Page 26 - Penn State Mechanical Engineering Magazine 2020

Department News
Martin W. Trethewey, whose career at Penn State has been honored through the creation of a new early career professorship.
New early career professorship established
In honor of a recently retired professor, a generous alumnus donation has enabled the creation of the Martin W. Trethewey Early Career Professorship.
In the spring, the Penn State mechanical engineering community gathered virtually for a surprise celebration. Ed Auslander, retired chief executive officer and board director of LORD Corporation and a double Penn State alumnus, announced a $400,000 gift to the department that will establish the Martin W. Trethewey Early Career Professorship. The gift will also
be matched by the University
for $100,000. The professorship will provide additional funds to a chosen faculty member to support and enhance their research and teaching endeavors.
Auslander, who was named as the Outstanding Engineering Alumnus in Mechanical Engineering by the Penn State College of Engineering in 2016, opened the event attended by more than 100 faculty, students, staff, and friends of the ME department, held on Zoom. He began by recounting his experience as an undergraduate student, particularly when he enrolled in a vibrations course taught by Martin Trethewey, professor of mechanical engineering.
“Soon, I developed a passion for vibration control because he made it so interesting,” Auslander said.
He explained Trethewey’s guidance and support, especially in directing him to his first summer internship with the LORD Corporation in 1983, had an enormous impact on him.
“In so many ways, this professor enabled all the great things to happen in my life,” he said. “The internship allowed me to buy an engagement ring for my wife, Elaine, and led me to my job at LORD where I spent my career. There is no better way to give back and pay forward to Penn State and Dr. Trethewey, than by establishing this early career professorship today.”
Trethewey’s research has focused on the analysis of machine dynamics from experimentally acquired
data. The research encompasses experimental techniques, instrumentation, signal processing, and system modeling. He has
supervised 50 graduate students and has published over 130 technical papers.
During the event, the inaugural recipient of the professorship
was also named. Anne Martin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will hold the designation for three years. Early Career Professorships are intended to help promising faculty members in the first decade of their careers to fulfill their potential as educators and researchers.
“I am very honored to be the first recipient of the Martin W. Trethewey Early Career Professorship,” she said. “I look forward using this professorship to continue my research to improve quality of
life and hopefully inspire young engineers the same way that Dr. Trethewey inspired Mr. Auslander.”
Martin’s Gait Optimization (GO)
Lab focuses on understanding
how people walk through a mix
of theoretical, simulation and experimental work. She also recently received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.
The funds provided by the professorship will allow the GO
Lab to purchase equipment for experimental projects, pursue exploratory research and provide additional funding opportunities for undergraduate researchers.
Martin noted that she often teaches the vibrations course that Auslander spoke about during his announcement.
“It is one of my favorite courses to teach, and it seems fitting sinde Dr. Trethewey taught Mr. Auslander
in vibration, which had a profound impact on his life,” she said.
Trethewey, who joined the virtual celebration along with his family, retired in July 2020. He said that he felt humbled by the professorship.
“It has been an incredible journey, my career at Penn State,” he said. “It is now time for me to pass
the baton. Thank you to Ed and Elaine—this is incredible!”
2266 MENews 2020