An Esteemed Election to the Prestigious National Academy of Medicine

U.S. President Barack Obama visiting Dr. Paula Hammond

Dr. Paula Hammond, MIT Distinguished Professor elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Paula Hammond, the David H. Koch Professor in Engineering and head of MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in recognition of her distinguished contributions to medicine and health.

Hammond is one of 70 new members and nine international members announced on October 17, 2016 at the annual meeting of the NAM. Membership in the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service.

Barack Obama smiles at Paula Hammond every day. A framed photo of the president, standing next to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist, hangs on the wall over her desk here at MIT. “That was from his 2009 visit,” she says with a grin. Hammond was one of only a few MIT faculty members selected to present their work to the president in what turned out to be like a grown-up version of a science fair. She presented work on virus-based batteries. “We had to explain our science in 5 minutes,” she says. “But then Obama asked so many questions that we went way over time.”

Like Obama, Hammond is an emblem of change. Her chemical engineering research has evolved rapidly over the 15 years since she got started, riding some of that field's big trends. It started with a fairly fundamental study of polymers, the long chains that certain organic molecules form. First it was their mechanochromic properties—how their colors shift in response to physical stress—then their thermochromic properties, and finally their electrochromic properties. “I find color fascinating,” Hammond says.

Dr. Hammond's laboratory basic research has since yielded a torrent of industrial applications, from medical diagnostic devices to flexible electronics—more than enough to keep most scientists busy. Starting in 2001, she added a sideline on military applications, helping found the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at MIT, focusing on technology that protects soldiers from harm and heals their wounds. For example, her lab developed a material that can be sprayed onto wounds to accelerate blood clotting.

Hammond’s many awards and honors include the Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research in 2014, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Charles M. A. Stine Award in Materials Engineering and Science in 2013, the Ovarian Cancer Research Program Teal Innovator Award in 2013, the Junior Bose Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000, an National Science Foundation Career Award in 1997, and the MIT Karl Taylor Compton Prize in 1992 (in recognition of achievements in citizenship and devotion to the welfare of MIT).

She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow and former director of the Board of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and a fellow of the American Physical Society and American Institute of Biomedical and Biological Engineering, among other honors.

Professor Hammond received her S.B. in Chemical Engineering from MIT (1984), and her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech (1988), and earned her Ph.D. (1993) in Chemical Engineering from MIT.

Excerpts from MIT News Office | Anne Trafton | October 17, 2016

Excerpts from Science Magazine | AAAS | John Bohannon | Dec. 3, 2014 

Image credit: Dr. Ben Wang - Pinterest

Curating the MIT Black Experience

Illustrious Entrepreneur par Excellence of the Highest Order

Dale LeFebvre

Dale LeFebvre is the founder and Chairman of 3.5.7.11, a holding company that creates value for technology driven companies through a proprietary methodology of Transformational Investing™.

LeFebvre began his career as an intern for Senator Edward Kennedy and as a Bell Laboratories fellow. He then went on to develop strategic management experience working at several Wall Street merger and acquisition firms and the global management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company.

After McKinsey, LeFebvre became the Managing Partner for Pharos Capital Group, one of the largest minority private equity firms and served as Managing Partner for AIC Caribbean Fund, the largest Caribbean-focused private equity firm.

LeFebvre holds a BS in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (1993) from MIT, an MBA from Harvard Business School (1999), a JD from Harvard Law School (1999), and a MFA in Literature and Poetry from American University (2016). LeFebvre is also the holder of a software patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent # 8321271.

Dale has managed and raised more than $1 billion in institutional capital. The current portfolio generates more than $300 million with operations in 11 states and territories, and now employs more than 1600. He is an alum of McKinsey and Company and is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including a Bell Labs Fellowship, a Harvard Law Traphagen, and the 2006 Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship. He also holds multiple patents.

An engaged participant in his community, Dale serves on several Boards, including the Abraham Lincoln National Council of Ford's Theater Society, the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the University of the Virgin Islands Foundation where he has endowed a fellowship. He is also an Emeritus Board Member of the National Urban League. In 2015, Dale was appointed Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee’s National Finance Committee and is a member of YPO.

A passionate foodie, Dale has cooked for various restaurateurs, oenophiles, celebrities and the President of the United States. He is a native of Beaumont, Texas and a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands who currently splits his time between the Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Dale is a 2006 Henry Crown Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Images courtesy of Black Enterprise and Dale LeFebvre

Curating the MIT Black Experience

An Enduring Legacy for Youth in STEM

Karl W. Reid, Ed.D. - Executive Director - NSBE

Dr. Karl Reid is the Executive Director of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), a 30,000 plus student-governed association in Alexandria, VA whose mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the global community.

On June 2, 2014, Dr. Reid was named Executive Director of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the world’s largest student-run engineering organization. Prior to joining NSBE, Dr. Reid was Senior Vice President of Research, Innovation and Member College Engagement at UNCF. In this capacity, he developed and implemented educational, research and capacity-building programs for UNCF’s 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Dr. Reid arrived at UNCF from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) after serving as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education (DUE), Assistant to the Chancellor for Diversity and Director of the Office of Minority Education. He lectures on race, identity, and achievement and blogs about student success in college.

Prior to his previous appointments, Dr. Reid served as the Executive Director of Engineering Outreach Programs (OEOP) for MIT’s School of Engineering, where he directed the nationally recognized Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) Program, a residential summer program for talented high school seniors.

During his tenure at MIT, he also founded the Saturday Engineering Enrichment and Discovery (SEED) Academy, and the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Program, both of which are year-round academic and mentoring programs for local high school and middle school students.

Dr. Reid began his career in the computer industry in product management, marketing, sales and consulting for several companies, including six years with IBM. Dr Reid earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and his Doctorate of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. From his dissertation research on African American male achievement in college, he conducted workshops and seminars to high school and university faculty audiences.  Reid is now supporting NSBE’s National Executive Board and the Society’s 31,000 members in reaching the main goal of NSBE’s 10-year Strategic Plan: to move black students and professionals from underrepresentation to overrepresentation in engineering within the U.S., by producing 10,000 Black Engineers annually in the country, by 2025.

Dr. Reid is a member of the DC STEM Network Advisory Council and the AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers’ “Dream Big” IMAX Movie Technical Advisory Council.

Image Credit and Excerpts from LinkedIn and NSBE

Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Ed.D., Racial Identity, Self-Efficacy, Achievement
2001 – 2007

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S., Materials Science and Engineering
1984 – 1985

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S., Materials Science and Engineering
1980 – 1984

Curating the MIT Black Experience

Outstanding Dynamics and Creativity of a Visionary Couple

Diane J. Hoskins

FAIA

Co-CEO, Gensler

Diane is one of two Gensler Co-CEOs, whose collaborative leadership model sets itself apart in the marketplace as a leading global design firm. For her innovative leadership, she and Co-CEO Andy Cohen rank on Business Insider’s elite “Creators” list, a who’s who of the world’s 100 top creative visionaries. 

A hands-on leader, Diane oversees Gensler’s global platform and its day-to-day operations, some 5,000+ people networked across 46 offices, serving clients in 120+ countries. Diane is focused on Gensler’s global talent strategies, performance and organizational development to ensure that we serve our clients with the world’s top talent. She is Vice Chair of Gensler’s Board of Directors and the catalyst for Gensler’s Research program, for which Diane is committed to delivering value to clients through strategies and innovations like Gensler’s Workplace Performance Index® (WPI). 

A Registered Architect, she graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (SB '79) Architecture + Planning and holds an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA (MBA '87). Diane received an Outstanding Impact Award from the Council of Real Estate Women and is both a Regent of the American Architectural Foundation and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Her insights have appeared in the Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post and The Economist; and she was a featured speaker at Bloomberg Businessweek’s CEO Conference. In her role as Co-CEO, Diane is one of the key contributors to what is acknowledged, by its peers, to be the most admired and largest architecture firm in the world, pioneering project types and design innovation strategies for the next century.

As shared from Gensler.com

Victor Hoskins

Director

Arlington County Economic Development (AED)

Victor was appointed director of economic development for Arlington County Virginia in January 2015. He brings more than 25 years of experience in economic development and executive leadership. Hoskins comes to Arlington after serving as Prince George’s County, MD.’s deputy chief administrative officer for Economic Development and Public Infrastructure (2014). Before working for Prince George’s, he was Washington, DC deputy mayor for planning and economic development since 2011. “Victor will bring a wealth of experience, creativity and dynamism to our team. He will be leading AED at a time of increased challenges and opportunities for Arlington,” County Manager Barbara Donnellan said in a press release. 

Hoskins has a long track record of working in DC and Maryland in both housing and economic development, serving as former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s cabinet secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development. From 2009-2011, he was the Vice President of Quadel Consulting, a District-based affordable housing consulting and training firm.

“I’m excited to join the Arlington team, and look forward to marketing a county known across the nation as a leader in transit-oriented, sustainable development,” Hoskins said in a statement. “I can’t wait to be a part of this innovative government that holds itself to the highest ethical standards and promotes a healthy work-life balance.”

During his tenure with Prince George's County he led efforts to bring a $123 million conference center and hotel at University of Maryland College Park, and attracted the first foreign directed investment from China to build a $63.5 million mixed use project in College Park for professors and graduate students.  As deputy mayor for Washington, DC his achievements included the creation of 52,600 jobs through public private partnership projects and the groundbreaking and/or completion of 87 commercial/retail/hotel/residential projects totaling $7.5 billion in 3 years, including the Southwest Waterfront project and City Center project. He also initiated the transformation of the city’s Tech Ecosystem with the attraction of accelerator Fortify VC, expansion of Tech Tax Credits, and the establishment of tech startup co-working space 1776. He also held leadership roles with Urban America LP, and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

Mr. Hoskins holds a Master’s degree (MCP '81) in City Planning: Real Estate Finance/ Economic Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Bachelor of Arts ('79), Cum Laude: Psychology/Urban Studies from Dartmouth College. He also studied Development Finance at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

As shared from Arlington County Government

Images courtesy of Gensler and Arlington County respectively

Supreme Decisions and Sound Advisories

Dr. Sylvester James Gates
Image Credit: White House

A Distinguished University Professor, University System of Maryland Regents Professor and John S. Toll Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland. Also an affiliate mathematics professor, Gates is known for his pioneering work in supersymmetry and supergravity, areas closely related to string theory. Gates earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and mathematics and his Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1984, Gates co-authored Superspace, or One Thousand and One Lessons in Supersymmetry, the first comprehensive book on supersymmetry, and joined the faculty at Maryland as an associate professor. Four years later, he became the first African American to hold an endowed chair in physics at a major U.S. research university.

The author of more than 200 research papers and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Gates has been featured in dozens of video documentaries, including five in 2015. For his contribution to science and research, he received the National Medal of Science from President Obama in 2013. Gates serves on the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the National Commission on Forensic Science, and the Maryland State Board of Education. He is a strong advocate for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

Dr. Gates contributed to an Amicus Brief respectfully submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States of America on October 15, 2015.

No. 14-981

_____________________________________________

In the

Supreme Court of the United States

ABIGAIL NOEL FISHER,

Petitioner,

vs.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, et al.,

Respondents.

____________________________

ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO

THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

_____________________________________________

BRIEF OF CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, EMORY UNIVERSITY, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, RICE UNIVERSITY, TULANE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS
____________________________________________

JEFFREY A. UDELL
Counsel of Record
ELLEN V. HOLLOMAN
JEREMY M. KING
KYLE C. BISCEGLIE
OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP
Park Avenue Tower
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
(212) 451-2300
judell@olshanlaw.com

Counsel for Amici Curiae 

____________________________________________

Amici respectfully submit that, for all of the foregoing reasons, this Court should affirm the Fifth Circuit’s judgment that the University of Texas’ holistic admissions policy satisfies the Court’s strict scrutiny requirements.

Dated: New York, NY

October 30, 2015

In the Amicus Brief's primary section outlining support for diversity in private universities:

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES LIKE AMICI HAVE A COMPELLING INTEREST IN ACHIEVING ADIVERSE STUDENT BODY BY EMPLOYING A HOLISTIC, INDIVIDUALIZED ADMISSIONS PROCESS, WHICH IMPROVES THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS

Dr. Gates is quoted in Section D, page 21, footnote 27 within the section entitled:

Private Universities Have A Compelling Interest In Diversity Throughout Their Academic Programs, Including Science And Technology Fields In Which Certain Minority Groups Are Particularly Underrepresented

The benefits of diversity extend to all disciplines, including the hard sciences and engineering. As a leading physicist noted, “[a]lthough there may be one answer to a physics, chemistry or mathematics problem (based on the current state of knowledge), there are often multiple paths for arriving at that answer. In a broadly diverse classroom, all students thus benefit from hearing the different questions posed in the educational arena.”

___________________________________

On June 23, 2016, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affirmative Action program at the University of Texas handing supporters of Affirmative Action a major victory. The decision, by a 4 to 3 vote, was unexpected.

It is remarkable that Dr. Gates body of lifetime achievements and research work represents the best of what science can achieve, also in social spheres that positively contributes to the administering of the education process within all of our institutions of higher education.  We commend Dr. Gates for his lifetime commitment to science, engineering, and technology.

Prior to the landmark judicial decision, Dr. Gates had written an editorial for the magazine, Science, which was published on March 25, 2016.

Science,  25 Mar 2016:

Vol. 351, Issue 6280, pp. 1371

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf6992

Academic Bridge Building

Dr. Clarence G. Williams

Dr. Williams is the author of... Technology and the Dream: Reflections on the Black Experience at MIT, 1941–1999 along with Reflections of the Dream, 1975–1994: Twenty-One Years Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Jr. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Williams is Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Urban Studies and Planning at the MIT School of Architecture + Planning. The department is the longest-running continuous planning program in the United States, repeatedly ranked #1 in the nation, the Department of Urban Studies and Planning has the largest planning faculty in the United States, possibly in the world, with unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise. An article, written by Audrey Williams June, was published on March 18, 2016 by the Chronicle of Higher Education entitled "Finding Bridge Leaders for Minority Professors and Students".  Dr. Williams was interviewed and expounded upon the critical importance of cultivating an environment that proliferates proven success in higher education.  The published account is reproduced below as a courtesy to the great work the Chronicle is performing in recognition of outstanding work by committed faculty and administrators, past and present, in this specific academic arena. Please save locally or open the images in a new tab for further review.

Dr. Williams Image Credits: D.L. Anderson

Further published research by Dr. Williams on this topic can be found at the titled link below in an article published and posted by the "Trotter Review".

Trotter Review

Volume 8, Issue 2, 9-21-1994

Recruiting, Retaining, and Producing Future Leaders in Higher Education

Dr. Clarence G. Williams

Role Models and Mentors for Blacks at Predominantly White Campuses

President Obama Honors Top U.S. Scientists & Innovators

Image: Courtesy of the White House

Dr. Shirley A. Jackson and Dr. Cato Laurencin  (MIT Alumni) were among the 17 honorees to receive the prestigious National Medal of Science & National Medal of Technology and Innovation awards (respectively) at the White House in Washington, DC on May 19th.  These awards are the nation's highest honor for achievement bestowed by the President of the United States.

Aru Pande

Voice of America (VOA)
May 19, 2016 8:42 PM

For Pakistani-American Mark Humayun, his grandmother who went blind from diabetes inspired him to develop a computer chip that goes into the eye to restore sight - otherwise known as the "bionic eye."

"I am happy to report that that is an approved product in the U.S. and Europe in helping many people worldwide," the ophthalmologic surgeon told reporters at the White House Thursday.

For scientist Jonathan Rothberg, it was his newborn son who was rushed to the hospital with breathing problems nearly two decades ago that led him to become a pioneer in genetic sequencing technology.

"I am gratified today because not only did the president say my family was beautiful, but my (now) 16-year-old son had a smile on his face," Rothberg said.

Seventeen recipients of National Medals of Science & National Medals of Technology & Innovation speak to reporters at White House. (A. Pande/VOA)

The two are among 17 recipients of this year’s National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation, awarded annually for outstanding contributions to science and engineering.

"The amount of brain power in this room right now is astonishing," President Barack Obama said Thursday as he presented each of the men and women with their medals in the East Room of the White House.

Obama said bestowing the honor is particularly significant in inspiring the next generations to enter science and technology.

"We want those who have invented the products and lifesaving medicines and are engineering our future to be celebrated," Obama noted. "Immersing young people in science math engineering - that’s what’s going to carry the American spirit of innovation through the 21st century and beyond."

The president noted that many of the recipients came from humble or ordinary beginnings, but were inspired by something or someone along their life’s journey.

"Because they lived in an America that fosters curiosity and invests in education and values science as important to our progress, they were able to find their calling and do extraordinary things," Obama said.

Young Science Advisors

During the ceremony, the president announced the launch of a kids science advisers campaign aimed at soliciting ideas from young people on shaping the future of science and technology in the United States.

The cause is an important one for National Medal of Science recipient Shirley Ann Jackson.

The Washington D.C. native is the first African American to earn a doctorate in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the second woman to do so in the United States.

Standing alongside her fellow honorees after the ceremony, Jackson outlined the reasons young people should go into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), including the ability to make a positive impact on humanity.

"It is important to inspire and encourage and invite young people early. Because the people here who are being recognized have worked over decades, and they started early, but, with that, the sky’s the limit."

National Medal of Technology and Innovation recipient Chenming Hu, a pioneer in semiconductor technology for developing the first three-dimensional transistors, offered this encouragement to kids who might be discouraged by math.

As shared from VOA

Internationally Recognized Scholar, Leading Edge Researcher, Innovative Dean of Engineering

Dr. Darryll Pines

Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering

University of Maryland

Quote: Scientists study the world that is. Engineers design the world that will be.

Dr. Pines has served as Dean and Nariman Farvardin Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Clark School since January 2009. He first arrived at the Clark School in 1995 as an assistant professor and then served as Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering from 2006 to 2009.

A Major Force in Engineering

Because of the quality and scope of our work, and our location, we are a major force in the nation's technological advancement, working hand-in-hand with corporate, government and academic colleagues. Our research expenditures—more than $110 million for the most recent fiscal year—indicate our leading role in aerospace, networking technologies, bioengineering, defense and consumer electronics, intelligent transportation, advanced materials, nanotechnology, energy and public safety, to name only a few. If you want to help our country take on difficult challenges—how to explore space, communicate more securely and effectively, develop new treatments for diseases, travel with greater safety, create new energy resources and unlock the potential of the "nano-world"—come to the Clark School.

If you want to build sustainable solutions for specific engineering problems in countries around the globe, work with our award-winning Engineers Without Borders program. If you want to help advance innovative ventures to drive the region's economy, facilitate technology transfer, and promote technology entrepreneurship, work with our Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute. At the Clark School, we're fully engaged—in the region, the nation and the world.

As Dean, Pines has led the development of the Clark School's current strategic plan and achieved notable successes in key areas, such as improving teaching in fundamental undergraduate courses and raising student retention; achieving success in national and international student competitions; placing new emphasis on sustainability engineering and service learning; promoting STEM education among high school students; increasing the impact of research programs; and expanding philanthropic contributions to the school.

Today, the school's one-year undergraduate retention rate and four-year graduation rate is 90 percent and 60 percent respectively.  The university's Solar Decathlon team placed first worldwide in the most recent competition against other leading universities, the Engineers Without Borders chapter is considered one of the nation's best, and the Engineering Sustainability Workshop launched by Pines has become a key campus event. Pines has testified before Congress on STEM education and created the Top 25 Source Schools program for Maryland high schools. At a national level he has led an effort as part of the American Society for Engineering Education-ASEE Deans Council’s K-12 STEM Committee to develop a potential College Board AP Exam in Engineering. He is the current Secretary on the Executive Committee of the National GEM Consortium (GEM), a national non-profit providing programming and full fellowships to support increasing untapped domestic human capital at the graduate level in STEM fields.

The Clark School's research expenditures are $119 million, and the school is ranked 34th worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, which focuses on research citations. The Clark School led the university in achieving and surpassing its $185 million Great Expectations campaign goal, going on to reach $240 million as of the most recent accounting.

During Pines' leadership of aerospace engineering, the department was ranked 8th overall among U.S. universities and 5th among public schools in the U.S. News and World Report graduate school rankings. Pines has been director of the Sloan Scholars Program since 1996, and served as chair of the Engineering Council, director of the NASA CUIP Program, and director of the SAMPEX flight experiment. He currently serves on the Executive and Advisory Board for Engineers Without Borders-EWB National and major corporations.

During a leave of absence from the University (2003-2006), Pines served as Program Manager for the Tactical Technology Office and Defense Sciences Office of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). While at DARPA, Pines initiated five new programs primarily related to the development of aerospace technologies, for which he received a Distinguished Service Medal. He also held positions at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Chevron Corporation, and Space Tethers Inc. At LLNL, Pines worked on the Clementine Spacecraft program, which discovered water near the south pole of the moon. A replica of the spacecraft now sits in the National Air and Space Museum.

Pines' current research focuses on structural dynamics, including structural health monitoring and prognosis, smart sensors, and adaptive, morphing and biologically-inspired structures, as well as the guidance, navigation, and control of uninhabited aerospace vehicles.  He is a fellow of the Institute of Physics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.

He is also the co-author of over 60 journal articles, three book chapters, and 140 conference papers. Additionally, Dr. Pines also is the holder of five co-authored Patents with his students and collaborators including:

1. Biomimetic mechanism for micro aircraft, Patent number: 6938853, Filed: March 14, 2003, Issued: September 6, 2005, Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park, Inventors: Darryll J. Pines, Felipe A. Bohorquez, Jayant Sirohi

2. Navigational System and Method Utilizing Sources of Pulsed Celestial Radiation, Suneel I. Sheikh, Darryll J. Pines, Kent S. Wood, Paul S. Ray, and Michael N. Lovellette, U.S. Patent No. 7,197,381 (27 March 2007). (FIRST PATENT ON XNAV SYSTEM)

3. Controllable miniature mono-wing aircraft, Patent number: 8366055, Filed: June 18, 2010, Issued: February 5, 2013, Assignee: University of Maryland, Inventors: Evan R. Ulrich, Darryll J. Pines, Joseph Park, Steven Gerardi.

4. Method and System for Determining the Relative Displacement and Heading for Navigation Application number: 20130040656, Filed: November 8, 2010, Issued: February 14, 2013, Assignee: University of Maryland, Inventors: Suneel Ismail Sheikh, Darryll J. Pines, Joseph Kim Conroy, Timofey N. Spiridonov.

5. A Fiber Optic Sensor Band for Monitoring Machinery Vibrations, nondisclosure submitted to University of Maryland Technology and Licensing Office filed July 1, 2007. Patent Pending, Inventors: Darryll J. Pines, J. Kiddy, J. Coker and P. Samuel.“

Academic Credentials

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PhD, Mechanical Engineering, 1991

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

SM, Mechanical Engineering, 1988

University of California, Berkeley

BS, Mechanical Engineering, 1986


As shared from A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland
Photo Credit: UMD

World Class Corporate Leadership Expert

Keith Bevans

Bain & Company

Partner, Chicago

Keith Bevans is a partner in Bain & Company's Chicago office. He is a leader in Bain's G&A Optimization and Business Process Redesign sectors within the firm's Americas Performance Improvement practice.

Bain & Company is one of the world's leading management consulting firms. We work with top executives to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions to actions and deliver the sustainable success they desire. For 40 years, we've been passionate about achieving better results for our clients—results that go beyond financial and are uniquely tailored, pragmatic, holistic and enduring.

Bain advises global leaders on their most critical issues and opportunities: strategy, marketing, organization, operations, technology, digital, advanced analytics, transformations, sustainability and mergers & acquisitions, across all industries and geographies. Our unique approach to traditional change management, called Results Delivery®, helps clients measure and manage risk and overcome the odds to realize results.

Keith has nearly 20 years of management consulting experience and delivers strategies that work for business leaders. He has worked with a diverse set of global clients, including healthcare providers, manufacturers, retailers and airlines. He holds expertise across a range of strategic issues.

Within the healthcare sector, his experience spans smaller community hospitals, hospital networks and major clinical networks. He has helped clients to address growth strategy, Lean Six Sigma, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, service line strategy and procurement. In addition, he has worked at the intersection of performance improvement and healthcare for several medical technology companies.

In addition to his work with clients, Keith leads Bain's global consultant recruiting efforts in over 50+ offices. This involves managing the team that identifies and attracts talent to Bain's offices and ensures that the next generation of leaders continue to make Bain "The best firm to work for."

Academic Credentials

Harvard Business School

MBA '02 – with distinction

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

SM '96, Electrical Engineering
SB '95, Electrical Engineering

As shared from Bain & Company including People and Values

Photo Credit: Bain & Company

Pioneering Founder and Trailblazer in Electrical Engineering

Dr. Carol Espy-Williams

University of Maryland (UMD) - Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Institute for Systems Research (ISR), Faculty Member
CEO & Founder - OmniSpeech

Academic Research

Communications and Signal Processing Laboratory (CSPL)

Speech Communication Laboratory (SCL)

Professor Espy-Wilson's research interests include the integration of engineering, linguistics and speech acoustics to study speech communication. She is developing an approach to speech recognition based on phonetic features, articulatory parameters and landmarks to better address variability in the speech signal. She also conducts research in the areas of speech production, speech enhancement, speaker recognition, single-channel speaker separation and language and genre detection in audio content analysis and forensics. A major focus of her research is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between articulation, acoustics and perception and to use this knowledge to develop effective speech technologies. Prof. Espy-Wilson heads the Speech Communication Lab where postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students perform research. Her research has been largely supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Professor Espy-Wilson teaches the undergraduate courses Numerical Techniques in Engineering (ENEE 241), Signals and Systems (ENEE 322), Digital Signal Processing (ENEE 425), and the advanced graduate level course, Speech and Audio Processing, ENEE 632.

Background

Carol Espy-Wilson received her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1979. She received her SM and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from MITin 1984 and 1987, respectively. She was on faculty at Boston University from 1990 to 2001 and is Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She directs the Speech Communication Lab at UMD.

She is the recipient of the NSF Minority Initiation Award (1990-1992), the Clare Booth Luce Professorship (1990-1995) the NIH Independent Scientist Award (1998-2003), the Honda Initiation Award (2004-2005), and a Radcliffe Fellowship (2008).

Dr. Espy-Wilson is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE).  She served as Chair of the Speech Technical Committee of the ASA from 2007 to 2010, as an associate editor of the ASA's magazine, AcousticsToday, and as an appointed member of the Language and Communication Study Section at NIH, 2001-2004. Currently, she is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, an elected member of the Speech and Language Technical Committee of IEEE and a member of the National Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH.

MIT Journey

Carol Espy-Wilson, the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in electrical engineering at MIT, is both an academic and an entrepreneur. A professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Maryland and a member of its Institute for Systems Research, she does research that integrates engineering, linguistics, and speech science. She’s also founder and CEO of OmniSpeech, which improves voice clarity on cell phones and other communication devices in noisy ­environments.

Espy-Wilson grew up in Atlanta, earned her undergraduate degree at Stanford, and interned at Bell Labs. After MIT, she taught at Boston University and then, in 2001, made the move to UMD College Park. UMD’s Venture Accelerator program urged her into entrepreneurship in 2009. “I was not thinking about starting a company,” she says.

OmniSpeech targets emerging markets that rely on inexpensive phones with poor sound filtering. “We use the unique characteristics of speech to extract it from the noisy signal, even if the noise is dynamic—like music, or people talking in the background,” Espy-Wilson explains. “I’m really excited about the potential to improve all kinds of communication devices, including wearables, push-to-talk radios, and hearing aids.”  MIT’s Speech Communication Group shaped Espy-Wilson’s approach. “It was such a unique group—engineers, linguists, phoneticians, and psycholinguists. We even had a dentist who conducted research into speech motor control,” she says. “I attribute the speech enhancement algorithm we developed at OmniSpeech to that holistic background.”

Espy-Wilson’s husband, John Silvanus Wilson, worked in development at MIT for 16 years, and the two were housemasters at MacGregor House. He is now president of Morehouse College in Atlanta. “We have a commuting marriage,” she says. “We both want each other to realize our dreams, so that makes it a lot easier to do this.” They have 26-year-old twin daughters and a 20-year-old son.

A Radcliffe fellowship brought Espy-Wilson back to Cambridge in 2008, when she also served as a Residential Scholar at Simmons Hall. And this past April, she delivered the keynote address at the Black Alumni of MIT graduation celebration: “I talked to them about finding their passion and purpose, trusting that, as the Bible says, ‘If God be for us, who can be against us,’ so that they will be courageous and take risks—and the need for them to lift as they climb.”

Honors and Awards

• Institute of Systems Research Fellow Award (2015 - 2017)

• University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher (2012 - 2013)

• Maryland Daily Record Innovator of the Year Award (2010)

• Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study (2008-2009)

• University of Maryland Invention of the Year Award (2009)

• Acoustical Society of America Fellow (2005)

• Honda Initiation Award (2003-2004)

• NIH Independent Scientist Award (1998-2003)

• Clare Booth Luce Professorship (1990-1995)

• NSF Minority Initiation Award (1990-1992)

Academic Degrees

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PhD, Electrical Engineering

1987

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

SM, Electrical Engineering

1984

Stanford University

BS, Electrical Engineering

1979

As shared from UMD Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering and MIT Technology Review

Photo Credit: UMD

MIT Origins of a Premier Power Couple

Leslye & Darryl Fraser

 

Honorable Leslye M. Fraser
Environmental Appeals Judge
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Appeal's Board

Judge Leslye M. Fraser was appointed an Environmental Appeals Judge in 2012. Prior to her appointment, Judge Fraser served as the Associate General Counsel for Pesticides and Toxic Substances in EPA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC). She first joined EPA OGC in 1995 as an attorney-advisor in the Air and Radiation Law Office before becoming the first Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Issues in the Cross-Cutting Issues Law Office from 1997-2001. In 2001, Judge Fraser joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Associate Director for Regulations in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), a position within the Senior Executive Service (SES). In this role, in the wake of 9/11 she successfully led an interagency team from FDA and the Department of Homeland Security in developing in an expedited timeframe nine high-profile regulations affecting more than 440,000 domestic and foreign entities to implement the food safety and security provisions of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-188). Judge Fraser was promoted in 2004 to Director of CFSAN’s Office of Regulations, Policy, and Social Sciences, where she led a multi-disciplinary staff of attorneys, social scientists, and administrative professionals in the development of food and cosmetic regulations. She served in this position until she rejoined EPA in 2010.

Judge Fraser received her bachelor and master of science degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Juris Doctor degree, Order of the Coif, from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law. Prior to joining EPA, Judge Fraser was a research engineer and manager at TRW Space and Technology Group for nine years, then practiced environmental and labor law at a leading international law firm, Gibson Dunn. She has received numerous awards, including a U.S. patent for a material she co-invented for spacecraft hydraulic systems; the 2006 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, which the President awards each year to a small group of federal career senior executives who “consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service;” several EPA Gold Medal Awards; the EPA Vivian Malone Jones Legacy Award; the 2004 Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service; five FDA Commissioner Special Citation Awards (2003-2004); and the 2011 African-American Federal Executives Association’s (AAFEA) Distinguished SES Award.

Academic Credentials:  JD, UCLA; SM '80, ChemE, MIT; SB '78, ChemE, MIT

As shared from EPA

Darryl M. Fraser

Corporate Vice President (Retired), Communications

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Fraser was responsible for the company’s worldwide communications strategy and execution, including media relations, employee communications, advertising, executive communications and branding/corporate image. He also served on the company’s corporate policy council. Fraser also served as the vice president of business development for the company’s Mission Systems sector. He oversaw all business development activities and led key strategic initiatives for the sector’s defense and intelligence businesses, which included command and control systems network communications; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and missiles and missile defense.

Fraser joined Northrop Grumman through its TRW acquisition in 2002. He served as director of communications for TRW’s Space and Technology group, and held the position of vice president of communications for TRW’s Aerospace and Information Systems business. Before moving to Mission Systems in 2007, he served as vice president of Washington operations for the company’s Mission Systems and Space Technology sectors.

Fraser earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was also a Brookings Congressional Fellow (1995). Fraser is the past chair of the Communications Council of the Aerospace Industries Association and past chair of the finance committee of ServiceSource, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. He also serves as a member of the MIT Educational Council.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Academic Credentials:  MBA, UCLA; SB '80, ChemE, MIT

As shared from Northrop Grumman

Image Credits: Leslye & Darryl Fraser

Executive Leadership in the Global Sphere

Reginald Van Lee is an Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Washington DC and New York offices, where he leads the firm‘s Commercial Solutions Business, with emphasis on the Energy, Financial Services, High Tech Manufacturing and Retail, and Healthcare Industries, focused on delivering cyber security, analytics & regulatory compliance capabilities.

He has deep expertise in building the organizational capabilities that make his clients resilient to potential shocks to mission accomplishment and growth. For 32 years, he has helped numerous private and public organizations transform to better achieve their missions and assisted in driving growth in not-for-profit organizations. Prior to Booz Allen, he worked as a research engineer.

In the energy space, his work has focused on compliance, cyber, incident response, risk mitigation, and advanced technology protection improvements. In financial services, he has moved clients from strategy to implementation of enterprise platforms and Centers of Excellence in delivering long-term plans for success. In the healthcare space, he led a new groundbreaking initiative to accelerate the pace of science related to cardiovascular disease and pivot the client into a more robust data-based future across all of their programs. Other engagements focused on providing superior cyber security support while consistently identifying opportunities that move the clients’ capabilities from “good” to “excellent.”

Mr. Van Lee has co-authored a number of articles on the topic of strategy implementation.  These articles have appeared in publications such as The Journal of Business Strategy and Business Horizons. He is the co-author of the book, “Megacommunities - How Leaders of Government, Business and Non-Profits Can Tackle Today’s Global Challenges Together.”  He has appeared on ABC-TV’s “World News This Morning” and CNBC, and co-led the Urban Enterprise Initiative with the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, which focused on driving enhanced competitiveness of small businesses in Harlem.  He is a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Mr. Van Lee’s many recognitions include the 2008 Black Engineer of the Year Award, New York University’s C. Walter Nichols Award for outstanding community service, the Abyssinian Development Corporation Renaissance Award for his long-time and faithful commitment to the Harlem community and the  Percy E. Sutton Civic Leadership Award from the Apollo Theater Foundation. Consulting magazine named Mr. Van Lee as one of the top 25 consultants in the world.  He has been recognized as one of New York’s Finest Philanthropists and as one of the 2009 Washington Minority Business Leaders by the Washington Business Journal.

Mr. Van Lee serves as Chairman of the board of the Washington Performing Arts and of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. He was appointed by President Obama to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was formerly appointed by President Obama to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He is a Trustee of the Studio Museum in Harlem and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. He is Vice Chair of the board of The Washington Ballet.

Mr. Van Lee holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School as well as M.S. and B.S. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Education:

1984, MBA – Master of Business Administration (Harvard Business School)
1980, SM – Master Of Science, Course I – Civil & Environmental Engineering (MIT)
1979, SB – Bachelor Of Science, Course I – Civil & Environmental Engineering (MIT)

Booz|Allen|Hamilton

Image Credit: Booz|Allen|Hamilton

New Superweapon in the Fight Against Cancer

Dr. Paula T. Hammond

TED Talks Live: Filmed November 2015

Dr. Paula T. Hammond is on the nano particle forefront of assembling and developing a superhero-type medical therapy to eliminate cancer in the body safely.  Her groundbreaking research is paving the way for new approaches to neutralizing and eliminating the most potent cancer types known. 

__________

Professor Hammond is the Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and David H. Koch Chair Professor in Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is a member of MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative CancerResearch, the MIT Energy Initiative and a founding member of the MITInstitute for Soldier Nanotechnology. She has recently been named the new head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE). She is the first woman and the first person of color appointed to the post. She also served as the Executive Officer (Associate Chair) of the Chemical Engineering Department (2008-2011).

Professor Hammond was elected into the 2013 Class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is also the recipient of the 2013 AIChE Charles M. A. Stine Award, which is bestowed annually to a leading researcher in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of materials science and engineering, and the 2014 Alpha Chi Sigma Award for Chemical Engineering Research. She was also selected to receive the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Teal Innovator Award in 2013. She has been listed in the prestigious Highly Cited Researchers 2014 list, published by Thomson Reuters in the Materials Science category. This list contains the world's most influential researchers across 21 scientific disciplines based on highly cited papers in the 2002-2012 period. She is also included in the report: The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014.

Professor Hammond serves as an Associate Editor of the American Chemical Society Journal, ACS Nano. She has published over 250 scientific papers and holds over 20 patents based on her research at MIT. She was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Institute of Biological andMedical Engineers, and the American Chemical Society PolymerDivision. In 2010, she was named the Scientist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation.

Professor Hammond received her S.B. in Chemical Engineering from MIT (1984), and her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech (1988), and earned her Ph.D. (1993) in Chemical Engineering from MIT.

As shared from TED Talks Live

Image credit: MIT Archives