School of Engineering 2026 Letter

A Note from Ali Khabari, Dean of the Wentworth Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering 

As the Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering welcomes its largest incoming class of 615 engineering students in Fall 2026, it is important to reflect on the achievements of the engineering students, faculty, and staff in the 2025-26 academic year. These milestones exemplify the innovation, excellence, and commitment that define our School of Engineering and inspire continued success. 

Historic $25 Million Investment in Engineering 

A defining milestone this year was the transformational $25 million gift from alumnus and Trustee Emeritus Douglas D. Schumann. In recognition of his extraordinary generosity and longstanding commitment to engineering education, the School of Engineering was officially renamed the Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering. This historic investment will strengthen our ability to provide an exceptional project-based educational experience, expand opportunities for students, and advance innovation and leadership in engineering. 

Successful Accreditation Visit 

The Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering had a successful engineering reaccreditation visit by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  This reflects the unwavering commitment of our faculty, staff, and students to academic excellence, continuous improvement, and the highest standards of engineering education.  

 

Launch of a New Master of Science in Bioengineering 

The 2025–26 academic year also marked the approval of a new Master of Science in Bioengineering by both the Wentworth Board of Trustees and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. The program will welcome its inaugural cohort of 17 graduate students in Fall 2026, including five National Research Traineeship (NRT) Fellows. 

The program is supported by a $4.5 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Institutional Partnership Pilot (NSF NRT-IPP) grant awarded in collaboration with Boston University. This exciting new graduate program will prepare students at the intersection of engineering, biology, and healthcare while expanding research and innovation opportunities for faculty and students alike. 

 

 

New Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering 

In Fall 2026, the Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering will launch its new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, welcoming an inaugural cohort of 32 students. Developed in response to growing industry demand and student interest, the program will provide students with a strong foundation in aerospace systems, flight mechanics, propulsion, and design. 

To support this new initiative, the School has begun renovations of two dedicated laboratories (the Aerospace and Fluid Mechanics Laboratory and the Flight Simulation Laboratory), creating modern, hands-on learning environments that align with our commitment to experiential and project-based education. 

 

Installation of the Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi) - the Massachusetts Lambda chapter 

On March 28, 2026, Wentworth Institute of Technology marked a milestone with the formal installation of a chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the nation’s oldest engineering honor society. This achievement is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to recognizing the exceptional character and professional promise of our students and faculty.  To celebrate becoming one of their collegiate chapters, a physical monument of the society's symbol, the "bent" (masterfully designed by Industrial Design Professor Simon Williamson) has been installed in the Wentworth Quad.  

 

Co-op Research Pathway 

The Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering established a faculty-supported engineering co-op and research pathway that provided meaningful experiential learning opportunities while advancing faculty scholarship and research productivity. The initiative supported approximately 50 students, culminating in a co-op and research showcase. Participating students also presented their research at regional and national conferences, strengthening both their professional development and the school’s research profile. 

 

 

Faculty Accomplishments  

  • Professor Mahmut Reyhanoglu (edited book), Modeling and Control of Autonomous Systems, InTech 2025, London, UK, ISBN: 978-1-83634-392-9. 
  • Professor Jayshri Kulkarni received a $30,000 consultancy subaward from Baylor University for the project titled "A Modular TEM Horn Antenna Array Design and Simulation.” 
  • Professor Afsaneh Ghanavati served as the regional leader for the NECEDHA (Northeast Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association). 
  • Professors Majid Vaseghi, Massie Kazemi, and Ali Kiapour were awarded an ASEE Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Mini-Grant ($8,000) to integrate sustainability into engineering curricula across multiple undergraduate courses. 
  • Professor Kapil Gangwar was awarded a KEEN/FRAME grant from the Kern Family Foundation and served as technical lead for a composite material analysis module. 
  • Professor Jayshri Kulkarni served as the Vice Chair of the joint IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) and Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Boston Chapter.  The chapter has been recognized with the Outstanding Chapter Award for 2026. 
  • Professor Majid Vaseghi received the Spring 2026 Launch Grant ($10,000) to advance research and curriculum development in 4D Printing, integrating emerging manufacturing technologies into undergraduate engineering education. 
  • Professor Xiu Zhai received the Spring 2026 Spark Grant to establish a portable EEG lab (NeuroTech) for education and outreach in Biomedical Engineering. 
  • During the 2025-2026 academic year, Professor Tumkor secured $27,000 in external funding from the Foundry Educational Foundation, Steel Founders' Society of America, Department of Defense, and American Foundry Society to support student internships, engineering competition travel, and the Cast in Steel team, advancing research and providing impactful student mentorship. 

 

In addition, engineering faculty published scholarly work in leading journals and conference proceedings, including IEEE, ASEE, ASME, IMECE, Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology, Materials Today Communications, and other prominent venues. 

 

Student Success and Professional Recognition 

  • Our students continue to distinguish themselves through scholarly achievement, research excellence, professional engagement, and competition success. 

Highlights include: 

  • Jennifer Ray presented research at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE 2025). 
  • Mikayla Hall presented her seaweed microplastics research at the American Chemical Society National Conference in Atlanta. 
  • Ray, J., and Kazemi, M. (2025, November). Additive Manufacturing of Polycarbonate Shields for Women’s Lacrosse Goggles: A Mechanical Performance Assessment. In Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE 2025) (Vol. 89343, Paper V003T04A012). American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 
  • The IEEE WUROV Team Participated in the 2026 MATE ROV WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP  
  • Caden L. Vertentes, Mechanical Engineering, received a scholarship from the Construction Industries of Massachusetts Labor Relations Division (CIM-LRD). 
  • Jacob Forrette, Luis Leins, Robert Stewart, and Brady McDonald earned Third Place in the Technical Report Category at the 2026 Cast in Steel Competition. 
  • Nia Kochadze won Second Prize in the poster competition at IEEE WAMS 2026 for her research, Gaussian Process Regression-Based Surrogate Modeling for Dual-Band Antenna Miniaturization. 
  • Sebastian Ruiz contributed to the completion of a textbook: “A Case Study Application of The Engineering Design Methodology to Leonardo da Vinci’s Flying Machine” by Professor Frank Di Bella 
  • Students established the IEEE PES (Power and Energy Society) Student Chapter at Wentworth 

In addition, many engineering students presented and published research at regional, national, and international conferences, thereby further elevating the School’s visibility and demonstrating the quality of our academic programs. 

Outreach Activities  

The Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering continued its commitment to STEM outreach and community engagement through a variety of programs and events designed to inspire future engineers and expand access to engineering education. 

  • The School of Engineering hosted the 2026 Girls Who Engineer Magic program, welcoming 77 students in grades 4 to 7 to Wentworth for an immersive, hands-on STEM experience. The event was organized in collaboration with the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, providing participants with opportunities to explore engineering concepts through interactive activities and mentorship.  
  • The School of Engineering co-hosted the 35th Annual Model Bridge Competition in collaboration with the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES). The competition attracted approximately 75 middle and high school teams, challenging students to design, construct, and test model bridges while meeting specific engineering requirements and constraints. 
  • The School of Engineering served as host for the Future City Competition, in partnership with the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES). The competition engages students in grades 6–8 in planning and designing sustainable cities. Teams develop virtual cities using simulation software, research and address real-world urban challenges, and construct scale models utilizing recycled materials. 
  • Engineering faculty contributed to Wentworth’s ImpactLab Summer Program by offering a range of pre-college courses that introduced students to engineering and technology fields. Course offerings included Engineering Explorations, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Human Health, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. 
  • Wentworth hosted the FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship 2026, bringing student robotics teams from across Massachusetts to campus to compete in a statewide showcase of innovation, teamwork, and engineering problem-solving. 
  • The School of Engineering participated in RAMP (Residential Academic Mentoring Program), a seven-week summer bridge initiative designed to support incoming students' transition to college. As part of the program, participants engaged in experiential learning activities, including the disassembly and reassembly of an engine, providing hands-on exposure to engineering principles and collaborative problem-solving. 
  • The School of Engineering hosted several groups of students from WPS Summer Leadership Institute, where about a hundred high school students were introduced to different engineering disciplines.  

 

Looking Ahead 

The achievements highlighted in this report are a testament to the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners. As we enter a new academic year and welcome our largest incoming engineering class, we do so with tremendous momentum and optimism. 

Together, we are building a School of Engineering that is innovative, inclusive, research-driven, and dedicated to preparing the next generation of engineering leaders to create solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. 

 

Ali Khabari 

Dean and Professor 

Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering