THE FINAL DRAFT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SPRING 2004 ~ NEWSLETTER VOLUME 25 ISSUE 1 www.engineering.villanova.edu/newsletter EXCELLENCE INNOVATION INTEGRITY MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN - DR. BARRY JOHNSON As a new spring envelops us, the College con- Chrestay, Associate Dean for External Relations, Distance Education is a key component in our strat- tinues to strengthen and grow in many ways. College of Engineering; Donald Collins, Executive egy to increase graduate enrollment by providing Innovative academic programs are being intro- Director, NAVSEA Philadelphia Carderock Div.; M.S. degrees and customized educational programs duced, leading-edge research is expanding, and Kurt Conti, CE ’84, CEO, Conti Enterprises; on-line. Under Sean O’Donnell, Director of infrastructure is improving. I’m consistently Joseph Denny, EE ’68, Director of Strategic Distance Education, significant technical upgrades amazed and gratified at the talent, commitment and Initiatives, Liberty Property Trust; James Eastwood, have been made to our existing classroom in CEER productivity of our CE ’68, President & CEO, Granary Associates; Dr. 010 and two new state-of-the-art distance education students, faculty, staff Richard Emmert, retired Vice President, E.I. classrooms are under construction in CEER 312 and alumni. DuPont; Donald P. Fusilli, Jr., Esq., CE ’73, and 314. The first fully on-line M.S. degrees in In the last President & CEO, Michael Baker Corp.; William Civil and Environmental Engineering were offered Newsletter I men- O’Donnell, CE ’65, President, O’Donnell & in the fall of 2003. As a result of the favorable tioned that as we con- Naccarato; Thomas Portland, ChE ’69, retired Vice response, we will also be offering an on-line M.S. in tinue on this exciting President, Air Products & Chemicals; John Robins, Mechanical Engineering this fall. The current plan journey, I would CE ’70, President, SMI Joist Company; Frank is to introduce M.S. programs in Electrical, solicit particular Ryan, ChE ’53, retired COO, Air Products and Computer and Chemical Engineering in succeeding input and advice Chemicals; William Wiggenhorn, retired Chief fall semesters. from external stake- Learning Officer, CIGNA; Dr. Simon Thomas, Lastly, spring also signals the impending grad- holders. To this end, Director, Director, Semiconductor Research Corp.; uation of our current senior class. The events sur- Photo By Barbara Johnston. All Rights Reserved 2002. All Rights Reserved Photo By Barbara Johnston. University. Villanova Affairs, Courtesy of Communications and Public I am pleased to and Dr. Karl Wyatt, Vice President, Engineering & rounding graduation, such as the Dean’s Awards announce the appointment of the first College of technology, High Speed Solutions, Intel Corp. Tom Dinner, Hooding Ceremony, Baccalaureate Mass Engineering Advisory Council. The charter of the Portland and Joan Chrestay have agreed to serve as and University Commencement, provide beautiful Advisory Council is to (a) review and critique the Chair and Secretary of the Council, respectively. backdrops for the College’s faculty, staff and strategic plan of the College, (b) identify trends in The Council has met twice since December, administration to continually reflect on our funda- the engineering profession and their impact on the 2003 and will continue to meet a minimum of two mental mission: to provide our students with the College’s educational programs, (c) assist in the times per year. This is a very accomplished group best learning experience possible while at development of networks and partnerships, (d) act of alumni and friends, and I am confident their indi- Villanova, and to prepare our students to be success- as advocates (both internally and externally) for the vidual expertise and collective wisdom will allow ful in whatever careers they may choose in life after College, and (e) monitor the progress of the College the Council, as a consultative body, to provide sig- Villanova. Considering our proud tradition of pro- in executing to the strategic plan. nificant guidance and support to the College. ducing exceptional alumni, we feel a profound Currently, the Council membership includes: Another exciting topic that I’d like to highlight sense of satisfaction in our mission, and the College Steve Andriole, Labrecque Professor of Decision & is the University’s approval of the College’s new of Engineering Class of 2004 can feel confident that Information Technologies, Villanova; James Birle, entrepreneurial Distance Education Program. they too will succeed. ME ’58, Chairman, Resolute Partners LLC; Joan DELAWARE VALLEY YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Mike McAtee, CE ’95, has been named as Villanova. Since his graduation, McAtee has dis- the 2004 Delaware Valley Young Engineer of the tinguished himself both technically and manageri- Year. He received the award at the Engineers Club ally at Urban Engineers. In addition, he is active in of Philadelphia Annual Dinner on February 25, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2004. This award, initiated to acknowledge the Younger Members Forum encouraging young peo- merits and continuing accomplishments of young ple to seek an engineering career. McAtee has also professionals in engineering, is a prestigious high- become a steady and unwavering spokesman for light of the Engineers Week activities. the profession throughout the Delaware Valley, McAtee, a project engineer at Urban meeting with youth groups and introducing the Engineers, graduated from Villanova with an engineering profession as a lasting, valuable and undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering in 1995. satisfying career. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Seated l. to r.: Prof. Frank Falcone, CE, and Mike McAtee. Standing: Robert Guinivan, CE ’06 ENGINEERING NEWS EXTERNAL RELATIONS EFFORTS EXPANDED IN THE COLLEGE Director of Development. Chrestay and Terburg Baumbach will work with Dean Barry Johnson, are part of the newly launched Office of External to expand major gifts support through linking the Relations. Baumbach, a senior fundraiser in the interests of individual alumni, parents, and Office of University Development, is assigned to friends to the priorities of the College. the College of Engineering under the new dis- Chrestay and Terburg come to Engineering tributive fundraising model. from the Development Office, where they The Office of External Relations was creat- worked on engineering priorities. In her new ed to intensify the focus on external linkages for role, Chrestay is a key figure working with the the College. The goal is to enhance and expand dean, College administration, and faculty to multi-faceted partnerships with foundations, cor- bring in direct funds and other resources in sup- porations, other universities, and government port of the education and research objectives of agencies in support of the College’s Strategic the College. She will also work closely with the Plan. Fundraising efforts will be focused on the members of the College Advisory Council, l. to r.: Melanie Terburg, Assistant Director for operational needs of the College by building on where she serves as Secretary, to accomplish the External Relations; Joan F. Chrestay, Associate Dean for External Relations; and Andrew the existing relationships of the College, as well College’s fundraising objectives. Baumbach, Director of Development as new opportunities. Terburg manages the communications, The College is also committed to actively research, and stewardship for corporate, founda- The College of Engineering welcomes Joan participating in fundraising activities spearhead- tion fundraising activities. She also cultivates Chrestay, Associate Dean for External Relations; ed by the Development Office, as part of institutional relationships with corporate and Melanie Terburg, MPA ’02, Assistant Director University’s capital campaign, Transforming foundation funders. for External Relations; and Andrew Baumbach, Minds and Hearts: The Campaign for Villanova. W.M. KECK FOUNDATION GRANT FOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY EQUIPMENT The W.M. Keck Foundation recently made a A state-of-the art structural engineering lab- $500,000 grant award to Villanova University’s oratory will make the structures team more com- NEWSLETTER STAFF College of Engineering for equipment to enhance petitive for both private and public grants. Dr. Edward V. McAssey, Jr. the Structural Engineering program. The grant “Many engineering construction firms with- Dr. John Molyneux from the Keck Foundation supports the College’s in the tri-state region are run by Villanova alum- Nancy O’Connor five-year strategic plan which includes the con- ni and one of the largest civil engineering firms in CONTRIBUTORS: struction of a new Structural Engineering the country is run by an alumnus,” Johnson said. College Centers Laboratory. This laboratory will house the “We will now have the capacity to respond to College Departments equipment made possible through the Keck their research needs, while preparing our students Dr. Moeness G. Amin grant, supporting an innovative undergraduate for the workforce they will be entering.” Kelli Barbato, ME ’05 curriculum designed by principal investigators The University’s Department of Facilities John Boring, CE ’04 Shawn Gross, Dave Dinehart, Joseph Yost, and Management has approved construction of the Maria Cynthia Cordero, CHE ’04 Rebecca Hoffman. The grant was initiated by Structural Engineering Laboratory to begin in Jordan Ermilio, ME ’97, MSWREE ’05 Joan Chrestay,