Alumni

Alumni Connections Week

eoboyle — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:13:49 +0000

Alumni Connections Week

Alumni

eoboyle Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:13

2026-09-14T00:00:00-0400 _2026-09-19T23:59:59-0400

Save the Date!

Details coming soon.

Alumni Connections Week

Major Sobey Golf Outing

eoboyle — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:12:44 +0000

Major Sobey Golf Outing

Alumni

eoboyle Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:12

2026-06-13T00:00:00-0400 _2026-06-13T23:59:59-0400

Save the Date!

Details coming soon.

Major Sobey Golf Outing

SAE at the DAC

eoboyle — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:11:20 +0000

SAE at the DAC

Alumni

eoboyle Tue, 11/25/2025 - 12:11

2026-04-15T00:00:00-0400 _2026-04-15T23:59:59-0400

Save the Date!

Details coming soon.

SAE at the DAC

Golden Circle Brunch

eoboyle — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:12:06 +0000

Golden Circle Brunch

Alumni

eoboyle Tue, 07/08/2025 - 13:12

2025-09-14T11:00:00-0400 _2025-09-14T13:00:00-0400

911�� Learning Commons

You and a guest are warmly invited to join President Robert K. McMahan and First Lady Karen McMahan for a special brunch in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Class of 1975. If you've not returned to campus recently, tours will be available immediately following the gathering.

Members of the Class of 1975 and prior classes are welcome to attend.

RSVP Here

Alumni Connections Week

eoboyle — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:36:39 +0000

Alumni Connections Week

Alumni

eoboyle Fri, 06/27/2025 - 09:36

2025-09-08T00:00:00-0400 _2025-09-13T23:59:59-0400

For the Schedule of Events, click here

Why Industry Grabs Kettering Grads First: A Blueprint for Career-Ready Talent

rnorris — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:34:30 +0000

Why Industry Grabs Kettering Grads First: A Blueprint for Career-Ready Talent

Alumni

Co-op

Faculty & Staff

rnorris Mon, 06/23/2025 - 11:34

In a conversation with Chris Holman of Michigan Business Network at the Mackinac Policy Conference, 911�� President Dr. Robert K. McMahan lays out what makes a Kettering education different — and why that difference matters.

Kettering students don’t wait to learn by doing. From year one, they rotate between intensive academic terms and full-time professional Co-ops in leading industries. This fusion of theory and practice builds more than résumés. It builds leaders who graduate into positions far beyond the entry-level.

Kettering students build their careers alongside industry leaders. Employers guide their growth through each Co-op term, often resulting in job offers before graduation.

Listen to the full interview to hear how Kettering’s model builds a workforce industry needs.

Eight Kettering Alumnae Named Among Top 100 Women in North American Auto Industry

rnorris — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:45:25 +0000

Eight Kettering Alumnae Named Among Top 100 Women in North American Auto Industry

Alumni

Rankings

rnorris Wed, 05/28/2025 - 08:45

Kettering Built leaders are recognized for their innovation, impact, and influence in shaping the future of mobility.

Eight trailblazing 911�� alumnae have earned a spot on Automotive News’ 2025 list of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. Representing global companies like General Motors, 3M, Toyota, Novelis, and Sion Power, these women are driving innovation, leading teams, and redefining what leadership looks like in the future of mobility.

Each of these accomplished professionals started with the same foundation: a Kettering education rooted in real work, high standards, and relentless drive. From executive roles in engineering to battery innovation, manufacturing, sustainability, and connectivity, these women exemplify the results of Kettering’s rigorous academic and paid professional Co-op model: They’re decisive, future-focused, and in positions of influence in the North American Auto Industry.

Meet the Honorees

Mary Barra ’85, Chair and CEO, General Motors

Marking 20 years on the Automotive News Leading Women list, Barra continues to guide GM through one of the most ambitious industry evolutions in history. The first woman to lead a major global automaker, she has overseen GM’s pivot to electric and autonomous vehicles while championing agility, innovation, and a culture of rapid problem-solving. Her leadership is about more than business — it’s about inspiring a generation of future engineers and decision-makers.

Wendy Bauer ’98, Group President, Transportation & Electronics, 3M
With a career spanning GM, Eaton, Denso, AWS, and now 3M, Bauer understands the complexity and pace of the auto industry better than most. At 3M, she leads global teams in delivering next-gen materials and solutions for transportation and aerospace. Her experience bridging legacy systems with cutting-edge tech makes her a vital force at the intersection of digital and physical innovation.

Erin Buchanan M’00, General Manager, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
Buchanan began her career as one of six employees launching a supplier factory from the ground up. Today, she leads a three-plant operation responsible for Lexus and Toyota production, where she oversaw the first global dual-brand line transition — completed remotely during the pandemic. Known for her empathetic and empowering leadership style, she builds cultures that welcome innovation, inclusion, and risk-taking.

Mandi Damman ’07, Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles, General Motors
From Co-op student to executive chief engineer, Damman has spent two decades advancing EV and AV technology at GM. Her work on the Cadillac Escalade IQ, a program she likens to a third child, showcases her passion for innovation and attention to technical excellence. A mentor, mother, and relentless problem-solver, she founded GM’s Empower Hour to create community and opportunity for women across the company.

Pamela Fletcher ’89, CEO, Sion Power
Fletcher was 17 when she walked onto the factory floor with a stopwatch and never looked back. As a pioneer in electric propulsion, she led the Chevy Volt program and helped bring the Bolt EV to life. Now CEO of a next-gen battery firm, she’s focused on embedding AI and material science innovation into energy solutions. Fletcher leads with confidence, curiosity, and a belief in giving people room to exceed expectations.

Doneen McDowell M’02, Vice President, Manufacturing – Full-Size Trucks, General Motors
McDowell has built a career across nine GM plants in stamping, assembly, supply chain, and labor relations. She led GM’s ventilator partnership during the pandemic and oversaw the launch of the Escalade IQ, applying her philosophy of inclusive, servant leadership. A former college athlete, she views manufacturing as a team sport and is committed to developing diverse talent and high-performing cultures across GM’s operations.

Kristin Toth M’02, Executive Director, Electrical Systems, Software and Connectivity, General Motors
Toth’s career spans nearly three decades of GM’s technology evolution. From early purchasing roles to leading the semiconductor response during a global supply chain crisis, her leadership is collaborative, focused, and future-facing. Now at the helm of GM’s vehicle intelligence systems, she guides the company’s transformation into a tech-first mobility leader, driven by data, connected systems, and autonomous capability.

Jamie Zinser ’99, Vice President, Automotive, North America, Novelis
An engineer by training and a sustainability advocate by mission, Zinser leads Novelis’ North American automotive business. Her team is pioneering high-recycled-content aluminum and sustainable manufacturing practices. A champion for women in STEM, she mentors young professionals through programs like Women of Tomorrow and balances high-level strategy with hands-on leadership and the occasional waffle breakfast with her four kids.

Built at Kettering. Leading the Future.

These eight alumnae are not exceptions. They are examples. 911��’s Co-op model and rigorous academics prepare students not just to enter the workforce but also to lead it. These women prove what’s possible when ambition meets the right foundation. Their recognition is a testament to what Kettering students achieve when they’re challenged to push harder, aim higher, and innovate further. Because while others wait for change, Kettering leaders engineer it.

911�� Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

rnorris — Tue, 27 May 2025 12:53:52 +0000

911�� Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

rnorris Tue, 05/27/2025 - 08:53

911�� announces that Sherry House ’94, Chief Financial Officer of Ford Motor Company and an internationally recognized leader in finance and mobility innovation, will deliver the commencement address at the University’s ceremony on Saturday, June 21, at its historic Atwood Stadium. In recognition of her industry leadership and profound impact on the mobility sector, 911�� will award Sherry House the honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration during the ceremony.

A transformative figure for her work helping shape the future of mobility, House has held pivotal leadership roles at Ford, Waymo, and Lucid Motors. Her work spans electric vehicles, autonomous platforms, and venture capital, driving forward innovation at the intersection of technology, business, and engineering. Her path from Co-op student to C-suite executive is a clear example of the caliber of talent Kettering creates, building high-impact leaders in fast-changing industries.

“The prestige and academic rigor of Kettering is what drew me here initially,” said House. “I was the first person in my family to earn a Bachelor's degree. Kettering enabled me to hold a corporate job at 17-years-old so that I could work while I went to school. At Kettering I learned to thrive in new situations, discovered my passion for innovation, and developed strong analytical skills.”

House earned dual degrees in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, launching her career through Kettering’s signature Co-op model. Her trajectory – from R&D engineer to financial strategist – set the tone for a career defined by both technical fluency and visionary leadership. She pushed innovation further and faster across venture capital, electric vehicle startups, and autonomous platforms in some of the biggest names in automotive manufacturing.

“The skills learned at Kettering transcend industry, function and level,” House said. “Critical thinking and a first principles mindset provides benefits in both high-growth nascent businesses, as well as legacy industries undergoing transformation. It’s not hard for me to see Kettering's impact on my own journey - not just at the outset of my career, but along the way it gave me the confidence and ability to pursue new opportunities successfully.”

“Sherry House exemplifies the kind of innovative leadership that grows from a Kettering education,” said Dr. Robert K. McMahan, President of 911��. “Her work in advancing global mobility is a testament to the impact our graduates are prepared to make. As she returns to address the Class of 2025, she brings a message of resilience, vision, and purpose. Her journey is proof of what we know: that Kettering graduates are uniquely equipped to lead through change and shape the future with intellect, integrity, and resolve.”

The 2025 Commencement will honor more than 340 undergraduates from 911��’s Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Management, and Mechanical Engineering degree programs — students who turn ambition into action and learning into leadership. Due to Kettering’s unique cooperative education model, each of these students has completed a rigorous course of study in their chosen discipline, including a master level thesis, and will have completed 2.5 years of paid Co-op work upon graduation, allowing them to start their careers in positions far beyond the entry-level. This unparalleled integration of academics and industry-embedded Co-op experience has led The Wall Street Journal to name 911�� as one of the Top 10 Schools in the Nation for Career Preparation. As such, Kettering graduates rank number one when it comes to starting salaries in Michigan (SmartAsset).

911�� will also confer more than 150 graduate degrees in Business Administration, Engineering, Lean Manufacturing, Data Science and Data Analytics, Operations Management, Engineering Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering Autonomous Vehicles, Engineering Electric Vehicles, and Technical Master of Business Administration.

The University will also honor Frank Perna, Jr. ‘60, the retired CEO of MSC Software, with the degree of Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa. Perna holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from 911��. Perna spent over 50 years as a registered Professional Engineer working at a number of industry leaders, including General Motors, Sun Electric, Bell & Howell, Whittaker Corporation, EOS Corporation, Software.com, MagneTek, CalAmp, Inc.[CAMP], Intellect Inc., and PingID. He now serves as Director of The Valentine Foundation, which funds critical educational and conservational activities.

Evening of Distinction & Determination

eoboyle — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:05:30 +0000

Evening of Distinction & Determination

Alumni

eoboyle Wed, 05/07/2025 - 15:05

2025-10-16T17:30:00-0400 _2025-10-16T21:00:00-0400

Daxton Hotel

President Robert K. McMahan and First Lady Karen McMahan invite you to a special evening recognizing our distinguished alumni and donors.

5:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
6:30 p.m. Dinner & Program

Daxton Hotel

298 S. Old Woodward Ave.
Birmingham, MI 48009

RSVP by September 30th, 2025 online at kettering.edu/eveningofdistinctionn or by calling (810) 762-9883. Recommended dress is semi-formal or business attire.

Sneak peek from last year's event

RSVP Here

911��’s Bastiaan Receives Prestigious Forest McFarland Award at 2025 SAE WCX

rnorris — Thu, 01 May 2025 14:21:40 +0000

911��’s Bastiaan Receives Prestigious Forest McFarland Award at 2025 SAE WCX

Alumni

Faculty & Staff

Mechanical Engineering

rnorris Thu, 05/01/2025 - 10:21

Dr. Jennifer Bastiaan ’97, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, a dedicated leader in engineering education, and a longtime advocate for industry collaboration, has received the 2025 SAE Forest McFarland Award for her outstanding contributions to SAE International’s engineering events. She was given the honor during the 2025 SAE World Congress Experience (WCX), held April 8 through 10 in Detroit — the premier global event for automotive engineering professionals.

Established in 1979, the Forest McFarland Award honors individuals who have made significant and lasting impacts in the planning, developing, and disseminating of technical knowledge through SAE conferences and professional development programs. Dr. Bastiaan’s decades-long leadership in organizing SAE technical sessions and fostering industry-academic engagement has made her an invaluable force within the organization.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by SAE, an organization that has shaped my own career and continues to drive progress in the industry,” Bastiaan said. “SAE has been instrumental in connecting engineers, researchers, and students in meaningful ways, and I’m proud to contribute to that mission.”

As chair of SAE’s Materials Modeling and Testing Committee, Dr. Bastiaan has played a critical role in orchestrating key sessions at WCX, ensuring the highest level of technical content and industry relevance. She leads three major sessions at WCX, including those on vehicle dynamics and tire mechanics, as well as a student-focused session, Motorsports 101, which she pioneered to give university teams a platform to present their work and engage with industry leaders.

A 911�� alumna and industry veteran, Dr. Bastiaan spent two decades at Roush Industries before returning to Kettering as a faculty member in 2015. Her deep ties to industry and dedication to hands-on education reflect Kettering’s commitment to producing graduates who don’t just enter the workforce — they lead it.

At 911��, Dr. Bastiaan is the Faculty Advisor to two Formula SAE teams, the Internal Combustion team and the Electric team. She is also a Faculty Co-advisor to four other SAE student teams, including AutoDrive Challenge II, Baja SAE, SAE Aero Design, and SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge.

“The WCX event is where the future of automotive engineering takes shape,” she said. “I hope my experience encourages more Kettering students, faculty, alumni, and stakeholders to get involved because SAE is a powerful platform for innovation and collaboration.”

With attendance reaching over 10,000 professionals annually, WCX is recognized as the cornerstone event for the automotive engineering community, attracting experts from across academia and industry to exchange cutting-edge research and best practices.

Dr. Bastiaan’s leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to student engagement exemplify Kettering’s legacy of producing bold, forward-thinking problem-solvers. Her recognition with the Forest McFarland Award solidifies her place among the industry’s most influential voices.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mechanical Engineering

Alumni

Alumni Connections Week

Major Sobey Golf Outing

SAE at the DAC

Golden Circle Brunch

Alumni Connections Week

Why Industry Grabs Kettering Grads First: A Blueprint for Career-Ready Talent

Eight Kettering Alumnae Named Among Top 100 Women in North American Auto Industry

911������ Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

Evening of Distinction & Determination

911������’s Bastiaan Receives Prestigious Forest McFarland Award at 2025 SAE WCX

911�� Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

911��’s Bastiaan Receives Prestigious Forest McFarland Award at 2025 SAE WCX