Chair’s Message: COVID-19 Update & UMD President-Elect Darryll J. Pines

Warm and healthy greetings to all!

As we approach Spring Break here at the University of Maryland, we wanted to share some recent updates with our Mechanical Engineering community. We are following the guidance of campus, state, and national agencies in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by preparing to move all activities to an online environment from March 30 - April 10. Additional details can be found in the link below. The health of those in our department and our visitors continues to be our top priority.

Throughout rapid changes on campus this semester, our department has remained dedicated to the future and innovation of our field. We have a lot of exciting news to share as well. We hope that you saw about the appointment of A. James Clark School of Engineering’s Dean Darryll J. Pines, Ph.D., as the 34th president of the University of Maryland, College Park. Naturally, we are happy to have such a terrific friend of the College at the helm.

Many of you have met Dr. Pines during his 25 years on the UMD campus. For the last 10 years as dean, he has led the development and implementation of a vigorous strategy to improve teaching in fundamental undergraduate courses, raise student retention and increase our reach in Maryland through the Southern Maryland Program in Mechanical Engineering that was implemented starting fall 2010, achieve success in national and international student competitions (such as Mini Baja, Formula SAE, and Solar Decathlon), and place new emphasis on service learning and grand societal challenges in partnership with the National Academy of Engineering. In addition, he has promoted STEM education among high school students, increased the impact of our research programs, and expanded philanthropic contributions to the school.

We in Mechanical Engineering are looking forward to this new chapter under President Designate Pines’ leadership, adding to our rich 125-year history. We are confident that he will support our efforts to continue to be trailblazers in multidisciplinary engineering education and research.

In this newsletter, you will see just a sampling of our trailblazing work: our history-making Pride of Maryland solar car returns home to campus; assistant professors Ryan Sochol and Mark Fuge win National Science Foundation CAREER Awards; alumnus Alex Mehr (M.S., Ph.D. '03) leverages his engineering mindset to reinvigorate iconic brands through ecommerce; and Regents Professor C. Dan Mote, Jr. is honored with a 2020 Ben Franklin Medal, one of the highest honors that can be afforded in science and engineering.

We hope that you enjoy this issue, and as always, we welcome your interest in our educational, research, and outreach activities.

Balakumar Balachandran
Chair & Minta Martin Professor

Pride of Maryland Solar Car Returns to Roots at Maryland
Through alumni efforts, now on permanent display in the Engineering Lab Building

After more than 25 years of vagabond living, the Terps Racing Pride of Maryland solar car has returned to its birthplace at the University of Maryland.

On January 20, 2020, a team of alumni and Department of Mechanical Engineering staff hoisted the 20-foot long car to its new home on permanent display in the Clark School’s Engineering Lab building. ◿ READ MORE