Department News MechE Welcomes New Staff
The Department of Mechanical Engineering recently welcomed two new staff members: Faculty Assistant Christine Lambrou and Managing Director of the Master of Product Development (MPD) Program Vanessa Sica. • • • • •
Christine Lambrou
A Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh graduate, Lambrou was most recently Development Coordinator for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. Drawn to Carnegie Mellon University for its “intercultural campus” and highly recommended work atmosphere, Lambrou has not been disappointed.
“Everyone—faculty, staff, and students—has been great
to interact with,” says Lambrou. “There are so many exciting things happening here, it’s hard not to be enthusiastic.” In addition to supporting five faculty members, Lambrou
serves as MechE’s new alumni contact. She hopes to provide more opportunities for alumni to actively engage with the Department through tools such as the MechE Alumni Facebook group, as well as networking opportunities. In her spare time, Lambrou runs a small sewing business,
Pristine Sewing, and sells her original handbags at Pittsburgh’s annual Handmade Arcade. • • • • •
Vanessa Sica
As Managing Director of the MPD Program, Sica handles day-to-day management of student needs, facili- ties, admissions, marketing, and strategic planning. She works closely with MPD Co-Directors Jonathan Cagan of MechE and Stephen Stadelmeier of the School of Design.
“The program’s interesting mix of academia and industry
appeals to me,” says Sica. “The MPD degree really prepares engineers and designers for multidisciplinary teamwork in the professional world.” A native of New York City, Sica received her B.F.A. in
Industrial Design at Carnegie Mellon and also served as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Design. Sica has led product design teams at BodyMedia and Smart Design. Her award-winning designs have been featured in many publications and exhibitions, ands she holds several patents. Sica lives with her husband Chris Kasabach and their Italian greyhound Fibonacci in Fox Chapel.•
19 O
MechE Graduates: Ready to Change the World
Michael Burkholder
n May 15, the Department of Mechanical Engineering awarded degrees to 168 students (99 B.S., 48 M.S., 10 Ph.D., 8 MPD, and 3
MSCDM) for the 2009-10 academic year. Parents, family members, and friends looked on as graduates crossed the stage to receive their degrees—armed with the potential to change our world, as Department Head Nadine Aubry stated in her opening address. The Department recognizes all its students as the best
and brightest in the field, but several graduates received additional commendation for their achievements at Carnegie Mellon. Four graduating seniors won the Bennett Award, estab-
lished byMr. and Mrs. Richard Bennett for undergraduate students with the highest QPAs. The 2010 honorees were Michael Burkholder,Meng Yee Chuah, Jason Huber, and Sara Whitby. Two seniors won the Forstall Award, presented in honor
of former MechE professorWalton Forstall. A faculty vote determined the 2010 winners,Michael Burako and Marina Musicus. Two graduate students won the Best Teaching Assistant
Award, created in memory of Raymond J. Mosula, Jr. (B.S. 1982, M.S. 1985). Selected by student vote were Iacopo Gentilini (Fall semester) and Jeremiah Mpagazehe (Spring semester). Finally, 19 undergraduate students received Research
Honors for their outstanding work at MechE under fac- ulty supervision. For a full list of these students and their research areas, visit
http://www.cmu.edu/me/news/2010- grads-awards.html.•
Shown from left to right: Steven Floyd, Eric Landry, Ching-Shin Shiau, Lindsay Hanna, Frank Hammond, and Joseph Turney.
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