Predebon Elected ASME Fellow

William Predebon, professor and chair of Michigan Tech's Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics, has been elected a fellow of ASME (formerly the American Society of Mechanical Engineers).

The fellow grade recognizes exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering professions.

"It was long overdue," said Donna Michalek, the assistant provost and an associate professor of mechanical engineering–engineering mechanics. "He deserves to be recognized for all his contributions."

ASME accepts fellow nominations in a number of categories, and Predebon was nominated by Michalek and others in the department for his contributions to education.

Predebon came to Michigan Tech in 1976 and was named department chair in 1997. He has earned a Distinguished Teaching Award from the University and helped establish the department’s Engineering Learning Center.

He led efforts to establish distance-learning MS and PhD programs in Mechanical Engineering, and since becoming chair, Predebon has seen his department achieve national recognition in U.S. News & World Report's "America’s Best Graduate Schools" and "America’s Best Colleges" editions. In addition, the National Science Foundation ranks the department 21st in the nation in terms of research expenditures.

When the University moved from the quarter to the semester system, Predebon spearheaded a revamped mechanical engineering curriculum emphasizing hands-on learning, an improvement that reverberates nationwide. "We are such a large ME department that those activities impact the broad community of mechanical engineers," Michalek said.

He has also made a strong effort to support new faculty members, coordinating mentor relationships within the department. And he has been recognized by the University’s Black Students Association for his support of diversity initiatives.
Predebon has held a number of positions within ASME and is currently secretary of the Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Executive Committee.

Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a nonprofit professional organization that promotes the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences throughout the world. The core values of ASME are rooted in its mission to better enable mechanical engineering practitioners to contribute to the well-being of humankind.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.