Alumni

Digging deep

Hanna Nordwall — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:23:42 +0000

Digging deep Hanna Nordwall Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:23

Jeff Zehnder

Memorial volleyball tournament has been supporting CU Engineering students for over 20 years

Chad Keller

A player dives into a save with an erupting cloud of beach sand. Onlookers cheer as the ball is propelled back and forth over the net.

It’s a typical-looking beach volleyball game on California’s Manhattan Beach, but this one is part of an annual tournament that honors a lost friend and supports engineering education.

Chad Keller’s (AeroEngr’93) life and career were tragically cut short in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But his memory endures through a scholarship that has helped dozens of CU ��Ĵ�ý aerospace students.

Since its creation in 2002, the volleyball tournament has given family and friends a way to fund the scholarship, which provides awards of $12,000-$14,000 to two or three students each year.

“We get to meet the students and see the difference this has made in their lives,” said Kathy Keller, Chad’s mother. “We’re honored and blessed.”

Recipients have gone on to positions as engineering professors and in industry at small and large organizations, including SpaceX, Sierra Space, Boeing, NASA, Scaled Composites and BAE Systems.

Dick Keller said his son knew from an early age that he was going to launch rockets.

After graduation, Chad worked at Boeing on rocket propulsion systems that lifted national security payloads and satellites into orbit. On 9/11, after completing a briefing with the Department of Defense on a recent satellite launch, he boarded American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. He was 29 years old.

Following the loss, his parents and wife, Lisa, were determined to honor his memory in an ongoing way. The result was the scholarship in Chad’s name for undergraduates in aerospace engineering sciences.

“Chad was an immense Buffs fan. He loved the sports, loved the school and loved the area,” Dick said.

The Kellers encouraged family members and friends to donate, and with Lisa and Chad’s three closest friends, organized an annual volleyball tournament in his hometown of Manhattan Beach to continue raising money.

“When Chad was growing up, we’d always go down to the beach in the late evenings. The kids would bring their surfboards, and we had adults who were very good at volleyball, so everyone learned it. We’d surf and play volleyball until sunset,” Dick said.

Their expectations for the tournament were small, but the now-annual event and scholarship have endured for more than two decades.

“Rather than being endowed, the scholarship is funded each year through the volleyball participant donations. We’ve now done it for 23 years,” Dick said.

The tournament typically brings out 100-150 people.

“The tournament started with Chad’s friends, and now they’re all in their 50s, and it’s their kids who are competing. Past scholarship recipients will also attend, and a lot of them give back as well,” Dick said.

In establishing the scholarship, the Kellers decided it would go to juniors or seniors in aerospace engineering who also participate in sports and are actively engaged in community service or volunteering.

“The sport doesn’t need to be Division One or varsity, but we want students who are well-rounded; the kind of person who is living life to the fullest. That’s what makes us think of Chad every day,” Dick said.

Family and friends use an annual volleyball tournament to fund a scholarship in memory of Chad Keller (AeroEngr’93).

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Powered by heart

Hanna Nordwall — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:04:13 +0000

Charles Ferrer

Expanded services, alumni engagement are priorities for newly named Campos Student Center

As a first-year student, Marco Campos (CivEngr’98) found community through the Multicultural Engineering Program, which would later become part of the BOLD Center.

“The program helped me get acclimated to campus, meet professors and gave me a leg up,” he said. “Finding my support network was my No. 1 focus.”

Now, through a $5 million gift that creates a permanent endowment, his Campos Foundation is extending the same support to aspiring engineers. In honor of the gift, the BOLD Center was renamed the Campos Student Center in August.

“We envision our center being a space for innovative programs and services that transform engineering education.”

The gift is strengthening the center’s services and community-building for scholars and student society members through advising, academic services, culture-affirming programming and professional conference involvement for nine student societies, and alumni engagement.

Alumni opportunities

Alumni opportunities

The Campos Student Center welcomes alumni involvement through:

Mentoring students
Professional development workshops and networking events
Guest speaking at leadership programs and student society meetings
Philanthropic support for scholarships and programming
Hiring partnerships for internships and full-time positions

Learn more: Email Marlene Goldman at marlene.goldman@colorado.edu

Support the Campos Student Center

“We envision our center being a space for innovative programs and services that transform engineering education,” said Amy Moreno- Sherwood, senior director of the Campos Student Center.

Already, the center is piloting new initiatives for students — from applied math faculty offering office hours and exam prep support to an introductory undergraduate research course paired with graduate mentors and dedicated career advising.

Moreno-Sherwood hopes the endowment will double the number of scholars and expand scholarship support.

“This investment helps ensure that our center has the resources and connections needed to truly support students’ growth, learning and development,” said Moreno-Sherwood.

Alumni connection

This year, the Campos Student Center also plans to pilot an alumni panel series. One panel will be held before a career fair to help students prepare for interviews and networking, with another panel focused on what comes after an initial opportunity search.

“We’re excited about the connections that can be built between our students and alumni,” said Marlene Goldman, assistant director for leadership and cultural engagement. “Our students are eager to meet alumni who understand what that journey looks like.”

The center also hopes to welcome alumni back for celebrations and guest speaking opportunities.

“Hearing stories firsthand from our alumni who have been through similar journeys of our students is powerful,” Goldman said. “Not everyone graduates and immediately lands their dream job, and that’s OK. Those are often the stories students most want and want to hear.”

Students regularly ask what life looks like after graduation: how to land a job, how career paths may change, and how to balance work and family, especially when they come from backgrounds where college or engineering careers weren’t always accessible.

“When alumni share how they navigated those experiences, it helps us build a stronger, more supportive community, one where everyone works together to make the college experience better for current and future students,” Goldman said.

A pilot program enabling alumni to connect with students is just one of the ways a major gift is strengthening community in CU Engineering.

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“Single failure mode”

Hanna Nordwall — Tue, 19 May 2026 17:38:44 +0000

“Single failure mode” Hanna Nordwall Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:38

Jeff Zehnder

Alum takes on a new challenge as a Survivor contestant

As a Lockheed Martin program manager, Steven Ramm (AeroEngr’13) leads a team of engineers working on concept designs for NASA lunar exploration missions.

But last year, he took a break from his day-to-day job for a chance at $1 million in prize money on the long-running reality show Survivor. Ramm competed in season 49, spending weeks in Fiji to outwit, outplay and outlast as one of 18 competitors.

“I wanted to see what I’m made of when you take all of the support systems away and there’s no redundancies like a spacecraft. It’s just me, single-failure mode, and what can I make happen. It was the most fun I’ve had in my entire life,” Ramm said in September after filming concluded but before the season aired.

Season 49 aired in late 2025. Ramm excelled on the show, taking part in competition events and navigating the complex interpersonal intrigue for which Survivor is known. He was eventually “voted off the island,” but not until the penultimate episode.

Enduring weeks in the jungle, Ramm said the experience changed him.

“Growing up not being the best at math, but now being a successful aerospace engineer, I’ve always felt a little bit like an imposter in some of the NASA boardrooms and meetings. So to play the game and discover the edges of myself in such an exciting way, I learned there’s nothing that I can’t do if I put my mind to it,” Ramm said. “I think that rings true for everybody.”

Returning to Colorado after the extreme highs and lows of competing on the CBS show, it took Ramm some time to get back into the groove as a working engineer.

“Being out on the island, I felt like all of my emotions and senses were dialed up to 11,” Ramm said. “You’re always playing the game, 24/7 — and coming back home not playing that game, your day-to-day coworkers aren’t conspiring to vote you out of the company, but your mind is still a little bit geared that way.”

Photos: CBS

Alum takes on a new challenge as a Survivor contestant

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From "cat cracker" to corner office

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:24:09 +0000

From "cat cracker" to corner office Hanna Nordwall Fri, 05/15/2026 - 14:24

Caitlin Rockett

Nancy Thonen paired engineering expertise with business skills — an approach reflected in our new IBE program

By the time Nancy Thonen (ChemEngr’88) became the first female refinery manager of the Suncor plant in Commerce City, Colorado, she was used to being the only woman in the room.

“A boss once asked if it bothered me,” Thonen recalls. “I told him, ‘That’s all I know.’ There just weren’t many of us, so it became normal.”

Thonen first noticed the imbalance as an undergraduate at CU ��Ĵ�ý in the mid-1980s, estimating women made up about 10% of her chemical engineering class. Engineering “felt like the natural path” after growing up with a civil engineer father, but it was a pair of teachers — one in high school and one at CU — who convinced her to pursue chemical engineering.

“I had this incredible high school teacher who made chemistry fun and exciting,” she said, noting this teacher also taught STEM educator and TV host Steve Spangler. At CU, now-emeritus professor William Krantz taught her “how to use distillation in real life, working in the industry. That resonated with me because I wasn’t interested in graduate school — at least not in engineering.”

“The hardest climbs lead to the best views.”

Breaking into the field

Thonen spent nearly two decades in the oil and gas industry before returning to school for an Executive MBA at the University of Denver. During those years, she worked “upstream” managing oil-producing fields and then “downstream,” becoming the first woman at Amoco assigned to a fluid catalytic cracking unit — a “cat cracker” that converts heavy hydrocarbons into gasoline and diesel. She later managed the Suncor refinery in Commerce City.

“I was the first female refinery manager at that facility, and it was the hardest job I’ve ever had,” she said. “There’s constant pressure to control costs and stay profitable, but safety is always the foundation. I never wanted to face a family after a serious injury, and I’m proud I never had a fatality on my watch.”

Discovering the business side

Talking daily with operators, mechanics and staff across the refinery sparked her interest in the business side of engineering. She moved into a business development role that offered the flexibility to earn an EMBA while working full time.

“My MBA opened my eyes to different ways of doing things — not just the engineering logic approach,” Thonen says. “It helped me better understand what colleagues were trying to tell me.”

Soon, CU ��Ĵ�ý students with similar interests will be able to pursue the Bachelor of Science in integrated business and engineering (IBE), which blends technical training with business fundamentals.

“We’ve listened when employers tell us they need engineers who pair strong technical skills with real business insight,” said Kurt Maute, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “The integrated business and engineering degree gives students a competitive edge, combining rigorous mathematical and engineering training with an understanding of business processes and strategies.”

Closing the gap

Thonen retired in 2021 after more than three decades in the industry. While men still outnumber women in engineering, CU Engineering is closing the gap — the fall 2025 first-year class was nearly 31% women, up 17 percentage points from two decades ago.

“I always tell women: if you’re accepted into the engineering program, you belong there,” Thonen said. “Don’t ever doubt that. The hardest climbs lead to the best views.”

Nancy Thonen paired engineering expertise with business skills — an approach reflected in our new IBE program

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Scientists develop hydrogel platform that mimics human tissue

Susan Glairon — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:49:46 +0000

Scientists develop hydrogel platform that mimics human tissue Susan Glairon Fri, 03/13/2026 - 08:49

Susan Glairon

A new light-controlled hydrogel developed at CU ��Ĵ�ý mimics the movement and flexibility of real tissue, giving scientists a more realistic way to study cells and disease.

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Susan Avery, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient

miwi9607 — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:34:12 +0000

Susan Avery, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient miwi9607 Fri, 02/13/2026 - 10:34

Susan Avery, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recipient

Susan K. Avery is an atmospheric scientist with extensive experience as a leader within scientific institutions. Her research interests include studies of atmospheric circulation and precipitation, climate variability and water resources, and the development of new radar techniques and instruments for remote sensing. She also has an interest in scientific literacy and the role of science in public policy. She is the author or co-author of over 110 peer-reviewed articles and reports.

Avery is president emerita of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, having served in the leadership role there from 2008 to 2015. Prior to that she was on the faculty of the ��Ĵ�ý from 1982 to 2008, most recently holding the academic rank of professor of electrical and computer engineering. She served as the director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, where she facilitated new interdisciplinary research efforts spanning the geosciences and incorporating social and biological sciences. From 2004 to 2007, she served in interim positions as vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school, as well as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Avery received her Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1972 from Michigan State University and a doctorate in atmospheric science in 1978 from the University of Illinois.

Avery has given scientific presentations to a wide variety of lay and professional audiences. She has been active in Congressional outreach, including testimony and briefings; active in U.S. and international consortia dedicated to ocean and atmospheric research, observing and application; and worked with the governor’s committee to develop the Massachusetts Green Economy plan. She currently is enjoying “retirement” with travel adventures to places such as Jordan and Egypt, as well as keeping fit on her favorite hiking trails in Colorado.

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Alumnus establishes scholarship for students involved with ‘oSTEM’

Susan Glairon — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:17:04 +0000

Alumnus establishes scholarship for students involved with ‘oSTEM’ Susan Glairon Fri, 02/06/2026 - 09:17

Susan Glairon

From right, Thad Sauvain with his husband, Carl, in front of the Bernese Alps near Murren, Switzerland, in May 2025.

Thad Sauvain (ChemEngr’91) grew up in Colorado Springs in the 1980s, when the climate was largely anti-LGBTQ+ and conservative ministries such as Focus on the Family, headquartered just a few miles from his home, were actively opposing anti-discrimination policies.

Sauvain is part of the LGBTQ+ community, but during that period, he mostly kept that part of himself hidden.

“It was my transition to CU ��Ĵ�ý to get a BS in chemical engineering that allowed both parts of me—as an engineer and as a gay individual—to grow and thrive,” he said.

Sauvain recently established a legacy endowment in his estate plan to fund undergraduate scholarships for CU ��Ĵ�ý chemical and mechanical engineering majors, with preference given to students who demonstrate a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community through involvement in Out in STEM (oSTEM) or similar college programs.

Each year the endowment supports one student for four years of their college education.

“There’s a need to support students whose college funding may depend on families who are not accepting and who may be forced to choose between that funding and living authentically,” Sauvain said. “I want to support engineering students who struggle to thrive as LGBTQ+ individuals. I hope the endowment enables them to be their true selves while contributing to society as successful engineers.”

Thriving at CU

Sauvain studied chemical engineering at CU ��Ĵ�ý and was later recruited to join Chevron as a process engineer. He recently retired following a 33-year career with the company and is a member of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Advisory Board.

“My engineering degree prepared me for my career and helped me build the connections that launched it,” he said.

Three years after starting his role at Chevron, Sauvain became involved in the company’s campus recruiting for engineers, a role that eventually grew into his work as a liaison for Chevron’s gifts, donations and funding.

In the early 2000s, he helped establish a Chevron scholarship for those involved in CU ��Ĵ�ý’s LGBTQ+ community, similar to scholarships for other diversity organizations in place at the time, during “a time when it was not the norm.”

Thad Sauvain shortly after graduating from CU ��Ĵ�ý and
starting his career with Chevron in 1991.

“Some responded negatively to this new scholarship,” he said. “But Chevron’s senior management remained steadfast in its support of the new scholarship as it aligned with the company’s values and The Chevron Way.

“Every time I tell people that I went to CU ��Ĵ�ý, I feel a deep sense of pride,” he added. “Even back in the 1980s, it was a shining beacon of acceptance. I've seen that grow and broaden over the years, and I am very proud to be part of the CU community and a graduate of CU ��Ĵ�ý's College of Engineering.”

Looking ahead

Sauvain recently met with oSTEM students to talk about the climate for today’s LGBTQ+ community and its historical context.

“I told them that in 1998 when Matthew Shepard was killed, you could not be out and visible, gay, transgender, anything. And though it seems like we're taking several steps backwards now, it has gotten better since then, and long term, I fully believe that it will again get better.”

Sauvain emphasized the College of Engineering’s strong support for the LGBTQ community, noting that he has seen this commitment firsthand through his work with Chevron, his service on the Engineering Advisory Board, and now through the creation of this endowment.

“Being part of the LGBTQ+ community is only one aspect of my being, just as my training as a chemical engineer is another,” he said. “Both have enriched my life in ways I never expected. My chemical engineering degree from CU enabled me to build a successful 35-year career in an industry not necessarily known for being accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, during which I came out to everyone in my life. I attribute my college years at CU with giving me the confidence to become my true self, both as an LGBTQ individual and as a chemical engineer, and I hope that this endowment will help others following a similar path.”

To learn more about adding the CU Foundation to your estate planning, contact the CU ��Ĵ�ý Advancement Team.

Thad Sauvain (ChemEngr’91) credits his own time at CU ��Ĵ�ý, where he earned a BS in chemical engineering, with helping him thrive both as an engineer and as a LGBTQ+ individual.

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:53:18 +0000

How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break Charles Ferrer Thu, 02/05/2026 - 08:53

Aoife Henry (PhDElEngr‘24) is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: how to prevent costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning.

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Back to school success after 20 years away

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:14:47 +0000

Back to school success after 20 years away Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/02/2026 - 13:14

Jeff Zehnder

Praveen Kumar Myakala (MS-DS graduate ’24) earned his master’s in data science while juggling a full-time job and a family. The ��Ĵ�ý alumnus is a graduate of the interdisciplinary Data Science master’s program (MS-DS), offered online in partnership with Coursera.

As a non-traditional student, Myakala returned to education nearly two decades after completing his bachelors to take on the program, which provides students with education and training in machine learning, AI tools, data analytics, big data and statistical modeling.

He was able to finish the MS-DS in one year.

Why did you decide to go back to school for data science and what led you to choose CU ��Ĵ�ý?

There wasn’t a single big moment that triggered the decision, but there was a phase at work that stuck with me. I was architecting systems built around large-scale data processing, prediction pipelines, and KPI scorecards. From an engineering standpoint, I could design and ship them, but I didn’t really understand what was happening under the hood.

That gap kept nagging at me. I didn’t want machine learning to remain a black box in the systems I was building. I wanted to understand why certain models behaved the way they did, what trade-offs I was making, and how design decisions at the data level influenced outcomes.

At first, I explored online courses, but the more I thought about it, I felt I needed something more structured and immersive. While researching programs, CU ��Ĵ�ý’s MS in Data Science stood out immediately. The curriculum was rigorous, current, and thoughtfully designed, and the flexibility of a fully online format made it realistic alongside a full-time job and family life. Just as important, it felt like a program that truly understood and valued non-traditional students coming from industry backgrounds.

What was it like going back to school after being away for so long?

Honestly, the first few months were really humbling. Getting back to structured learning was a process, and there were moments where I had to take a step back and learn how to think like a student again.

But once I got past that initial discomfort, something clicked. Learning actually became exciting.

Topics in data mining, pattern discovery, feature engineering, and working with large messy datasets resonated in a way they never could have earlier in my career. I wasn't simply learning concepts in isolation; I was mapping them all the time to real systems that I had built and problems that I had faced at work.

This actually served to make the experience richer, because being away from school for so long gave me a new perspective, which let me appreciate the deeper learning process more intentionally.

Having a full-time job, a family, and school all at the same time is a balancing act. How did you manage it?

This is without doubt the toughest part. What truly made it possible was support, both at home and at work. My family understood why I was doing this and stood by me throughout the journey.

I spent the greater part of my study time in the evenings when the entire household had gone to bed. I would sit in my home office with a cup of tea and study assignments as well as lectures. The weekends were regularly spent on coursework too.

There were numerous occasions where I decided to dedicate my time to my coursework rather than spending time with my family or friends. It wasn’t an easy task, and there were some compromises made, but having an end goal in sight made all of this easier.

My team at work was also aware that I was pursuing the degree, and their encouragement and flexibility made a big difference.

I didn’t try to do everything at once or pretend it was easy. I stayed consistent, showed up whenever I could, and accepted that steady progress mattered more than getting everything perfect.

What kind of job are you doing now and how does the MS contribute to it?

I work in a senior engineering and leadership role at JPMorgan focused on AI-driven platforms, large-scale systems, and data-intensive decision-making. The MS sharpened how I think. It changed how I evaluate models, question assumptions, and design systems that balance performance, reliability, and responsibility. The degree didn’t replace my industry experience, but it gave me a stronger backbone to support the decisions I make every day.

In addition to your job in the private sector, you’re also actively publishing research. What interests you in research and keeps you engaged in that realm?

Industry work moves fast and is usually focused on delivering results within real-world constraints. Research gives me the space to slow down and think more carefully about the kinds of problems that don’t always get that time in day-to-day work. I am especially interested in distributed systems, how large systems continue to work reliably when data and computation are spread across many machines

Publishing research helps me connect what I see in practice with longer-term ideas and lessons. The MS program played an important role in bringing me back to that mindset and reminding me how much I enjoy asking deeper questions, not just building solutions, but understanding them.

Praveen Kumar Myakala (MDataSci'24) earned his master’s in data science while juggling a full-time job and a family. The program provides education and training in machine learning, AI tools, data analytics, big data and statistical modeling.

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Pradyumna Rao (MMechEngr'24)

miwi9607 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:47:05 +0000

Pradyumna Rao (MMechEngr'24) miwi9607 Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:47

Pradyumna Rao, 2026 Alumni Engagement Medal Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Alumni Engagement Medal Recipient

Campos Student Center Recipient

Pradyumna Rao completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, minors in computer science and physics, and a research focus in fusion energy systems. He was awarded the Ginsberg Family Award for Leadership, Service and Scholarship for his tenure as the vice president of the Wisconsin Union, where he led the creation of spaces for multicultural Greek student organizations.

After graduating, Rao worked as an analysis-led design engineer at Cummins Inc., conducting computational physics analysis and design efforts on natural gas and design engines. In 2022, he started his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at CU ��Ĵ�ý, where he conducted research into nuclear power in future power grids under Bri-Mathias Hodge at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute. During his master’s, he was awarded the American Society of Mechanical Engineers's Engineering4Change Fellowship, and he also founded and currently serves as an advisor to AAEIO, a professional development organization for students of South Asian and international origin at the Campos Student Center.

Rao worked as a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory after graduation, where he focused on resource adequacy, natural gas systems and electricity markets research efforts. Currently, he works as a researcher at TotalEnergies SE and serves as a member of the CU Engineering Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board.

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