University News

WIU School of Engineering and Technology to Host Engineering Alumni Power Half Hour

April 24, 2023

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MOLINE, IL - - The Western Illinois University School of Engineering and Technology will host an "Engineering Alumni Power Half Hour" from 4:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 in Riverfront Hall, rooms 103/104. This event will follow the Engineering Seminar happening from 4-5 p.m.

In addition to catching up with alumni, participants will have the opportunity to witness the senior civil design presentations led my Civil Engineering Professor Blair McDonald.

"It's always exciting to see our graduates progressing in their careers and succeeding in life," said McDonald "I love the chance meetings that occur and know that we should schedule more planned events for graduates."

McDonald started at WIU in August of 2012 teaching solid mechanics, material science and civil design courses in the original General Engineering program. For the past 11 years, he has taught the statics, strength of the material, structural analysis, steel design, concrete design, soil mechanics and foundation design courses with their associated laboratories. He also teaches and/or advises design teams in the senior project course. He champions peer-led learning, using spreadsheets for engineering calculations and analysis and having learning assistants in lower division classes; he established the ENGR 100 Engineering Study and Seminar course to promote students working and socializing together, to facilitate more effective learning, to improve utilization of time and to foster greater transfer of knowledge. While at WIU, he guided the development of the Civil Engineering program and has witnessed the approval and accreditation of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering programs.

McDonald is licensed as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in Utah; holds a doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Utah and is a Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

For more information, contact Pam Young at pa-young@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Lexi Dittmar (aj-dittmar@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing