Villanova
SPRING 2020
ENGINEER BUILDING BRIDGES
Engineering Builds Bridges Between Departments and Across Colleges
Animals and Superheroes Inspire Mechanical Engineering Project Designs
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Engineering Alumni Society Awards Celebrate Achievements 22
VILLANOVA ENGINEER
M E S S AG E F R O M THE INTERIM DEAN Like many of you—thanks to COVID-19—I have spent the past couple months working at home and becoming best friends with technology. I’m also learning valuable lessons, including the fact that I never ever want to teach elementary school lessons like I am now having to do for my second grader. Luckily, my introverted seventh grader is thriving learning at home at the kitchen table. As for my real job, I keep up with most of my work from the dining room, but I miss the students and my colleagues, the smiles, and the hallway conversations. Thankfully, the way we train Villanova engineers prepares them for most anything that life throws their way. We teach them to care about people and the environment and how to leverage science, technology and facts to make it work and get the job done.
the provost’s office when we welcome Dr. Michele Marcolongo as the new Drosdick Endowed Dean of Engineering on July 31, 2020. It has been an honor serving as interim dean these past two years and I wish her the best of luck moving forward. Dr. Marcolongo has incredible faculty, staff and students to work with and I expect great things. Let’s all welcome her to the Villanova community with open arms—hopefully less than six feet apart—on July 31. Finally, we offer a tremendous round of applause and hearty “congratulations” to our 2020 graduates. We never could have anticipated the way your senior year would come to an end, and we’re as disappointed as you are that we were unable to celebrate your accomplishments together on campus in May. We look forward to the opportunity to do so soon and hope most of you will be able to join us for the official sendoff you so richly deserve. Until then, be well. Randy Weinstein, PhD Interim Dean of Engineering Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Interim Dean Randy D. Weinstein, PhD Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Senior Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research Gerard F. Jones, PhD, ’72 ME Associate Dean, Academic Affairs Andrea Welker, PhD, PE Associate Dean, Student and Strategic Programs Stephen Jones, PhD
Whom Dr. Meltem Izzetoglu is collaborating with across colleges
And speaking of getting the job done, it’s bittersweet for me to be returning to
Villanova Engineer is published by Villanova University College of Engineering, Villanova, PA 19085
6 THINGS YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS “BUILDING BRIDGES” ISSUE
and departments 3
What Dr. John Hennessy ’73 EE shared with the Villanova community during his visit to campus 6
How a $236K grant will support undergraduate female student research 8
Who and what inspired Dr. Virginia Smith’s passion for international development 14
How engineering student-athletes balance the demands of a varsity sport and demanding major 18
What CubeSats are and what’s being done with them at Villanova 20
Assistant Dean, External Relations Keith Argue
Questions, Comments, Letters to the Editor Send to Kimberly.Shimer@villanova.edu
Director of Communications/Editor Kimberly Shimer
Address Updates Send to alumni@villanova.edu or 1800VILLANOVA
Contributors Megan Amis Griffin Davis ’22 EE Photo Credits: Principal photography by Paul Crane Photography John Shetron Photography Additional photographs provided by: Gabriela Hasbun Jerry Millevoi Sideline Photos
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PERSPECTIVES ON A PANDEMIC IN MARCH 2020—WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGED— College of Engineering faculty and alumni mobilized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They presented computational models in the search for an inhibitor; partnered with Philadelphia area hospitals to develop emergency ventilators; wrote about the potential for blockchain to help medical facilities stem the spread of the disease; and provided perspective on the global economy's vulnerability to the crisis. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the conversation, the College decided to post these stories on our website rather than publish them in this magazine. This allows us to continue to add to them and update them as the situation evolves. Please share your COVID-19 stories by emailing kimberly.shimer@villanova.edu and visit engineering.villanova.edu/special for these pieces and more: Villanova Engineers Build a Ventilator Responding to the desperate need for emergency ventilators, Villanova Engineers and graduate students in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing collaborated with Philadelphia-area hospitals to develop one. BY C. NATARAJ, PHD The Search for an Inhibitor In the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, progress is being made on identifying potential COVID-19 inhibitors using computational approaches. BY ZUYI “JACKY” HUANG, PHD Single-Use Technology and COVID-19 Why the rapid development and production of vaccines and therapies requires single-use technology. BY MICHELLE PARZIALE ’13 ME Blockchain’s Role in Controlling the Spread As a common source of data, the blockchain allows medical facilities to share immutable information. BY HASSHI SUDLER ’92 EE The Worldwide Economic Effects Recovery will be long, and not necessarily steady. BY GONZALO ZURITA ’86 CE A Senior Reflects The human touch makes all the difference. BY MEGHAN RICE ’20 CIVIL ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND ACROSS COLLEGES
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COLLEGE NEWS
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Through V2, Villanova Integrated Academics grants, interdisciplinary student research, engineering entrepreneurship and informal faculty collaborations, the College of Engineering is breaking down barriers between departments and across colleges to facilitate the discovery of exciting new ideas and innovative solutions to the world’s challenges.
THE VILLANOVA RESEARCH PROGRAM
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n 2018, at a research group meeting of the American Society of Engineering Education, Dr. Gerard Jones, senior associate dean of Graduate Studies and Research, learned of a University of Michigan seed program designed to bring together faculty from across colleges to explore and pursue research ideas. Recognizing an opportunity to replicate the program at Villanova University, V-squared (V2) was born. V2 is part of a larger effort to enhance Villanova’s reputation as a research institution—a goal that requires embracing and encouraging interdisciplinary, cross-college initiatives. “The reality is that today, the challenges being faced are too complex for a single disciplinary approach; that’s why it’s important to facilitate collaboration between faculty with different areas of expertise,” explains Dr. Jones. He adds: “V2 is designed to increase productivity and grow the University’s research enterprise by generating data and results that can produce proposals to obtain sustained funding. The resulting scholarly publications and conference presentations will also serve to enhance our visibility.” In 2019, the College of Engineering launched the V2 pilot program with $100,000, offering a year’s worth of seed funding to four teams of faculty from engineering and the sciences (refer to the sidebar). This year, Interim Dean Dr.
Randy Weinstein reached out to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and Villanova School of Business to solicit additional financial support, with which several new cross-college teams will be awarded $25K-$50K each to pursue innovative faculty research. Program guidelines stipulate that all projects must have investigators from at least two of the University’s five colleges in order to receive funding, and funds cannot go to faculty directly; rather they must be spent on research equipment, supplies, lab fees, staff support or travel. At least 50% of the funding must be used to support graduate or undergraduate students, which will further expand highly desirable research opportunities. A forthcoming element of the program that particularly excites Dr. Jones is the V2 “Website for Squaring.” In the future, a faculty member will enter project information into the site, from which they can invite others to form a “square.” To encourage multi-disciplinary thinking and to grow participation and interest, the V2 website will be visible to all members of the Villanova campus community. “Shame is a crucial motivator,” says Dr. Jones, only half-jokingly. “By making the ideas and the work public, no one has to monitor activity. If you’re not delivering on your ideas, everyone will know.”
2019 V 2 PILOT PROJECTS Project: Investigating the Interactions Between Transgenes and Micro-RNAs in Host Cells Leads: Dr. Jacob Elmer, associate professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Dr. Elaine Youngman, assistant professor, Biology Goal: Determine if microRNAs (ribonucleic acid) inside human cells could be preventing expression of foreign/therapeutic genes that are delivered in gene therapy treatments Project: Assessment of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Capacity to Mitigate Flooding and Extreme Heat in Vulnerable Areas Leads: Dr. Virginia Smith, assistant professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. Peleg Kremer, assistant professor, Geography and the Environment Goal: Present a framework that assesses city-wide exposure to flooding and high surface temperatures Project: Structural Health Monitoring Using Machine Learning and PhysicsBased Models Leads: Dr. C. Nataraj, professor, Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Benjamin Mitchell, assistant professor, Computing Sciences Goal: Explore integration of concepts from machine learning and physics for structural health monitoring Project: Small-Molecule Nrf2 Activators as a Novel Cryoprotection Strategy for T Cell Therapies Leads: Dr. Jens Karlsson, professor, Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Aimee Eggler, associate professor, Chemistry Goal: Find new ways to protect human immune cells as they are shipped from a hospital setting to a gene engineering facility, and then back again to the hospital for administration to the patient. Cells are frozen for each transport, and cycles of freezing and thawing can damage them.
MELTEM IZZETOGLU: A TRACK RECORD OF COLLABORATION “My research has always been collaborative because it’s biomedical,” says Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Meltem Izzetoglu. “Biomedical research requires the contributions of clinicians, neuroscientists, psychologists, nurses, hardware and software engineers, and statisticians. If you’re doing translational research like I am, industry partnerships are also required.” An expert in analysis of brain signals and systems, Dr. Izzetoglu has collaborated with researchers throughout the Philadelphia region and within and between universities both nationally and internationally. Her partners have included medical experts from Drexel University, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, St. Christopher’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “Collaboration gives birth to other collaborations,” she explains. Since arriving at Villanova in fall 2017, Dr. Izzetoglu’s collaborations have included: REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS Nearly 10 years of aging studies with researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which has expanded to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Alabama at Birmingham. Villanova and Einstein are currently collaborating on a five-year National Institutes of Health grant to study “Brain Predictors of Mobility and Falls in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis.” Another proposal is seeking funding to introduce a bi-national component with researchers at Tel Aviv Medical Center in Israel. Researching nextgeneration functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based optical brain imaging systems with industry partner Infrascan, Inc. through a state grant
WITH VILLANOVA’S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES DEPARTMENT Semantic memory recall and sustained attention research with Dr. Irene Kan A study on concussion patients’ attentional distractibility with Dr. Charles Folk WITH THE M. LOUISE FITZPATRICK COLLEGE OF NURSING A newly funded Villanova Integrated Academics (VIA) course in development with Dr. Melissa O’Connor titled Innovations in Aging: The Power of Interprofessional Perspectives (to be offered spring 2021) ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND COLLEGES A proposed study on cognitive control of mobility in the elderly— both walking and driving— in collaboration with transportation engineering expert Dr. Seri Park in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and faculty from CLAS and College of Nursing. The study will utilize the College’s new state-ofthe-art driving simulator.
With the help of Dr. Kan and Computer Science instructor Kristin Obermyer, advising an undergraduate independent study to begin development of a first-of-its-kind optical brain imaging database, open to researchers worldwide WITHIN ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING Advising with Drs. Park and Mark Jupina, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, both a senior design project and an INNOVATE: L3Harris Summer Program project to build a scalable driving simulator prototype. The goal is to develop a mobile, fully immersive system that will offer a convenient, safe, affordable and reliable testing platform for human driving behavior and performance. Working with Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Dr. Xun Jiao on developing machine learning models using optical brain imaging measurements for cognitive aging research
ENGINEERING BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND ACROSS COLLEGES
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CHEMICAL AND N
Cross-discipline collaboration is not limited to entrepreneurial programs and faculty research. Undergraduate and graduate students representing each engineering major are working together on a variety of projects. This spread illustrates the partnerships that are advancing research on significant challenges from energy storage and food sustainability to stormwater management and safe drinking water.
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Nanomanufacturing of hybrid polymernanomaterials structures
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Engineering Entrepreneurship Summer Institute (E2SI): E2SI has seen teams of students from such diverse majors as Psychology, Finance, Latin American Studies and Engineering combine their talents to develop products ranging from Buck-A-Roo, a magnetic and Bluetooth-enabled smart latch for infant car seats, to Valiant, a garment designed to relieve menstrual cramps through heat and massage. INNOVATE: The L3Harris Summer Program provides multidisciplinary student teams with the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to unmet societal or technical challenges. Requiring members from two or more academic majors, this summer INNOVATE includes students from the College of Nursing for the first time. Together with Electrical and Computer Engineering majors, they aim to develop an affordable, comfortable, portable and safe phototherapy blanket for the treatment of infant jaundice. Future of Packaging Hackathon: Under the direction of Dr. Ross Lee, professor of practice in Villanova’s Sustainable Engineering program, the University hosted the triennial Future of Packaging Consortium, a three-day event that engaged 20 of the nation’s top companies and their leaders across the packaging value chain. The goal: roadmaps and strategies for driving toward a closed loop (zero waste) smart packaging system by 2030. Inviting creative solutions from Villanova students, a so-called “packathon” brought together four interdisciplinary teams comprised of undergraduates from the Engineering Entrepreneurship minor, Villanova School of Business, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as graduate students in the Sustainable Engineering program. Blockchain Idea Hackathon: Hasshi Sudler ’92 EE, adjunct professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, partnered with Villanova School of Business Finance Professor Dr. Michael Pagano to host an idea hackathon in which interdisciplinary teams of students examined poverty and developed design solutions for tackling the issue using blockchain technology. Students from Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Nursing, and Law explored a range of ideas, from solutions to feed the poor to building credit and streamlining government programs.
A NETWORK OF STUDENT
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COLLEGE NEWS
ENGINEERING-LED, CROSS-COLLEGE STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Solar disinfection solution and application
PROJECTS Battery health and new battery development for energy storage Blockchain integrated microgrid system for resilience against power outages, especially from cyber-attacks Food sustainability Conversion of bio-solids/food waste to hydrochar Evaluation of hydrochar and its derivatives as sorbent materials Investigating green infrastructure managing stormwater on I-95 design Comparing terrestrial lidar data resolution in civil engineering applications Nanocomposite, 3D printing and nanomaterial characterizations Solar confidence for solar disinfection NOTE: The individual's area of expertise is indicated under their photo.
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Smart grid applications and electronics design
Quantifying life-cycle environmental impact of food away from home
Mechatronic systems design and perception
LESSONS FROM JOHN HENNESSY’S 50 YEARS OF WISDOM
J
ohn Hennessy, PhD, is a 1973 Villanova Electrical Engineering graduate; former president of Stanford University; co-founder of the Knight-Hennessy Fellows program; and chairman of Alphabet, Inc., Google’s parent company.
On November 21, 2019, he spoke to the Villanova University community about his exceptional journey over the past 50 years. These are quotes from his two presentations.
VILLANOVA’S FIRM FOUNDATION Engineering? I had doubts about my choice of major during freshman physics! Certainly, you have doubts and things that you find difficult initially. Engineering is hard. It takes a combination of the right set of abilities, but also a lot of diligence. Solid preparation. Villanova prepared me well. I had a great engineering education as well as a great liberal arts education. Courses you don’t think matter at the time become very important. Find your passion. From helping other students learn programming, I discovered a love of teaching and learning. After an undergraduate research experience, I knew I had to pursue a PhD with a goal of being a professor someday.
THE STARTUP YEARS Great products don’t sell themselves. I didn’t know anything about starting or running a company but thought, “It’s such a great product, it’ll sell itself. We don’t need marketing and salespeople.” I was wrong. I now have a great appreciation for salespeople. Taking a “RISC.” Be authentic, craft a vision, hire great people. They will determine if you can survive the challenges. (RISC refers to his early research on Reduced Instruction Set Computing, which revolutionized the computer industry.)
ON LEADERSHIP Qualities of a good leader. Integrity, ethics, authenticity, empathy, service. As a leader you serve as the foundation of an upside-down pyramid and your job is to help those above you be
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successful. Leadership also requires humility—recognizing that we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. On managing anger. After completely losing my temper with a colleague when I was dean, I subsequently made an agreement with my provost. I’d write an email expressing my anger and I’d send it to him. He’d inevitably write back, “You are absolutely right, but do not send this.” Who inspires you? I am a voracious reader. If you can read how someone dealt with a problem and learn from that, it’s much easier than going through it. Abraham Lincoln would be my greatest hero. He had his eyes on the prize and a moral and ethical direction. The importance of mentors. Along the way, I had people who helped me on the next step of my journey. You need to have people you can ask the hard questions and who ask hard questions back to you, making you think more deeply about every action you take. Mentors are crucial to avoid making big mistakes. Don’t overstay your welcome. Leave while they’re talking about building a statue of you before they start talking about tearing that statue down.
The people you meet. My favorite was the Dalai Lama. He had a wicked sense of humor. Negative effects of the internet and social media. We did not contemplate the unintended consequences. We thought of the internet as a great liberator, but we didn’t see that we would create these highly confined echo chambers. It’s bad for democracy; bad for our country. Too easy to have a negative impact on the world. The solution lies partly in government regulation, but tech companies need to take some responsibility. His best decision. Picking the right life partner. I met my spouse of 45 years in high school. Our first date was the senior prom. It was rough when I went to Villanova and she went to SUNY Potsdam. Our only phone was a pay phone at the end of the hall. We wrote a lot of letters. On Thursdays after class, I took a train to Philadelphia, a bus to Scranton and a bus to Syracuse. I then waited hours to catch another bus and arrived before lunch on Friday. Finding the courage to take on a new challenge. I ask myself, is it different? Can I personally grow? Will I be working with people I can learn from? If the answer is yes, then I say yes.
WHAT’S NEXT
DR. HENNESSY’S PASSION PROJECT
What’s the new cutting-edge major? Data mining, machine learning and applications outside of computer science will continue to improve the way we do things. Artificial intelligence. It’s going to change everything. Advice for students who want to work in Silicon Valley startups. It’s not so much about your grades, but rather what you’ve done that’s interesting, that you contributed to. You need to demonstrate how you will be a valued contributor.
Recognizing that “Leadership is in crisis around the world,” in 2016, Dr. John Hennessy and Nike founder Phil Knight launched the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, the largest fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world. Offering graduate students a transformative experience comprised of opportunities for leadership development, mentorship and immersive interdisciplinary experiential learning, the goal is a community of future global leaders equipped to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation.
LIFE Source of motivation. My ancestors were Irish immigrants who couldn’t read or write English. I was fortunate to be born here, so my motivation comes from a place of gratitude, a desire to give back and do something positive in the world. It’s also important to provide opportunities for others to flourish and make their contributions.
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In 2019, the program announced its second global cohort of 68 students from 20 countries. Among them were two Villanova College of Engineering graduates: Bridget Gile and Andrew Lee. Both are pursuing their PhDs at Stanford’s School of Engineering, in civil and environmental engineering and material science and engineering, respectively.
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COLLEGE NEWS
GRANT SUPPORTS 18 UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING RESEARCH AWARDS FOR WOMEN
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ver the past decade, the College of Engineering has established itself as one of the country’s leading engineering programs for women. With successful STEM outreach programs, University-wide support services and resources, and female enrollment and women in tenured/ tenure-track faculty positions exceeding national averages, the College has demonstrated its commitment to improving gender diversity in a field historically dominated by men. It is this commitment that led the Henry Luce Foundation’s Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program to award Villanova University $236,635 in support of 18 undergraduate research awards for women in engineering. Nationally, women earn only 23.6% of doctoral degrees in engineering and represent only 17.4% of the discipline’s tenured/tenure-track faculty (ASEE, 2018)—numbers that have seen only moderate increases in the past decade. The Clare Boothe Luce Engineering Scholars Program at Villanova (CBL-ESP) aims for greater gender parity at the highest level by supporting female engineers from undergraduate school to graduate school and into researchoriented professions, inside and outside academia. The goal
of CBL-ESP is to provide female students with three distinctive research experiences from freshman through junior year, along with intentional mentorship from College of Engineering faculty, alumnae and graduate students. The program will also ignite the College’s new initiative: WE_CAN—Women Engineers in Community at Nova— which creates an umbrella for all Villanova Engineeringsponsored initiatives designed to help aspiring and current female engineers reach their full potential from primary school to career. The Clare Boothe Luce Engineering Scholars Program will augment and advance two of Villanova’s core institutional priorities: (1) creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) campus and (2) increasing and supporting undergraduate research experiences as a recently classified doctoral research institution. The DEI aspects of the program will be bolstered through partnerships with VISIBLE (Villanova Initiative to Support Inclusiveness and Build Leaders); the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership, which offers panels, seminars and resources for female leaders.
CBL-ESP’s research opportunities will be administered through existing programs in the University’s esteemed Center for Research and Fellowships: 1. A 10-week research assistantship with a faculty mentor through the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students 2. Participation in the Center for Research and Fellowships’ professional development seminars on oral presentations and applying for research opportunities 3. An independent research project with a faculty mentor through the Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, beginning the summer after sophomore year and continuing into junior year 4. NSF/STEM Bootcamp, which will help Luce Research Scholars secure an external academic fellowship or research-oriented internship for the summer between junior and senior years
Dr. Seri Park, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will serve as CBL-ESP director. In 2013, Dr. Park was hired as one of the College’s three Clare Boothe Luce professors. She says, “Because I recognize the positive impact of CBL’s support on my own career, I am eager to foster a vibrant community of female engineering scholars.” Interim Dean Dr. Randy Weinstein notes that the College’s efforts on behalf of women in engineering will expand beyond CBL-ESP. “Over the next five years, the College plans to launch WE_CAN as an umbrella for existing initiatives, create opportunities for female PhD engineering students to serve as mentors for undergraduate students, identify opportunities to support alumnae, and establish new professional development workshops in partnership with the McNulty Institute to support female engineering students at all levels.”
ENGINEERING DEGREES AWARDED TO WOMEN* 33.6% 29.1%
26.7% 21.9%
25.0%
24.1%
23.6%
17.4%
Villanova Nationally
BACHELOR’S
MASTER’S
DOCTORATE
WOMEN AS PERCENTAGE OF ENGINEERING FACULTY*
*National data from American Society of Engineering Education, 2018
FROM ENTREPRENEURIALLY MINDED THINKING TO VENTURE LAUNCH
COLLEGE NEWS
Dr. Lauri Olivier is well equipped to lead the College’s Engineering Entrepreneurship program into the next decade.
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Dr. Lauri Olivier is at her desk, clearly frustrated by what’s in her inbox, or perhaps by what is not. She’s trying to enroll her 11-year-old daughter in a private school and the hoops that require jumping through are exasperating. It’s not easy to relocate your family from Jupiter, Florida, to the suburbs of Philadelphia, but Dr. Olivier is addressing the challenges head on, much like she’s approaching her role as the College of Engineering’s new director of engineering entrepreneurship. After launching the engineering entrepreneurship program in 2007 and leading its efforts for more than a decade, former director Ed Dougherty left big shoes to fill. Dr. Olivier, however, is more than prepared to leave her own mark. In fact, when asked about her greatest achievement, she describes her ability to work across disciplines: “With my diverse education and skill set I speak the language of the scientist, the engineer and the entrepreneur and create bridges where there were barriers to success.” A quick look at her CV makes it clear that Dr. Olivier is well positioned to succeed. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati, her PhD in biomedical engineering from Duke University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Having most recently led the entrepreneurship program and Snyder Idea Lab in the College of Business Management at Lynn University, Dr. Olivier possesses more than 20 years’ experience in teaching, innovation management, business development and entrepreneurship. Reflecting on what brought her to Villanova University, Dr. Olivier refers to the desire to once again be surrounded by engineers after serving in the business school in her last position. The University’s emphasis on teaching; its sense of community; and its dedication to Catholic principles, ideals and responsibilities also appealed to her. They closely align with her own values. “Working with wonderful people is what matters most at this point in my life,” she adds, “and I’ve found I’m surrounded by intelligent, capable and collaborative colleagues here in the College of Engineering.”
GETTING TO KNOW DR. LAURI OLIVIER Favorite course to teach: “Venture Creation because it’s so intense and transformative. You see incredible student growth; it teaches them what’s possible and there’s nothing like being there when the light goes on.” Best piece of advice: “Know thyself. There is nothing more important.” Last book she read: Dave Barry’s Lessons from Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog. Dr. Olivier adores her 80 lb. lap dog, Krypton, and would someday like to train what she calls “comfort dogs.” Surprising talent: Opera singing. Villanova may be the only engineering school in the country with two former opera singers on the faculty (Civil and Environmental Engineering Teaching Professor Dr. Frank Hampton is the other). What she’d be doing if not in her current occupation: “Film photography. I love the technical and precise aspects of the craft, combined with the creativity.” If she could change one thing about herself: “I’d like to be 20 years younger, so I’d have more time and energy to do everything I want to do.”
SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES FOR VILLANOVA’S ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM • Challenge student teams to enter pitch competitions and pursue funding to launch their endeavors. • Establish relationships with seed investors and regional incubators and bring them into the process. • Within Villanova, reach across colleges to form relationships between engineering students and those who possess consumer insights, such as clinicians in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing.
DR. ROBERT CAVERLY,
PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING,
SEPTEMBER: Recognized “for
JANUARY: Dr. Caverly served as the general
contributions to modeling and design of radio frequency switching devices,” Dr. Caverly was elevated to Life Fellow status of the IEEE. This special honor is reserved for those who have distinguished themselves through sustained and lasting contributions to the organization.
chair of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT) Society’s Radio and Wireless Week (RWW2020), a position to which he was appointed by the RWW Executive Committee—an opportunity he describes as “quite an honor.” The week’s conferences focused on the intersection between wireless communication theory, systems, circuits and device technologies.
FEBRUARY: Recognized with the Engineering Alumni Society’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Dr. Caverly was described by a current student as “an exceptional teacher who is open to breaking down any sort of question you have and explaining it in a very easy to understand manner. He relates what we are learning to the real world, which makes difficult and abstract concepts easier to envision and understand. It is truly apparent that Dr. Caverly loves what he does and cares about his students!”
APRIL: As the 2020 recipient of the University’s prestigious Outstanding Faculty Research Award, Dr. Caverly was recognized for his “impressive scholarship and reputation in microwave control circuitry.” The award selection committee also noted his strong national and international reputation, productive publication record, robust history of external funding, and “the substantial impact you have had on your scholarly field.”
DR. ROBERT CAVERLY Professor (since 1997): • Engineering Electromagnetics • Microwave Theory and Techniques Researcher: • Director of the Microwave and Electromagnetics Laboratory Author: • More than 100 journal and conference papers • Two books • CMOS RFIC Design Principles • Microwave and RF Semiconductor Control Device Modeling
Editor: • Editor-in-chief, IEEE Microwave Magazine • Editorial board member, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques Distinguished Microwave Lecturer: • From 2014–2016, Dr. Caverly traveled the world as a distinguished microwave lecturer, an IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society appointment for those recognized as experts in their fields. With his lecture on “RF Aspects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging,” he was among a select few to be invited to this prestigious and key service for the MTT-S.
FACULTY NEWS
HAS HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR .
ANIMALS AND SUPERHEROES INSPIRE THE LATEST PROJECT DESIGNS FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS
W FACULTY NEWS
hat do a snake jaw, fish robot, thresher shark backpack and Captain America shield have in common? They are among the design projects developed by students working with Dr. Deeksha Seth, an assistant teaching professor in Mechanical Engineering.
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Mechanical Snake Jaw: Originally created for the Academy of Natural Sciences, this dynamic model of a snake’s biting motion made its way to the museum floor where it was used to demonstrate how a snake can digest its prey. Today, Dr. Seth is advising Mechanical Engineering seniors Lauren Garofalo and Karlee Koswick in scaling down the original design to develop a plug and play device that schoolteachers can assemble themselves with instructions that Dr. Seth will provide online. Multi-Fin Fish Robot: Juniors Felicity Evans and Cameron Hunter are working with Dr. Seth to conceptualize the design of a fish fin device on which the fin’s stiffness can be changed to study how the response to a vortex perturbation varies as a function of that stiffness and how multiple fins are used to stabilize against perturbations. Such knowledge can be applied to autonomous underwater robots that need to work in varying conditions for search and rescue, detecting and repairing leaks, and more. Porcupines, Sharks, Cockroaches, Superheroes and More: Famous for its Beetlebot competition, Dr. Seth added a second project to ME 2505, the sophomore Analysis and Design course. Teams were given a customer—including professors in the M. Louise Fitzpatrick
College of Nursing, parents of young children, and educators with the Academy of Natural Sciences and Adventure Aquarium—and were randomly assigned related topics for which they were to manufacture a physical, dynamic device that would teach children something about that topic. Among the team designs were: • A porcupine that demonstrates how its quills respond to threats, both to the animal’s benefit and detriment. • A thresher shark backpack that has a swishing tail and trigger that allows the wearer to whip the tail over their head to “attack prey.” The team is pursuing further development of their design for the Adventure Aquarium. • Superhero inspired projects that used superpowers to teach young children about engineering, including Captain America’s shield on which each ring could be removed to illustrate different material properties. Other designs included Thor’s hammer and Wolverine’s claw. • An obstacle course for hissing cockroaches that demonstrated the insects’ ability to traverse diverse terrains. Dr. Seth explains that part of the goal in this assignment was to challenge students “to educate themselves about subjects that were not strictly engineering related.” A strong advocate for integrated learning, she says, “The experience teaches them that, in the real world, you won’t only work on fully technical mechanical engineering projects. An understanding of topics outside your own area of expertise will always provide you with an advantage.”
THE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF DESIGN IN ENGINEERING Passionate about engineering education, Dr. Seth admits that, among the various projects she is engaged with, she is most excited about work being completed by Olivia Hall ’23 ME through the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students. “Olivia is developing a conceptual framework for the effective integration of design in engineering curricula,” she says. “Design is the buzzword these days, but there’s very little published on how to incorporate it beyond a traditional capstone.” The rising sophomore is interviewing faculty who teach design and who conduct multidisciplinary research at local universities to determine how design work can be made more integrative. Dr. Seth recognizes, “Integration is hard, but engineers cannot have tunnel vision. To be
ON THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
“ Getting involved in research on campus has been equally as important to my education as my coursework. While it is necessary to build a strong technical foundation, true understanding of the material comes from application. Through this experience, I’ve learned that progress is like a rollercoaster: sometimes you have great success, but other times things don’t go as planned. The key is being able to learn from every experience, even if it may be perceived as a ‘failure.’ The opportunity to work with Dr. Seth helped me decide that I would like to pursue a research-intensive PhD. Dr. Seth noticed my inclination for and interest in problem-solving and innovation and gave me an outlet to combine these skills with my love of engineering to solve real world problems.” —Lauren Garofalo ’20 ME, winner of the 2020 Falvey Scholars Award for “Development and evaluation of bio-inspired robots as integrated science and engineering educational devices”
successful they must have collaborative partnerships with those outside of engineering.”
“ Dr. Seth’s passion is incredible. Her confidence in her students’ abilities is indicative of her dedication to the Villanova engineering program. My biggest takeaway from this experience is that research is an ongoing, ever-changing process. New, creative concepts are always emerging, challenging us to examine them.” —Olivia Hall ’23 ME
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n the space of two hours, Dr. Virginia Smith advises a student, is interviewed by a magazine editor, and visited separately by two fellow Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty with whom she’s collaborating. It’s just another day in the life of this busy assistant professor for whom teaching and research have proven to be a winning combination.
FACULTY NEWS
GROWING UP WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
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WATER RESOURCES PROFESSOR VIRGINIA SMITH MAKES A SPLASH AT VILLANOVA
Dr. Smith is still relatively new to academia, having come to Villanova University five years ago for her first teaching position. Prior to arriving on the Main Line, she spent several years in far different environs, first as an associate scientist for the Adapt Asia-Pacific project in Thailand, and later as the water coordinator for Afghanistan, overseeing water and natural resource management projects. Growing up as the daughter of an Air Force officer, Dr. Smith is no stranger to life outside of the United States and the transformative opportunities it offers. In fact, it was while visiting Kenya in the eighth grade that she saw the impact of Peace Corps Volunteers, who impressed her with their grass roots efforts such that, “I just knew international development was for me.” Fast forward 10 years and Dr. Smith herself joined the Peace Corps after graduating from Georgia Tech with her bachelor’s degree, spending two years in Samoa where she served as a rural capacity development volunteer working on the National Water Project and village development. When she returned to the US, she earned her master’s degree at the Cockrell School of Engineering and PhD at the Jackson School of Geosciences, both at the University of Texas, Austin.
IMPARTING A PASSION FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Today, as the mother of 2- and 4-year-old daughters, Dr. Smith tries to limit her time spent traveling the globe, but that doesn’t mean she’s put her passion for international development on the back burner. Through the College of Engineering’s freshman year miniproject, which she teaches with her husband Bryan Enslein ’07 CE, PE—a professional engineer and former diplomat working in international development—honors students are being challenged to respond to natural disasters in Haiti through shelter design. At the same time, she’s advising teams of seniors on a capstone project benefitting Neema, an organization in Kenya that equips vulnerable young women with skills training to help them escape poverty. Given the growth of its technical school, the organization is considering a new campus and Villanova students are assisting with the civil engineering design. The project has grown over the past two years to include elements of environmental sustainability and what Dr. Smith calls “engineering design in the human context.” This February, Civil and Environmental Engineering students traveled to Kenya to assess the organization’s needs and available resources.
GRANTS SUPPORT WATER-RELATED RESEARCH If it hasn’t been explicitly stated, Dr. Smith’s discipline is water. More specifically, her areas of expertise include hydrology, fluvial geomorphology and sediment transport. In the past five years, she has served as a principal investigator on projects that have received more than $3M in funding. Active research includes: • Evaluating the comprehensive impacts of urbanization and restoration on stream processes • Studying the use of fossils to model rivers through climate change • Documenting department of transportation practices for integrated flood prediction and response systems • Exploring the spatial relationship between roadway safety and wet condition risk factors • Updating Pennsylvania’s Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual In April 2020, Dr. Smith was recognized for her work in this field with an Early Career Award for Applied Research from the Universities Council on Water Resources.
FUNDING PROVIDED BY: •N ational Cooperative Highway Research Program • National Science Foundation •P A Department of Environmental Protection • PA Department of Transportation • PA Sea Grant
VIRGINIA SMITH BY THE NUMBERS
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Early Career Award for Applied Research
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million dollars in grants for projects on which she’s a PI
10
countries lived in for 6 months or more
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schools attended before college
14
graduate student alumni she advised
18
published papers
75
authored talks
IN HER WORDS On what prompted her to study engineering: “Running. Out of the schools recruiting me to run track, Georgia Tech rose to the top as the best fit. Though my intention was to go to med school, I was advised to study engineering, for which the school is known. My interests turned to civil engineering and water.” On sleeping in a coffin: “When I was in Vanuatu, a very nice family made me a western-style bed because they knew westerners liked beds that were elevated. It was a coffin that had four legs nailed to it. I spent the night in it and thought to myself, I’m too old for this.” On teaching: “The Augustinian idea that you’re still learning as you teach really resonates with me. And, not to be too sappy, but teaching is also a big privilege. Training these very promising engineers to design the infrastructure that people will live their lives on is exciting, hugely challenging and a big responsibility. I really do think the students at Villanova will make the world a better place. It’s so rewarding and motivating to get to be involved in that.” On her most defining characteristic: “Enthusiasm. I hear that a lot from students and colleagues. When I’m in front of a class, if I’m not excited about it it’s hard to get students excited about it, so I try to find things that make me excited about the topics I teach. And it hasn’t been hard!” On the best piece of advice she’s received: “Don’t get too excited about the highs and too down about the lows. Life’s full of ups and downs and it all passes. If you can keep an even keel, in the long run you’ll be a lot happier.” On the most interesting thing in her office: “A drawerful of thank you notes from students and colleagues. They make me smile when I think about them!”
CIVIL ENGINEERING TEACHING FACULTY BRING PERSONALITY AND PASSION INTO THE CLASSROOM A s Villanova University continues to advance its research enterprise, it remains first and foremost an institution dedicated to teaching. In the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, that commitment is evident in these faculty members whose priority and passion is educating and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
Kelly Good, PhD, PE, ’09 CE, Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor
Francis “Frank” Hampton, PhD, Teaching Professor
FACULTY NEWS
Since 2019
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Since 2004
Courses taught:
Mechanics III: Fluid Behavior Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Environmental Engineering Science Teaching philosophy: Create a learning environment in which all students feel respected and capable of achieving their full potential. Encourage interdisciplinary and innovative thinking. Offer classroom experiences that are challenging yet fair, incorporate real-world examples, and provide opportunities for practicing written and oral communication. Most interesting thing in my office: Artwork by my
3-year-old son Ben “ Dr. Good is extremely patient in helping students solve problems by leading them through it without simply telling them what to do. She is also very compassionate. One day, a group of us talked about stress, workloads and non-academic life, and she listened and gave us advice. Talking to Dr. Good is definitely worth the hike up to the fourth floor of Tolentine!” —Noelle Parisi ’21 CE John Komlos, PhD, Teaching Professor
Since 2007 Currently teaching:
Civil Engineering Fundamentals Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Fate and Transport of Contaminants Teaching philosophy: Bring
enthusiasm to the classroom. Engage students in the learning process. Use experiential learning as a tool. Connect class lectures to the “big picture” such
Favorite courses to teach:
Undergraduate: Mechanics of Solids Graduate: Composite Materials for Infrastructure Advanced Structural Mechanics Teaching philosophy: Challenge students and see what they “own,” not what they are renting from me. Failure is not to be feared but is a teacher. Without it, life would be boring, and we would never truly master anything. My students would be surprised to know: I am a trained opera singer who’s been a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, studied at Juilliard School and performed throughout the US, Italy and Germany. I still take voice lessons several times per month, so like the students, I carry a backpack full of homework!
“ Whether it’s figuring out different ways to explain material in class or staying on campus late the night before an exam to ensure that every student can have their questions answered, Dr. Hampton is always eager to help.” —Ted Bolte ’20 CE that information flows from topic to topic and the material is connected. Make it clear not only how something works but also why it is relevant to the larger field of engineering and being a global citizen. My most marked characteristic: Energy and enthusiasm
for the subject “ Dr. Komlos’ passion for his subjects is contagious and keeps his classes engaging. He truly cares about the personal and academic well-being of his students. His positive nature allows for a supportive and enjoyable academic setting.” —Erin O’Shea ’20 CE
Shweta Shrestha, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor
Since 2019 Courses taught:
Geosynthetics Soil Mechanics Embankments and Slopes Teaching philosophy: Having a grasp of fundamental principles is the key to understanding complicated theories. Education and learning should not be just about grades or the source of earning livelihood. It should be the tool to be creative, confident and useful members of society. I want to ignite the passion in students to learn and enjoy the process of learning.
Stephanie Walkup ’18 PhD, PE, Assistant Teaching Professor
Since 2018 Courses taught:
Structural Steel Design Reinforced Concrete Design Forensic Engineering Repair and Retrofit of Structures (new this summer) Teaching philosophy: Getting to know the students on a more personal level allows us to relate to each other more easily and opens communication channels. Projectbased, hands-on learning allows the students to engage more deeply in the course material.
My most marked characteristic: I am an introvert, so
Most interesting thing in my office: An old surveying
I am a great listener.
theodolite, which my brother gave to me as a gift when I finished my PhD. Because my undergraduate surveying professor always put female students on the task of recording data instead of using the theodolite, it was a very meaningful gift. It reminds me how far we have advanced technologically and how far we have come in supporting women in engineering.
If I wasn’t teaching: I would be probably be working in
industry and looking for a teaching job! “ With the construction work on campus, Dr. Shrestha looked for opportunities to show us real world applications of what we are learning in the classroom. She brought us to watch soil borings taken for the CEER expansion. It was a great experience to see soil mechanics applied to a project involving the building where I have a lot of my classes.” —Hannah Booz ’21 CE
Kevin Waters, PhD, ’07 CE, PE, Assistant Teaching Professor
Since 2016 Courses taught:
Fluid Behavior Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrology Civil Engineering Fundamentals Teaching philosophy: Provide students with
diverse classroom experiences that stress applications, critical thinking and problem-solving. I integrate technology as both a teaching aid and analysis tool so that students can make connections between topics while developing computer skills in various programs. My students would be surprised to know: I played football, basketball and baseball in high school and was voted most athletic in my graduating class.
“ Dr. Walkup is a strong female leader in an industry that has historically been dominated by men. She excels as a professor and a mentor, frequently going above and beyond to prepare her students for exams and the engineering challenges we will face in industry.” —Alec Cárdenas ’21 CE
Most interesting thing in my office: A hand painted
“Ingegnere” picture from my trip to Italy in June 2018, where I ran into Dr. Jerry Jones (senior associate dean for Graduate Studies and Research) on the streets of Montepulciano. “ I had Dr. Waters for several classes, the most notable being Fluid Mechanics. During this course, I was challenged, encouraged and learned more than I could have thought possible. I left knowing that I had found a field that I was truly passionate about. Even when I did not have him for class, Dr. Waters was always available to assist with academic or professional issues. He is truly one of the best professors I’ve had the privilege of knowing during my years at Villanova.” —Kyra Schell ’20 CE
FINDING SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD, IN THE WATER AND ON THE COURT
STUDENT NEWS
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n the fall 2019 issue of Villanova Engineer, we featured a story about alumnus Dr. Douglas Munch ’69 ChE, who had been a varsity track and field athlete and the first Chemical Engineering major to earn a varsity letter in 23 years. That article prompted a response from alumnus Brian Sullivan ’71 ME, another Villanova runner, who wrote: “I’d like to hear more about how today’s engineering students are coping with the daunting prospect of simultaneously representing Nova as varsity athletes and staying on top of their formidable academic requirements. I’m sure there are more inspirational stories, like Doug Munch’s, being written even as we speak.” Mr. Sullivan is correct; there are plenty of inspirational stories from our engineering student-athletes, and many students to choose from—48 to be exact! We invited them to share insights and advice from their personal experiences.
Julie Kasunic ’20 ME, Rowing
WHY ENGINEERING?
Nicholas Steele ’20 CE, Men’s Track & Field and Cross Country
Jordan Fetterman ’21 ChE, Men’s Swimming & Diving
“I wanted to pursue a major where I could have an impact on today’s problems. Engineers are the ones who innovate and find new solutions to the challenges our society faces, and I want to be a part of that!” Alessandra Priolo ’22 ME, Women’s Lacrosse
“I knew that an engineering degree would provide me with a general understanding of how to approach any problem, which is a skill that is applicable in many different fields. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I know the skills that an engineering degree fosters will be critical to my success.”
HOW ATHLETICS CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESS Michael Corbi ’21 ME, Football
“Engineering and athletics are all about teamwork, helping each other when you need it and leaning on your ‘teammates’ when you’re not 100%.”
“There have been a lot of things within my athletic career and academic experience that haven’t gone the way I would have liked, but from these experiences I’ve learned to exercise gratitude more intentionally. Exercising gratitude despite the shortcomings I face has enabled me to become more successful.” Aaron Seigle ’20 ME, Football
“I consider my athletic career to be an extension of my academic one. If I am successful in the classroom, then I should also be successful on the field. A lot of the same principles are applied between the two: they both require discipline, consistent effort, task completion and constant repetition.”
“Competing at the Division 1 level requires hard work and motivation. These qualities also yield good grades when facing the demands of a challenging engineering curriculum.”
BALANCING ATHLETICS AND A RIGOROUS COURSE LOAD Cecilia Donaldson ’22 CE, Rowing
“It’s a constant process that involves a lot of coffee and index cards! In balancing the two I have learned how I am most productive and about what I need to do academically to set myself up for success.” Stephen Griner ’22 CE, Men's Swimming & Diving
“I come up with a list of what I need to accomplish. Then, I focus on what homework should be completed first within the allotted time between practices and classes based on level of importance and time required.”
Lars Hultgren ’21 CE, Men's Swimming & Diving
“I’ve found that discipline—giving up what you want now for what you want most— is the best recipe for success in the classroom and in the pool. My main motivation is knowing that the work I do will help me make the world a better place!” Rachel Lorge ’20 ChE, Rowing
“In order to perform on the water and in the classroom, I must prioritize my day based on what is best for my team and my education.”
ENGINEERING STUDENT-ATHLETES BY THE NUMBERS
48
number of varsity athletes
18
majoring in Civil Engineering (most represented major)
Matt Webster ’20 EE, Men’s Lacrosse
“Always focus 100% on what you are doing at that moment. If you are at practice, then only think about playing well and practicing. If you are doing schoolwork, focus on school and not lacrosse. By focusing on one thing at a time, you give yourself the opportunity to be 100% present.”
ADVICE FOR VARSITY ATHLETES CONSIDERING ENGINEERING Samantha (Sam) Bragen ’21 ChE, Women’s Track & Field One of the College’s two 4.0 student-athletes
“The type of bonds you build with your peers, the technical knowledge you acquire, the time management and stress management skills you learn, and the number of opportunities waiting for you beyond Villanova are things that I believe are unique to engineering, and absolutely worth the time you spend on your course load.”
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Men’s Track & Field athletes (most represented sport)
3.4
average term GPA (fall 2019)
85
percentage above a 3.0 GPA
2
4.0 student-athletes*
Colin Gamroth ’21 CpE, Football
“Go for it! It can be daunting looking at the time commitment; however, it is a very manageable load, and both engineering and athletics have given me amazing experiences.” Myah Massenburg ’20 CE, Volleyball
“I struggled at first navigating the course load, but with the help of professors, mentors and my coaches, I was able to get through it. I think that if you really want something you should go for it no matter how hard it may seem because perseverance is everything.”
* Samantha Bragen ’21 ChE, Women’s Track & Field; and Konrad Bayer ’20 ME, Men’s Track & Field
STUDENT NEWS
THEY MAY BE BUILDING NANOSATELLITES, BUT THERE’S NOTHING SMALL ABOUT THE CUBESAT CLUB
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illanova University’s CubeSat Club launched (pun intended) just two years ago and has taken great strides for such a young organization. If you’re not familiar with a CubeSat, it’s a nanosatellite—a small, lightweight satellite that is cheaper to build than a conventional satellite. They can be launched from rockets, or occasionally from the International Space Station by astronauts. CubeSats send telemetry information— measurements communicated at remote points by automated processes—over radio signals received on Earth by a ground station. CubeSats are a great way for students to learn about space science and engineering. Tracking satellites can teach orbital mechanics. Receiving and decoding telemetry information can reveal conditions in space and teach energy production via solar cells, storage in batteries, and use in radios and other circuits. Club advisor Dr. Alan Johnston, an associate teaching professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, says, “Space is a growing industry, with many existing and startup companies launching constellations of CubeSats for research and commercial purposes.”
THE CUBESAT GUY Dr. Alan Johnston, associate teaching professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is the faculty advisor for the CubeSat Club. He also works alongside the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), a not-for-profit group that has been building and launching ham radio satellites for fifty years. Dr. Johnston volunteers with AMSAT as the vice president for education outreach.
CUBESAT CLUB ACTIVITIES Building a Lindenblad satellite antenna and installing it on the roof of Tolentine Hall for the Villanova SatNOGS (Satellite Network Operators Group) station Building Yagi-Uda antennas from tape measurers and scrap wood and using them to track low Earth orbit satellites as they fly over Villanova Building an AMSAT CubeSat Simulator, a functional satellite model Assisting with the freshman CubeSat mini-design projects Earning amateur radio licenses and ham radio callsigns Assembling electronic transceiver boards used in CubeSat Simulators as a fundraiser Attending the 2019 Hamvention conference and running the AMSAT education table Attending and presenting at the 2019 AMSAT Space Symposium Receiving and decoding a special message sent from the AO-73 FUNCube Satellite especially for Villanova Exhibiting at Eastern Pennsylvania’s first Robotstock robotics/STEM event where they demonstrated the simulator and shared a live, low Earth orbit satellite tracking screen. They also took individuals outside to track and listen to satellites using hand-held Yagi-Uda antennas.
Q&A WITH
ANNE ROBY, PHD, ’86 CHE
Executive vice president, Linde plc, and newly elected member of the National Academy of Engineering The Villanova course that left the biggest impression: A rigorous chemical engineering course with Dr. White that taught us how to take the theoretical and make it practical. What you learned at Villanova that still benefits you today: Just about everything, including the importance of checking your work many times. There was no tolerance for errors. Most vivid Villanova memory: The semi-final tournament men’s basketball game against Memphis State in 1985. We weren’t expected to win that game.
ALUMNI NEWS
Best piece of wisdom ever received: As part of Villanova’s accreditation process, I was one of a few students being interviewed by ABET. When asked about my post-graduation plans, I told the gentleman I was speaking to that I was debating between graduate school and starting my career, but was concerned that graduate school would take too long. I’d be 26 before I was done and waiting to start my life. He reminded me that my life had already begun 20 years earlier and that the only thing I really needed to decide was whether I wanted to be 26 with a PhD or not. Worst question ever asked: During my first job, I was asked, “What title do you want to retire with?” For some people it’s all about the title instead of the work you’re being called to do. The job I didn’t want but ultimately loved: Sales. It is really about problemsolving and is still highly technical. What you’d want to be doing if not your current profession: I really admire alumna Nance Dicciani ’69 ChE who, in her “retirement,” is bringing together people of different backgrounds who have great ideas to solve problems and develop new products and services. This is really what the National Academy of Engineering is about, bringing engineers together to solve the grand challenges. The talent you would most like to have: Anything athletic. Recommending an engineering degree: An engineering degree helps you look at problems differently, which is an asset regardless of the path you take and is something that you don’t learn with any other college degree.
VILLANOVA ENGINEERING GRADUATES IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (YEAR ELECTED)
2020 Anne Roby ’86 ChE
1993 Francis Dwyer ’53 ChE
1991 Steve S. Chen ’71 MSEE
For developments in oxidation processes and leadership in technological developments, safety and business growth in global industrial gas companies.
For recognition of his role in catalyst manufacturing and catalytic processing technology from laboratory to commercial scales.
For leadership in the development of super-computer architectures and their realization.
2001 Barry Johnson ’70 ME In recognition of technical and strategic industry leadership in semiconductor devices, processes and packaging technologies.
1992 John L. Hennessy ’73 EE For innovations in computer architecture and software techniques for reduced instruction set computers (RISC), and for quantitative evaluation methods for modern computer architectures.
1985 Allen F. Rhodes ’47 ME For contributions to petroleum production technology and to the growth of the engineering profession.
1974 Thomas J. Hanratty ’47 ChE For contributions in the analysis and design of turbulent, gas-liquid and solid-liquid flow systems.
ALUMNI NEWS
ENGINEERING ALUMNI SOCIETY AWARDS CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS
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Back row: Robert Creighton ’01 CpE; Michael Gillin ’99 ME, ’04 MBA; Thomas Portland ’69 ChE; David Diehl ’00 CE; Thomas Cassin ’83 ME, ’86 MSME. Front row: James Rolston ’09 ChE, ’15 MBA; Elizabeth Porter ’93 EE; Sheena White ’06 ME; Interim Dean Dr. Randy Weinstein; Patrick Treacy ’87 ME; Christine Baudier Wood ’05 CE; Ashley Ferguson ’09 ME Not pictured: Christopher McCartin ’91 CE
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n February, the College of Engineering and the Engineering Alumni Society hosted the 43rd Engineering Alumni Awards reception to celebrate the achievements of 13 exceptional Engineering alumni. Both on campus and around the world, these alumni exemplify service, leadership, excellence, stewardship and technical advancements in the field of engineering. You can read more about these awardees on our website.
The Gary A. Gabriele Memorial Award: Having been a strong supporter of providing more inclusive access to an engineering education, the Gary A. Gabriele Memorial Award recognizes an alumnus who has promoted equity in the field. AWARDEE: Sheena White ’06 ME
The John J. Gallen Memorial Award: Recognizes the technical achievements of an alumnus who graduated from the College less than 15 years ago. AWARDEE: Christine Baudier Wood ’05 CE
The Carl T. Humphrey Memorial Award: Recognizes the professional achievements of an alumnus who earned a master’s degree from the College more than five years ago. AWARDEE: Thomas Cassin ’83 ME, ’86 MSME
The J. Stanley Morehouse Memorial Award: Recognizes outstanding leadership at the highest level. AWARDEE: Patrick Treacy ’87 ME
Meritorious service awards are presented to alumni who have provided continuing support to the College of Engineering. This year’s honored alumni are: Robert Creighton ’01 CpE David Diehl ’00 CE Ashley Ferguson ’09 ME Thomas Portland ’69 ChE
Professional achievement awards recognize contributions to technology and technological fields. The 2020 recipients are: Michael Gillin ’99 ME, ’04 MBA Christopher McCartin ’91 CE Elizabeth Porter ’93 EE James Rolston ’09 ChE, ’15 MBA
In Their Words... The Villanova Engineering course that left the biggest impression:
“Completion of the senior design project demonstrated the importance of being able to communicate technical details in a variety of different formats. This skill continues to help me work with a broad audience of stakeholders while leading engineering development efforts.” —Bob Creighton
“Drs. Gross and Dinehart’s structural classes instilled discipline and diligence in all of us. However, it wasn’t just what we learned in the classroom that made the difference, it was how they knew each one of us and still maintain friendships to this day.” —Christine Baudier Wood
My motto:
What I learned at Villanova that still benefits me today: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” —Ashley Ferguson
“The importance of engineering balanced with humanities and the ability to communicate even complex ideas clearly and succinctly to various audiences.” —Liz Porter
“The importance of giving back and being involved with people and causes I care about.” —James Rolston
“Change the world, work with people you love, have fun and build a sustainable company.” —Patrick Treacy
QUOTED “ Evolution is intelligent tinkering.” —Dr. Adrian Bejan, J. A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University, in a lecture at Villanova University
“ Aqua’s partnership with Villanova Engineering Service Learning over the past few years has been wonderful, and the students are extremely excited to travel to Ghana and work alongside the locals on such a meaningful project.”
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—Justin Kauffman, director of Asset Management and Field Services for Aqua, discussing sustainable water trip with Lifetime Wells International
“ What I didn’t know about business could have filled a book.” —Dr. John Hennessy ’73 EE in his Villanova lecture, detailing the difficulties he and his colleagues encountered with their Silicon Valley startup
“ Have faith that the next step will always hold two things, a challenge and a lesson.” —Jake Northrup ’23 ME, on his takeaways from the 2020 Ward Lecture
“ Personal income is like personal hygiene; it’s only irritating below a certain level.” —Dr. Douglas Munch ’69 ChE in his Patrick J. Cunningham, Jr. and Susan Ward ‘80 Endowed Lecture in Engineering
“Today, the world achieves more than half of its economic growth from industries that barely existed 20 years ago, and technology is at the center. The pace of business today is fast and it’s getting faster, and today’s world is tough and it’s challenging, but how wonderful is that? There are lots and lots of opportunities.” —Dr. Nance Dicciani ’69 ChE, retired president and CEO of Honeywell Specialty Materials, from her keynote at the 2020 Women in Tech event
“ Engineering is for everybody because we’re solving problems that are for everybody.” —Dr. Andrea Welker, PE, F.ASCE, associate dean for Academic Affairs, in “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2020 Offers Opportunity to Explore STEM Careers” in Thomas Insights
“ It’s always been a little bit astounding to recognize that almost 100% of the electrical power that comes into a data center eventually is dissipated as heat. If we make no attempt to recover that heat, what we’re doing is contributing to environmental pollution and global warming.” —Dr. Alfonso Ortega, James R. Birle Professor of Energy Technology at Villanova and associate director of the Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems in “Changing the course of energy efficiency using the power of university research” on DataCenterDynamics.com
“ I loved how differentminded students got together and were able to absorb the complexity of the issues so quickly and look at the problems in holistic ways. I thought their ability to think big, think strategically and think thoroughly was impressive.” —Sue Fangmann, US Supply Chain Services director, McDonald’s Corporation, in response to the University’s cross-college Future of Packaging student hackathon (see page 4)
QUOTED: THE COVID-19 RESPONSE
“ A lot of medical devices are out of reach for most of the world, and I think a lot of people like us need to step up and do something about it” —Dr. C. Nataraj, director of the Villanova Center for Analytics of Dynamic Systems, in “As Coronavirus Spreads Globally, These Researchers are Designing Ventilators that Cost Less than $1,000” in Forbes
“ Literally it means that the people who are trying to sell the oil are willing to give you money to take it off their hands. It’s an aberration.” —Dr. Scott Jackson, visiting professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, in a KYW News Radio podcast on “Oil went negative. What does that mean, and why did it happen? The economy during COVID-19”
“ Medical institutions, whether they know each other or not, whether they trust each other or not, can exchange information about who they know that is infected and maintain contact with who is infected over the blockchain.” —Hasshi Sudler ’92 EE, adjunct professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in “Researchers Are Tapping Blockchain Tools in Fight Against Coronavirus” on Coindesk.com
“ A great friend from Villanova, Scott Seward ’08 ME, showed me what he and his team at Burton Snowboards could develop for PPE using their 3D printing capabilities and they moved forward with production. This Villanova Engineer is helping protect this Villanova nurse through the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends looking out for friends. NOVA NATION!” —Lauren Morrison Shaw ’08 FCN, a cardiac intensive care nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital
“ The students have not skipped a beat with transitioning to Zoom, showing continued professionalism and meaningful class participation. It’s been a great example of the Villanova community coming together and staying together.” —Dr. David Dinehart, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, on teaching “Engineering in a Humanistic Context” online and meeting virtually via Zoom with Catholic Relief Services professionals on the ground in Uganda, Guatemala and Panama to discuss the challenges of refugee camp solutions
“ COVID-19 has been a catalyst for profound discussions about the myriad flaws in our society.” —Benjamin Brock ’20 ChE in “Everyone Should be Vaccinated” on SnoQap.com
“ The reason it feels similar [to the AIDS epidemic] is that [COVID-19] was something that came out of the blue, and we don’t really know all of what we’re dealing with. We see different manifestations every day.” —Dr. Don Emery ’71 EE, Chester County Hospital, in “From AIDS to coronavirus, one Chester County doctor has seen it all” in The Philadelphia Inquirer
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