The Viewbook
College of Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Kira Abercromby Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) Reason for entering teaching field: Helping to shape the minds of future engineers is exciting! Reason for entering the field: I wanted to work for NASA growing up and I figured the best way was to be an aerospace engineer. It was the best choice I could have possibly made. Favorite Quote: "The earth is the cradle of humankind, but one cannot live in the cradle forever." - Tsiolkovsky What(Who) inspires you?: I'm inspired by the thousands of people that work endless hours for the safety and success of the human spaceflight program. It is awe-inspiring the levels people go to for others. Last reason to explode in laughter: My daughters were putting on their best, fake mad face. It was a sight to see. Biggest challenge: To be honest, most days it is finding my keys! Favorite part of the day: Right before the sun sets. The world seems to stop and take a breath. Perfect dat: Hanging out with my family doing just about anything. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: I really like the Cal Poly philosophy in teaching and learning. Favorite weekend activity: Running, Beaching, Hiking, and Reading Favorite part of the central coast: Being close to the beach and the mountains.
Biomedical Engineering
Kristen O'Halloran Cardinal Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Tissue Engineering Reason for entering teaching field: I love my field, and so I love sharing it with others. Especially in course labs, it is so much fun to teach students new skills. Reason for entering the field: The cardiovascular system has always intrigued me. As a kid, I thought I wanted to be either a basketball coach or a surgeon. In college I discovered biomedical engineering, and found that I can contribute to the medical field from the engineering and research side of things. I was fortunate to have some great professors that ignited my interest in this field. Favorite Quote: Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. What(Who) inspires you?: Many different people inspire me. My husband, my sister, my parents, my students, my colleagues, my friends - I am lucky to be surrounded by people that make life exciting and that guide me and push me to do what I do. And my dogs inspire me to have more fun. Last reason to explode in laughter: My friends' 3 year old - too many great quotes to list, in just a few hours of playing. Biggest challenge: My biggest life challenge to date was my husband's battle with cancer. But we both made it through with the help of family and friends, and it reinforced my desire to contribute to the medical field. My biggest daily challenge is trying to find a good life balance, that doesn't involve working too much. Description by students: Students have noted that I am "knowledgeable, nice, passionate about my field, and a good teacher" Favorite part of the day: In the evening, making dinner with my husband and going for a walk with our dogs. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Great engineering program and great students, beautiful location, and an environment that allows me to teach, do research, and stay involved with industry. Favorite weekend activity: Going to the beach with the dogs and watching a movie. Favorite part of the central coast: Home and the beach.
Civil Engineering
Robb Moss field: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Engineering Risk Analysis, and Engineering Seismology Reason for entering teaching: I enjoy breaking down difficult concepts and then seeing the "lights go on" when students get it. Reason for entering the field: Like the thought process of engineering, enjoy a field that allows me to serve society, earthquakes I find fascinating, like the balance of analytical work and field work. Favorite quote: "Academia would be the ultimate challenge if the stakes weren't so small" paraphrasing Churchill. Continued inspiration: Students who overcome big hurdles in life to arrive at and make it through college. Last reason to explode in laughter: Spongebob square pants, my older boy watches it regularly. Biggest challenge: I like to throw myself at big earthquake engineering research challenges; grappling with several of those at any one time. Description by students: "Entertaining, challenging, engaged, devoted to the education of students." Favorite part of the day: I peak mid-morning, before and after that I'm pretty much on autopilot. Perfect day: Get the kids off without much fuss, bike commute to work, successfully accomplish some research task, interact with students in office hours, teach a great lecture, bike home to have dinner with my family, get kids to sleep, and read something engaging as I fall asleep. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Great school, great students, great location, great job. Favorite weekend activity: Surfing, climbing, backcountry skiing, trail running, which ever suits the weather and the amount of free time I have. Favorite part of the central coast: San Luis Obispo.
Computer Science
David Janzen Field: Computer Science/Software Engineering Reason for entering teaching field: First and foremost, I love having the opportunity to make a difference in students' lives. Second, I was drawn to the freedom and flexibility of teaching and research. I spent some time "in industry" working on some great projects for Sprint, but I even more enjoy the opportunity to work on projects of my own choice. Reason for entering the field: You get to build stuff that people use. I started in math, but moved to software engineering because I really enjoy working in teams to create interesting applications that make life better for people. What(Who) inspires you?As a Christian, my desire is that everything that I do is grounded in my faith in Jesus Christ. Last reason to explode in laughter: Dancing with my family in the kitchen to music from "my generation". Biggest challenge: Saying "no" to all the great opportunities that come my way. Description by students: Students tell me that I have a good mix of expecting a lot from them, but giving lots of help and encouragement. Favorite part of the day: Dinner with my family. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: The CSC/SE department is great. The faculty are smart, excellent teachers, kind, and they care about their students. The department has great relationships with companies which creates wonderful opportunities for students and faculty. Favorite weekend activity: Saturday morning pancakes. Or a hike. Or a family movie. Or Sunday lunch out after church... Favorite part of the central coast: My regular bike ride to the bluffs in North Morro Bay.
Environmental Engineering
Name: Nirupam Pal Field: Biochemical and Environmental Engineering Reason for entering teaching field: At the age of 15, I used to teach my juniors. I just love it. In sanskrit language there is a proverb that means " As you distribute knowledge- more it grows". I am always facinated by feats of science and Engineering. Strongly believe that we have hardly harnessed the potential for science and Engineering. So we must properly educate the human race to improve the life style. Reason for entering the field: I was a pure science student and loved chemistry and math. After finishing Engineering, I got married and my wife turned out to be a biologist and through our discussion, I feel in love with Biology and started taking courses in Biology and Biochemistry. Being a Chemical Engineer, I found a perfect niche to work on. I found out that this area of biochemical Engineering is very new and a lot of things can be done and that made me a Biochemical Engineer Favorite Quote: "The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence" Rabindranath Tagore - Read more What(Who) inspires you?: nature Last reason to explode in laughter: Send you soon Biggest challenge: Strech 24 hours into 25. Description by students: Ask a student Favorite part of the day: Research Labs Reason for coming to Cal Poly: Fits my philosophy "Learn by doing" Great place to live. Favorite weekend activity: ping pong Favorite part of the central coast: My backyard- my garden.
General Engineering
Name: Scott Hazelwood Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis in bone mechanics. Reason for entering teaching field: Working with students, to help them learn and to think critically. Reason for entering the field: Bone is a tissue that can withstand substantial forces yet repair itself and I found it fascinating to study the complex biological processes that allow it to do this. It would be great if we could ever design a man-made structure like bone. Favorite Quote: Truth may be not a sword with only two sides to the blade, so you look upon one and then the other. Rather it is like a faceted jewel with many faces. You may think you know one well, and another, then you discover a third, a fourth. Still they are all truth, or truths. (Andre Norton) What(Who) inspires you?: My wife (for the amount of work she does in raising the kids) and children (who at young ages want to learn everything they can). Last reason to explode in laughter: Pretty much anything by Wayne Brady. Biggest challenge: Balancing family and work. Description by students: You'll have to ask the students. Favorite part of the day: Interacting with students during the day and relaxing with my family in the evening. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: To help build the Biomedical Engineering program, which was in its infancy when I arrived. Also because Engineering at Cal Poly is very strong and nationally ranked. Favorite weekend activity: Hiking, going to the beach, softball. Favorite part of the central coast: The weather, beaches, peaceful living.
Industrial Engineering
Sema Alptekin Former chair of the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering department, Sema Alptekin, has had a diverse background in the field of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Alptekin has a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D in Industrial Engineering. She has worked extensively in industry, having taught in Missouri and Istanbul, consulted, created patents, worked on a number of principal publications, organized conference sessions, and is a member of several scientific and professional societies. Alptekin brings her expertise to the Cal Poly community through her coursework in manufacturing automation, manufacturing processes, simulation and artificial intelligence, as well as serving as an advisor to undergraduate students, co-ops and master's candidates. She is a member of numerous University committees and engineering councils. Alptekin stays involved with local developments related to industrial and manufacturing engineering through her constant efforts in procuring grants used to benefit the local IME community and its students. Among other endeavors, she recently received a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a Central Coast Manufacturing Center in collaboration with both Cuesta and Allan Hancock community.
Manufacturing Engineering
Liz Schlemer Field: Industrial Engineering Reason for entering teaching: I love the challenge of facilitating learning of complex technical subjects. I really enjoy working with students in a mentorship or coaching role. I enjoy the hopefulness that college students have about their future and the future of the world. It makes me remember we all can make a difference. Reason for entering the field: I became and engineer because I was good at math and s cience and not so good at English and social studies, little did I know it is necessary to integrate all the topics. Favorite quote: To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all. - Peter McWilliams Continued inspiration: I am an alumni of this department and one of my professors from long ago is a great inspiration to me: Dr, Donald Morgan always made me believe I could accomplish something and I hope to communicate that to my students. Last reason to explode in laughter: I laugh myself silly when I watch Candid camera. Biggest challenge: I was always a terrible speller and to this day, although I have achieved much success, I don't know how to spell some words. This sometimes seems so ridiculous, and other times I welcome this imperfection. Description by students: I really enjoy my students, even love them. They all have helped me to be a better person and teacher. I feel privileged to hold in this place in their lives Favorite part of the day: I always look forward to visiting with students in my office. Perfect day: Slowly wake up, have coffee, walk my dog then spend a long day at work talking to students and working with my colleagues creating new ways of learning. Reason for coming to Cal Poly: I cant imagine being anywhere else. I was an undergrad here, and now have been here 20 years. I have spent almost half my life here. I don't think there is any place better. What an honor! Favorite weekend activity: I love hiking Bishops or Madonna Mt with my dog. Favorite part of the central coast: The beach. My dog loves the waves and the ocean. The weather here is pretty close to perfect.
Materials Engineering
Richard Savage field: Materials Engineering reason for entering teaching: Working with students to explore new ways of solving problems that benefit society. reason for entering the field: Always wanted to understand how things work right down to the atomic level and love designing and building devices. favorite quote: "The universe displays the fingerprints of God." continued inspiration: The creativity and ingenuity of the human mind and spirit. last reason to explode in laughter: Watching my dog eating peanut butter. biggest challenge: Not taking life too seriously. description by students: Passionate and caring and loves to tell stories about his experiences in industry. favorite part of the day: Early morning. reason for coming to Cal Poly: It was time to give back to the technical community and share my experience with others. favorite weekend activity: Taking my dog for long walks on the beach. favorite part of the central coast: The beach.