New faculty usher in a bright future
It has been a banner year at Western Michigan University. In April, we celebrated as our Bronco hockey team claimed the NCAA Division I national championship. In July, we welcomed Russ Kavalhuna, J.D., as the University’s 10th president, ushering in a new era of leadership.
At the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, we continue to build momentum. Our research awards and expenditures increased by nearly 60 percent from 2024 to 2025, reflecting the dedication and innovation of our faculty and students. Our student organizations also achieved outstanding success on national and international stages.
The Sunseeker Solar Car team earned fourth place in the 2025 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and received the competition’s Aesthetics Award.
The AIAA Pegasus advanced rocketry team proudly represented WMU at NASA’s Student Launch in Alabama, and the Bronco Cybersecurity Club secured second place in the undergraduate division of the 2025 Social Engineering Competition, an international event held in Philadelphia.
As a reflection of our commitment to academic innovation and excellence, our new interdisciplinary cybersecurity program recently earned accreditation from the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. This achievement affirms the program’s high quality and its alignment with globally recognized standards. With this recognition, our graduates are well-positioned for success in today’s increasingly complex and competitive digital landscape.
In this edition of Inspire Magazine, we invite you to explore the stories that showcase the energy and excellence of our college:
- A public-private partnership is advancing technical learning in electric vehicles and semiconductors.
Meet our newest faculty members and learn about their innovative research. - Discover how high school students are getting a head start in engineering through dual enrollment, including one student from Grand Rapids Public Schools.
- Margean Gladysz, the first woman to graduate from the WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, returns to campus and supports future student opportunities.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate—whether through research partnerships or initiatives that support our students. If you are interested in exploring ways to work together, please feel free to contact me.
Cheers,
Steve Butt, Dean
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
(269) 276-3253
Dr. Steve Butt, Dean
Dr. Matthew Cavalli, Associate Dean
for Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Dr. Steve Carr, Associate Dean
for Graduate Programs and Research
Tamara Bergman, Administrative Assistant
Department contacts
Chemical and Paper Engineering
(269) 276-3500
Dr. Kecheng Li, Chair
Suzan Wright, Administrative Assistant
Civil and Construction Engineering
(269) 276-3210
Dr. Osama Abudayyeh, Chair
Miranda Meeker, Administrative Assistant
Computer Science
(269) 276-3101
Dr. Steve Carr, Chair
Michelle Hastings, Administrative Assistant
Electrical and Computer Engineering
(269) 276-3150
Dr. Radu Babiceanu, Chair
Heidi Kleyn, Administrative Assistant
Engineering Design and Manufacturing
(269) 276-3554
Dr. Tim Pasang, Chair
Candice Klaiber, Administrative Assistant
Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering and Engineering Management
(269) 276-3554
Dr. Tycho Fredericks, Chair
Jerri Pursley, Administrative Assistant
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
(269) 276-3420
Dr. Peter Gustafson, Chair
Amy Esman, Administrative Assistant
Students leading the way
Broncos reach new heights in NASA Student Launch competition
With a historic first in May 2025, Western Michigan University’s American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Pegasus advanced rocketry club competed in NASA’s Student Launch in Huntsville, Alabama.
“A lot of rookie teams don’t even make it to launch day in their first year,” says Tyler Clendenning, an aerospace engineering student. “There have been a lot of things we’ve overcome during the process, but I’m really proud of how far we came.”
The NASA Student Launch tasks students with designing, building and flying a high-powered amateur rocket and scientific payload. This year’s competition took inspiration from NASA’s Artemis mission, which aims to send American astronauts back to the moon and pave the way for travel to Mars.
Alumni support plays a crucial role in the growth and development of WMU and its students.
Student experiences like the AIAA Pegasus team participating in the NASA student launch
competition are made possible in part by contributions from individuals and companies.
Building connections and continuous learning
Margean Gladysz began her engineering career women made up just 2% of the engineering workforce. Her broad experience led to a long career spanning diverse industries, but she attributes her undergraduate engineering education at WMU as the foundation for her success.
STEM careers are foundational to our economy. They usually offer higher starting salaries plus opportunities to be creative and collaborative—acknowledged strengths of most women. Many women have entrepreneurial success thanks to their STEM training. I find these to be very exciting possibilities.
