June 2021
Dear Alumni,

June is a special time on Market Street. As days get longer and weather gets warmer, Philadelphia starts to hum with a renewed energy. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, because June is also the time that we celebrate our graduates. Some 681 Dragoneers will join your ranks as Drexel alumni on June 11, when the University holds its in-person commencement ceremony. Tomorrow, the College will celebrate our graduates in a virtual ceremony.

Years of hard work in classrooms, labs and co-op employment spaces have equipped the Class of 2021 with the range of skills they need to succeed and the compassion and perspective they need to channel that success toward the betterment of all of us. We applaud them for their accomplishments, wish them luck in their next stages, and look forward to welcoming them back to Drexel as alumni.

Sharon L. Walker
Dean, College of Engineering
Spotlight on Alumni
Drexel alumna Moogega Cooper is making sure that humanity’s exploration of space is safe for the planets we visit. Read more.
Alumnus, Professor Collaborate on Remote Crop Monitoring

Engineering alumnus Dante Sawatzky needed help monitoring temperatures in his apple orchard. ECE researcher Christopher Peters gave him a head start. Read more.
Six Drexel Engineering alumni are featured in Drexel Magazine’s annual “40 Under 40” compendium. The list highlights young alumni for their talent, ingenuity, resilience and overall accomplishments. Read more.
Spotlight on Faculty
Estimating Environmental Impact of Changed Transportation Habits
Using satellites and ground-level monitors, Shannon Capps and the Atmospheric Modeling group are studying how much the downturn in daily travel during the pandemic has affected air quality. Read more.
How Energy Use Can Affect Well-Being
Simi Hoque, PhD, PE, is developing tools to measure building energy use and researching ways to protect our comfort in the face of climate change while preserving the environment. Read more.
Celebrating the Class of 2021
Through challenging classwork, demanding co-op placements and even a global pandemic, the Class of 2021 has persevered and exceeded every expectation that could be set for them. The College of Engineering applauds their resilience and looks forward to celebrating their future accomplishments.
Strength in Support Systems
Rasheem Clark, a first-generation college student, knows that leaning on your support network can give you the strength you need to take risks. He will address the Class of 2021 as the College’s undergraduate commencement speaker. Read more.
A Tycoon in the Making
Drexel helped Zhengqiao Zhao find his passion in data analysis, and now he’s ready to help machine learning and AI revolutionize industries. He will address the Class of 2021 as the College of Engineering’s graduate commencement speaker. Read more.
Congratulate the Class of 2021
Join us in celebrating our graduates by sending a congratulatory message on our virtual message wall. Share your congratulations with the Class of 2021 by submitting messages along with a photo, animated GIF, or video to appear on our board. Additionally, you can share photos celebrating student achievement on social media using #ForeverDragoneers.
Senior Design Spotlight
Imagining the Future for Syrian Community
A group of seniors are using their engineering skills to further humanitarian efforts in an area that was ravaged by the Syrian civil war. Read more.
Students Develop New Functionality for Smart Fabric Band
Building on work by Drexel’s Wireless Systems Lab and Center for Functional Fabrics, the project imagines using the band for health monitoring and exposure notification in light of COVID-19. Read more.
On May 5, a record-setting 5,401 Drexel alumni, students, parents, employees and friends gave more than $1.1 million during 24 Hours of Impact, Drexel University's Day of Giving. Within the College of Engineering, 50 donors contributed, representing a 70 percent increase over 2020. The collective support of our donors on this day will enhance nearly 100 areas of the University and elevate student success. Thank you for you continued support of Drexel!