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Last week, Michael Stanisic, one of the Universitys most passionate engineering professors, died at 65. His coworkers, students and fellow Notre Dame community members recalled his career and personality both in and out of the classroom over the last week.

Stanisic began teaching at Notre Dame in 1988. His specialty was kinematic mechanisms, which is primarily focused on geometric design, dynamics systems, moving parts and compliance gears.

Many professors recall his warm presence and teaching abilities, including Dr. Michael Seelinger, the director of undergraduate studies for Notre Dames Engineering Program. Seelinger attended Notre Dame as an undergraduate from 1990 to 1994 and was one of Stanisics students during that time.

I had Mike as a professor my junior year, and he just had a lot of enthusiasm for what he was teaching, Seelinger said. He was certainly very self-deprecating he was a very humble person, but he just enjoyed people, enjoyed class and enjoyed the subject. I found that very infectious. What came across when I was a student was that he truly cared about his students and he had a passion for his subject.

Seelinger said that even when he was working with other professors in the department to prepare for grad school, he would seek out Stanisic for advice.

All throughout grad school, he was a mentor and friend, and that was always very special. When I joined the faculty in 2009, it was thrilling to be colleagues with him, Seelinger said.

Aside from teaching, Stanisic was involved in the communities around him. He was a loving and dedicated father to three daughters Lauren, Emily and Olivia. He was a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and he served several terms as president of Sts. Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church in South Bend. He often invited family friends and graduate students over for cookouts, using ingredients from his vegetable garden.

Stanisic also served in several mentorship roles. He was the Faculty Advisor for the Baja SAE club, which designs and constructs race cars. He helped run the capstone design class for seniors in the College of Engineering.

Mike was a very unique character, said David Go, chair of aerospace and mechanical engineering. He was a grizzly bear on the outside and a teddy bear on the inside. He always came across as a little gruff, until you asked him for help, and then it was just like a flip of the switch. If you were interested in learning, he was going to do whatever he could to help you achieve your goal.

Stanisics teaching capabilities, in many ways, were unmatched. He earned teaching awards in 1991, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2014 and 2021. Most recently, Stanisic was the recipient of the Joyce Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Advising.

He was instrumental in teaching a wide variety of our courses, but most well known for teaching senior design, where he instructed all of our outgoing mechanical engineering seniors for over twenty years, Go said. Outside of that, he was just an outstanding individual with an eclectic set of tastes for really good food, music and classic cars. He was really an outstanding person.

Seelinger recalled his dedication to teaching, remembering when Stanisic learned of Seelingers use of a tablet instead of a blackboard and asking Seelinger for help getting started.

He never got tired of teaching and he always wanted to do it better, Seelinger said. And I learned from him, he learned from me, and that was always fun to do.

Sophomore William White said Stanisic was a remarkably entertaining and committed professor, especially during office hours.

He was a demanding professor who was always ready to help in office hours where he would spend hours daily, White said. Whether he was laughing at Tiny Tim the Donkey or lecturing on normal and tangential coordinates, his gruff but kind presence will be sorely missed by his students.

Stanisics contributions to the Notre Dame community have made a lasting impact, and his memory will be cherished by many.

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Notre Dame community reflects on passing of engineering professor Michael Stanisic // The Observer News Last week ... - Observer Online

Engineers keep cities grounded, running and thriving.But, being a top-level engineer isn't only about the nuts and bolts of engineering it's also about leadership.

AlumnaIrene Varela '18, MS '21 says FIU'sMaster of Science in Engineering Management degree is the key to combining excellent engineering know-how with crucial management and business skills.The degree, offered both in-person and fully online, blends a carefully chosen mix of graduate courses in engineering and computing, business administration and law.The program isdesigned for engineers seeking to advance to managerial positions and acquire the skills necessary for success at the next level.

Varela, who works to improve construction in Florida, says her degree did just that it prepared her for advancement and gave her the agility needed to succeed across teams. In this Q and A, Varela shares what the program is like, what skills were immediately transferrable and how FIU made the difference for her.

When did you graduate?

I graduated in summer 2021 from theMaster of Science in Engineering Management.

Why did you decide to study this area and choose this program?

Civil engineering is my second career. I completed my bachelors degree in 2018.After graduation, I immediately found a job working for the [Florida] Department of Transportation (FDOT) here in Miami.After a year, I applied for a project manager position within the department, and I was selected for the position. At that time, I felt that I was missing certain skills for management. I saw that FIU was offering a masters degree in Engineering Management, which was attractive to me given that it offered to fill the gap between engineering management and business, and it filled the gap in management training I felt I was missing. Also, many of my colleagues at FDOT recommended it.

Where do you work now?

I work for Miami Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM).

What do you do?

I work under the special section reviewing commercial, residential and multi-family housing building plans for environmentalfederal regulation and municipal code compliance. I am also responsible for communicating with design professionals and contractors regarding code interpretation and compliance, determining corrective actions, evaluating details and assessing technical reports.

What was your favorite class and why?

I loved every single class.I cannot tell you how much I wish I could keep taking classes. Every class had immediate applicable skills that improved every aspect of my work immensely and increased my worth as a professional.I can tell you that all professors, Dr. [Chin-Sheng]Chen, Dr. [Chris] Ford, Dr. [Seema] Pissaris, Dr. [Karen] Schmahl, they are there to make sure you succeed.They want to see you learn and they want to make sure all the skills in their classes are applicable almost immediately. The reports, presentations and research done in the classes you can use for workright away.

What immediately applicable skills did you learn?

To start, teamwork is a huge skill that goes beyond just working in a group.Each class is based on teamwork. This allows you to learn about yourself and how you fit in and connect with others.Part of the genius of the curriculum is that everyone is a different kind of engineer (civil, electrical, computer, mechanical) and you will not have the most applicable skills or experience in all the classes/assignments.The courses allow for opportunities to either lead a team or support your classmates as a valuable member of the team. By the end of the program, your role on a team is evident and you are able to contribute toward success based on the needs.Therefore, in some classes, you will have to lead and others you will recognize that you can just be part of the support team and still feel a valuable member of that team. By the end of the program, you can join any team and immediately be able to identify what you can do to be useful to that team and help the team succeed.

As engineers, we always wish we had the right team, the right fit, the right skills, and this masters degree gives you the tools to manage any team with any playersit gives you the tools to lead both technical and non-technical teams.You realize, at the end of the program, you have changed as a person and as a leader. You can lead absolutely any team, and youll be able to find use of anyones talents and inspire anyone in any position to work for and with you.

How does your degree help you in your work?

The quality of my work improved immensely. I gained leadership skills. I am able to be part of a team and improve on processes, regardless of position. It has also opened many doors for me in my career. I get contacted from recruiters all the time because they know the leadership and management skills the graduates from this program bring to any company.

What is one of the best things you gained from the program?

The networking during the program is fantastic. I keep in touch with a lot of the people in my cohort. If I have a doubt in any area Im not an expert in, theres always someone from the program that I can reach out to.The camaraderie and engagement among students were just outstanding.

Would you recommend this program to other students?

Absolutely, this is a must have for any engineer [of] any background, if you are interested in lead[ing] or eventually form[ing] your own company.

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Engineering management program takes alumna to the next level - FIU News

Nicole Dafoe will be the next dean of Slippery Rock Universitys College of Engineering and Science. Dafoe, who has worked at SRU since 2012, has served as an interim dean since January 2022.

April 18, 2023

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. Slippery Rock University today announced the appointment of Nicole Dafoe as the dean of the College of Engineering and Science, effective this summer. Dafoe, who has worked at SRU since 2012, has served as an interim dean since January 2022. Following a nationwide search and recommendation from a University search committee, Dafoe's appointment was approved by the administration.

"We are grateful to have Dr. Dafoe's contributions as interim dean and we're pleased to know that we'll have her continued leadership as we advance our College of Engineering and Science," said Michael Zieg, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. "She has proven to be more than capable of succeeding as the dean and we look forward to further benefiting from the experience and knowledge that she brings to this role."

Dafoe was interim dean of the College of Health, Engineering and Science from January 2022 to June 2022 and continued as interim dean of the CES upon the creation of the College of Health Professions in July 2022. Dafoe led a successful reorganization of the CES after several departments joined the CHP. She also developed a short-term strategic plan for the CES and worked closely with staff, department chairs and other faculty to support the growth of academic programs by providing resources to meet accreditation standards and establish articulation agreements with community colleges and other enhancements.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to become dean and I look forward to working with faculty, staff and students," Dafoe said. "As an interim dean, everything I've done has been short term, so I'm eager to tackle projects and goals that require sustained focus from the dean's office. This is a great college and I'm ready to continue developing articulation agreements, making connections with industry and building our academic programs."

The CES represents more than 80 faculty members from six departments:

SRU's School of Engineering has undergone growth during Dafoe's leadership, with the addition of three new laboratories completed last year and three more scheduled to be completed by fall 2023.

A native of Port Huron, Michigan, Dafoe first joined the SRU faculty in 2012 as a biology professor and became department chair in 2017. A plant molecular biologist by training, Dafoe earned her Ph.D. in biology from the University of Victoria in Canada, and her Bachelor of Science in biology from Grand Valley State University in Michigan in 2003. Her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals during her career and she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service from 2009-12 studying the defense response in maize against the European corn borer.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu

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SRU names Nicole Dafoe as dean of the College of Engineering ... - Slippery Rock University

Disney Parks are known for their magical experiences and exceptional operating standards. Our teams of Industrial Engineers work behind-the-scenes with dozens of partners in the operation to ensure seamless visits for guests from around the world. Meet Mary, one of the Industrial Engineering Project Managers behind the magic!

I use data to understand how the business is performing. Are we maximizing the number of guests that can get on an attraction? Are wait times higher than what wed like them to be? said Mary. We also use data to predict how a new experience may perform. We estimate the expected capacity and demand and balance the two based on our goals for the new operation. Other times, I might observe the operation and work with our partners to identify improvements.

Having been a part of the Industrial Engineering team for ten years, Mary feels the greatest pride when her role allows her to be a part of the magic when developing something new.

The project that is most significant for me is our newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish, said Mary. I was in Germany and the Netherlands supporting the building of the Wish and it was such a herculean effort to build such a massive ship.

Between balancing limited resources for construction and logistics of the Disney Wish, Industrial Engineers were integral in keeping things on schedule in order to complete the project in a timely manner. Shipbuilding is a 24/7 operation, especially in the home stretch of delivery! We created tools to optimize loading plans of construction material, furniture and even the trash. It was an orchestrated effort to make sure the vendors, crew, cast members and Imagineers had all the materials they needed to deliver a beautiful ship with everything needed onboard for our Guests to have a magical maiden voyage, said Mary.

Being able to efficiently operate systems and processes is incredibly inspiring for Mary within her role. Not only does she enjoy investigating what could be improved, but she loves being able to enhance the overall Disney experience!

What excites me about my job is that I get to be a data detective. I look for patterns and opportunities to discover better ways of operating. I love being able to put together the pieces to figure out ways to improve the life of cast, crew and guests! The chance to remove barriers makes both work and play more enjoyable.

Partnering with the rest of the Industrial Engineering team helps Mary gain insight into solving problems in ways she may have approached differently.

I love seeing the different ways people think about approaching a problem and all of the various lenses and perspectives out there. It is an interesting opportunity to learn something new and understand different motivations and backgrounds, all while working toward a better solution, said Mary.

In addition to collaboration, Marys favorite aspect about the Industrial Engineering team environment is their close-knit relationships.

Ive met some of my best friends through the department and I genuinely enjoy working with my team. We have a culture where everyone is willing to help each other out and collaborate if we are challenged with a really difficult problem or something that has never been done before.

Whether its during work or after hours, the Industrial Engineering team provides a welcoming environment that helps encourage and inspire.

The team building events are really fun and make me feel closer to others on the team. The culture is very much work hard, play hard which gives a nice balance, said Mary.

When you visit a Disney destination, you may not realize the number of decisions and considerations at play to create the magical result seen. Whether youre experiencing a state-of-the-art new thrill ride or indulging in inventive cuisine, the Industrial Engineering team likely played a role in ensuring your visit went smoothly.

Industrial Engineers focus on removing barriers, streamlining processes and coordinating logistics to enhance the guest, cast and crew experience. I am proud to help open so many new experiences from the Disney Wish, to Food and Beverage Mobile Ordering, to new Disney Parks experiences like Star Wars: Galaxys Edge!

by Ava F., Communications Coordinator

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The Data Behind Every Exceptional Experience - Industrial ... - Disney.com

The CEO of a Palo Alto-based firm is pushing back on allegations that his company lavished San Mateo Community College District officials with gifts and trips in exchange for a lucrative contract,according to a letter sent Tuesday to the districts governing board.

Karim Allana wrote that the college districts allegations contained in a lawsuit filed in February against his company, Allana, Buick & Bers, Inc. are flung wildly and recklessly and have put his business at risk.

Allanas firm is one of five contractors and consultants the San Mateo Community College District sued on Feb. 8 as part of its ongoing corruption crackdown. The complaint filed in San Mateo County Superior Court seeks damages from the companies as well as Ron Galatolo, the districts disgraced chancellor who was charged withmisappropriating public funds and tax evasion in 2022 following a corruption probe by the San Mateo County District Attorneys office.

The suit alleges Galatolo accepted gifts and benefits from executives, including Allana, and in exchange helped steer contracts funded through voter-approved bond measures to the firms named in the lawsuit. It claims Allana and AB&B gave thousands of dollars worth of gifts to Galatolo in exchange for a contract to build a solar farm at Caada College in 2013, which a corruption probe by the DAs office contends was rife with financial abuse.

Allana also allegedly lavishedGalatolos co-conspiratory former Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning and Operations Jose Nuez with gifts, including sporting event tickets and expensive meals in order to get the solar contract.

But in a letter sent Tuesday to the Board of Trustees, Allana calls the districts allegations outlandish and deeply concerning, arguing that its the result of one Trustees political vendetta, rather than a result of any impropriety.

Not once, not ever, not with this Community College District nor any other public or private entity. Any suggestion otherwise is malicious and defamatory and we will take legal action accordingly, Allana said. Ultimately, ABB never sought, or to its knowledge, received any special treatment or consideration. SMCCCD has never received less than full value for the fees paid to ABB and has suffered no economic loss as a result of its contracts with ABB.

Allana argues the districts suit ignores key facts, including that he received more in value from Mr. Galatolo than he received from myself or ABB, the letter says. The district references miles that were given to Galatolo to travel, but fails to mention that Mr. Galatolo reciprocated by paying for my hotel and another stay, either which were of greater value. Galatolo also allowed Allana to use his boat in Lake Tahoe on multiple occasions, which says is a value that significantly exceeds any alleged benefit he ever received from me.

These reciprocal exchanges demonstrate the absence of any net transfer of value from ABB or myself to Mr. Galatolo that could be considered a giftlet alone pay to play, the letter says. The allegations contained in this lawsuit are designed to be salacious and grab headlines, but they will not survive even a modicum of scrutiny.

As a result, Allana is asking a county judge to strike allegations made against ABB, arguing that the firms work with the district predates my personal relationship with Ron Galatolo or Jose Nuez by over 10 years.

As stewards of the Districts limited taxpayer resources, the Trustees have a duty to not only ensure this lawsuit does not end up being a waste of time and significant public funds, but that public money is not being used for one Trustees political purposes, the letter says.

The districts complaint says that ABB submitted a bid package for the 2013 solar project for $4.9 million but was allegedly allowed to correct it to $4.5 million after the deadline to outbid its competitor, evidenced by an email sent there days later. Years later the projects final cost ballooned back to $4.9 million.

Allana says contracts and change orders between ABB and the (district) were approved by the (district) Board of Trustees, and not by Mr. Galatolo nor Mr. Nuez and that Galatolo did not have the authority to give us these contracts as that authority solely rests with the Board of Trustees.

The districts suit also mentions Allana asked Galatolo to tap into his political relationships to get Congresswoman Jackie Speier to officiate his wedding. Allana says even if that allegations were accurate, it is completely irrelevant to the underlying allegations in the Districts claim.

In reality, Mr. Galatolo offered, unprompted, to ask the Congresswoman to preside over the union and she graciously accepted, the letter says.

The districts suit also names Allanas brother and nephew, one of who is a recruiter of foreign students at the district and another who is an accountant for the district. Allana says the district names them for no other plausible purpose than to bully and harass.

There is no legal basis to attack my wedding or name my family members in a lawsuit against my firm, Allana says in his letter. This is a Community College District, not the Godfather, and public resources should not be spent fulfilling one Trustees personal and political retribution.

Allana says ABB does not wish to be engaged in litigation with a longtime client with whom we have accomplished so much and said the districts lawsuit is destined to fail for the same reason the District Attorney, after myriad of interviews and an investigation spanning many years, did not choose to pursue a criminal action against me or my firm.

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Palo Alto engineering firm denies Bay Area college districts pay-to-play allegations, threatens suit - The Mercury News