Rick Ciocci

Richard Ciocci is an associate professor in mechanical engineering at Penn State Harrisburg. He is a registered professional engineer, having earned his PhD and BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and an MS in engineering management from the University of Dayton, Ohio. His prior work experiences include Monsanto Research Corporation, AMP Incorporated, and Harrisburg Area Community College. His research interests include design for the environment, lead-free electronics, sustainable engineering, and advanced manufacturing methods. He is past chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Technology and Society Division, and currently serves as the Engineering and Technology Management Group’s representative to the ASME Publications Committee and as vice-chair of the local Susquehanna Section.

Joanna F. DeFranco

Joanna F. DeFranco, assistant professor of information science, earned her PhD in computer and information sciences from New Jersey Institute of Technology, an MS in computer engineering from Villanova University, and a BS in electrical engineering from Penn State. She teaches several courses in software and systems engineering as well as information science, including project management, problem solving, and software systems design. Prior to entering higher learning in 2001, Dr. DeFranco worked in industry as a software engineer for Motorola and for the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

Nil H. Ergin

Nil H. Ergin, assistant professor of systems engineering, earned her PhD in systems engineering and master of science in engineering management from the University of Missouri-Rolla (currently known as Missouri University of Science and Technology). She also holds a baccalaureate degree in environmental engineering from Istanbul Technical University. Prior to joining Penn State Great Valley, Dr. Ergin taught at The University of Texas at El Paso and University of Missouri-Rolla. Dr. Ergin's research interests include model-based systems engineering, system of systems, systems architecting, and multi-agent systems. She teaches courses in systems engineering including systems integration, verification and validation, systems modeling, and systems architecture.

Kathryn W. Jablokow

Kathryn W. Jablokow, associate professor of mechanical engineering, earned her PhD, MSEE, and BSEE from The Ohio State University. She was a NSF/NATO postdoctoral Fellow at the Technical University of Rhineland-WestPhalia in Aachen, Germany. Dr. Jablokow served in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University Park. She teaches courses in robotics, problem solving, and engineering ethics, and her research includes computational dynamics, invention, and problem solving in science and engineering.

John I. McCool

John I. McCool, distinguished professor of systems engineering, received his PhD in statistics from Temple University, and his BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. He teaches courses in statistics, experiment design, reliability, statistical process control, applied data mining, probability models, and optimization. His research includes statistical inference for the Weibull distribution and industrial statistics. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality and received the Irwin S. Hoffer Award from the ASQ’s Philadelphia Section for the promotion of statistical thinking.

David Morand, PhD

Dr. Morand is a professor of management, and completed his PhD at Cornell University. He is currently pursuing research in the area of leadership, with specific interests in the emotional intelligence of managers. He is also interested in cross-cultural communication competencies for managers, and in the relationship between power and language at work.

His publications include: Rites of Passage in Work Careers; Subcultures and Countercultures in Formal Organizations; Dominance, Deference and Egalitarianism in Organizational Interaction: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Power and Politeness; and What's in a Name? An Exploration of the Social Dynamics of Forms of Address in Organizations.

Colin Neill

Colin Neill, associate professor of software engineering and assistant division head of engineering and information science, earned his PhD in software and systems engineering, MSc in communication systems, and BEng in electrical engineering from the University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom. He teaches many courses in software and systems engineering, including software architecture, project management, and systems thinking. Prior to joining Penn State, Dr. Neill worked in manufacturing systems and engineering management with University of Wales, Swansea; Oxford University; the Rover Car Company; and British Aerospace. He has written more than 50 articles on software design, architecture, and project management

Michael J. Piovoso

Michael J. Piovoso, professor of electrical engineering, earned his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware, MS in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, and BS in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware. Dr. Piovoso spent more than 32 years with The DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware. At DuPont, he did research in control of chemical processes, applications of chemometrics to process systems, neural networks, and instrumentation development. His research centers on control of complex dynamic systems, monitoring of complex processes and control systems, and data mining.

Robert Russell, PhD

Dr. Russell is an assistant professor of management and holds a PhD in organizational studies and strategic management from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Russell conducts research in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship within organizations, corporate culture and strategic decision-making, and has published several articles dealing with these issues.

Dr. Russell has several years of hands-on management experience in both large and small businesses, and currently consults in both types of organizations. He has been an active member of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), a national professional organization dealing with issues related to entrepreneurship, and has held a national office for the past five years.

Kailasam Satyamurthy

Kailasam Satyamurthy, assistant professor of engineering and management, earned his PhD in engineering mechanics from Clemson University and an MBA from Penn State. Dr. Satyamurthy teaches decision and risk analysis, business statistics, and continuous improvement courses. Before joining Penn State, he was a senior manager at Vanguard for eight years and head of engineering at GenCorp for 20 years. At GenCorp, Dr. Satyamurthy did extensive research in the mathematical modeling and developed methodologies and algorithms for the nonlinear finite element analysis of mechanical systems under mechanical and thermal loadings. He is also a Six Sigma (6σ) Master Black Belt and has trained numerous professionals in manufacturing, transactional, and healthcare industries.