The External Advisory Board (EAB) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics was established to advance the goals and mission of the department. With the guidance and support of members from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, Drexel MEM will address its key strategic goals, creating boundaryless learning environments that build empowered, resilient students, developing a focused research agenda and enhancing our research impact, strengthening department outreach, networks and talent pipeline and promoting a departmental culture built on inclusion, collaboration and fairness.
This crucial network of EAB members will help MEM to:
- Attract and retain diverse student, faculty, and professional staff talent;
- Identify emerging engineering practices, competencies, and needs;
- Shape suitable programs and pedagogies in response;
- Envision the space and infrastructure necessary to enhance teaching and learning and increase our research competitiveness and impact;
- Build and strengthen the Department’s network across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.
- Provide insight into the curriculum for purposes of accreditation.
EAB Members
Moogega Cooper
Dr. Moogega Cooper is a Planetary Protection Engineer in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where she is responsible for the process of protecting solar system bodies from contamination by Earth life as well as contamination of Earth by potential life forms returned from other solar system bodies. Cooper was the Lead of Planetary Protection for the Mars 2020 Mission and is a member of the planetary protection team for the InSight Mission.
Dr. Cooper received a BA in Physics from Hampton University in 2006, followed by a MS and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in thermal fluid sciences from Drexel University College of Engineering. Her dissertation, advised by Dr. Alexander Fridman, focused on non-equilibrium plasma sterilization of spacecraft materials, enabling her to obtain a position with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Planetary Protection Group in 2011.
Dr. Cooper is an avid science educator, having participated in television programs such as Bill Nye Saves the World and How the Universe Works. Furthermore, she has taken part in programs and speaking engagements to encourage young women and others from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in science and technology.
Chris Dames
Dr. Chris Dames is a professor of mechanical engineering and the Howard Penn Brown Chair in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. Dames received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006. His B.S. and M.S. are from UC Berkeley (1998, 2001). He was a faculty member at UC Riverside from 2006-2011 before joining UC Berkeley in 2011, and he has also worked as a research engineer for Solo Energy Corp. (1998-1999).
His research interests emphasize fundamental studies of heat transfer and energy conversion at the nanoscale, using both theoretical and experimental methods. Some topics of current interest include graphene, nanocrystalline materials, mean free path distributions, thermoelectrics, biological systems, and highly anisotropic and nonlinear transport including thermal rectification.
His research has been recognized with a DARPA Young Faculty Award (2009) and NSF CAREER award (2011).
Kivilcim Buyukhatipoglu Eralp
Dr. Kivilcim Buyukhatipoglu Eralp serves as WW Assoc. Director, Strategic Products at Becton Dickinson (BD), a leading global medical technology company. She is responsible for leading strategic products portfolio and innovation efforts that will advance BD’s long-term growth strategy. She has over 15 years of life sciences and medical device experience as a healthcare strategist, as well as commercial, innovation and R&D leader. Her area of expertise is Strategic Innovation, Strategic Marketing and R&D.
Dr. Eralp holds a Ph.D. from Drexel University in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc and BSc from Koc University and Orta Dogu Technical University in Turkey, respectively. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, holds several patents, and has made presentations to industry and academia as an invited speaker.
Connie Gomez
Dr. Connie Gomez is a professor of Engineering at San Jacinto College where she has supported the growth of the college’s engineering program.
Dr. Gomez received her PhD in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in 2007. After completing her PhD, she Joined the University of Texas at El Paso as an assistant professor, where she worked in computer-aided tissue engineering and sustainability. From 2012 to 2016, she helped build the engineering program at Galveston College in Galveston, TX.
Dr. Gomez has served on the Engineering Field of Study team for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She has also been instrumental in design a new Engineering and Technology building and developing an Engineering Technology Program at San Jacinto College set to open Fall 2023. She is currently the Department Chair for Physical Sciences on the San Jacinto South Campus where she also oversees the Undergraduate Research Center.
James Hing
External Advisory Board Chair
Dr. James Hing serves as the Branch Head of the Strategic Technologies Branch at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst, NJ where he leads a team of 26 engineers in the development, maturation, and transition of new and emerging technologies with application to Aircraft Launch Recovery Equipment and Support Equipment (ALRE/SE).
From July 2010 to April 2018, Dr. Hing served as a Robotics S&T Engineer in the Advanced Technology Projects Branch where he was responsible for conceiving, coordinating, and applying scientific methods to Science and Technology (S&T) research efforts for the enhancement of Navy and Marine flight deck operations. His work on robotics sought to provide the warfighter with solutions that optimize workload, increase safety, and increase efficiency. In 2014, Dr. Hing founded the Robotics Intelligence Systems Engineering (RISE) Laboratory, which he also served as the Director and Lab Manager. His current research interests include autonomy, machine vision, machine learning, and perception algorithms.
An accomplished engineer, Dr. Hing has been recognized with several awards including: The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE). He has also been awarded the Department of Defense Scientist of the Quarter ‐ 1st Quarter 2017, NAWCAD Commanders Innovation Award, and multiple NAWCAD Naval Innovative Science and Engineering (NISE) Outstanding Project Awards.
Dr. Hing is a three-time alumni of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Drexel University (2003 BS, 2006 MS, 2010 PhD) and was a recipient of the Gates Millenium Scholarship. As a member of the former Drexel Autonomous Systems Laboratory (DASL), Dr. Hing’s Ph.D. thesis focused on the development of a mixed reality interface for unmanned aerial vehicle pilot training and evaluation. In his after-work hours, Dr. Hing has served as an adjunct professor for Drexel University and has mentored NJ High schools participating in the FIRST Robotics Program.
DISCLAIMER: Any information provided in this biography does not imply an endorsement of Drexel University by NAWCAD Lakehurst
Max Kaiserman
Max Kaiserman is a Philadelphia native a proud "Double Dragon,” having received his BS in 2010 and MBA in 2021 from Drexel University. Max is the Director of Marketing & Revenue of Kaiserman Company, a third-generation family real estate holding & management company currently celebrating its centennial year. Previously in the role of Special Projects, Max managed the design, tracking, certification, ongoing commissioning, and education programs relating to resource responsible sustainability projects for over 3 million square feet of real estate; permanently offsetting tens of thousands of tons of CO2 on-site.
In addition to his role at Kaiserman Company, Max helps keep aeronautical & automotive engineering history alive through volunteer educational museum programming, as well as reproduction space & car racing apparel. Luna Replicas, a small business he grew in 2018, partners with NASA & automotive racing veterans to recreate the iconic look, feel, and thrill of the engineering golden era of the 1960s through exact, museum-quality replica apparel and gear. In is his belief that by learning from the past, we can be inspired to move toward the future.
Kevin Lavelle
Kevin Lavelle graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (’02) and a Masters in Business Administration (’04). As an undergraduate Kevin won the MEM Senior Design competition but finished in second place, to his future wife, in the overall College of Engineering competition. It has haunted him since. Kevin was inducted into the Drexel University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 as a member of the CAA Champion Soccer team.
After graduation, Kevin leveraged his co-op experience into a full-time position with the Naval Sea Systems Command. In this position Kevin served as the Navy’s In-service Engineering Agent and Life Cycle Manager for Instrumentation and Controls onboard the surface fleet. Kevin then jumped to private industry working in various sales, marketing, product management, and ultimate executive management positions. Kevin currently serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Eastern Controls, a market leader in industrial process automation centered in Philadelphia.
Nicole Otte
Nicole Otte is the Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser USA located in Greenwood, IN. She partners within her organization to develop current and future workforce, which includes building partnerships with local, state, and national educational institutions.
Prior to joining Endress+Hauser in 2019, Nicole spent 18 years in education. She was an Engineering and Technology high school teacher for 12 years in Columbus, IN where she taught Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering, College & Careers, Construction, Architecture, and Geometry & Engineering.
Nicole then joined Central Nine Career Center (Greenwood, IN) in 2013 as the Assistant Director and then transitioned to the CTE Director role in 2016 where she oversaw 27 varied programs in Manufacturing, Health Sciences, IT, Construction, Transportation, and Human/Protective Services serving nine partner high schools.
When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, designing, creating, making, and baking. Nicole and her family enjoy spending time at the beach and travelling. Nicole and her husband Joe have been married for 21 years.
Lawrence C. Schuette
Dr. Lawrence C. Schuette is the Director of Research and Technology Programs at Lockheed Martin. He joined the company in 2017, to serve as the Director of Global Science and Technology Engagement. In his role as Director of Research and Technology Programs, Dr. Schuette is responsible for creating and utilizing a global network of technical relationships to enhance Lockheed Martin’s engagement in the worldwide science, technology, and innovation ecosystems, and through a team of technology leaders transition advanced technology into the corporation, while accelerating customer technology adoption to create new and disruptive mission capabilities.
Dr. Schuette joined Lockheed Martin after 33 years of Federal Service in the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services, the last ten as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Most recently, he was the Director of Research (DOR) at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) where he led the Discovery and Invention portfolio for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In this capacity, he led a $1B/year investment portfolio of basic and applied research and sponsored research in academia, government, and industry labs in the U.S. and across the globe. He also served as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Director for the Department of the Navy, providing leadership and management of the department’s STEM investment. Prior to this role, he was the Director of Innovation at ONR where he successfully delivered high-payoff game-changing technology for the warfighter through management of the Navy’s high-risk science and technology portfolio.
He earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from The Catholic University of America and is a 2009 Seminar XXI Fellow from the MIT Center for International Studies.
His awards include the Secretary of Defense's award for Exceptional Civilian Service, the Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Naval Unit Commendation, the Naval Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.
He currently resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and three young children.
Harry Whitehouse
Dr. Harry Whitehouse is the founder of Endicia, a centralized computer-based postage system sold to Stamps.com in 2016. He is also the co-founder of RedBrick247, an online platform for package shipping. Whitehouse has presented numerous times at National Postal Forums over the years, including serving as the Keynote speaker for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Whitehouse received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University 1967, as the first in his family to attend college. He went on to receive a Master of Engineering from Stanford University in 1968 on a Department of Energy Fellowship, followed by a PhD in 1972. Whitehouse then served as an Assistant Professor of ME at Stanford from 1972 to 1978 and was awarded the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Teacher Award 2 years in a row.
Whitehouse co-founded Pacific Sun Inc. in 1978 with two former students and another professor, a company that consulted on solar thermal systems. He was the co-Inventor of Sunspool – a specialized valve for solar thermal water heating, for which he has several patents.
In 1982, Whitehouse was hired by USPS Facilities Department to recommend energy saving strategies in USPS buildings. He consulted with USPS for over a decade on automation of facilities activities, as well as with the US Navy, IRS, Stanford, Stauffer Chemical, and other large firms on building energy strategies.
Whitehouse proposed and demonstrated a PC-based postage system to USPS senior management in December of 1991, filing patents for said system as well as remote ZIP+4 lookup in 1991 and 1992. He launched Endicia, Inc. in 1999 featuring a centralized PC postage system. Whitehouse sold Endicia to Newell Rubbermaid, where he served as a VP for 6 years. Endicia was sold to Stamps.com 2016, and Whitehouse was named a VP in the combined operation.
Whitehouse has four children and two granddaughters. He and his wife Wendy have been married for 38 years. He enjoys baking and cooking, as well as finding new restaurants. He plays guitar and admires musicians who really can play!
Michael Winter
As the Principal Fellow for Advanced Technology at Pratt & Whitney, Dr. Michael Winter leads the company’s technology portfolio internally and represents it externally. In over 35 years with United Technologies Corporation, (UTC; now RTX), Michael has made contributions working with fuel cells, lasers, and combustion & propulsion systems. He has served as Corporate Director of Systems & Controls Engineering where he provided UTC’s business units with the Model-Based Digital Thread tools needed to deliver the complex cyber-physical systems at the core of UTC products.
As Chief Engineer for Technology at Pratt & Whitney, he led the company’s technology portfolio enabling new commercial and military platforms including the Geared-Turbo Fan and the F35 Lightning II propulsion systems. He was also responsible for development of the Pratt & Whitney Technical Career Ladder and for leading the Fellows Program, which recognizes the company’s top technical experts. Earlier, Michael served at United Technologies Research Center as Director of the Flight Systems Program, with responsibility for advanced technology for Hamilton Sundstrand and Sikorsky Aircraft.
Michael holds PhD, MS and MPhil degrees from Yale University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. He has authored more than 40 patents and more than 50 published technical articles.
Michael has served on the advisory board of the Engineering Schools at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Drexel University. He also served on the National Research Council Board of Assessment of the National Academies, a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), A member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) and as chairman of the Aerospace Industry Association (AIA) Environmental Committee and Technical Operations Council.