Open to the public, our speaker series is designed for students and community members to hear from professionals on topics that broaden attendees’ understanding of the world and add depth to experiences. It is also an opportunity for our alumni and community members to engage with our students, potential future employees.
Fall 2026 Speakers
Dr. Alex Ferguson
Principal Scientist, Modeling and Simulation, Novartis
"Applying Engineering Principles to Biological Complexity"
Thursday, Oct. 8
10 a.m., Parkview Room (D-132), Floyd Hall
About this talk: There is rarely a straight line between an undergraduate degree and a final career path. Today, complex scientific questions often require a highly collaborative approach, blending the biological insights of the life sciences with the quantitative modeling frameworks of engineering. In this talk, Dr. Alex Ferguson will demonstrate how mathematical modeling can be used to explain and predict biological phenomena, a core theme of her research and career.
Tracking her research journey that spans from circuits and leeches to brains and pharmaceuticals, Ferguson will illustrate how foundational engineering principles can decode biological mysteries across vastly different scales. She will highlight her early research at WMU using optimal control theory to model single-cell leech neurons, her doctoral research at MIT into the neural mechanisms of sensorimotor control, and her current role at Novartis, where she builds computational models to understand underlying disease mechanisms and accelerate the drug discovery process. Ultimately, the next era of scientific breakthroughs will depend on interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of engineering principles.
About Dr. Ferguson: Dr. Alex Ferguson is a principal scientist in modeling and simulation at Novartis, where she works to improve drug development through innovative modeling strategies. Prior to joining Novartis, she completed a Ph.D. in brain and cognitive sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2023. Her doctoral thesis focused on working memory and metalearning of time interval representations. In the Jazayeri Lab at MIT, her research involved developing experiments to test computational neuroscience hypotheses regarding sensorimotor control, alongside recording neural data. During her graduate studies, she was recognized with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Impact Award and was a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow. She also holds an M.S.E. and a B.S.E. in electrical engineering from Western Michigan University. There, she applied optimal control theory to biological systems, specifically studying mechanosensory cells in leeches.
A dedicated science communicator and community leader, she has organized initiatives with Act on Mass and Grads for a Healthy MIT, and has served as a mentor for the MIT BCS Application Assistance Program. She lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with her wife, Hannah, and their cat, Cosmo. In her free time, she enjoys playing the trumpet in various musical ensembles, playing intramural softball and volleyball teams and attending concerts and shows.
Dr. Lokendra Pal
Professor of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University
"Engineering Sustainable and Smart Packaging: From Laboratory Innovation to Startups and Industrial Commercialization"
Monday, Oct. 12
2 p.m., Room D-205, Floyd Hall
About this talk: Packaging is essential to global trade, logistics, food security, healthcare and the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. It enables the safe distribution of food and medical supplies, supports convenience-driven consumer lifestyles and protects goods across complex supply chains. However, traditional packaging, particularly single-use plastics (SUPs), is a major contributor to global waste and environmental burden. The transition toward sustainable, bio-based and fiber-based packaging creates significant prospects for innovation in renewable materials, functional barrier coatings, smart manufacturing, printed electronics and circular end-of-life systems. This talk will highlight a translational research voyage in sustainable and smart packaging, tracing the path from laboratory-scale material discovery to pilot demonstration, startup creation and industrial partnerships. The presentation covers the development of alternative fibers, cellulose- and nanocellulose-based functional materials, paper- and fiber-based packaging substrates, PFAS-free and plastic-free barrier coatings, and advanced coating and forming processes. These technologies are designed to meet critical performance requirements, including oxygen and moisture barrier properties, oil and grease resistance, mechanical endurance, thermal resistance, printability, visual quality, recyclability, compostability, and regulatory compliance. A key emphasis is placed on how to bridge the 'valley of death' between academic research and commercial implementation through an integrated packaging development framework that combines structured material databases, life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA), processing energy metrics, regulatory limitations and artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled multi-objective optimization. This system supports the data-driven selection of material systems that harmonize performance, cost, carbon footprint, recyclability pathways, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) alignment and commercialization potential.
About Dr. Pal: Dr. Lokendra Pal is the E.J. “Woody” Rice Professor and University Faculty Scholar of Sustainable Bioproducts Engineering in the Department of Forest Biomaterials, with an affiliated appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. He leads the Advanced Resources and Materials Innovation (ARMI) Research Group, which focuses on sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing through green chemistry, engineering, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to develop cutting-edge solutions that benefit both society and the environment. Pal has more than 25 years of global experience and holds a portfolio of more than 65+ patents, with technologies licensed to multiple businesses, including three startup companies. He has established a leading research and teaching program at NC State, secured multiple multi-million-dollar grants, and contributed more than 400 publications, presentations, and technological innovations. He leads the sustainable packaging program at NC State in strong collaboration with industrial partners. He is a co-founder of the Tissue Pack Innovation Lab (TPIL) and serves as Director of NC State’s Paper Pilot Plant and Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center.
Jason Tedrow, B.S.E.'97
President and CEO, InProduction
"From the Shop Floor to the C-suite: An Engineer's Path to the Corner Office"
Wednesday, Nov. 4
1 p.m., Parkview Room (D-132), Floyd Hall
About this talk: In "From the Shop Floor to the C-Suite," Jason Tedrow traces his path from project engineer to CEO, drawing more than three decades across engineering, manufacturing, distribution and supply chain leadership before taking the helm at InProduction. He speaks candidly about the lessons each stage of his career taught him about leadership, resilience, and building operational discipline, offering a firsthand look at how a nonlinear career path can lead to the top.
About Tedrow: Jason Tedrow, B.S.E.’97, is president and CEO of InProduction, a national live events infrastructure company backed by the private equity firm ZMC. InProduction provides temporary seating, modular stadiums, hospitality structures, staging and flooring for live sports, live entertainment and corporate and brand activations nationwide. He leads a business of approximately 650 people completing over 1,200 projects per year and is actively involved in every facet of InProduction's operations, including M&A, strategy, project planning, customer relationships and the overall growth strategy in preparation for a second sale of the business.
Jason built his career on a foundation of engineering, operational and supply chain leadership. He began as an Industrial Engineer at Amway Corporation before moving to ConAgra Foods, after which he held three roles at Lafarge, including Director of Distribution, before joining US Silica as VP, Supply Chain. After US Silica, Jason served as COO and a Board Member of SPEC Engineering. Before joining InProduction, Jason was VP, Supply Chain for James Hardie Building Products, where he led the North American supply chain organization for a $2 billion building products manufacturer.
Jason holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Western Michigan University, where he was inducted into the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Alumni Excellence Academy and serves on its Industry and Curriculum Advisory Boards.
Dr. Justin Rittenhouse
Engineering analyst, Whirlpool Corporation
“Secret Keys: Unlock a Successful Career in STEM”
Tuesday, Nov. 10
3 p.m., Parkview Room (D-132), Floyd Hall
About this talk: "Secret Keys: Unlock a Successful Career in STEM" is a motivational and practical presentation focused on helping students successfully transition from college to industry. Through personal experiences and professional insights, Rittenhouse will share strategies for building confidence, gaining real-world experience, developing soft skills and preparing for long-term success in STEM careers.
Attendees will learn how to maximize their college experience, strengthen their employability, overcome self-doubt and develop the habits and skills that employers value most. The presentation provides actionable advice for students seeking to thrive both academically and professionally.
About Dr. Foster: Dr. Justin Rittenhouse is the author of "Secret Keys to a STEM Degree." He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering. He has taught at both a large public university and a small private university, and has industry experience ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in the automotive, food and home appliance industries. His professional journey includes roles as an engineering manager, process engineer, co-op and intern.
Want to request a speaker?
WMU faculty and staff are encouraged to request a speaker using the form linked below. For more information about the Custer Speaker Series, email Kayla Lambert.
