ST.THOMAS ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA | FALL 2026 Engineer
SPECIAL IN MINNESOTA We’re Building Something
It has been another year of exciting accomplishments and growth for the College of Engineering. From innovative student projects and impactful research to the continued growth of our partnerships with industry and community, the stories in this issue highlight the vibrant momentum that defines our college. Our greatest strength remains the students, faculty and staff who bring our programs to life, supported by state-of-the-art facilities that fuel innovation and collaboration. Together, these elements make for a truly distinctive engineering education, one that prepares our graduates to lead with both skill and purpose. As always, this magazine is just a snapshot of the energy here at St. Thomas. I invite you to connect with us, drop us a note, follow along on social media, or come visit.
With gratitude, Dr. Don Weinkauf Dean, College of Engineering
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS Celebrating our
BALANCING TRACK & STUDIES Elsie Kmecak is a member and team captain of the NCAA women’s cross country and track teams on campus. “While it is sometimes stressful to balance athletics and an engineering curriculum, I find the challenge exciting and motivating. My attitude toward one area tends to influence others.” TWO MISSIONS: ONE BELIEF Jote Tadesse ‘01, an alumnus of the MS in Software Engineering program, has built a successful technology career and returned to St. Thomas as chair of the Strategic Advisory Board for the graduate programs. His journey from student to industry leader and board chair reflects the lasting impact of a St. Thomas education and his commitment to helping shape opportunities for the next generation. Jote Tadesse and Dr. Manjeet Rege share a vision of expanding access to education and technology, combining Jote’s industry and nonprofit experience with Manjeet’s leadership in St. Thomas’ graduate programs to prepare the next generation of innovators.
TOMMIE MOTOR SPORTS IN THE COMMUNITY Tommie Motor Sports organized an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup along MN-13, attended Caffeine & Octane in Medina, and collaborated with other Minnesota Baja teams to introduce Baja and collegiate engineering opportunities to the community, especially younger generations. TOMMIE LEADERS Ben Montville serves as President of the St. Thomas Robotics team, leading innovation and collaboration across projects. He also manages the Rapid Prototyping Lab, helping students turn concepts into reality. His leadership, technical skill, and passion for hands-on engineering embody the spirit of St. Thomas Engineering. ST. THOMAS CIVIL HOSTS ASCE SYMPOSIUM The American Society of Civil Engineers hosted their student symposium at St. Thomas this last spring. Our civil students had the opportunity to plan and run events, compete in the concrete canoe and steel bridge competitions, and host civil engineers from all over the Midwest.
MN WILD HOCKEY LAB Tommie engineers kicked off the first annual Minnesota Wild Hockey Lab competition over spring break, developing innovative ideas to improve hockey shin pads and help reduce injuries in the game. Students presented their solutions to a panel of judges from the Minnesota Wild, showcasing creativity, problem solving, and real- world impact.
EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY Celebrating our
Dr. Manjeet Rege
TRAINING TOMORROW’S AUTOMATION WORKFORCE Dr. Tom Secord trains future robotics and automation professionals in the Blattner Robotics Lab, where students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard robots, PLCs, sensors, and machine vision systems. By pairing classroom theory with real-world equipment and research projects, he helps students develop the skills needed to enter the evolving manufacturing industry with confidence.
CELEBRATING OUR ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN IN ENGINEERING
Dr. Tom Secord
During the beginning months of 2026, we gathered the stories of some of our faculty, students, alumni and other notable women. We are proud of these women for their contributions to research, academia, the College of Engineering, the St. Thomas community, and for consistently working toward The Common Good. THE IMPACT OF FOREVER CHEMICALS Dr. Ali Ling co-authored studies on theenvironmental and economic costs of PFAS“forever chemicals,” influencing regulatoryapproaches in Minnesota and Europe.
Dr. Ali Ling
AI AND SOCIETY: RESEARCH, TESTIMONY, AND LEADERSHIP Dr. Manjeet Rege is shaping Minnesota’s AI response through research and policy. His report found that 813,000 Minnesota workers face high exposure to generative AI, and he testified before the Minnesota Senate Labor Committee on balancing worker protection with innovation. His book, Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence, grounds this work in principles for responsible AI development. AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE Dr. Chong Xu is developing robotic platforms for individualized horticultural care — including targeted drip irrigation, mechanical weed removal, and on-demand fertilization — to reduce the environmental hazards of conventional agriculture. EXAMINING SOCIAL MEDIA: IMPACT ON YOUTH Dr. John Chandler served as an expert witness in two high-profile cases against Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, explaining how social media advertising works and assessing whether platforms prioritized revenue over user safety. He also used statistical models to estimate platform revenues from youth users during the class period.
Dr. Chong Xu
Dr. John Chandler
THE INNOVATOR’S MINDSET Dr. Kundan Nepal focuses on the future of engineering. Nepal has increased partnerships in a way that touches student innovators, clean-tech entrepreneurs and national research partners through his roles as the director of the St. Thomas Applied and Renewable Technologies (START) Center and head of the New Product Tech Ventures (NPTV) Fellowship Program.
Dr. Kundan Nepal
EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Celebrating our
START CENTER The College of Engineering START Center’s new High-Performance Computing cluster includes 20 compute nodes with 2,500+ AMD processor cores and four NVIDIA H100 GPUs. Its high-speed network and 700+ terabytes of storage support complex simulations, advanced AI training, and large-scale data analysis. MAKING THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING SMARTER Through an exclusive partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, St. Thomas and Third Wave Systems offer free advanced machining modeling training. The Machining AdvantEdge program combines on-demand eLearning with hands-on CNC optimization boot camps. STRENGTHENING INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS St. Thomas leads a five-university consortium awarded $2 million from the National Science Foundation to expand industry collaboration in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, AI and more. By sharing resources and expertise, the consortium drives innovation and addresses industry needs.
ADVANCING MICROGRID INNOVATION A $2 million grant from Bright Green Energy supports the Center for Microgrid Research, where students and faculty advance technologies that strengthen the reliability, resilience and sustainability of the electric grid. Through hands-on research and industry partnerships, the center prepares future engineers to advance a secure, carbon-free energy future.
EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES Celebrating our
FEDERAL AND STATE SUPPORT FUELS EXPANSION AT THE CENTER FOR MICROGRID RESEARCH The Center for Microgrid Research is expanding, thanks to over $28 million in federal and state funding. This support fuels new research, a growing team, and a new facility with a second microgrid. The expansion will allow students to work on real-world microgrid solutions, preparing them to lead in clean energy and grid modernization. FIVE-AXIS MACHINING CENTER A new HAAS UMC 500-SS five-axis CNC machining center expands the College of Engineering’s fabrication capabilities. Housed in the Center for Advanced Manufacturing, it supports rapid production of complex parts for research, senior design, Tommie Motorsports and industry prototypes. SHAPING STATE-OF-THE-ART STUDENTS Featuring multiple industry-standard robots, the Blattner Robotics Lab provides practical hands-on experience and research opportunities for St. Thomas students in multiple disciplines, preparing them for real-world applications.
3D DATA VISUALIZATION STUDIO Funded by an Army Research Lab grant, the Data Visualization Studio’s 32-foot curved 3D display wall supports immersive exploration of complex data and creative projects, from Ming Dynasty art to jet engines and virtual tours.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT WORK IN THE WATER LAB
The Water Lab offers students the opportunity to develop critical skills in water quality analysis and environmental resource management. It’s an essential space for future engineers committed to solving global water issues. SCHOENECKER CENTER ACHIEVES LEED GOLD The 130,000-square-foot Schoenecker Center earned LEED Gold for its sustainable design, including energy-efficient systems and a rainwater-recycling cistern. It advances St. Thomas’ carbon neutrality goals while saving more than $100,000 annually in energy costs.
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