Barbara Kerr Hamilton ’82 and Kyle Warren ’15 were honored during the annual awards ceremony, which brought together alumni, industry leaders, community partners and university representatives from across Maine.

The Maine Center Awards recognize individuals whose achievements, leadership and commitment to collaboration are helping shape the future of their professions and communities while supporting the next generation of leaders.

This year’s award recipients represented a range of disciplines and institutions, including the University of Maine School of Law, Maine Business School, Maine College of Engineering and Computing, and the Muskie School & Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine, as well as the Maine Center Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Maine College of Engineering and Computing congratulates Barbara Kerr Hamilton and Kyle Warren on this recognition and thanks the Maine Center and its partners for celebrating the accomplishments of Maine alumni.

Read the to learn more about Sturm’s accomplishments and the AAPT Fellowship.

This year’s Distinguished Engineers and Dean’s Distinguished Members represent leadership across academia, research, and industry. Emily A. Haddad was recognized for her extensive leadership in higher education, overseeing academic programs, faculty, and student success initiatives that support thousands of students and a broad general education curriculum across the university. She has also played a crucial role in supporting UMS TRANSFORMS and the early development and momentum of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), helping shape system-level academic innovation and cross-campus collaboration.

Ahmed Aboelezz was honored for his research and teaching in UAV systems, aerodynamics, and bio-inspired flight, supported by extensive externally funded research and a strong commitment to student mentorship. In addition, Aboelezz has demonstrated his commitment to making his research accessible through extensive K–12 outreach and engagement, including student rocket launch activities designed to spark interest in engineering and inspire the next generation of students.

Distinguished engineering alumni and leaders honored this year included Ross Bryant ’98, president and CEO of Fluid Imaging Technologies, recognized for leadership in analytical instrumentation and life sciences innovation; Christopher Gordon ’85, president of Wynn Development for Wynn Resorts, honored for global leadership in large-scale real estate and infrastructure development; Ben Townsend ’08, co-president and owner of Colby Company Engineering, recognized for multidisciplinary engineering consulting leadership; and Robert Monahan ’86, CEO and co-founder of UPPAbaby, honored for engineering-driven innovation in consumer product design and global brand development.

Student recognition highlighted outstanding academic achievement, research and leadership across the college.

Top graduating and outstanding students included Ella Boxall, outstanding graduating student in civil engineering, recognized for work in water resources engineering, sustainability and environmental resilience; Isabelle Irani, University of Maine co-salutatorian in biomedical engineering, recognized for excellence in academics, Division I athletics and research in sustainable biomaterials in the Neivandt Lab; and Karun Varghese, outstanding graduating international student in electrical engineering, recognized for work in robotics, autonomous systems and research across multiple 91���� laboratories, as well as leadership and global engagement.

Additional MCEC outstanding students by unit were also recognized, including Wyatt Fessler (biomedical engineering), Kenzie Karpinski (chemical engineering), Ella Boxall (civil and environmental engineering), Chris Persinger (electrical engineering), Karun Varghese (computer engineering), Brianna Gannett (computer science), Benjamin Schmidt (engineering physics), Kat Gross (mechanical engineering) and Katie Fletcher (new media).

The Francis J. Hovey Award recipients were also honored for academic excellence and distinction, including Wyatt Fessler (biomedical engineering), Jacob Levesque (chemical engineering), Joe Thorpe (civil and environmental engineering), Brianna Gannett (computer science), Samuel Bach (electrical and computer engineering) and Benjamin Schmidt (engineering physics).

All eligible students in attendance were formally inducted into the Francis Crowe Society, joining a professional community of engineering and computing graduates committed to lifelong learning, service and impact in their fields.

Together, the ceremony reflects the mission of the Francis Crowe Society: to recognize excellence across all stages of the engineering and computing profession and to celebrate the lasting contributions of University of Maine students, alumni and faculty to society.

Dr. David Neivandt – Ashley S. Campbell Award
Dr. David Neivandt is a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at the University of Maine whose research spans interfacial chemistry, biomaterials, and sustainable composites. His work includes innovations in engineered implants, cellulose-based materials, and environmentally friendly composites derived from biological waste. He has contributed to multiple patents and interdisciplinary advances in materials science and biomedical engineering.

Arieana Mangra – Leila C. Lowell Award for Exemplary Staff Support
Arieana Mangra, Director of Student Success and Advising Center, has led a transformation in student support at the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. Under her leadership, the college achieved its highest first- and second-year retention rates in 15 years. She is credited with building an advising program, including a new center, from the ground up and strengthening a proactive, student-centered advising model across the college.

Isaac Sewell – Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Isaac Sewell serves as the sole graduate teaching assistant for the Mechanical Engineering capstone sequence at the University of Maine. He manages grading, course logistics, and materials distribution for more than 80 students, consistently delivering highly organized systems and detailed feedback. His work has significantly improved course efficiency, grade accuracy, and the overall student experience.

Sandro Zier – Graduate Research Assistant Award
Sandro Zier is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maine whose research focuses on sustainable materials and scalable manufacturing processes. He has developed roll-to-roll coating systems for cellulose nanofiber applications and pioneered innovative bio-based barrier technologies using fungal mycelium. His work bridges laboratory research and industrial-scale implementation in sustainable packaging.

Dr. Laura Gurney – Early Career Teaching Award
Dr. Laura Gurney is a lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Maine recognized for her commitment to student success and curriculum development. She teaches foundational programming and advanced computing courses while actively supporting student mentorship initiatives and accreditation efforts. Her leadership has contributed to improved student retention and strengthened academic pathways in computing.

Dr. Philip King – Early Career Teaching Award
Dr. Philip King is an early-career mechanical engineering faculty member at the University of Maine specializing in manufacturing engineering education. He has redesigned key courses to incorporate hands-on learning with modern manufacturing technologies and CAD systems. His teaching is consistently highly rated by students and supported by strong engagement in research and graduate mentorship.

Dr. Prabuddha Chakraborty – Early Career Research Award
Dr. Prabuddha Chakraborty is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maine focused on hardware security and trustworthy AI systems. He leads multiple federally funded research projects and has built a nationally recognized research program in secure microelectronics and intelligent systems. His work includes widely published research, patents, and leadership roles in major engineering conferences and journals.

Dr. Amrit Verma – Early Career Research Award
Dr. Amrit Verma is a research leader in offshore wind energy and marine operations at the University of Maine. He founded the Wind Energy and Marine Operations Lab and has secured significant funding for research on wind turbine performance, installation, and digital twin modeling. His work has advanced both experimental testing systems and large-scale offshore wind deployment strategies.

Ashley S. Campbell Award
Recognizes a faculty member for outstanding excellence in teaching, research, and service that has brought distinction to engineering education.

Leila C. Lowell Award for Exemplary Staff Support
Honors staff members who provide exceptional service and support that significantly enhances student success and strengthens the College community.

Edward T. Bryand Distinguished Engineering Award
The College’s highest external honor, recognizing individuals whose engineering achievements, leadership, and impact bring distinction to the profession.

Early Career Research Award
Recognizes early-career faculty for exceptional research achievement, innovation, and growing national or international impact.

Early Career Teaching Award
Honors early-career faculty for outstanding and innovative teaching, strong student engagement, and contributions to curriculum and learning.

Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Recognizes graduate students who demonstrate exceptional effectiveness in teaching, mentoring, and supporting undergraduate learning.

Graduate Research Assistant Award
Honors graduate students for outstanding research contributions, creativity, technical excellence, and scholarly impact.

These scholarships will provide $1,000 awards to one hundred  deserving undergraduate students, helping them continue their studies, achieve licensure, and advance in their surveying careers. 

To learn more about the Survey Engineering Technology program, visit our website.

Contact: Taylor Ward,taylor.ward@maine.edu

91���� has appointed Giovanna Guidoboni as interim vice president for research while she continues to serve as the inaugural dean of the Maine College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC). In this dual leadership role, Guidoboni will help foster��education, research, and innovation at the University of Maine while strengthening collaboration across the University of Maine System and state.

As dean of MCEC, Guidoboni leads one of the university’s largest academic units, home to more than 2,600 students and a key driver of the UMS TRANSFORMS initiative, a systemwide effort to expand engineering and computing education, research and workforce development in Maine. Under her leadership, the college has bridged disciplines, strengthened research and innovation,  fostered statewide partnerships, modernized labs and built new buildings to prepare the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. 

In her interim vice-presidential role, Guidoboni will oversee 91����’s research enterprise, support faculty and student scholarship, and build new opportunities for collaboration with industry, government and community partners. Her appointment reflects 91����’s continued commitment to advancing discovery and innovation that serve Maine and the world.

A world-renowned expert in ocular biomechanics and mathematical modeling, Guidoboni directs the Laboratory for Computational and Mathematical Modeling in Medicine, Engineering and Technology (CoMET Lab) at 91����. Her research combines mathematics, physics and engineering to understand ocular diseases such as glaucoma, using computational tools to explore the connections between fluid dynamics, vision loss and intraocular pressure. Her work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and European Commission.

“My passion has always been connecting people and ideas across fields to make something greater than any one discipline alone,” Guidoboni said. “I believe everyone should have access to research whether they are students just beginning their journey or faculty leading major projects. Together we can continue to grow a culture of innovation as a learner-centered R1 institution that reaches every corner of the University and beyond.”

Guidoboni joined 91���� in 2023 after serving as associate dean for research and professor of mathematics, electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Missouri. She holds a Ph.D. in mathematics and a master’s in engineering of materials from the University of Ferrara in Italy. Guidoboni is an Elected Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and holds a joint faculty position at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (NY).

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu

Roy is one of 74 leaders in engineering and technology worldwide elected to the academy this year. Fellowship recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to engineering, advancing the profession through innovation, research and leadership.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is the U.K.’s national academy for engineering. Its fellowship, known as FREng, includes more than 1,700 of the world’s most accomplished engineers. Members advise policymakers, promote innovation and education, and help shape solutions to global challenges.

A Maine native and 1981 graduate of 91���� in engineering physics, Roy has held academic and research appointments across the United States and abroad. He earned advanced degrees at the University of Mississippi and Yale University before serving as chair of mechanical engineering at Boston University. In 2013, he was appointed professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Oxford, where he later served as head of the Department of Engineering Science from 2019 to 2024.

His research spans physical acoustics, ultrasonics and biomedical applications, with international recognition for advancing the understanding of bubble dynamics and acoustic wave propagation. Roy is also a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and recipient of its Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal.

Roy joined 91����’s MCEC earlier this year as director of research and strategic partnerships.

“This fellowship is a supreme honor,” Roy said. “It recognizes not only individual accomplishments, but also the power of engineering collaboration across disciplines and continents.”

The 2025 class of fellows will be formally admitted at a ceremony on Nov. 18 in London.

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu 

The investment, made possible through UMS TRANSFORMS, will support 44 researchers and students spanning engineering and computing programs across the University of Maine System. The awards are designed to increase recruitment and retention, developing programming at the , creating interdisciplinary programs in emerging fields, enhancing research, deepening collaboration among University of Maine System institutions and strengthening partnerships with industry.

“These awards, made possible by the invaluable support of UMS TRANSFORMS and the Harold Alfond Foundation, highlight the incredible breadth of interdisciplinary work at 91����,” said Giovanna Guidoboni, Dean of MCEC. “From future transportation systems and advanced manufacturing to building sustainability and immersive virtual reality, this wide-ranging focus ensures we are addressing diverse challenges and preparing our students for cutting-edge careers.”

Developing Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate Program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization

• Amrit Verma, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Andrew Goupee, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Richard Kimball, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering 

The project aims to create an online undergraduate and graduate certificate program in Ocean Engineering and Maritime Digitalization, with the primary goal of training students and professionals to design, operate, and maintain digitally enhanced maritime systems and ocean infrastructure, including applications of digital twin systems in ocean industries.

Surveying Engineering Technology on campus programming

• Will Manion, School of Engineering Technology  
• Rich Vannozzi, School of Engineering Technology

The primary goal of the project is to increase enrollment of traditional on-campus students, and particularly, Maine resident students, in the Surveying Engineering Technology Program.

Game Design and Development: Multi-Campus Academic Program

• Penny Rheingans, School of Computing and Information Science��
• Joseph Szakas, University of Maine at Augusta 

This proposal aims to create a new multi-campus Game Design and Development program across the University of Maine System. It will combine the expertise of faculty from various institutions to allow students to complete the program at any participating campus, with funding supporting new course development, remote learning initiatives, and necessary hardware.

Integrating Pre-Engineering Students into their Major

• Megan Walsh, University of Maine at Machias

The Integrating Pre-engineering Students into Their Major project plans to increase the progression of pre-engineering students at 91����’s regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, into the appropriate engineering program at the University of Maine by housing an engineering graduate student on the UMM campus to mentor undergraduate pre-engineering students.

Maine Community Colleges to 91���� Pathways in Engineering

• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering��
• Christopher Mordaunt, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The project’s primary goal is to establish a viable pathway through the Transfer ME program for Maine community college students to pursue an engineering degree at 91����.

Summer Bridge: Accelerating Community College Transfers in Engineering Through Online C Programming

• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The project aims to accelerate community college transfers in engineering by offering a fully asynchronous online C programming course that bridges curricular gaps and ensures timely progression toward graduation

Developing Asynchronous Online Courses for the Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence Certificate

• Yifeng Zhu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering  
• Vikas Dhiman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Xueyu Hou, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

To create four asynchronous online courses for the Engineering Applications of AI certificate that expand statewide access, drive enrollment growth, and equip learners and industry professionals with essential, workforce-ready AI skills.

Energize UMS Campus Life with the Concept of Transportation+

• Ruijie “Rebecca” Bian, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering��

This project creates an open-forum to engage students in depicting a future picture of on-campus mobility, while connecting UMS students through events and trips to explore future transportation systems and career opportunities in the sector.

Building a Multi-Institutional Community of Practice for Engineering Capstone Project

• Ashanthi Maxworth, Department of Engineering (USM)��
• Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Carolyn Arcand, Muskie School of Public Service (USM)

The goal of this project is to develop a multi-institutional community of practice for the engineering capstone project to share knowledge, experience and resources within a collaborative framework.

Expanding the Human-Centered Technology Design Program: Expanding Access, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and Workforce Readiness

• Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science 
• Aaron Boothroyd, School of Computing and Information Science

The Human-Centered Technology Design (HCTD) Program expansion aims to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, increase student enrollment and retention, and provide cutting-edge, hands-on learning opportunities in human-centered design across the University of Maine System using the mini GEM facility.

Building Energy Monitor Display for Ferland Hall

• Justin Lapp, Department of Mechanical Engineering 
• Nimesha Ranasinghe, School of Computing and Information Science

This project will design, develop, and install a real-time building energy monitoring display in 91����’s Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center.

The MCEC Imaginarium

• Richard Corey, VEMI Lab
• Ruhammah (Ru) LaGarry, VEMI Lab
• RJ Perry, VEMI Lab

The MCEC Imaginarium will serve as an immersive portal to the groundbreaking research at the University of Maine System, providing a place for everyone to explore the exciting work happening across our campuses and streamlining collaboration with our industry partners by highlighting areas of active research and development across disciplines.

New CIE Winter Travel Course: Sustainability in the Peruvian Amazon

• Reed Miller, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | Advanced Structures and Composites Center

A new faculty-led travel course will take undergraduate engineering students to the Peruvian Amazon rainforest to learn hands-on about biodiversity and the conservation challenges posed by increasing infrastructure and development.

MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program

• Masoud Rais-Rohani, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The goal of this project is to help establish MCEC PhD Scholars Fellowship Program aimed at attracting high quality domestic PhD students to engineering from US institutions outside of Maine.

Expanding Smart Factory Training for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

• Bradley Denholm, Advanced Manufacturing Center
• John Belding, Advanced Manufacturing Center

The AMC Bot Loft at 91���� will expand its Smart Factory training system to double student lab capacity and enhance Industry 4.0 education across undergraduate, graduate, and K-12 programs.

MCEC Global — Pilot Development of Online Graduate Aerospace Engineering Certificate

• Wilhelm Friess, Department of Mechanical Engineering��
• Kewei Zu, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The MCEC Global project aims to develop the necessary delivery framework and online course content to offer the Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Engineering in full asynchronous online mode to students in Maine and beyond.

Growing and Strengthening the BME Program via Curricula Modernization and the Development of a Sustainable Eng. Gen-Ed and Project Description

• Karissa Tilbury, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Lisa Weeks, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Ray Kennard, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Michael Mason, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Andre Khalil, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Dave Neivandt, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Cailtin Howell, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Bob Bowie, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Peter Van Walsum, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Innovative Biocompatibility Module Gives First-Year Biomedical Engineering Students a Head Start on Industry-Ready Skills.

A Virtual Reality Educational Tool for Understanding PFAS Transport in Soil

• Jean MacRea, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 
• Xiaoxiao Zhao, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• RJ Perry, VEMI Lab
• Manisha Choudhary, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

Our project aims to develop an interactive virtual reality tool that simulates PFAS transport in soils and to integrate it into STEM curricula to help students visualize and understand these processes, thereby enhancing STEM education across Maine.

Intelligent Manufacturing in Maine (IM2)

• Justin Willis, Advanced Structures and Composites Center 
• Roberto Lopez Anido, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering  
• Keith Berube, School of Engineering Technology

This project intends to develop a Research Learning Experience (RLE) in intelligent manufacturing in Maine, to better expose 91���� students to the sustainable, data-driven, and interdisciplinary processes present in current and emerging Industry 4.0 smart factories.

The Maine College of Engineering and Computing is a signature initiative of UMS TRANSFORMS, a $320M investment by the Harold Alfond Foundation to drive the innovations and technical workforce critical to advancing Maine’s economy. 

Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu