Steven Cramer, a recognized global leader in chromatographic bioprocessing and the William Weightman Walker Professor of Polymer Engineering, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Cramer was cited for “distinguished contributions to the field of chromatographic bioprocessing, achieved through combined experimental and computational approaches.”  

Richard W. Siegel, the Robert W. Hunt Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and founding director of the Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Election to NAI fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

Jeffrey Joseph has been named commanding officer and professor of naval science for the Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC) program. He is a submarine officer and joins Rensselaer after having command of the USS Nebraska and USS Memphis. In this role, Joseph will supervise the ethical, professional, and military development of NROTC students to ensure that they are prepared and qualified for commissioning as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.

Aparna Gupta, Lally School of Management associate professor of quantitative finance and risk management, has been invited, following a rigorous selection process, to join the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) as a visiting researcher. She will work on several projects, contributing to or leading the efforts of the Office of Research and Data Services’ Analytics group.

Will Fahey, manager of professional and organizational development in the Division of Human Resources, was named the 2017 Pillar of Rensselaer. The Pillar Award, the highest award bestowed by Rensselaer on a member of the staff, is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated an understanding of Rensselaer’s mission and history, has served as a role model for other employees, shows concern for students and their welfare, and adds to the human dimension of Rensselaer.

Joe Chow, power grid control expert and professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering, has been named Institute Professor of Engineering, one of the highest and most prestigious honors bestowed upon a Rensselaer faculty member. Over the past three decades, Chow has been at the cutting edge of electric power systems engineering. His work in modeling and control of large-scale power systems has growing applications in development and maintenance of smart grids. He has published more than 250 papers in technical journals and conference proceedings.

Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, professor of biological sciences and associate director of the Darrin Fresh Water Institute, has been appointed to the Drinking Water Quality Council by New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. The council will guide New York’s actions to ensure that all communities across the state have access to clean drinking water.

David Mendonça, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering, has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Governors of IEEE’s Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Society. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE’s SMC Society is a world-leading society for the advancement of theory and application in systems science and engineering, human-machine systems, and cybernetics.

Linda Pitzi Jojo ’87, ’92G, executive vice president, technology, and chief digital officer at United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, and T.J. Wojnar Jr. ’80, vice president of corporate strategic planning at ExxonMobil, have joined the Rensselaer Board of Trustees. As chief digital officer at United Continental Holdings, Jojo is responsible for the airline’s digital and mobile presence, including United.com and mobile apps, as well as its technology systems, platforms, and infrastructure. Wojnar was appointed vice president at ExxonMobil in August 2017. Previously, he served as president of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (EMRE), which engages in the research, exploration, and production of crude oil and natural gas. As president of EMRE, Wojnar oversaw more than 3,000 engineers and scientists.

Michell Tollinchi-Michel has been appointed assistant vice president for student transitions. She will collaborate with community partners to ensure high-quality programs and services that will contribute to the successful transition of students from pre-college through graduation. Prior to joining Rensselaer, Tollinchi-Michel was the associate dean for academic enrichment and community initiatives at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she was primarily responsible for the oversight of access and opportunity programs for a diverse student population.