Engineering message from the chair

Trevor Harding

The concept of family is at the heart of Cal Poly’s Materials Engineering Department.

Students are welcomed into a tight-knit community as they begin their journey of learning and self-discovery, supported by other students, faculty and staff. When they graduate, MATE students stay connected to their “family,” nurturing friendships they’ve built, visiting as alumni and giving back to the department that shaped them.

A prime example can be found in the story of Cindy Shurtleff, the first female to graduate from the Metallurgical Engineering Department — now called Materials Engineering — in 1980. She forged lifelong friendships with faculty members and classmates during a chapter that was foundational to her success.

“Cal Poly Engineering was there at a formative time of my life and helped me become the adult that I am — an independent woman,” she said. “I could go back to campus any time and be welcomed back. It feels like home.”

Cindy recently donated $1 million to our department’s discretionary fund to ensure the MATE family grows. We could not be more grateful for her generous gift that will impact students and faculty for years to come.

You can also read about the community- building efforts of lecturer Nicole JohnsonGlauch, who organizes a range of events during the school year, including board game nights, book clubs and holiday-themed activities. Her work, funded by Cindy’s gift, has strengthened MATE’s culture of togetherness.

Our students are excelling both inside and outside the classroom, with many winning awards, scholarships and recognition.

Senior Sydney Fultz-Waters earned a $3,000 scholarship from ASM International, the world’s largest association of materials-centric engineers and scientists, to continue her work in the field of materials engineering. Her senior project this year is focused on streamlining the electric vehicle testing process and contributing to sustainability in an industry she is passionate about.

Research is a key part of how we Learn by Doing, and there’s no shortage of that within our department.

Materials Engineering Professor Mohsen Kivy is guiding students Ryan Thompson, Juan Palominos Jr., Matthew Kestenbaum and Lucy Hunter as they test the crystallization of highentropy alloys at different temperatures in the search for a new, stronger alloy. The group presented their findings at an exhibition and contributed a journal article detailing their discoveries.

Members of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance club — one of the oldest student chapters in the worldwide organization — continue to study corrosion, as companies clamor for more information about the process that drives up maintenance and repair costs.

Students gather weekly, host experts and are undertaking research projects that will help inform corrosion control efforts.

Lastly, as our students and faculty members conduct their work, often with dangerous chemicals, our student safety technician Jacob Reed is making sure everyone proceeds with caution. You can read about his critical responsibilities, which are key to the success of our department.

The MATE Department continues its legacy of transforming young people into some of the finest materials engineers in the world. We hope you will join Cindy in supporting the next generation of students who join our family. You can give HERE. n

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