News and Media Highlights in Engineering Education and Biomechanics

Alvernia’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Programs Receive ABET Accreditation (2026)

I am very proud to see this milestone for Alvernia Engineering.

It is remarkable to look at how far this project has come. The first engineering students entered Alvernia University in 2021, and I joined in fall 2022. At that point, there was still so much to build. Today, Alvernia has two engineering programs accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and the School continues to grow in nearly every direction.

The accreditation is effective retroactively to October 1, 2024, which means it covers both of our graduating cohorts to date. That makes this milestone especially important for the students who took a chance on a new engineering school and helped us build it along the way.

For me, this marks the end of Phase 1, the launch of Alvernia Engineering, and the beginning of Phase 2, expansion.

That expansion is already happening. In 2025, we launched Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering Technology and Management, and the Engineering Experience and Professional Skills minor. In fall 2026, we launched Biomedical Engineering. Alvernia now offers the only bachelor’s degree programs in Berks County in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering Technology and Management.

We also welcomed our largest incoming engineering class yet, along with several transfer students from associate-degree programs and other universities. We are building four Civil Engineering laboratories over the next two years and working to expand engineering beyond Reading.

At the same time, we are continuing to build pathways into engineering. We are strengthening partnerships with K-12 schools and community colleges, growing our industry partnerships, and expanding opportunities for students to work on real engineering problems. Our Engineering Jam reached about 350 middle- and high-school students last year, and we are working to make this year’s event even larger.

Most importantly, we are seeing outcomes. Our students are earning internships and gaining real-world experience, and our graduates are securing engineering positions.

None of this happens without people believing in what we were building. I am grateful to the late John R. Post and the Post family for their commitment to engineering at Alvernia, to our industry partners who helped shape and support these programs, to the students who took a chance on a new engineering school, and to the many donors and supporters who helped make this possible.

From the start, we have focused on strong technical preparation, hands-on design, and real engineering problems connected to our region. This accreditation validates that work and gives us a strong foundation for what comes next.

There is still a lot more to build as we continue expanding engineering opportunities for students, industry, and communities across Berks County and beyond.

Undergraduate Research in Stroller Running Biomechanics through Alvernia SURF (2026)

Alvernia engineering student Liam Grubb completed a 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship project examining surface EMG signal processing and timing during stroller running. I served as Liam’s faculty research mentor as he worked with data from our ongoing biomechanics research and developed skills in research methods, signal processing, and analysis.

Promotion to Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering (2026)

A reflection on my promotion to Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the work behind it, including building a young engineering school, supporting student outcomes, and continuing applied biomechanics research. Read the full article below on LinkedIn.

Running with a stroller biomechanics study featured in Washington Post, Newsweek, and The Conversation (2025)

Media coverage and university updates for our jogging stroller biomechanics study, including the key finding of reduced impact per step alongside increased torsional loading. These links highlight practical takeaways for runners, injury prevention, and future stroller design. 

Alvernia’s John R. Post School of Engineering Celebrates First Graduating Class (2025)

In May 2025, the John R. Post School of Engineering celebrated its first graduating class. Twelve students who entered Alvernia as the university was launching engineering in 2021 became the School’s first graduates.

National Engineers Week outreach at Alvernia’s John R. Post School of Engineering with FirstEnergy and S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation (2024)

A recap of Engineers Week outreach that brought local high school students to Alvernia for hands-on engineering experiences, including the Engineering Jam design challenge sponsored by FirstEnergy and supported by the S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation. 

Inaugural director of Alvernia’s John R. Post School of Engineering expands access, outreach, and biomechanics research in Berks County (2024)

Alvernia University profile covering my role building the John R. Post School of Engineering, expanding student support and community outreach, and continuing applied biomechanics research with students. 

Student biomechanics posters at American Society of Biomechanics 2023 for Alvernia and Penn State Berks (2023)

Student-led biomechanics posters and conference participation, highlighting applied research and professional development through the American Society of Biomechanics community. 

Alvernia Magazine Summer 2023 faculty spotlight on engineering leadership and jogging stroller biomechanics research (2023)

A faculty spotlight feature connecting engineering program leadership with ongoing biomechanics and gait research, including the jogging stroller study and related lab work. 

Co-hosting the American Society of Biomechanics East Coast Conference (2023)

Highlights from co-hosting the ASB East Coast Conference, with an emphasis on building regional research connections and creating a strong professional experience for students. 

Virtual Biomechanics Day (2021)

A virtual National Biomechanics Day event designed to introduce prospective students and families to biomechanics, including how engineering and mathematics help explain human movement and injury prevention. 

Earlier Media and Projects

Earlier coverage and project highlights from my prior work at Penn State, including student-focused stories and applied engineering and biomechanics projects.