Distinguished engineers 2025
Biomedical Engineering
Craig Morgan, B.S. ’79, is a retired engineering manager and co-owner of Denton ATD, Inc., which through a series of mergers became Humanetics Innovative Solutions, Inc. Over four decades, Morgan and his partner Robert Denton are widely credited as the originators of the crash test dummy load cell and had a reputation for building test dummies and sensors with strong reliability and durability. Morgan’s work at Humanetics included the design of the lower leg, ankle structure and foot for the Hybrid III family of dummies, as well as more than 400 load cells for dummies, safety testing and biomechanics research. He began his career in 1979 at Lebow Associates, which built strain gage-based sensors, after gaining valuable research experience in the Wayne State biomechanics lab under the direction of Dr. Albert King. Morgan, who holds three patents, earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from WSU in 1979.
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Hitesh Handa, M.S. ’07, Ph.D. ’08, is an associate professor and distinguished faculty fellow in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. He directs the Biointerface Translation and Engineering Center and is co-founder and chief scientific officer of a medical device company. His translational research focuses on developing innovative polymeric coatings for medical device implants to improve biocompatibility and patient outcomes. Handa’s work has resulted in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and 35 patent applications. His accolades include the NIH Career Development Award, UGA’s Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award, Innovation Fellow, Entrepreneur of the Year, Research Excellence Award and the Creative Research Medal. He was also elected as a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. Handa holds a B.S. in polymer science and chemical technology from the Delhi College of Engineering. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D., both in materials science and engineering, from Wayne State University.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Jim Rooney, B.S. ’62, M.S. ’67, is a retired professional civil engineer whose career has made a lasting impact on Alaska’s infrastructure and engineering community. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Wayne State University, Rooney moved to Alaska in 1963. His early work with the Alaska Department of Highways laid the foundation for a career spanning more than five decades. In 1969, he co-founded R&M Engineering and Geological Consultants, which played a key role in the geotechnical studies, route selection and design support for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. His expertise also contributed to major projects such as the ANGSTS proposed gas pipeline, Bradley Lake hydroelectric project, and U.S. Navy facilities in Ketchikan and Amchitka. Rooney’s professional accolades include the Alaska Engineer of the Year Award (1988), the Eb Rice Award (2002), and the ASCE Harold R. Peyton Award for Cold Regions Engineering (2011). In 2021, the University of Alaska Fairbanks awarded Rooney an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Computer Science
Grace Metri, B.S. ’06, M.S. ’09, Ph.D. ’14, is a principal strategic alliance manager at NVIDIA, where she leads global partnerships focused on digital twin and simulation technologies across the supply chain industry. Her work accelerates innovation by leveraging AI, automation and digital twins to optimize operations and drive transformative solutions. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Metri held leadership roles at Intel and Arm, where she spearheaded global developer initiatives, built thriving communities and scaled programs to advance technological innovation across industries. Metri holds a Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. in computer science from Wayne State University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in management science and engineering at Stanford University and was selected as a Threshold Venture Fellow for 2025. Her current focus centers on developing human-centric platforms to address the challenges of rapid technological change — enhancing collaboration, upskilling workers, improving workplace satisfaction, and supporting long-term retention.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Michael Jacobs, is founder and CEO of Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), an automation solution provider he established in 1989. Under his leadership, AMT has grown from an engineering services company into a full-scale provider of industrial automation systems, offering consulting, design, integration and field start-up services. Jacobs’ company has become a trusted partner to robot companies, system integrators and end users while launching the careers of more than 500 automation engineers through internal training and mentorship. Prior to founding AMT, Jacobs held engineering and management roles at FANUC Robotics, Eaton Research Center and Westinghouse Electric. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Wayne State University and completed the Presidents’ Program at Harvard Business School. Jacobs received the 2022 Joseph F. Engelberger Award for Leadership and serves on the Technical Strategy Board for Artificial Intelligence at the Association for Advancing Automation.
Engineering Technology
Tommy White, M.S. ’96, has more than 35 years of experience in the automotive and defense industries, specializing in manufacturing systems design, product development and process optimization. His career includes engineering and leadership roles at General Dynamics, Navistar and General Motors, where he advanced from process engineer to senior engineering manager. In addition to his industry accomplishments, White has dedicated three decades to engineering education at Wayne State. After 26 years as a part-time faculty member, he transitioned to a full-time role and currently serves as an assistant professor of teaching in the Engineering Technology Division. White is currently working to establish a Manufacturing Digital Twin Simulation Lab, aimed at enhancing hands-on learning through industry collaboration and innovation. He holds an M.S. in manufacturing engineering from Wayne State as well as an M.B.A. from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Ph.D. from Oakland University.
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Narender Oruganti, M.S. ’83, is a technology executive, entrepreneur and advisor with more than 35 years of experience spanning manufacturing, quality assurance, project management, product and strategic marketing, and business consulting. He is a partner at 1st Wave Marketing, where he has spent over 14 years helping technology companies grow through strategic marketing and advisory services. Oruganti began his career as an industrial engineer after earning a master’s degree from Wayne State University. He advanced to leadership roles in business planning, pricing and worldwide forecasting at Hewlett-Packard. Oruganti later served in product marketing and strategic planning at NetApp and as director of marketing at Veritas Software. He also co-founded an online education startup with a fellow Wayne State alumnus. In addition to his M.S. from Wayne State, he holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Osmania University and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.
Mechanical Engineering
Liming Chen, Ph.D. ’95, is president of Horizon Robotics, where he leads the company’s business growth in energy-efficient computing solutions for consumer vehicles. His work focuses on advancing intelligent automotive technologies and promoting innovation across the industry. With more than 27 years of experience in the automotive field, Chen has held key roles in product development, R&D management and business operations. Prior to joining Horizon Robotics in 2021, he spent more than two decades with the Bosch Group, progressing from technical expert to senior vice president. He served as president of Bosch Chassis Systems Control China and was an executive director of Bosch Automotive Products (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. Chen holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a concentration in mechatronics from Wayne State University. He also earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in power control engineering from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.