within the Washkewicz College of Engineering community. Go Vikes!”
| | | New to CSU and the Cleveland area, Melissa Luciano, Administrative Operations Manager for the Washkewicz College of Engineering. Originally from Maryland, she moved from New Orleans, LA to Cleveland, OH in 2024. She has previously worked in the federal government and start-up companies as an administrative professional and is excited to join the world of higher education. Outside of work, Melissa loves to explore cities with her husband, cook and eat all types of food and play with her border collie, Louie. | | | |
Amanda Gist, ELITE (Earn & Learn) Program Manager, originally hails from Colorado where she grew up next to the Rocky Mountains and received her undergraduate degree at Fort Lewis College. She had the opportunity to teach and obtain her master’s degree in Organizational Communication at the University of Montana.
In her free time, Amanda likes to take her two sons, 9 and 11, to the museums and is excited to explore the beautiful outdoors around Ohio with their Belgian Malinois puppy!
| | | A Cleveland native, Ayla Sweeney, Senior Director of Development, is a proud graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. She began her career in development at East Stroudsburg University and went on to spend the next decade at Case Western Reserve, serving in roles within the Annual Fund and as Director of Parent Giving. | | | RETIRED STAFF RECOGNITION | | | |
Two Engineering Staff Members Awarded Associate of the Univeresity
We are proud to announce that Joanie Hundt, (shown top with Dean Richard Schoephoerster (left) and Dr. Joanne Belovich, Executive Director of Cleveland Innovation and Professor Chemical & Biomedical Engineering (right)) and Audrey M. Wiggins (below), were nominated and awarded Associate of the University with all the rights and privileges. Six out of twenty 2024 staff retirees were awarded this distinctive honor.
Addiitonally, Joanie was recognized by the Order of Engineer for her years of service to the Order at the spring Hooding and Induction Ceremony, as her photo depicts.
| | | Awards, Patents and Research | | | |
Multidisciplinary Engineering Team Collaborates with Cleveland, GCRTA on Smart Traffic Signal System
A faculty team led by Dr. Jacqueline Jenkins, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), will partner with the City of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland RTA to design and pilot a next-generation, intelligent, cloud-based traffic signal system under a project titled “Cleveland Complete Corridor.” Project funding comes from the US Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) program. CSU’s team includes Dr. Emmanuel Kidando, Dr. Sathish Kumar, Dr. Mehdi Rahmati, and Dr. Haodong Wang.
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New Ohio DOT Funding for Student-Developed Solutions for Transportation
Dr. Emmanuel Kidando, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), was awarded $150,000 under the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Student Transportation Advancement Research (STAR) program. STAR is ODOT’s open challenge, grant-style program meant to engage college students to address transportation topics in an innovative manner. The project is titled, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Frameworks for Detecting Roadway Features Along Arterial Roadways from Planimetric Satellites Imagery Data.”
| | | | NSF Funds New REU Program at CSU Focused on Assistive Technology and Inclusion in Engineering Research | | |
Through a multidisciplinary, community-engaged model, students will work in collaborative teams alongside faculty mentors, clinicians, and individuals with disabilities. Participants will gain hands-on experience in areas like neuroprosthetics, biomechanics, assistive robotics, and regenerative medicine. By integrating meaningful research with mentorship and professional development, RE@CSU will motivate and prepare a new, diverse generation of engineers and scientists to advance the field of rehabilitation technology. Read more here.
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Learn more about the Washkewicz College of Engineering Research here.
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On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, students from the Washkewicz College of Engineering presented 51 research posters in the CSU Student Center Atrium. These students are recipients of the Choose Ohio First scholarship, an initiative of the Ohio Department of Higher Education which provides funding to STEM majors in more than 70 colleges and universities throughout Ohio.
Cleveland State University students have received funding for scholarships since the inception of the program in 2008 and currently 275 students are receiving the scholarship - sixty-four percent of these students are in the College of Engineering. Students in the College of Arts and Science and the College of Health also receive the Choose Ohio First scholarship at Cleveland State. Learn more here.
| | | Senior Design represents the pinnacle of undergraduate achievement at Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz College of Engineering. As a culminating capstone experience, the course challenges students to apply the full breadth of their engineering education to solve real-world problems. On May 2nd, senior design teams proudly presented their innovative projects; many developed in collaboration with industry partners and external institutions. This hands-on, experiential learning is made possible by our faculty and the generous support and mentorship of our sponsors, whose involvement not only enriches the student experience but also helps shape the next generation of engineering leaders. Click here to view all winners and learn more. | | |
1st Place
Project# 177 Hydraulic Ram Generator
Student Team: Bob Kowell, Evelyn Landis, Logan Doenges
Senior Design Instructor: Dr. Zhiqiang Gao
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ana Stankovic
Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Project Type: Student-led
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2nd Place
Project# 121 Mental Health Research Aggregator
Student Team: Aidan Eicholz, Caden Chambers, Lilou DeRivera, Eli Ameshie
Senior Design Instructor: Dr. Sanchita Mal-Sarkar
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yongjian Fu
Department: Computer Science
Project Type: Student-led
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3rd Place
Project# 163 Stroll and Stow
Student Team: Evan Nelson, Spencer Starr, Timothy Wenzel
Senior Design Instructor: Dr. William Atherton
Department: Engineering Technology
Project Type: Student-led
| | Forging Competition Big Win | | We are thrilled to announce that our talented student team has captured the prestigious Grand Prize at the national 2025 Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (FIERF) Forging Competition. This outstanding achievement showcases the incredible skill, innovation and dedication of our students in the specialized fields of blacksmithing and materials engineering. Click here to read more. | | CSU Esports at The VESPYS | | |
Our National Championship, our Rocket League team, (pictured above) were the NECC Division III champs. From left to right is Tymir "Ciprocate" Jones, Collin "Orb" Hall-Johnson, and Jacob "Lobo" Rivera. The names in quotes are their gamertags, which is what they are known as in the online community. Of significance is, as a team, CSU’s Esports members achieved a 3.2 overall GPA! Great work, team! Click here to learn more.
Interested in joining Cleveland State’s D1 Varsity Esports Team? CSU Esports is a D1 Varsity program offering the perfect mix of intense competition and unforgettable team experiences. Between thrilling tournaments, exciting team activities, and valuable volunteer events, this is your chance to be part of something extraordinary! Fill out our recruitment questionnaire here and start your Esports journey for the Fall 2025 season!
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CSU Hackathon Brings Innovation to Life
with Real-World Solutions for Northeast Ohio
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From April 3–5, sixty Cleveland State University students gathered to collaborate, innovate, and solve pressing real-world issues at the Community + Innovation + Technology Hackathon. We also hosted a high school student from Saint Joseph Academy | Catholic School for Girls in Cleveland. The three-day event began with the unveiling of three problem statements, each presented by local community partners and rooted in real-world opportunities for impact. Students formed interdisciplinary teams around the challenges and had 48 hours to brainstorm, prototype, and pitch solutions to a panel of expert judges. This evnt is sponsored by the Monte Ahuja College of Business, Weston I-deation Center. Learn more here.
Congratulations to the multi-discipline winning team!
Ivana Babic, Finance, Undergraduate
Jasmine Chen, High School Senior
Erik Franks, Marketing, Undergraduate
Freddy Franks, Information Systems, Undergraduate
Benjamin Hoban, Sports & Entertainment Management, Undergraduate
Johnny Mattes, Sports & Entertainment Management, Undergraduate
Jacob Miller, Mechanical Engineering, Graduate
Dinky Mishra, Information Systems, Graduate
Hanna Myers, Sports & Entertainment Management, Undergraduate
Sai Vijetha Palaparthi, Management Information Systems, Graduate
Sri Varshit Pathapati, Finance, Undergraduate
Jasmin Rai, Finance, Undergraduate
Mahanthesh Ramchandra, Computer Science, Graduate
Tyler Sacripanti, Sports & Entertainment Management, Undergraduate
Surabh Saxena, Information Systems, Graduate
Jai Shankar Priyanka Thotkar, Management Information Systems, Graduate
Tara Will, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Undergraduate
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Next-Gen Energy Careers Begin at CSU:
Microgrid Systems Microcredential
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The Division of Continuing and Extended Education has launched a pioneering Microgrid Systems Microcredential program for the renewable energy sector, a collaborative effort that includes the Washkewicz College of Engineering, its Center for Integrated Modeling for Energy, Resilience, and Sustainability (IERS), and industry partner Telepath Systems, Inc. This initiative addresses the growing demand for skilled professionals in the evolving energy sector, particularly in Northeast Ohio.
Registration for the first certificate, Microgrid Foundations is now enrolling and remains open until June 27, 2025, with classes commencing on July 11. For more information and to enroll, visit CSU's Continuing and Extended Education website: csuohio.edu/continuing-education/skills-for-future-energy.
Read more here.
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Engineering Microcredentials
Cleveland State University’s Division of Continuing and Extended Education (DCEE), in partnership with the Washkewicz College of Engineering, is proud to offer a new suite of engineering microcredentials designed to build technical foundations and spark interest in high-demand STEM fields. The current offerings include Allen Bradley 411: Fundamentals, a hands-on introduction to programmable logic controllers (PLCs); Basics of Quantum Computing, which demystifies emerging technologies and their real-world applications; and Solid-State Electronics, which covers essential principles of semiconductor devices and electronic circuits. These short-form programs are ideal for high school graduates, career changers, and anyone preparing to pursue an engineering degree.
More programs are on the way, as CSU continues to expand its accessible, industry-aligned pathways into engineering and advanced manufacturing careers. Visit: csuohio.edu/continuing-education/pre-engineering-certificates
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