Alumni Updates
Do you have some exciting news you'd like to share? We would love to hear about your recent milestones and accomplishments, including job changes, promotions, awards, marriages, and births.
Alumni updates are published as they are received by the department.
Please email us at alumnirelations@esm.psu.edu and let us know what's going on so we can share the good news!
Zakaria Al Balushi (’11 E SC, ’12 M.S. ESMCH)
Balushi will join the University of California, Berkeley as a tenure-track assistant professor in materials science and engineering on January 1, 2019. He is currently a Resnick Prize Post-doctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Read More.
Ellen Arruda (’85 E SC, ’88 M.S. E MCH)
Arruda, Maria Comninou Collegiate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, was named the new chair of the mechanical engineering department at the university. Recognized as a trailblazer in her field, Arruda’s groundbreaking research and teaching have secured her position as a world leader in the areas of theoretical and experimental mechanics of molecular materials, including polymers, elastomers, composites, soft tissues, and proteins, and in tissue engineering of soft tissues and tissue interfaces.
Chin-Jye (Michael) Yu (’91 Ph.D. ESMCH)
Yu, advanced technology manager for PMA-261 at NAVAIR, was recognized for his leadership and technical achievements at the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers National Conference in Chicago on October 4. Yu won the Technical/Research/Business Achievement Award for his expertise developing solutions for the CH-53E Super Stallion, MH-53E Sea Dragon, and CH-53K King Stallion helicopters. Read More.
Shanker Balasubramaniam ('92 M.S. ESMCH, '93 Ph.D. ESMCH)
Balasubramaniam, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan State University, was named University Distinguished Professor. Read More.
John Longenecker’s (’71 E MCH, ’73 M.S. E MCH) company, Longenecker & Associates, will support Triad National Security, LLC, which was awarded a five-year management and operating contract for the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. LANL is one of the largest science and technology institutes in the world, with a primary mission of national security responsibilities.
Zakaria Al Balushi ('11 E SC, '12 M.S. E SC)
Al Balushi was awarded the Materials Research Society Gold Graduate Student Award for a presentation on his research on two-dimensional materials. Read More.
John Starr ('90 E SC)
Starr was named a 2017 Outstanding Engineering Alumnus by the Penn State College of Engineering. Read More.
Bill Easter ('93 M.S. E SC)
Easter has developed a material he thinks may outperform metals and plastics, and significantly improve cars, computerized devices, and other manufactured goods. Read More.
Ned Brokloff ('82 E SC)
Brokloff is featured in Four Diamonds 40 Faces of 40 Years, celebrating the organization's partnership with Penn State THON. Read More.
Ellen Arruda ('85 E SC, '88 M.S. E MCH)
Arruda was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Election to National Academy of Engineering membership is one of the highest professional honors accorded an engineer. Arruda was recognized “For pioneering research in polymer and tissue mechanics and their application in innovative commercial products.” Read More.
Ned Brokloff ('82 E SC)
Brokloff, chief scientist for strategic deterrence at Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory, made a generous donation to create the Ned Brokloff Endowment for Alumni Association Affiliate Group Innovation. Read More.
Paul Moré, Jr. ('72 E SC)
Moré, part-time lecturer at Rutgers University—Camden, continues to exemplify the leadership qualities Penn State ESM instills in its students. Having established the Moré Family Scholarship at Rutgers in 2007, which assists undergraduate students in their junior or senior year in the College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers—Camden, Moré has helped more than 20 students earn their college degrees. Read More.
Josh Park ('14 E SC, '15 M.S. ESMCH)
Park was promoted to First Lieutenant at the Munitions Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, FL.
Vijay K. Varadan ('69 M.S. E MCH)
Varadan, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, was conferred an honorary doctor of science degree from Saveetha University for his contributions in medicine, engineering, and nanotechnology.
William (Bill) Warren ('86 E SC, '90 Ph.D. E SC)
Warren, vice president and head of innovation in research and development at Sanofi Pasteur, was recognized with the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow by the Penn State Alumni Association. The award is the highest award given by the Alumni Association. Read More.
Benjamin Ross ('06 E SC , '07 M.S. E SC)
Ross, an entrepreneur, technologist, and musician, received the 2016 ESM Early Career Recognition Award.
Dale Mosier ('67 E SC)
Mosier was named a recipient of the 2016 Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) Distinguished Service Award.
Howard Witham ('85 E E, '88 M.S. E SC, '93 Ph.D. ESMCH)
Witham, vice president of Texas Operations for Qorvo, was honored as one of 12 Penn State alumni who received a 2016 Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award. Read More.
Patrick Mather ('89 E SC, '90 M.S. E MCH)
Mather, Milton & Ann Stevenson Professor of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University, was named the new dean of the College of Engineering at Bucknell University, effective July 1, 2016.
John (Jack) Carpenter ('57 E SC)
Carpenter co-authored and published a book titled “Elements of Slow-Neutron Scattering” that provides readers a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the theory and applications of slow-neutron scattering and equips them with the fundamental principles of neutron studies, including the background and evolving development of neutron sources, facility design, neutron scattering instrumentation and techniques, and applications in materials phenomena.
Michael House ('90 E SC, '92 M.S. E MCH)
House was promoted from his position as business operations manager at AECOM to vice president for power and industrial work. In his new role, he will help utilities and industrial clients solve complex engineering and environmental issues.
Krishna Kandarpa ('75 Ph.D. E MCH)
Kandarpa is now Director, Research Sciences & Strategic Directions, at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
Mason Walsh, Jr. ('57 CH E)
Walsh, 79, passed away on September 22, 2015, in Ligonier, PA. Walsh, who grew up in State College, PA, graduated with honors from Penn State in chemical engineering and received his law degree from Harvard University in 1960. In 2002, he endowed the P. B. Breneman Department Head Chair in honor of his grandfather, Paul (P. B.) Breneman, and his 30 years of service to the University.
Mukul Dixit ('07 E SC, '08 M.S. E SC, '12 M.Eng. SYSEN), Shawn Keebaugh ('03 E SC, '08 Ph.D. ESMCH)
Dixit, lead engineer at Harris Corporation, and Keebaugh, semiconductor device engineer at Northrop Grumman, were the 2015 ESM Early Career Recognition Award recipients. Dixit and Keebaugh were recognized for their exceptional achievements and success early in their careers and for their potential to make a significant impact in their work and communities.
Stay Connected
We want you to be aware of all the news, events, and incredible happenings taking place in our department as well as the University as a whole. To update your alumni information, please visit alumni.psu.edu.
