The document provides an overview of the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program at Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies. It discusses the success of the program in its first year, with enrollment doubling and more applications. The curriculum focuses on balancing engineering and management skills. Students appreciate being able to immediately apply what they learn to their jobs. The program plans to expand by offering an online option through Penn State's World Campus. It also includes a faculty profile of Kailash Satyamurthy, assistant professor of engineering and management.

1. Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies
SPRING 2011
Master of Engineering Management
One
Greetings
from Dr. Nemes
In this edition of Engineering News, as
year
Later
that a major part of the program
well as those over the last several years, focuses on creating a balance of two
you’ll find a faculty profile; in this case disciplines – engineering and building
Dr. Kailash Satyamurthy. These profiles team relationships – which help
present a personal look at our faculty to technology-based engineers develop a
give you the opportunity to learn about better overall perspective of managing
them outside their roles as instructors. When asked about his first-year as a in an engineering-related management
Wherever I go, whether it be meeting with student in the master of engineering position.
colleagues at University Park or industry management (MEM) degree program,
representatives, I am always proud to say Jim Dougherty, a senior software But what makes this program truly
that we have an excellent engineering engineering manager at Iron Mountain, successful is how students feel they
division faculty. Great Valley has a special finds it hard to contain his enthusiasm. are not compromising the technological
mission in higher education, i.e., providing “I’ve got to say 2010 was a great aspect of their background while
graduate professional education to year!” And a great year it has been for executing the financial, economic,
working adults. And that mission requires the program. One year since its launch, and people aspects of engineering
the individual talents of our faculty. They the MEM degree has a lot to brag and technology management
are excellent researchers, a number of about: double residential enrollment, positions. Students also appreciate
whom are nationally or internationally an increase in the number of new the immediate applicability of what
recognized. That, in itself, is not unusual applications, and an expansion of the they learn in class. Aaron Falcone,
since most research universities make geographic residential delivery. IT manager/technical architect at
that claim. What does set our faculty Lincoln Financial Group, couldn’t agree
apart is the ability to bring their research Kailash Satyamurthy, M.B.A., Ph.D., more. “In retrospect, enrolling in Penn
to the classroom in a way that is relevant assistant professor, engineering State’s MEM program was an excellent
to their students who are working and management, attributes this decision. I’ve been able to apply newly
professionals. This is possible, in part, success to developing a curriculum learned skills to my work environment
because the majority of our faculty has that recognizes the changing role of almost immediately.” Dougherty
worked in industry, giving them insight today’s engineers. “When engineers concurs. “I’ve learned lots of things
into our students’ needs for succeeding get promoted, their responsibilities that apply to real-world problem
professionally. Also, I can confidently say increase to include new solving. I have never had school work
our faculty are passionate about teaching, challenges such as managing track the real world so closely.”
dedicated to providing our students with teams,” says Satyamurthy.
the best graduate education possible. “Most [of them] don’t know As for the future, MEM program
This is apparent from my how to manage [staff] since development includes an expansion
observations of their focus has always been of the residential program to include
what takes place on designing and practical job a fully online program delivery through
in the classroom responsibilities.” He contends Penn State’s World Campus.
and my talking to
students about
their experiences.

2. He may never admit it but Kailash Satyamurthy,
M.B.A., Ph.D., assistant professor, engineering and
management, loves a challenge. It’s what made him
leave his native homeland of India in 1973 to come
to the United States with only $6 in his pocket. It’s
FACULTY PROFILE what made him run a half-marathon three years ago
after only three months of training. It’s what keeps him
Kailash Satyamurthy, motivated.
M.B.A., Ph.D. Born in India, Satyamurthy comes from a large,
assistant professor extended, and close-knit family. After receiving an
engineering and management undergraduate degree in civil engineering, he worked
various jobs including construction. Eventually, he
began teaching and presenting lectures. It was at this February 22-24
time that his life took a new direction. All events are free
In 1973, Satyamurthy packed his bags, said goodbye and open to the
to his family, and boarded a plane for the United
public. More info:
States. “I arrived in Rapid City, South Dakota, in the
www.sgps.psu.edu/
middle of winter where there was 40˝ of snow on the eweek2011/
ground. I had only seen snow in the movies,” recalls
Satyamurthy. Not only that, Satyamurthy didn’t own a Information Session
coat, knew no one, and had barely enough money to Tuesday, February 22
last a day. 5 to 6 p.m.
Fast forward several years later, Satyamurthy Main Building
received his master’s and doctorate degrees in Staff and faculty will be
mechanical engineering from Clemson University on hand to speak with
and later joined the faculty of Virginia Tech. While he prospective students who
enjoyed teaching, he realized he needed industrial wish to learn more about
experience to become a better instructor. Satyamurthy engineering programs at
was hired by General Tire and Rubber Company in Penn State Great Valley.
Akron, Ohio, as an engineer and spent the next 20
years designing myriad products, eventually being The Behind the Scenes
promoted to head of engineering. When the company Story of the Chilean
was sold and relocated to California, Satyamurthy Miners Rescue
decided it was time to leave and branch out on his Wednesday, February 23
own. For two years he owned and operated a recycling 7 to 8:30 p.m.
company before being hired by Vanguard. Musser Auditorium
For the next seven years he “had one of the best Peter Christian, VP
jobs in the world” teaching and training Vanguard of engineering at
employees, and writing course curriculum. It was Schramm, Inc., shares
during this time that he enrolled at Penn State the inside story of how
Great Valley for an M.B.A. Satyamurthy soon Schramm was part of
began teaching evening courses at St. Joseph’s the international rescue
University and Penn State Berks, and was also an team for 33 men who
adjunct professor in the management division at were trapped for 69 days
Penn State Great Valley. “I had five jobs at one in an underground mine.
time,” he laughs. While this is a free event,
Satyamurthy was soon hired as an assistant registration is required
professor in the engineering division at Penn due to limited seating.
State Great Valley, a position he has held for Visit www.sgps.psu.
three years. He is currently a lead professor in edu/chilean-miners/ for
the master of engineering management degree more information and to
program and serves as co-chair of the School’s register.
Diversity Action Council, a University-wide
program devoted to delivering and shepherding Student/Alumni/Faculty
diversity within the School community. Mixer
While he has endured some difficult times including Thursday, February 24
when his wife was seriously injured in a car accident a 5:30 to 6 p.m.
few years ago, Satyamurthy continues to contemplate Main Building Lobby
his next challenge. Encouraged by his daughters, Prospective and current
Satyamurthy started running and already has an students are invited to
impressive race résumé. He has done several half join faculty and alumni for
marathons including the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, appetizers and mingling.
which he did with his daughters.

3. FACULTY STUDENT PROFILE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Joanna DeFranco, Colin Neill, and Roy
Ryan Prose systems engineering
Clariana had “A Cognitive Collaborative
Model to Improve Performance in Growing up in southeastern Michigan, the epicenter of the American automotive
Engineering Teams – A Study of Team industry, Ryan Prose, a systems engineering student, hoped to work for a leading-
Outcomes and Mental Model Sharing” edge technology corporation. Today, he is living his dream as a production quality
accepted to the Systems Engineering engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Technologies and a world leader
Journal. DeFranco had “An Empirical in the design, manufacture, and service of military and commercial helicopters.
Measure of Instructional Technology Being responsible for the in-process and delivered quality of S-76 and S-92
Policy Effectiveness” accepted to commercial helicopters, Prose manages full-spectrum projects that impact
ELearning 2010 in October 2010. corporate bottom-line financials. In December 2010, Prose met with Sikorsky
Aircraft President Jeff Pino and senior management team members at Sikorsky’s
Kathryn Jablokow had the following Coatesville site to deliver a presentation on the quality clinic and material review
papers published: “IT Leadership board (MRB) system he recently implemented in the FAA Part 145 Repair Station.
from a Problem Solving Perspective,” Pino complimented Prose on his “world-class” system and suggested that the
Information Technology and Management;
Stratford, Connecticut, office should visit his office’s project site to benchmark
and “Managing Cognitive and
Cultural Diversity in Global IT Teams,” the system. During this moment, Prose reflected on how the systems engineering
Proceedings of the IEEE International program at Penn State Great Valley has significantly equipped him to construct
Conference on Global Software these major systems.
Engineering. She also had the following “The ability to apply the systems principles I have learned in the classroom has
paper accepted in ASEE Advances in had a direct impact on the projects I am working on at my job,” says Prose. “I am
Engineering Education: “The Impact of able, aided by the systems engineering approach, to roll out key projects. Because
Cognitive Style on Social Networks in of this, senior managers at my company have given me more of a day-to-day
Online Discussions.” Jablokow is the leadership role.”
recipient of the 2009-2010 Arthur L. Prose received a bachelor of science in applied engineering sciences with
Glenn Award for Faculty Innovation. a minor in business and supply chain management from Michigan State
University. After graduation, he secured a job as a quality systems auditor and
Phil Laplante presented “Mining process mapping coordinator at Detroit Diesel, a division of Daimler Trucks
Security Patterns: Creating a New
North America. At Sikorsky, Prose chairs two MRB teams for the S-76 and S-92
Tactics Hierarchy” at SMU in October
product lines, analyzes quality data, performs root cause analysis for recurrent
2010. Laplante received an outstanding
contribution award from the IEEE aircraft discrepancies, and implements initiatives aimed at reducing in-process
Computer Society for Leadership in scrap, rework, and repair costs. He is interested in the core product realization
establishing a path to integrate the disciplines and hopes to soon receive invaluable, hands-on, aircraft experience as
Computer Society digital library content an aircraft maintenance officer in the Air Force Reserve. He also plans to pursue
into the IEEE platform. an M.B.A. focusing on operations
management or strategic
Mike Piovoso had the following paper development.
accepted in the Journal of Process In his free time, Prose enjoys
Control: “Controlling the Evolution of golfing, playing tennis, reading,
Resistance.” It is co-authored with and spending time with his
graduate students and colleagues from girlfriend, Michele, who is a 7th
the University of Delaware. grade science teacher in New
Castle, Delaware. His family
Robin Qiu has been invited to review
research proposals for the Center for resides on the east coast where
Energy, Economics, and Environmental his mother works part time at
Policy at Rutgers University, N.J. Along the American History Museum
with his colleagues G. Wang, in Washington, D.C., his twin
J. Wang, and X.R. Ma, Qiu had brother is a federal TSA agent,
“The Effect of Standardization and and his sister is completing her
Customization on Service Satisfaction” LLM at American University after
accepted by the Journal of Service finishing law school in 2010.
Science. Qiu was invited to serve And while he no longer lives
on an NSF Grant Review Panel in in Michigan, Prose frequently
December 2010 and spoke at the 2010 vacations on Mackinaw Island
INFORMS Annual Meeting in Austin. located between the upper
His presentation was “Redesign of
and lower peninsulas.
Automobile after-sales Service Systems.”
He was also recognized as a recipient
of “Outstanding Service” as chair of the
Service Science Section of INFORMS.
Qiu was recently appointed an associate
editor for IEEE Transactions on Industrial
Informatics.

4. Spring Classes to Consider
SYSEN 554 Problem Solving Leadership with Dr.
Kathryn Jablokow (elective for INSC, MEM and SYSEN)
Students will explore strategies for coordinating the
problem-solving preferences and their abilities and
those of others for problem solving to obtain desired
solutions. Other selected topics will include leaders
and bridgers, the management of cognitive diversity,
and the management of change.
IN SC 597 Business Process Management (BPM)
with Dr. Robin Qiu (elective for INSC and SWENG).
This course introduces and examines the fundamental
cores of BPM solutions, including key terms and
concepts, the major methodologies and techniques for
implementing BPM, and the various technologies that
support BPM.
SWENG 545 Data Mining with Dr. Adrian Barb (elective
for INSC, SWENG, and SYSEN)
The course’s main focus includes the theory and
the methodology behind the tools used in data
mining, including techniques for data preprocessing,
associative data mining, and various techniques for
classification and prediction of problems. Preprocessing
techniques such as variable reduction/selection,
scaling of data, and noise reduction are discussed.
Engineering News is published by the Engineering Division, Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA 19355, 610-648-3243, gvengin@psu.edu.
This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. GV U.Ed. 11-019.
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