Faculty and Families Celebrate 2016 MSEM Graduates

On a warm May evening the week before Tufts University Commencement, 2016 graduates from both the evening and weekend M.S. in Engineering Management (MSEM) cohorts—a total of 62, along with faculty and their guests—gathered together at a celebratory reception to commemorate their accomplishments and honor their classmates.

The evening passed quickly at 51 Winthrop Street as everyone eagerly introduced their guests to classmates and faculty members. Students, faculty, staff, and guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, and exchanged laughs remembering graduates’ last two years of hard work and study. Some of the youngest party-goers enjoyed dancing along to the jazz band keeping the mood light.

Tufts Gordon Institute Executive Director Mark Ranalli drew from his own career experience and encouraged the graduates to take risks and have confidence in themselves and the skills they have developed in the past two years. In addition, Engineering Management Director Mary Viola recognized the important role of partners and families in supporting the graduates in their academic and professional journeys.

To cap off the evening’s festivities, several students were presented with awards for their contributions to the Class of 2016. Kathryn Jinks, Development Engineer at Phillips Healthcare, received the 2016 MSEM Outstanding Student Award, presented by Professor of the Practice Partha Ghosh. Kathryn used her remarks to honor several of her classmates for their integral contributions to her own learning throughout the MSEM experience. She remarked that she is eager to see what great things her colleagues continue to achieve.

Gordon Institute faculty members Ewa Winston and Sam Liggero also awarded eight students with Distinguished Student Awards for their notable academic achievements including:

• Eric Austin, Electrical Engineer, Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
• Trevor Criswell, Energy Services and Planning Manager, Wellesley Municipal Light Plant
• Kristopher Cui, Engineering Manager, Automation and Controls, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
• John Hamnett, Product Management Engineer II, DePuy Synthes
• Katherine Jorgensen, Senior Engineer, Engineering Planning Section Manager, AbbVie Bioresearch Center
• Michael McNulty, Senior Business Analyst, Tufts University
• Mark Maselli, Process Engineer I, Shire Pharmaceuticals
• Walter Zesk, Co-Founder, Forim LLC
   

The MSEM Outstanding Student award and Distinguished Student awards are granted upon consideration of the nomination committee and recommendations from the graduating class.

The event concluded with a loud applause for the M.S. in Engineering Management 2016 graduates. Looking back on this year’s graduating class, Engineering Management Director Mary Viola remarked, “As with each class, we are grateful for the hard work and contributions each student has made to the MSEM cohort experience. We look forward to hearing of their latest promotions and accomplishments in the years to come.”