‘mechanical engineering’
Robert Lott, mechanical engineering professor emeritus, dies
Jun. 24, 2019—Professor Emeritus Robert L. Lott Jr., 82, a distinguished mechanical engineering educator at Vanderbilt University, died in June in Nashville, Tennessee. Lott served in almost every administrative role in the Department of Mechanical Engineering during his 36-year career. He was department chair from 1972 to 1980. He was director of undergraduate studies from1986 to 2001....
Pitz is named a fellow of The Combustion Institute
Feb. 26, 2019—Robert W. Pitz, professor of mechanical engineering, has been named a fellow of The Combustion Institute, an international educational and scientific society. He will attend the 38th International Symposium on Combustion in July 2020 in Adelaide, Australia, where he will be recognized along with 36 other fellow honorees from around the world. The institute has...
Engineering firm CEO named board chairman
Feb. 21, 2019—Rob Barrick (BE’74) has been named board chairman and senior principal of Smith Seckman Reid Inc., an employee-owned engineering design and facility consulting firm with 12 offices nationwide. His new post comes after serving 29 years as SSR’s president and CEO. The Nashville-based firm provides design and consulting services for transportation and water infrastructure projects...
Emeritus Professor James Wert was leader in metallurgical engineering
Feb. 12, 2019—James J. Wert, George A. Sloan Professor of Metallurgy and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus, died Feb. 4, 2019, in Nashville. Wert joined the Vanderbilt engineering faculty in 1961. He developed the Department of Materials Science and served at its chair. Later, he served as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He retired in...
Nashville’s own ‘Hidden Figure’ and pioneer for African-American and women engineers dies
Jan. 31, 2019—Yvonne Young Clark, 89, was the first woman to receive a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Howard University, the first woman to earn a master’s degree in engineering management from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, and the first woman to serve as a faculty member in the College of Engineering and Technology...
Engineering alum is commander of Seabees, Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officers School
Jan. 22, 2019—In a change of command ceremony in Port Hueneme, California, Capt. Christopher M. Kurgan (BE’90) became commanding officer for the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering and the Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officers School at Naval Base Ventura County. After assuming command in August 2018, Kurgan spoke of his plans to further innovation and the...
General Motors names alumnus Mark Reuss company president
Jan. 7, 2019—Reuss will lead electric and driverless vehicle efforts Mark L. Reuss has been promoted to president of General Motors. Reuss will continue to lead the company’s ambitious plan to develop and bring to market electric and autonomous vehicles. He remains GM’s global product chief and head of Cadillac. Along with his new role, Reuss also...
Alumna with challenging job finds time to mentor teen girls
Jan. 2, 2019—Lynn Braunschweig is a project manager at maxon motor Aerospace Unit. She earned a BE degree in mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt in 2004, a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering and a MBA at Washington University in St. Louis. Braunschweig was interviewed by Paul Heney of Design World. Talk about the culture at your...