Michael A. Scanlin, Ph.D., P.G.
Professor of Engineering & Geosciences,
Department Chair
Geophysics

Office: Esbenshade 184 
Phone: 717- 361-1323
Email: scanlima@etown.edu

Michael A. Scanlin received an A.B. in Physics from Franklin & Marshall College, and M.S. in Geophysics, and Ph.D. in Geosciences from the Pennsylvania State University.

He is a licensed Professional Geologist in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was formerly a senior executive at R.E. Wright Environmental Inc., UGI Corporation, and Chevron USA where his primary responsibilities were in the areas of resource exploration and environmental project management.

His current academic research interests include: delineation of the subsurface structure and tectonic mechanisms of the Appalachian fold-thrust belt using seismic imagery, and the utilization of near-surface geophysical methods for environmental site characterization.

He teaches earth system science and engineering geophysics. His personal teaching philosophy emphasizes an understanding of the context and relevance of scientific inquiry and development of critical observational and thinking skills.

Joseph Wunderlich, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering,
Associate Department Chair,
Computer Engineering Program Coordinator
Robotics,Supercomputers,Architectural Engineering

Office: Esbenshade 160-C
Phone: 717- 361-1295,  717-368-9715
Email: wunderjt@etown.edu
WEBSITE       

Joseph Wunderlich received a BS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Masters of Engineering in Engineering Science from the Pennsylvania State University, and a PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Delaware. Additionally, he completed a year as a Physics grad at San Francisco State University, and 39 credits towards a 2nd BS in Urban Planning (Environmental Design) at the University of California at San Diego.

In 1999 he began coordinating the Elizabethtown College computer engineering program and founded the Robotics and Machine Intelligence Lab; in 2004 he was the first Elizabethtown engineering faculty member to earn tenure and promotion. Previously he worked for Purdue University as an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering technology, for IBM as researcher & advisory-level engineer on IBM S/390 mainframe supercomputers, for AI DuPont Children's Hospital as a robotics researcher, and for San Francisco State University as an astronomy lecturer. In the 1980's he had an architectural and related engineering career including ~$70M of buildings in Texas and California -- and worked part-time as an environmental planner for San Diego County.

Dr. Wunderlich is presently working with the Italian government to assess the quality of research in Italian Universities, and he recently taught a PhD-level engineering  course in “Advanced robotics with applications to space exploration” at the University of Trento in Italy.

Dr. Wunderlich's first love is architecture, and he is very happy that the broad multidisciplinary nature of Elizabethtown College allows him to pursue many of his architecture-related initiatives (courses and research). In 2011 he led the creation of the Elizabethtown College engineering concentration in sustainable design including his new course in Green Architectural Engineering (including LEED); and in 2013 he led the creation of a new Minor in Architectural Studies.

Kurt DeGoede, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering & Physics,
General-Engineering Program Coordinator
Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics

Office: Esbenshade 161-B
Phone: 717-361-1380
Email: degoedek@etown.edu
WEBSITE

Kurt DeGoede received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Hope College, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.  He also worked for several years at the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.

He teaches primarily in the areas related to mechanical engineering, using a very interactive approach in the classroom.  “Much of our scheduled time together in a course will be spent discussing problems/analyses already worked by the students and working out applications of new material.” Dr. DeGoede is currently developing an international collaboration with faculty and students in West Africa built around student design projects.  The intent is for the projects to form the basis for start-up social business both providing local employment opportunities in West Africa and meeting community needs, particularly those mitigating the effects of poverty.   Many of these projects include work with renewable energy systems.  The work is multidisciplinary in nature as well as multicultural.  Some students have spent a semester studying in The Gambia, others will make shorter trips.  The work has included contributions from students studying International Business and Political Science, along with Engineering and Physics students.

His other research interests are in the areas of biomechanics and modeling dynamic systems.  Much of this work is centered on a collaborative project with Dr. Panchik in Occupational Therapy and Dr. Naidu (Orthopedic Hand Surgeon) to develop clinical instruments for therapeutic use and for and assessing human movement in a clinical setting.  Currently most therapists use subjective manual assessment methods.  We are developing low cost automated and objective systems.  These systems are interactive and engaging for the patients.  Seventeen students have collaborated on this particular project in the past 4 years, including students from 5 different majors and 4 high school volunteers.   “I am firmly committed to involving undergraduate students in this work.  Such participation is a great benefit to both the students involved and to the productivity of the research effort.”

Sara Atwood, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics
Mechanical Engineering, Biomaterials

Sara Atwood received a B.A. and M.S. in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, where she served as a graduate student instructor for many courses. She was also president of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Council where she led efforts to strengthen student-faculty interaction by organizing social and community service events.

Her goals for students are: knowledge of fundamental theory and concepts, effective written and oral communication, and the ability to put analytical problems in a larger context. To accomplish these goals, she creates a classroom environment that engages students in activities, demonstrations, problem solving, and discussions of case studies and current events.

Her research interests in healthcare are implemented in and out of the classroom by bringing cutting-edge examples into lectures and design projects, as well as offering undergraduates the opportunity to do research. Her research involves experimental and computational analysis of materials and designs used in orthopedic devices, including case studies of failed hip and knee replacements. Other research interests include engineering education methods to improve the confidence and performance of underrepresented students in engineering, and K-12 outreach to introduce children to engineering.

Tomás Estrada, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics
Electrical Engineering, Control Systems

Office: Esbenshade 160-A
Phone: 717- 361-3755
Email: estradat@etown.edu

Tomás Estrada received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Universidad de Costa Rica in 2002, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2005, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, also from the University of Notre Dame, in 2009.

Dr. Estrada firmly believes the faculty member needs to be a well-rounded teacher-scholar. He is deeply committed to fostering multi-disciplinary and holistic thinking in his students and to exemplifying it through his own scholarly work. His research interests include Systems and Controls, Engineering Education, Technology Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Engineering Applications. He also serves as the advisor for FEAST (Future Energies and Sustainable Technologies).

Dr. Estrada explains his approach to teaching by using concepts from engineering, presenting the educational process as a feedback control system. From this perspective, one can visualize the value of constant improvement, effective communication, robustness and flexibility, as well as holistic thinking in education. Dr. Estrada hopes his enthusiasm and commitment to his teaching vision will allow him to help his students develop not just into better professionals, but into more insightful thinkers and more well-rounded people.

Outside of engineering, Dr. Estrada enjoys writing novels and short stories. An avid soccer fan, Dr. Estrada serves as Academic Liaison for the Etown Men's Soccer Team and loves to participate in college intramurals.

William Gordon
Adjunct Instructor of Industrial Engineering

Office: Esbenshade 161-D 
Phone: 717- 361-1563
Email:  bill_gordon710@comcast.net          

Mr. Gordon graduated from Millersville State College in 1969 with a BA in mathematics and studied business management at LaSalle Extension University during the early 1970's. He obtained a MS degree in quality systems management from the National Graduate School of Quality Systems Management in 2011 and is currently a doctoral candidate at the same school. He attained quality engineering and six sigma black belt certifications; completed US Army courses in operations research and construction engineering; and completed a Masters Certificate program in Human Performance Improvement at PSU.

He began his career as a construction inspector and as a Quality Engineer. He held positions in manufacturing, business planning, international operations, marketing, and project management before returning to the quality field in 1997. While working with the PA Department of Transportation, Mr. Gordon gained practical experience with ISO 9001 and 14001, reengineering, and the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence model. Assigned as the Quality Assurance Manager at the Construction Materials Testing Laboratory, he also co-led an asphalt industry collaborative where he spearheaded a research effort to investigate the process capability of asphalt production plants and paving operations.

Mr. Gordon’s research interests include the application of experiential learning theory in engineering education, performance improvement in the Healthcare Industry, and the application of statistical process control to improve the management of processes.

David Ferruzza
Associate Professor of Engineering & Physics Emeritus
Meteorology

Phone: 717- 361-4770
Email: ferruzzad@etown.edu

Students will tell you they hear me say, "The future is now." Our philosophy in Engineering & Physics is to expose students so broadly to the world around them that they will have built an impressive resume before they graduate. Such a philosophy is born of the fact that each of our faculty has relevant experience outside of academics as well as a solid academic background.

My educational background includes a degree in Mechanical Engineering; three graduate residencies at MIT (13 semesters but just short of the Ph.D.) studying with such intellectual giants as Ed Lorenz (the "father" of Chaos Theory); and other graduate studies in business management.

Teaching at Elizabethtown College is, for me, "Career-Three." Career-One was US Air Force officer (operational assignments plus teaching for six years in the Physics Department at the USAF Academy). Career-Two was engineering: having fun with product and machine design, productivity improvement, and engineering management – lots of person-to-person interaction. But now, being at Elizabethtown in Career-Three is absolutely the best: You see, I believe one achieves the greatest of blessings while giving ("It is more blessed to give than receive"), so helping students into academic, social, and intellectual maturity, and mentoring them in professional bearing all provide the ultimate of satisfaction.

Ilan Gravé, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering & Physics
Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics

Office: Esbenshade 161-E
Phone: 717- 361-31563
Email: gravei@etown.edu

Professor Gravé graduated in Physics and Electrical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, and received a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Caltech in Pasadena, California. Prof. Gravé has worked for a number of years in high tech over the world, leading advanced projects in the aerospace and communication industries in Israel and in Europe. He has performed research in a number of fields in Physics and Engineering, publishing experimental and theoretical works in superconductivity, nonlinear optics, semiconductor quantum devices, infrared detectors, semiconductor lasers, medical signal processing and more. He has taught in Israel and at the University of Pittsburgh before his current appointment at Elizabethtown College.

"Teaching, together with research, is the great passion of my life. I usually teach topics that represent a strong challenge for students at all levels: such topics include Electromagnetism, Electronic Circuits, Quantum Mechanics, Semiconductor Devices and Optics.  Students usually spend a lot of effort and time in reading, thinking, solving problems and proposing design solutions in these courses. Yet the rewards are gigantic! Learning and understanding the most important and advanced theories, the backbone of human scientific knowledge; mastering the latest tools in engineering design and technology; gaining proficiency in advanced mathematical methods… and more.   And for us, the teachers, there are also many rewards: to see these young people, who just left their parents' home, start their big independent journey through life; explore their interests; push for their limits; find their professional path and their social place.”

"…. Who would have believed four years ago that this young student, sitting in that first-year class, silent and maybe afraid of asking questions, would complete such a thoughtful, complex and beautiful senior project? Who could have foreseen this professionalism, this self-assurance, this optimism, and this confidence?  Yet the miracle keeps repeating itself year after year, and being a small part of that is for us, the teachers, the greatest reward…”

Nathaniel Hager III, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Applied Physics

Office: Esbenshade 173 
Phone: 717- 361-3755
Email: hagerne@etown.edu
WEBSITE

Nathaniel Hager III is originally from the Lancaster area. He received his B.S. from Lehigh University and M.S./Ph.D. in Physics from State University of New York at Binghamton.  He was a Research Scientist at Armstrong World Industries research and development in Lancaster for 12 years.  In 1994 he founded his own company, Material Sensing Instrumentation, Inc., and has since been working in research and high-tech product development under the US Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

Dr. Hager's research interests are in ultra-fast sensor analysis of materials. His dissertation was in low-temperature physics, using ballistic heat-pulse propagation to probe fundamental heat-transfer in liquid helium. His recent work involves Time-Domain-Reflectometry (TDR) Dielectric Spectroscopy, using TDR to probe molecular rotations in materials to monitor material processing.  Specific projects include using TDR to monitor cure of composite polymers for the aerospace industry and hydration of concrete materials for the construction industry. In these areas he has received SBIRs from the US Army, the US Department of Commerce, and the National Science Foundation. Follow-on work has been pursued with Boeing, Bell Helicopter, W.R. Grace and others, as well as consulting with Armstrong, Halliburton, and companies in the display-technology, pharmaceutical, materials science, and wireless communications industries

Dr. Hager teaches introductory Physics I and II and advanced electromagnetic theory. He regularly shares research in class, both to extend concepts developed during classroom discussion and to demonstrate the excitement in doing research. He also provides research opportunities for students in advanced undergraduate projects, which is often their first experience in solving problems with real-world implications.  In additional to technical skills, students gain experience in business and funding issues necessary for real world occupations.  Outside of work, Hager enjoys skiing, hiking, and photography.

Norman Pitcher
Adjunct Instructor

Office: Esbenshade 161-D
Phone: 717- 361-4770
Email: pitchern@etown.edu

Norman received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Detroit and a MS in Nuclear Power Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He is also is a registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania. Norman has 35 years industry experience in the petrochemical and nuclear & coal electrical power generation field.  During his industry career he held various positions including-design engineer, process engineer, Construction Superintendent, Operations and Maintenance Manager, and Plant Manager.

Brenda Read-Daily, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics
Environmental Engineering, Civil, Water Treatment

Office: Esbenshade 160-D 
Phone: 717- 361-1348
Email: readb@etown.edu  

Brenda Read-Daily received a B.S. in Civil Engineering at Bradley University, a M.S. in Environmental Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering also at the University of Notre Dame. During her graduate studies, she conducted multidisciplinary research combining microbiology with engineering design.

Her research interests include optimizing biological nutrient removal processes in agricultural drainage and wastewater treatment processes in order to mitigate pollution. She is currently developing undergraduate research opportunities examining nitrogen removal in tile drainage systems. She also has general interests in sustainable water resource management and engineering education.

Dr. Read-Daily believes that studying engineering and physics provides students with an exciting and unique lens through which to view the world. Given the many engineering challenges facing our global society, her desire is to show her students how they can use their scientific and engineering skills to make a difference. Her goal is to show students how to master small steps so that they can solve big problems.

W. Mark Stuckey, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Astrophysics

Office: Esbenshade 160-B
Phone: 717- 361-1436
Email: stuckeym@etown.edu
WEBSITE

Professor Stuckey earned his PhD in physics from the University of Cincinnati in 1987. His PhD thesis was in general relativistic cosmology, which is the field he published in until 1994 and occasionally referees in to this day. In 1994, Professor Stuckey began study of quantum non-separability/ non-locality and the measurement problem which spawned a new interpretation of quantum mechanics called the Relational Blockworld (RBW). He has published papers on RBW in Foundations of Physics (2008 & 2012) and Studies in History & Philosophy of Modern Physics (2008). RBW was used to modify Regge calculus cosmology and explain the large redshift supernova data without accelerating expansion and dark energy in Classical & Quantum Gravity (2012) . RBW has been presented worldwide to include New Directions in the Foundations of Physics, American Institute of Physics (2005), Time-Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics, University of Sydney Centre for Time (2005), Endophysics, Time, Quantum and the Subjective, Bielefeld University (2005), Foundations of Probability and Physics 4, Växjö University (2006), Quantum Structures, Malta (2006), Projective Geometries, Slovak Academy of Sciences (2007), The Clock and the Quantum: Time and Quantum Foundations, Perimeter Institute (2008), Vigier VII: The Search for Fundamental Theories, Imperial College (2010), Hiley Symposium, Helsinki (2010), Philosophy of Science Association, Montreal (2010).

Professor Stuckey has broad intellectual interests and has taught astronomy, cosmology, philosophy of science, differential geometry, acoustics, science & religion, partial differential equations, numerical methods, and neuropsychology, as well as traditional areas of physics, e.g., introductory physics, advanced laboratory, quantum mechanics, general & special relativity, electromagnetism, and mechanics. Additionally, he has audited sixteen of his colleagues courses at Elizabethtown College. In 1996, he co-taught a Junior-Senior Colloquium entitled, Exploring Worldviews: Cosmology in Philosophical, Scientific, and Theological Perspective with colleagues in philosophy and religious studies that won a prize in the Templeton Foundation's Courses in Science and Religion Program. In 1997, he was co-director of the conference Reasons to Believe hosted by Elizabethtown College.

Jennifer McFadden
Department Administrative  Assistant

Office: Esbenshade 160
Phone: 717- 361-1392
Email: mcfaddenj@etown.edu

Jennifer started at Elizabethtown College in April 2008. Since working at the college, Jennifer was the administrative assistant in the Middle State (college-wide) and ABET(department – Engineering & Computer Engineering) accreditation, both of which were accredited. On campus she is involved in CAAP, Campus Associate of Administrative Professionals, where she served as President in 2009 – 2010, and serves as a member of the EWT, Employee Wellness Team. Prior to working at the college, she worked at a real estate office in E-town as a Client Care Specialist and Realtor. Jennifer earned her earned associate's degrees in Secretarial Studies and Bible from Lancaster Bible College in May 2004.

Mark Gatti
Engineering & Physics Lab Technician

Office: Esbenshade 174
Phone: 717- 361-4769
Email: gattim@etown.edu

Mark has spent 16 years as a manufacturing engineer, first with the former Raymark Corp., then with RCA – New Products Division, K-D Tools, Universal Friction, and FCI Electronics, all in south-central Pennsylvania. For the past nine years, Mr. Gatti has been self-employed as owner of Ground Crew Property Maintenance Inc., a small, full-service lawn/ landscape company operating in the Hempfield and Manheim Township areas of Lancaster County, Pa.

He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, graduating with distinction in 1983. Mr. Gatti is registered with the State of Pennsylvania as a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and as an Engineer-in-Training.