NEH Lecture Series - Industrial Panel

Engineering Through a Humanistic Lens Series

The Engineering Through a Humanistic Lens Series is a collection of lectures and panel discussions that is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities funded project “Integrating the Humanities and Global Engineering” (AKA-270141-20) at Purdue University. The project is a collaboration between the School of Languages and Cultures and the Office of Professional Practice/GEARE, and it aims to enhance the education and preparation of global engineers through an expanded role of the humanities (e.g., language, culture, history, sociology, philosophy). During ACIEE 2021, one event from this series will occur each day.

Leveraging Humanities Informed Engineering Skills in Industry

A panel of industry and government leaders will discuss current needs for engineers with language and cultural knowledge, and how those skills can help individuals  advance within their careers. The following speakers will join the panel

Benedikt Brisch holds an M.A. in History from the University of Cologne. In 1998 he started working at DAAD in Bonn in the Unit for academic cooperation with post-soviet countries. From 2000 to 2004 he was the Deputy Director of the DAAD Regional Office in Moscow. From 2005 until 2018 at DAAD Headquarters he was responsible for several scholarship programs and project funding with countries in Europe and North America. As Director of the DWIH in New York he developed the new format "Future Forum", which was held for the first time in 2019 on the topic of "Demystify AI" and at which more AI researchers and decision-makers from research institutions and companies in Germany and the USA participated. Together with DAAD Headquarters, he developed the new DAAD program IVAC (International Virtual Academic Collaboration) to promote transatlantic university cooperation in virtual teaching formats, which was implemented in June 2020 during the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.

Dave Guaresimo is a Vice President of International Operations at American Axle and Manufacturing in Detroit, Michigan. Dave graduated from Purdue in 1998 with a BSME.  During his course work at Purdue he was introduced to the CEO of American Axle and Manufacturing, Richard E. Dauch, a fellow Purdue Alumnus. This introduction turned in to a 23+ year career at this world class, tier 1 manufacturing company with multiple positions in both manufacturing and engineering.  In 2007, Dave accepted a position as the Plant Manager of the company’s forging operations in Guanajuato, Mexico, which would turn out to be the first of several “expat” assignments for Dave and his family.  Over the next eight years he served as the plant manager at the company’s operations in both Poland and Brazil in addition to Mexico.  Most recently, Dave was located in Germany and responsible for the European Operations in the Metal Forming Business Unit.  During this time, Dave not only learned about the company’s different products and customers, but also learned about what it takes to run operations in a foreign country where the culture, language and customs can be very different than in the United States.  In between international assignments, Dave returned to the classroom and earned his Executive MBA from Michigan State University’s Broad School of Management in 2016. He lives in the metro Detroit area with his wife Maggie and three children David (16), Vincent (15) and Natalia (13), who all enjoyed their global adventures together.  In his free time, Dave enjoys competitively shooting with his former classmates from Purdue with whom he competed on the Purdue Trap and Skeet Team and won two national ACUI Collegiate Target Championships in 1997 and 1998. 

Ping Bu Loke is Executive Vice President for Corporate R & D with Rohde & Schwarz in Munich. Ping obtained a Bachelors and Masters of Mechanical Engineering from University in 2008, and is an alum of Purdue’s GEARE program, where he gained practical experience in Germany. Ping worked for the Singapore Economic Development Board and became the Center Director for Germany operations. In 2017, he joined Rohde & Schwarz as Vice President of Strategy and Strategic Projects where he led multiple strategic initiatives across business divisions and global subsidiaries. Ping sponsors international internships and promotes global citizenship. He speaks several languages including Mandarin, English, and German.

 

Moderator:

Joe Tort is the Associate Director for Professional Practice. He has 20 years of experience in Higher Education including roles as Director of Study Abroad at the University of Northern Colorado, International Admissions Counselor at Purdue, and Assistant Director for Global Professional Practice at Purdue’s Office of Professional Practice. He holds a BS in Anthropology and an MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Northern Colorado. Joe’s work involves developing industry partnerships, university partnerships, advising and mentoring students, teaching intercultural and professional skills courses, and program assessment. Joe is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory. He recently was honored as Purdue’s 2021 recipient for Outstanding Leadership in Globalization for his efforts in administration of the GEARE program.