MechanicalEngineering

News

Summer 2006

Managing EditorNathan Cloud

Contributing Writer& Copy EditorDiane Kukich

LayoutLiz Dunkle

University of Delaware

The ME Business and Careers Conference brought more than 200 people to campusin April. See stories beginning on p. 5.

Editor’s note: ME Chair Tom Buchananprovided the welcome to the Business andCareers Conference. Here, he summarizeshis thoughts on the event and on the topic ofhis welcome message: the past, present, andfuture of mechanical engineering.

We’re very pleased to have hosted thesecond annual alumni career celebration,renamed and reconfigured this year as theMechanical Engineering Business andCareers Conference. The conference pro-vides us with a forum for honoring ouralumni, offering valuable career advice andnetworking opportunities, and showcasingour research.

It also gives us a chance to reflect onchanges in the field of mechanical engi-neering in general and in our program hereat UD in particular. During the past centu-ry, our focus has evolved from engines tomodern technologies such as advancedcomposites, fuel cells, and control systems.

From a global viewpoint, the U.S. is fac-ing a serious technological challenge fromChina, where things are happening at a veryrapid pace. Thirty-three percent of under-grads in China are majoring in engineering,while only 15 percent have selected this

career choice in the United States. Chinahas 1,274 ME programs, the U.S. only 308.

However, these numbers don’t mean thatwe’re doomed to be overshadowed, as therewill still be a huge demand for engineershere. Many companies want and need U.S.engineers and cannot outsource engineer-ing abroad due to security constraints. Forexample, Lockheed has announced thatthey need to hire 14,000 engineers this year,and that number will rise to 44,000 in threeyears. This evidences a huge demand, sincethere are only 62,000 graduates per year inthe U.S. receiving BS degrees in engineer-ing.

As Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens statedin a recent Wall Street Journal article,“Science and engineering aren’t just crucialfor national security; they’re critical for eco-nomic growth. High-tech industries drivedevelopment, boosting productivity andgenerating good jobs. If the U.S. intends toremain the world’s technological leader, wehave to act today, inspiring more youngpeople to thrive in advanced-tech careers.”

I think we’re doing that here at UD. Wehave ongoing research programs in a num-ber of high-tech areas, including biomed-ical, composites and materials, clean energy,and robotics and controls. The quality ofour students has risen markedly over thepast few years, and we expect this trend tocontinue. We have a strong undergraduateresearch program, which has exposed ourtop students to the research experience andresulted in some of them co-authoringpapers in refereed journals.

And we’re very proud of our alumni, agroup that includes 110 CEOs, presidents,and principals, 56 vice presidents, 11 attor-neys, three physicians, one dean, and one

department head.

Our alumni inspired the first career cele-bration last year, and their continuedachievements and accumulated wisdom willprovide the foundation for us to continuethis event in the future. If you missed com-ing this year or last, we urge you to join usnext year.

Life is good here, and we want you to bea part of it.

Cheers from the ChairIN THIS ISSUEJohn Zimmerman Memoriam

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Calendar ............................Pg 3

Faculty and Student Highlights

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Contacts ..........................Pg 4

Business and Careers Conference ........................................Pg 5

Overview of the Day ........Pg 6

Track A: Business andTechnology

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Track B: Career Planning

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Keynote Addresss ..........Pg 12

Awards ............................Pg 14

Honors Day ....................Pg 14

Laird Fellowship ..............Pg 14

Alumni News ....................Pg 15

Feedback Form..................Pg 16

Editor’s Notes

I hope you enjoy reading about the Business/Technology and Careers Conference, held April 28 this year, that is highlighted in thisissue of ME News. This was the second Career Celebration event of this kind, and by all accounts it exceeded the success of the first.This year we also cited five alums for having Distinguished Careers, and they join the first class of ten Distinguished Career Alums citedlast year. The five were honored at the Conference. I continue to be amazed at the career accomplishments of our ME alumni brothersand sisters!

One of the reasons for the success of this year’s event was the business conference format, which was the brainchild of Jim Hutchison’78. Another was the greatly increased attendance by undergrads. Alumni, students, and faculty had many opportunities to interact dur-ing the afternoon and evening. The only disappointment was that only about 50 alums took advantage of this opportunity—the same aslast year. Over 2,700 alums (~1,600 within a 100-mile radius) worldwide were invited. We are beginning to plan the Alumni Relationsprogram for next year, and we will try to improve upon this year’s success. Please let us know what you think about the Business andCareers Conference, and/or other ways to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship among alumni, students, and faculty.

Nate Cloud ‘64, ME Alumni Relations Coordinator

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IInn MMeemmoorriiaamm:: JJoohhnn RR.. ZZiimmmmeerrmmaann

JJoohhnn RRiicchhaarrddZZiimmmmeerrmmaann, ProfessorEmeritus of MechanicalEngineering at theUniversity of Delaware,died on April 28, 2006, at

his home in Newark, DE. He was 80 years

old. Zimmerman received his Bachelor ofEngineering from Yale University, hisBachelor of Sacred Theology degree fromBoston University, and his M.S. and Ph.D.degrees from Lehigh University. He joinedthe UD-ME faculty in 1976 and retired in1988. Zimmerman is credited with estab-lishing the Senior Design Program at theUniversity of Delaware, in which students

were hired to design projects for actualclients, providing them with the real-worldexperience of engineering. He publishedElementary Kinematics of Mechanisms in1962, Machine Design Fundamentals withco-authors in 1983, and a chapter on“Brakes and Clutches” in Handbook ofMachine Design, which won a prize for besttechnical book in 1986.

DDAATTEE EEVVEENNTT

Mon., 8/14 Late registration & change of registration for Fall 2006 begins via the web

Tues., 8/15 Deadline for graduate admission recommendations from depts. for Fall 2006

Fri., 8/25 ME Faculty RetreatSat., 8/26 Fall New Student Orientation Phase IISun., 8/27 ME Picnic - White Clay Creek State ParkMon., 8/28 Academic Orientation/New Student

Convocation/Workshops/Activities NightTues., 8/29 Fall 2006 Classes begin 8:00 AMTues., 8/29 Senior Design Sponsor Night 4-10:00 PMThurs., 8/31 Deadline for admission to PhD candidacy for Dec. 2006

& Winter 2007 degree conferralFri., 9/1 Machine Shop Open House, 11:00 - 2:00, SPLMon., 9/4 Labor Day Holiday - University Office ClosedTBA Graduate Student Orientation/LuncheonTues., 9/12 Last day to register or to add course for Fall 2006Tues., 9/12 Deadline for completion of incomplete work from

Spring & Summer 2006 for undergraduatesTues., 9/12 Senior Design Pizza partyWed., 9/13 Faculty meetingWed., 9/13 Graduate Student & Faculty photo session -

10:00 - 11:30, 126 SPLFri., 9/15 Deadline for submission of advanced degree Application

for Dec. 06 degree conferralFri., 9/15-17 Freshman Family WeekendTues., 9/26 Graduate Student Reception, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at

the Bob Carpenter Ctr.Tues., 9/26 38th Annual Job Jamboree, 1:00 - 4:30 PM at the Bob

Carpenter Ctr.Sat., 9/30 Blue & Golden Saturday (for prospective students)Wed., 10/4 Faculty meetingSat., 10/7 Blue & Golden SaturdayFri., 10/13 College of Engineering Homecoming LuncheonFri., 10/13 Freshman mid-term marking period endsSat., 10/14 Homecoming WeekendSat., 10/21 Blue & Golden Saturday (for prospective students)Tues., 10/24 Last day to change registration or to withdraw from 06F

coursesT & Th 10/24 & 26 Senior Design Oral PresentationsFri., 10/27 Deadline for completion of incomplete work from 06S

& 06J for graduate studentsMon., 11/6 Registration begins for Winter Session 2007Tues., 11/7 Election Day; classes suspended & University offices

closedTBA Graduate SymposiumWed., 11/1 Faculty meetingMon., 11/13 Deadline for submission of PhD. Dissertations for

Dec. 06 conferral

DDAATTEE EEVVEENNTT

Mon., Nov. 20 Registration for Spring Semester 2007Mon., Nov. 20 Deadline for submission of master's thesis for Dec. 06

degree conferralTBA ME Honor Students GatheringWed., 11/22 Thanksgiving recess begins at 5:00 PMTh & Fri 11/23 & 24 Thanksgiving Vacation - Classes suspended; University

offices closedFri., 12/1 Deadline for graduate applications for admission in

Spring 2006Wed., 12/6 Faculty meetingWed., 12/6 Last day Fall 2006 classesThurs., 12/7 Reading DayFri., 12/8 Fall 2006 Final Exams begin Fri., 12/15 Deadline for submission of advanced degree

applications for degree conferral 07WTBA Senior Design Final PresentationsFri., 12/15 Fall 2006 Final Exams EndFri. 12/22 to Mon. 1/1 Holiday break - Classes suspended; University Offices

closed - reopen Jan. 2Wed., 1/3 Winter Session 2007 begins - 8:00 a.m.Fri., 1/5 Doctoral Hooding CeremonySat., 1/6 CommencementMon., 1/8 Last day of late registration & free drop add for

Winter 2007Mon., 1/15 Martin Luther King - Classes Suspended; University

Offices closedTues., 1/16 Deadline for graduate admission recommendations for

Spring 2007Tues., 1/16 Deadline for submission of dissertations & thesis for

Winter 2007 degree conferralThurs., 1/18 New Student Orientation - Phase IThurs., 1/18 Last day to change registration or withdraw for

Winter 2007Thurs., 2/1 Deadline for admission to doctoral candidacy for

conferral Spring 2007Fri., 2/2 Last Day of Classes - Winter SessionSat., 2/3 Winter 2007 Final ExamsMon., 2/5 Spring Semester 2007 begins at 4:00 pmMon., 2/5 New Student Orientation - Phase IIFri., 2/16 Deadline for submission of advanced degree

applications for degree conferral Spring 2007Sun., 2/18 National Engineers WeekFri., 2/16 Last day free add/drop for Spring 2007Fri., 2/16 Deadline for completion of incomplete work for

Fall 2006 & Winter 2007 for undergraduates Tues., 2/20 Order of the Engineer Ring CeremonyTBA Senior Design Appreciation NightWed., 2/21 Engineering & Technology Career Fair, 1-4:00 PM,

Trabant Center

MMeecchhaanniiccaall EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg CCaalleennddaarr ooff EEvveennttss

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Faculty

SSuurreesshh AAddvvaannii, GeorgeW. Laird Professor ofMechanical Engineering,presented his NamedProfessor InauguralLecture to the University

on “Modeling and Simulation ofComposite Manufacturing Processes: TheRoad Less Traveled,” on March 22, 2006,followed by a reception at DuPont Hall.

Prof. AAnnddrraass SSzzeerriireceived the Society ofTribologists andLubrication Engineers(STLE) InternationalAward on May 9, 2006, in

Calgary at the Society’s Annual Meeting.The Society’s highest technical honor, theaward recognizes the recipient’s outstand-ing contributions to tribology, lubricationengineering, or allied fields. The awardbestows lifetime honorary membership onthe recipient, who need not have been amember of STLE.

Prof. LLeenn SScchhwwaarrttzzappeared on WHYY Newsto discuss the recent C-5plane crash at Dover AirForce Base. He wasselected on the basis of his

expertise in aerospace engineering.

Dr. XXiinnyyaann DDeenngg andher research were high-lighted in an article in theWilmington News Journalon March 29th. Entitled“What’s bugging her?” the

article covers Deng’s innovative researchon the flight of insects and its potentialuse in microrobotic flying machines.Deng recently won a prestigious FacultyEarly Career Development Award fromthe National Science Foundation to sup-port her work in this area. The five-yeargrant totals $455,000.

Prof. AAjjaayy KK.. PPrraassaadd vis-ited the University ofAlabama on April 6, 2006,and gave a presentationon recent results from hisfuel cell research. He pre-

sented a talk on Sustainable Energy atUD-ME’s Business and CareerConference on April 28, 2006, in which hediscussed fuel cells and wind energy (seearticle in conference insert of this issue ofME News). Prasad also discussed fuel celltechnology and the hydrogen infrastruc-ture on WILM-AM on May 11, 2006.

Dr. AAnneettttee MM.. KKaarrllssssoonngave an invited talk at the“Summer School onLayered, FunctionalGradient Ceramics andThermal Barrier Coatings”

in Mao, Spain, on June 15, 2006. Theevent was sponsored by the European

Commission on “Improving HumanResearch Potential and the Socio-Economic Knowledge Base.” (The com-mission is comparable to the NationalScience Foundation in the U.S.) Her talkwas entitled “Modeling Failures ofThermal Barrier Coatings.”

Graduate Students

LLee ZZhhaanngg, student of Dr. Andras Z. Szeri,received the Elisha Conover EndowedFellowship. The Office of GraduateStudies established the fellowship, valuedat $5,000, for a graduate student studyingfluid dynamics. The fellowship was madepossible by a gift from Theodore DeanFoster in memory of his late great-uncle,Elisha Conover, who taught Latin andGreek at the University of Delaware forover 40 years.XXiiaaooyyii LLii, student of Dr. Kausik Sarkar,received the University Graduate FellowsAward by the Faculty SelectionCommittee for the 2006-2007 academicyear. This award, given in recognition ofhis prior academic achievements andpotential for success in his field of study,consists of a stipend plus a full tuitionscholarship for the Fall 2006 and Spring2007 semesters. The stipend award is inpartnership with the MechanicalEngineering Department. DDeebbrraa GGrraaccee GGeeoorrggee, student of Dr. JillS. Higginson, received the prestigiousGeorge W. Laird Fellowship for 2006 .(See story an page 14)

Faculty and Student Highlights

Higginson ResearchTargetsOsteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerativejoint disease that affects millions of peo-ple in the United States. It is the leadingcause of disability with a cost to theinsurance industry of over 86.2 billiondollars annually. In the NeuromuscularBiomechanics Lab, Dr. Jill Higginsonand her research team are currently con-ducting a research study that will help

gain a better understanding of the pro-gression of the disease. This project isfunded through a Center for BiomedicalResearch Excellence award from theNIH which represents a collaborativeeffort among investigators from acrossthe University of Delaware to study bio-logical, mechanical and therapeuticaspects of OA progression. The objec-tives of Dr. Higginson’s study are to deter-mine how walking patterns and the under-lying muscle coordination strategy changewith OA progression. It is hoped that animproved understanding of muscle coordi-

nation in OA gait may shape the design oftherapeutic interventions for prevention offurther joint deterioration.

Editor’s Note: Prof. Higginson and herresearch group are seeking healthy adultsand persons with knee arthritis for theirfor research study. If you are between theages of 40 and 75 and can walk on a tread-mill for 8 minutes, please consider volun-teering as a subject. Contact Joe at (302) 831-0759 or jzenijr@udel.edu, orvisit the project web site for more details:http://research.me.udel.edu/higginson/Knee_Study.htm

University of Delaware Departmentof Mechanical Engineering Business

and Careers Conference

NA

SA

Conference keynote speaker Jerry Kegelman '78 of NASA spoke about the Columbia disaster. See story on p. 12.

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Overview of theDay

Excellent. Unique. Worthwhile.Informative. Germane. These are just afew of the adjectives used by attendees todescribe ME’s Business and CareersConference, held at the John M. ClaytonConference Center on Friday, April 28.

Others commented that the event was avery good resource for networking withcompanies and should be included in theundergrad curriculum. “I was verypleased to see the growth in student par-ticipation,” said one attendee.”

An effort to increase student participa-tion was part of the motivation for chang-ing the name of the event this year. Whilethe conference was the second in what isnow an annual series, in 2005, it wasreferred to as the Alumni CareerCelebration.

“Alumni and their careers are still amajor focus of the event,” says MEAlumni Relations Coordinator Nate Cloud

’64. “There are many active alums in thisarea, and they have a tremendous amountof knowledge and other resources to sharewith our current students and recent grad-uates, in terms of mentoring, providingcareer advice, serving as role models, andmaking connections.”

“We want students to be able to tap intothese resources,” he continues, “and thisevent is a way to facilitate networking,share knowledge, and showcase our most-accomplished alumni. But we feel thatthe new name of the conference betterconveys the actual content and has helpedus to generate student interest.”

Cloud credits Janelle Konchar ’06 andKhenya Still ’07 with promoting the eventamong their ME classmates and also withplaying a pivotal role in planning and car-rying out the event. Of the 220 peoplewho signed up for the event, more than 80were students. “Janelle and Khenya didtheir jobs,” says Conference Chair JimHutchison ’78. “Making the programmore focused helped attract more stu-dents. Our goal was to achieve a balance

with a wide variety of seminars.”“It took someone like Jim [Hutchison]

to have the vision and put in the time tomake this happen,” says Cloud. “He seesthat there is so much potential for interac-tion between the engineering communityand the University.”

The dual-session program was an effec-tive route to the goal of balanced offer-ings. Track A, Business and Technology,was geared toward alumni with severalyears of work experience, while Track B,Career Planning, was aimed at currentstudents and recent grads. However,attendees were encouraged to craft a pro-gram meeting their own needs by eitherstaying in a single track or crossing fromone to the other.

“Why didn’t I come last year?” askedone satisfied attendee. For those whodidn’t attend this year—plan to come nextyear. And in the meantime, you can readabout what you missed in this issue of MENews. Planning Committee

Student members of the PlanningCommittee, Janelle Konchar and KhenyaStill.

Track A:Business andTechnologyStrategic Planning:Managing BusinessSuccess

BBiillll MMaavviittyy ’72 is President and CEO ofParacor Medical, a company focused ondeveloping device-based treatments forpatients suffering from heart failure. Hespent the first 21 years of his career withthe 3M Company and the next 12 with anumber of smaller companies.

While a strategic plan is commonlyreferred to as a “road map,” a more correctanalogy, according to Mavity, is “total tripplanning.” Questions to be asked includeWhere do we want to go and why? Can weaccess appropriate means of travel? Whoelse is trying to get there? What are alter-native routes? At the end of the journey, isthe trip worth taking? Can we apply theprocess to our next trip?

The strategy chosen will vary accordingto the size and position of the company.“Strategic planning defines the opportuni-ty,” said Mavity, “and answers the question‘What sandbox are we going to play in?’”Important elements of the process includeidentifying resources and assessing thecompetition.

William Mavity, President and CEO ofParacor Medical.

Page 7

Mavity’s experience, in addition to hiswork for major corporations, includeslaunching a start-up company based onthe development of a new laparascopicaccess device. He entered a $300 mil-lion market dominated by two billion-dollar companies, with a product thatoffered some attractive features, includ-ing less risk, time savings, and betterhealing.

“We had to achieve profitability withless than a 10% market share,” Mavity

said. He succeeded in the face of highrisk and stiff competition.

“Mavity is a very successful person,” saysHutchison. “He was very modest in hispresentation, but he launched a start-upthat did exactly what he set out to do, andnow he’s doing it again. His topic wasstrategic planning, but I think his personalstory is what’s really interesting.”

At least one attendee agreed, comment-ing, “Insights relative to the presenter’s

own business were the most interestingand helpful.” Mavity was referred to as“fascinating” and “clearly an expert withvast experience.” Another participant said,“He really makes you think.”

A self-professed mediocre student whileat UD, Mavity found success after graduat-ing by having a firm strategy and carrying itout. His advice on this topic was apparent-ly taken to heart by at least one attendee,who said, “It’s time to re-evaluate mystrategic plan.”

Financial Planning:Tools for BusinessManagement

With her wry sense of humor, JJooddiieeMMoorrggaann ’85, President of SPI Polyols,came to the conference to convince

mechanical engineers that they need to getcomfortable with financial statements.

“A degree in mechanical engineeringprovides a good analytical foundation thatcan be leveraged,” she said. “Addingknowledge of finance greatly improves yourcareer opportunities.”

“An engineering education opens doors,gives you credibility, and provides technicalknowledge and problem-solving skills,” shecontinued. “But money impacts all deci-sions in business. The language of financeis a bridge between business functions andwill increase your credibility.”

Morgan came to that realization as anengineer, when some of the products shedesigned didn’t make it past the designstage for financial reasons. “I wanted toclose that gap for myself,” she said. “Irealized that being educated in financewould enable me to navigate betweenthe disciplines.”

Part of Morgan’s goal in speaking to theME audience was to demystify financialdocuments, such as balance sheets and cashflow statements, which can be as dauntingas reading a story written in another lan-guage. “It is like learning a second lan-guage,” she admitted.

But according to Morgan, learning thissecond language doesn’t require a majorchange in the undergraduate curriculum,nor does it mean that every ME gradshould go on to earn an MBA. Seminars,short courses, and on-the-job training canprovide an effective financial educationwith a relatively minimal time investment.

One participant summed up the effec-tiveness of Morgan’s talk: “This subjectshould be made mandatory for all engineer-ing students… an excellent, relevant mes-sage that the presenter packaged and com-municated in a concise, effective manner.”

Jodie Morgan, President of SPI Polyols.

Sustainable EnergyME Professor AAjjaayy PPrraassaadd provided a

comprehensive overview of sustainableenergy, with one attendee referring to hispresentation as “a good laymen’s primer onfuel cells and wind power.”

“We always find that our alumni respondvery positively to Ajay’s style,” saidHutchison. “They’re amazed at how wellhe speaks to a lay audience.”

According to Prasad, sustainable energyis hot news because of two pervasive con-cerns: (1) energy security and (2) environ-mental issues, including global warmingand greenhouse gases. Fuel cells and windenergy are potential solutions to theseproblems.

Prasad used statistics about vehicle travel,oil prices and consumption, and vehiclesize, performance, and fuel economy assupport for the validity of these concerns.

Fuel cells, which combine fuel and oxi-dants electrochemically to produce electric-ity, are two to three times more efficientthan internal combustion engines. “A fuelcell stack is quiet, has no moving parts, and

produces zero emissions,” he said. Several companies, including Honda,

Toyota, and GM, have developed con-cept vehicles based on fuel cell technolo-gy, and fuel-cell buses are actually on thestreets of some European cities. In addi-tion to powering vehicles, fuel cells canbe used for stationary power in suchapplications as telecommunications,small businesses, and residences, as wellas provide portable power for laptopsand other small electronics.

At UD, fuel cell research has taken sev-eral directions, with ongoing projectsaddressing water management, fluid trans-port, durability, and materials characteriza-tion. In addition, ME is collaborating withother research groups in the University ofDelaware Fuel Cell Bus Program. Thegoal of this project, funded by the FederalTransit Administration and carried out incollaboration with a consortium, is toresearch, build, and demonstrate a fuel-cell-powered transit vehicle in Delaware.

Prasad also provided an overview of windenergy efforts throughout the world,including the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm inAtlantic City, which is the first coastal windfarm in the United States, and Cape Wind,located offshore on Nantucket Sound.

At UD, wind energy research is multi-faceted, focusing on composites manufac-turing and structural testing, experimentaland computational fluid mechanics, vibra-tions and control, and resource assessment.

Prasad’s presentation ended, appropriate-ly, with a slide featuring Earth Day 2006,which had taken place just a week beforethe ME Conference.

Ajay Prasad, Professor of MechanicalEngineering.

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The Day i

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in Photos

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Track B: CareerPlanningEngineering YourFuture:Starting/Improving YourCareer

MMaarriiee DDiiDDaanniieellss,, R&D HumanResources Manager at Dade Behring, gothigh marks for providing an interestingand informative seminar for students andother potential job seekers. “It was a verygood treatise on an important subject,”said one attendee. “She gave good advice,including information on interviews andetiquette,” commented another.

The presentation included tips on writ-ing effective resumes, information aboutthe various types of interviews companies

typically use, and resources for jobhunters. DiDaniels urged intervieweesto research prospective employers andask good questions. “It’s a good way todifferentiate yourself from the competi-tion,” she said.

“This is a major life decision,” she con-tinued. “Don’t take a job just on thebasis of the money. The personality ofthe job is very important, and the cultureof companies varies a lot.”

A lively discussion followed the pres-entation, with participants not only ask-ing questions but also sharing theirinsights and experience with each other.One valuable resource in the audiencewas Alex Bourdon ’80, Vice President ofGlobal Manufacturing for Dade Behring.

At the 2005 alumni conference,Bourdon was a formal presenter. Thisyear, he shared his experiences informal-

ly. His main message: Show interest inand knowledge about the company dur-ing an interview, and accept the positiononly if you feel it will be a good fit.

Marie DiDaniels, R&D Human ResourcesManager at Dade Behring.

Navigating Your CareerPath: Stepping Up toLeadership

TTeerrrrii KKeellllyy ’’83, CEO of W.L. Goreand Associates, opened with some back-

ground on Gore, where she has spent herentire career, and then shared her keylearnings and reflections with the audi-ence.

“You learn a lot being thrown into acrisis,” she said. “You will surprise your-self regarding what you can achieve. Asan engineer, almost all career paths areopen to you.”

“Tap into the resources and the expert-ise available to you,” she continued.

Meeting your commitments and oper-ating with integrity is crucial.”

However, Kelly cautioned that whilean engineering background provides agrounding in applying good science andeffective problem solving, it’s notenough.

“People skills do matter and do impactyour effectiveness,” she said. “Being an

effective leader requires different skills.Taking control of your own career anddevelopment path is important… and alittle luck doesn’t hurt!”

Kelly showed a video of ME grads whocommented on what they originallythought they would do with theirdegrees, what they started off doing rightafter graduation, and what they’re actual-ly doing several years into their careers.Many are working in customer relations,some are in strategic sales, while still oth-ers are doing straight engineering. “Thetalk really demonstrated the breadth ofmechanical engineering,” said Konchar.

One attendee referred to Kelly’s pres-entation as “awesome,” while anothercredited her with having an “excellentapproachable style.” A third participantfound the details of her transition fromengineer to CEO “most interesting.”

Terri Kelly, CEO of W.L. Gore andAssociate.

Diverse Road Maps toSuccess: PanelDiscussion

Moderated by senior JJaanneelllleeKKoonncchhaarr,, this panel discussion present-ed the points of view of six young MEalumni. The career paths of the pan-elists covered a broad range of areas,including land development and home-building, the chemical industry, theentertainment industry, equipment andprocess optimization, and architecturalmanagement. The sixth participant wasa current master’s degree candidate.

“The fact that the session was organ-ized and run by students was viewed as areal plus,” said Cloud. “Attendeesseemed to feel that the session comple-mented the other presentations well,both in format and in content.”

Pat Reynolds ’67, co-founder,President, and CEO of PoolPakTechnologies Corporation, was veryimpressed with the panel discussion.“From the start of the session, Janelleset the course with her lead-off ques-tions,” he said, “addressing what toexpect during the first couple of years inthe work world and in graduate school.

Janelle Konchar, Panel Moderator

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CCaarrll HHaallll ’50, DeanEmeritus and ProfessorEmeritus, WashingtonState University

WWiilllliiaamm MMaavviittyy ’72,President, CEO, andDirector of ParacorMedical, Inc.

TTeerrrrii KKeellllyy ’83,President and CEO ofW. L. Gore &Associates, Inc.

AAllaann FFlleennnneerr ’86,attorney with High,Swartz, Roberts &Seidel and Commander,Navy Reserve CivilEngineer Corps.

KKaauusshhaall KKuurraappaattii’95, Senior ProductManager at Ask Jeeves,Inc.

Distinguished Career Alumni PresentationsAfter dinner, five alumni were honored for their distinguished careers:

This topic is probably on the mind ofevery senior. I know it was on mymind when I was a senior—and even ajunior. Unfortunately, my peers andprofessors couldn’t shed light on thissubject.”

“The panelists addressed the expec-tations they thought their employershad,” he continued, “and shared theirnervousness that they might not live upto these expectations. As the gradu-ates moved from job to job, somelearned what they didn’t want to do,and others found things they liked todo. I think these mini-war stories gavea lot of insight into what life would belike on the other side of the diploma.”

Panel members fromleft: Brian Zigmond(1999), Allison Bruton(2004), Rob Allen(2000), KatherinePiazza-Thuma(2002),and David Geesaman(2000). Not pictured isKirsten Huesmann(2003).

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KeynoteAddress:Returning toFlight

Dr. JJeerrrryy KKeeggeellmmaann ’78, DeputyDirector for Research and TechnologyTest Operations at NASA-Langley, spokeabout the Space Shuttle Program followingthe Columbia disaster.

Unraveling the mystery of the Columbiaaccident was a lot like solving a criminalcase, and, as with any forensic investiga-tion, it involved a lot of repetitive, time-consuming, and tedious work.

Starting with a tribute to the seven astro-nauts who lost their lives in the accident,Kegelman said “This is always emotionalfor me, we either knew them personally orwere ‘one degree away’. That’s why wework so hard to get it right.”

“The search crews had to look for debrisover a 2,000-square-mile area in Texas,”Kegelman said. “The swath was four timesas long as the state of Delaware.” Teammembers combed the area, walking side-by-side six feet apart, through the eastTexas wilderness, including swamps andthorny forests, collecting small pieces of theshuttle that might provide clues to the dis-aster.

That was a tedious, but essential, part ofthe investigation. The high-tech partinvolved many engineering disciplines,including wind-tunnel testing, computa-tional fluid dynamics, stereo lithography,impact dynamics testing, and non-destruc-tive evaluation to name a few. As Columbiawas the first shuttle built, the ship hadextensive instrumentation, including an on-board data recorder that enabled the teamto decode key data about the vehicle.

Information from all of these sources waspieced together to show that the cause ofthe shuttle’s failure was a chunk of insulat-ing foam that separated from the externaltank and struck the wing. It may seemunlikely that a 1.67-pound piece of foamcould do so much damage, but Kegelmanpointed out that with the vehicle travelingat Mach 2.46, the foam struck the wing atabout 550 MPH, which has the same kinet-ic energy as a 167-pound object at 55MPH!

Solving the technical mystery, however,was only the beginning. “The Agency hadto ask, ‘What do we do for the next time?’”Kegelman said. “We don’t want to talk our-selves into flying again without really know-ing what went wrong and why.”

So NASA created the Engineering andSafety Center at Langley, which began toaddress the root physics issues that candetermine whether or not a mission is safe.“Since then,” said Kegelman, “we’ve solveda number of challenging problems. Forexample we’ve characterized the fracturemechanics of pieces on the shuttle, put thatinformation into structural mechanics mod-els, and now can accurately simulate theimpact of foam on the leading edge.”

When Mission 114 was launched lastsummer, and foam unfortunately came offduring that flight as well, NASA began“rethinking foam from the ground up,” saidKegelman. Recent investigations show thatmost of the foam at a thickness up to twoinches is “fairly well behaved,” but whenextra foam is sprayed on for insulation oraerodynamic fairing, temperature gradientscan cause cracking.

“We’ve become much smarter since theColumbia flight,” Kegelman said. “TheAgency has learned to simulate any numberof ‘curve balls’ that might occur dur-ing a flight, using all of its resources toquickly figure out what’s going on.Even before a flight we rehearse theprocess of quickly developing answersto questions.”

The space shuttle will be retired in2010 and replaced with the CrewExploration Vehicle and a CrewLaunch Vehicle. “While this may looklike Apollo, it will be like Apollo onsteroids,” Kegelman said, “carrying upto six astronauts and orbiting themoon for up to six months at a time.”The plans for the new vehicles arepart of the new “Vision for SpaceExploration.”

As captivating as Kegelman’skeynote address was, it would be diffi-

cult to top his personal story. He is oneof 10 children, nine of whom graduatedfrom the University of Delaware. Andthey all paid their own way throughschool.

Tom started at UD but finished atYork with a degree in biology. Thenine UD degrees include John, com-puter science; Matthew, physics; Jerry,mechanical engineering; Joe, electricalengineering; Mary, art; Christine, jour-nalism; Bernadette, biology; Jim,mechanical engineering; and Dan,math.

Not only did the family grow up inDelaware and go to UD, but nine outof the ten never left Delaware—all butJerry still live in the First State. Sixfamily members (four of his brothers,one of his sisters and her husband, andhis father) reunited at the ME celebra-

tion to hear Jerry’s talk.His mother missed the event because she

was out of town. But she had a goodexcuse, according to Jerry’s brother Jim,who works for Dade Behring in Glasgow.Named Delaware Mother of the Year(MOY) and National MOY in 2004, she stillhas speaking obligations.

In addition to raising her own 10 chil-dren, Mary Kegelman touched the lives ofthousands of other children through herwork as a math teacher. In an interviewabout the MOY award, family friend NancyKeiper said of Mary Kegelman, “All of herkids have done well—they have all gone onto accomplished careers as teachers, scien-tists, and computer experts.”

Jerry Kegelman’s personal success story isone chapter is what is obviously a familysuccess story. “We all owe everything toour parents,” said Jim. “They are not onlywell educated but also very nice peoplewho are very humble.”

Jerry Kegelman, Deputy Director for Researchand Technology Test Operations at NASA-Langley.

Kegelman Family: front row from left, Christine,Matt (dad), Jerry; back row from left Matthew.Not pictured are Mary (mom who was out-of-town), John, Joe, Tom, Mary, and Bernadette.

Page 13

The Extras: Networking,Posters, and Resume Book

In between the formal seminars, participants hadthe opportunity to peruse the MechanicalEngineering Research and Technology Displays andnetwork with other attendees. A resume book,including resumes of any interested students andalumni, was distributed to all event participants.

The Research and Technology Displays featuredposters on selected research projects in the depart-ment, including work in composites and materials,clean energy and fuel cells, biomedical engineering,and robotics and controls. The work was displayedby graduate and undergraduate students of thedepartment.

Attendees at poster session.

And…the Wrap-up“We had a number of goals for this

event,” said Cloud. “We wanted to rec-ognize alumni for their career achieve-ment and impact and to celebrate uniqueand interesting alumni careers.”

“We also wanted to offer educationalopportunities to alumni and studentsregarding current business and technolo-gy topics and career strategies,” he con-tinues, “and, at the same time, provide anannual networking event to expandcareer opportunities for alumni andrecruiting for students.”

“Finally, the event is a way for alumnito stay in touch with MechanicalEngineering faculty and current happen-ings at the University. I think we wereable to do all of these things with thisyear’s conference, but we’re always look-ing for feedback, and we welcome ideasfor how we can do better in the future.”

“We’re very grateful for the support ofDean Eric Kaler and ME Chair TomBuchanan,” Hutchison said. “We alsocouldn’t have organized and hosted thisevent without the support of thePlanning Committee and the ME staff.”

Darlene Gorton ’96, now with Gore,stopped by Clayton Hall after work toreunite with fellow ME alums at the con-ference and learn about what is going onin the department. Gorton also had amini-reunion with a high school class-mate: She and Assistant Professor JillHigginson were classmates at PennsburyHigh School in Fairless Hills,Pennsylvania.

You never know who you’re going tomeet at the annual ME conference, butit’s definitely worth attending….

Research andTechnologyDisplaysExperimental Investigation of LiquidWater Formation and Transport in aTransparent Operational PEM FuelCell, Dusan Spernjak (advised byS.G. Advani and A.K. Prasad)

Turbulent Collision-Coalescence ofCloud Droplets: A Hybrid DNSApproach and Results, Orlando Ayalaand Bogdan Rosa (advised by W.W.Grabowski and L-P. Wang)

Growth of Cloud Droplets byTurbulent Collision-Coalescence, YanXue (advised by L.P. Wang and W.W.Grabowski)

Modeling and Simulation ofLeukocyte (WBC) TransmigrationThrough Cellular Junctions inInflammatory Responses, Xiaoyi Li(advised by K. Sarkar)

Finite Deformation Study on Fibril-Reinforced Poroelastic Model of

Articular Cartilage, Fulin Lei(advised by A. Szeri)

The Characterization of HighPerformance Nano-Composites forOrthopedic Applications, AllisonBruton (advised by M.H. Santare andS.G. Advani)

Microcrack Damage and its Effect onStress Wave Propagation, Dan Su(advised by M.H. Santare)

Design and Hydrodynamics of aBiomimetic Micro UnderwaterVehicle, Parasar Kodati (advised by X.Deng)

Characterization of Muscle PowerOutputs as a Result of WearingPolypropylene Ankle Foot Orthoses(AFOS) Using 2-D MusculoskeletalGait, Charles Crabtree (advised byJ.S. Higginson)

Non-Uniform MusculotendoniousFinite Strain Fields in theSupraspinatus During ShoulderElevation, Hehe Zhou (advised byJ.E. Novotny)

Experimental Investigations onCapillarity Driven Flows ThroughPorous Media, Valentin Neascu(advised by S.G. Advani)

Molecular Dynamics Simulation ofLiquid Argon Flow Around a CarbonNanotube, Wenzhong Tang (advisedby S.G. Advani)

Rheological Behavior of Multi-WalledCarbon Nanotube Suspensions,Zhihang Fan (advised by S.G.Advani)

Experimental Investigation of LiquidWater Formation and Transport in aTransparent Polymer ElectrolyteMembrane Fuel Cell, Dusan Spernjak(advised by S.G. Advani and A.K.Prasad)

Durability of PEM Fuel CellMembranes, Yaliang Tang and AhmetKusoglu (advised by A.M. Karlssonand M.H. Santare)

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell forMultifunctional Composites, SrikanthArisetty (advised by A.K. Prasad andS.G. Advani)

Kinking from Bimaterial InterfaceCrack: Effect of Residual Stresses,Arun Agrawal (advised by A.M.Karlsson)

Analytic Characterization of thePermeability of Dual-Scale FibrousPorous Media, Fuping Zhou (advisedby S.G. Advani)

Real Time Gait Event DetectionFrom Knee Brace Integrated Sensors,Andrew Davison and Jo White(advised by J-Q Sun)

A New Port Injection Process forImproved VARTM Resin FlowControl, Mike Fuqua (advised by J.L.Glancey)

Mathematical Modeling and Testingof a New Polymer-Based Impact ToolDesign to Reduce Vibration-RelatedBiomechanical Injuries, JanelleKonchar (advised by J.L. Glancey)

Page 14

Debbie GeorgeWins the 2006Laird Fellowship

Although gymnastics, mechanical engi-neering, and ceramics may seem to havelittle in common, they are all outlets forDebbie George’s creativity and passionatenature. Winner of the 2006 LairdFellowship, George is a Ph.D. candidateadvised by ME Assistant Professor JillHigginson.

It was actually a phone call fromHigginson that persuaded George tocome to Delaware. Originally from thePhiladelphia area, she earned her bache-lor’s degree at Cornell University.

“I think the classes at most good schoolsare pretty much the same,” George says.“I came here for the research. I had beenaccepted at several schools, but when Dr.Higginson called me and described herresearch program, it was easy to make adecision.”

George had already developed a stronginterest in biomechanics as an undergrad-uate at Cornell, where she did researchduring her junior and senior years.Higginson’s study of gait mechanics instroke patients intrigued her.

The work involves the use of musclestimulation, for both rehabilitation and“maintenance”—for the latter application,

the stimulation becomes a kind of pace-maker for the muscles, taking over wherethe natural stimulation of the brain isimpaired. “After I finish my Ph.D., Iwant to work on products that will directlybenefit a group of people, such as strokepatients,” George says.

While she is an outstanding student,George had to be more than that to winthe Laird Fellowship. Established 25years ago in honor of George W. Laird,the Fellowship is given annually to a grad-uate student in engineering “to encouragethe recipient to become engaged in abroadening intellectual pursuit that mayor may not be of direct application to therecipient’s chosen field of study.”

In Debbie George’s case, the focus ofthat broadening pursuit is pottery.Interested in manipulating clay since shewas a young child, George took ceramicscourses in high school and at Cornell.She has continued her passion as a gradu-ate student, taking a course at a communi-ty college.

But the Laird Fellowship will enableGeorge to do two things that she wouldnot otherwise have been able to do: haveconvenient access to ceramics facilitiesand become a better potter by studyingthe work of masters. She plans to use themoney to open a pottery studio where shewill not only have unlimited time to workon her own pieces but also offer othermembers of the community the opportu-nity to work. In addition, she plans to

travel to Spain during the summer of 2007to learn from the teachers in that country,improving her own work and enabling herto share what she knows with others.

“The trip will give me a new perspectiveand new techniques to cultivate andenrich my abilities to express myself cre-atively,” she says. It will also enable me tooffer my acquired knowledge to anyone inmy pottery studio who wants to learn.”

Although Laird’s untimely death preclud-ed his meeting the recipients of theFellowship established in his name, hewould undoubtedly approve. Over the pasttwo decades, the funds have supported anexceptional group of “Renaissance” menand women with many diverse interests.

Deb George is no exception. A formercompetitive gymnast, a talented potter,and a promising biomechanics researcher,she is also an energetic volunteer and anaccomplished baker. “All of these thingshave helped shape who I am as a person,”she says, “and in turn, they will help shapemy future.”

“Debbie has been a wonderful additionto my research group,” Higginson says.“Her self-motivation, inquisitive natureand charismatic personality enhance thelab atmosphere and make data collectionsessions more fun. I expect Debbie willthrive here at UD and her future career(and ceramic) pursuits!”

AwardsHONORS DAY MECHANICAL ENGINEER-ING AWARD RECIPIENTSMAY 5, 2006

SENIOR YEAR AWARDS:

W. FRANCIS LINDELL MECHANICALENGINEERING AWARD TO THEDISTINGUISHED SENIOR

DDoouuggllaass AA.. BBrruunnnneerrKKrriisstteenn MM.. EEllllii

JJaanneellllee AA.. KKoonncchhaarr

MARY AND GEORGE NOWINSKI AWARD FOREXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATERESEARCH

DDaanniieellaa WWaagguuss

JUNIOR YEAR AWARDS:

W. FRANCIS LINDELL MECHANICALENGINEERING AWARD TO THEDISTINGUISHED JUNIOR

HHaaddii MM.. FFaattttaahhCChhrriissttoopphheerr TT.. SShheerrmmaann

W. FRANCIS LINDELL MECHANICALENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

AAnnddrreeww NN.. SSeeaaggrraavveessJJoosshhuuaa DD.. TTrreeiissnneerr

SOPHOMORE YEAR AWARD:

W.J. RENTON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDINGSOPHOMORE

BBeennjjaammiinn II.. BBiinnddeerr MMaacclleeoodd

OTHER DEPARTMENT AWARDS:

DELAWARE SECTION OF THE AMERICANSOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERSOUTSTANDING STUDENT

MMiicchhaaeell AA.. ZZeeiittzz

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICALENGINEERS STUDENT SECTION

MMiicchhaaeell AA.. FFuuqquuaaROBERT T. BOSWORTH SCHOLARSHIP

MMaatttthheeww BB.. JJaasskkoottREDDEN SCHOLARSHIP

JJeessssiiccaa AA.. DDiibbeellkkaaCChhrriissttoopphheerr TT.. SShheerrmmaann

JJaanneessssaa NN.. SSmmiitthh

HELWIG GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

DDaarrrreenn AA.. BBrroowwnnDDeebbrraa GGrraaccee GGeeoorrggee

NEWMAN FUND SCHOLARSHIP

KKaarrooll GGrraabbcczzeewwsskkiiMMaatttthheeww DD.. GGrriiffffiitthh

Page 15

Alumni News

Obituaries

Michael A. Streicher, formerResearch Professor at the University ofDelaware in the Department ofMechanical Engineering, died onFebruary 14, 2006, at the age of 84.From 1949 to 1979, Streicher worked forthe Engineering Department of theDuPont Company, where he advanced tothe positions of Research Fellow andPrincipal Consultant. For the next eightyears, he was on the UD-ME faculty.His students were the recipients ofprominent industry awards. Thereafter,he worked as an independent consultant

with major attention devoted to safe stor-age containers for nuclear waste.Internationally recognized for his workon the testing and development of corro-sion resistant stainless steel alloys, he waspublished widely in technical journalsand textbooks and held numerouspatents. He received several prestigiousawards, including Fellow of the AmericanSociety for Metals (1970), the WillisRodney Whitney Award from theNational Association of CorrosionEngineers (1972), and Fellow of theInternational Association of CorrosionEngineers (1994). His many lifelonginterests also included art, music, history,philosophy, and current events.

James Ridgeway Jones, age 78, ofElkton, MD, died on Tuesday, April 18,2006, at Christiana Hospital in Newark,DE. A graduate of Seaford High School,he earned his degree in mechanical engi-neering at the University of Delaware.Jones served his country in the U.S.Army as a First Lieutenant with tours ofduty in Korea and Alaska. In civilian life,he enjoyed a 32-year career with theExxon Corporation and was posted withhis family all over the world, includingassignments in England, France,Argentina, Holland, Japan, Spain,Belgium, and Colombia. He retired in1986.

Michael Stephen Quariadi,BME1995 MME2004, is working as amechanical engineer for L-3Communications Integrated Systems inGreenville, TX.

Gilbert Jon Stieglitz BSME1962retired from the U.S. Army in 1992, after30 years of active duty. He then joinedCAS, Inc. as a SystemsEngineer/Program Manager and was pro-moted to Vice President of the company’s

Command and Control Group in 1999.He completed a master’s degree in elec-trical engineering at the University ofTexas–El Paso in 1971.

Nicholas L. Grossman (BME2003) is a 40mm Munition Mechanical Engineer with U.S. Army RDECOM-ARDEC in Picatinny,NJ. Grossman was kind enough to pass along several pictures of his colleague, Timothy L. Jenkins (BME2003), who is with theU.S. Army and is currently deployed in Iraq.

Do you have any feedback (comments, questions)? Or let us know any current events or info not covered by the data sheet below.

INFORMATION FORM FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S RECORDS

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________First Middle Last Maiden

Delaware Degree BME Date______________________ MME Date______________________ Ph.D. Date ______________________

Spouse’s Name ________________________________________________________________________ DE Alum? __________________________________________

Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone ______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail __________________________________________

Company __________________________________________________________________________ Your Position __________________________________________

Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Phone ______________________________________________________________________________ Fax __________________________________________

E-mail______________________________________________________________________________ Web Address __________________________________________

Please identify if your company is an affiliate or subsidiary of a larger company ____________________________________________________________________

Return this form to: Nate Cloud, 126 Spencer Lab, University of Delaware, Newark DE 19716 and/or contact me at cloud@me.udel.edu or 302-737-4111

ALUMNI FEEDBACK - What’s New With You?

Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of DelawareNewark, DE 19716-3140

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