MEM Hosts External Advisory Board

MEM external advisory board group photo 2023

On June 7th, Drexel Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics hosted the inaugural meeting of the department’s External Advisory Board (EAB). The board, which includes members from the private sector, government, and academia, came together in Philadelphia from across the country. For some members this was their first-time visiting Drexel, while others were returning to the university as alumni. Bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and experiences, the board convened in this initial meeting to build a foundational understanding of the state of the department and its strategic goals.

Led by department head Jonathan Spanier and director Elsa Stanger, the meeting brought together the twelve board members, including Moogega Cooper PhD ‘09, Chris Dames, Kivilcim Buyukhatipoglu Eralp PhD ‘10, Connie Gomez PhD ‘07, James Hing BS ‘03, MS ‘06, PhD ‘10, Max Kaiserman BS ‘10 MBA ‘21, Kevin Lavelle BS ‘02, MBA ‘04, Nicole Otte, Lawrence Schuette, Raj Shah, Harry Whitehouse ‘67 and Michael Winter BS ‘84 , several of whom participated remotely. The EAB’s mission is to provide timely guidance and support as the department works toward strategic initiatives as outlined by the MEM Strategic Plan. These initiatives include updating and improving curricula, responding to emerging needs in engineering research and education, providing recommendations for enhanced infrastructure, and building the department’s network across sectors.

In addition to establishing an overview of Drexel MEM to set the stage for the board’s input, the department provided space for student engagement with the EAB. MEM students shared their work and engaged in conversation with the board about their experiences at Drexel.

The development of the External Advisory Board marks the start of an important new phase for Drexel MEM, a crucial step in achieving their mission as a department. As they continue to meet with the EAB over the coming months and years, they are committed to building a vibrant and inclusive academic community, empowering students through integrated and collaborative education and driving successful application of MEM discoveries and innovations to address humanity’s most pressing challenges.


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