Dear alumni and friends of Marquette Engineering,
I am excited to share this next digital issue of Marquette Engineer and these inspirational stories of our Marquette engineering students, faculty, staff, alumni and collaborators. This special digest showcases how our Marquette engineers ignite curiosity and creativity to lead bold change.
As an engineering dean at a Jesuit institution, I frequently reflect on our mission and encourage my colleagues to consider what it means to uniquely educate a purpose-driven Marquette engineer today and in the future. The Opus College of Engineering has a great tradition of forward-thinking pedagogy and diverse experiential learning opportunities like co-ops, internships, research and more, but in 2024 we are challenging ourselves to truly think differently about more ways engineers can go on to serve the world. This issue’s stories help illustrate this commitment at Marquette.
Our faculty and staff, in collaboration with industry and alumni, are redefining our learning experiences to allow students from more backgrounds to thrive as engineers and discover new professional pathways. We are also intentionally creating curriculum and projects that better align with the work our students will lead in industry and with real opportunities to serve communities.
We also know that so much of an engineering education takes place outside the classroom. We continue to encourage students to explore co-ops, internships and research experiences, and we are driving these programs ahead with new industry and community partners and helpful professional development for students along the way. We also empower our students to lead in their own student organizations, and I am proud to celebrate the incredible acts of service and creativity that come out of these groups. Their student projects regularly compete on a national level, and I believe the sky is not even the limit for Marquette engineers.
As we strive to reimagine engineering education and continue to educate world-class engineering leaders, I am grateful to our faculty and staff who dedicate their time and expertise to this mission. The engineers teaching at the front of our classrooms are the same engineers who are leading groundbreaking work in their research labs and fields. With faculty who truly embody our mission to Be The Difference in their work, our students find early examples of how they can use their own skills to serve the world.
When I consider our ever-growing Marquette engineering community, I am filled with hope and joy. Please join me in celebrating and supporting our Ignatian-inspired engineers!
With gratitude,
Dr. Kristina Ropella
Opus Dean
Opus College of Engineering
