Alumni News
Reunion recap
On May 6, 2021 the college hosted its 14th annual 50-Year and Golden Medallion Society Reunion. “Our first virtual reunion was a success,” said Joelle Larson, alumni relations director. “The planning committee did a great job putting together a celebratory program and spreading the word. We had a lot more interest than we expected to get for a virtual reunion.”
On the agenda were updates from Dean Mos Kaveh; a keynote address by Brenda Ogle, head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and time for classmates to chat in breakout rooms.
As part of this Zoom reunion, the CSE Alumni Relations team created a webpage that includes a virtual tour and photo books from the 1960s and 1970s.


Who attended reunion?
200+
Alumni
Burnaby, British Columbia
Farthest city
36
Number of different U.S. states
224
Number of commemorative medallions mailed
1949
Earliest graduation year
Electrical Engineering
Most common major
Bill/William & Dave/David
Tie for most common name (21 registrants!)
Playlist roundup
Watch our most popular virtual events from 2021.
We have a new playlist on the CSE YouTube channel with a curated list of the most popular virtual events for alumni.
Recent videos include:
CSE Public Lecture: Rising to the Moment, featuring Chun Wang talking about his new vaccine delivery technology
A behind-the-scenes look at Bakken Medical Devices Center’s unique facility
Dean’s Lunch and Learn, a series offering college updates, department- specific news, and exciting faculty research
Do you ever wonder what you’re missing?
We primarily use email to deliver up-to-date information, event notices, the CSE Alumni e-newsletter, and more. Stay connected to the college and your home department by ensuring we have the most recent email address and contact information for you. Update your contact info today!
CSE Public Lecture:
Rising to the Moment
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Featuring Jayshree Seth, a 3M Corporate Scientist and the company’s first Chief Science Advocate, will discuss her unique role at 3M and the importance of diversity and equity in STEM.
Learn more on the CSE Public Lecture website.
In memoriam: Russell Penrose
Written by Jennifer Clarke
Russell “Russ” Penrose grew up in northern Minnesota and, though gifted with intelligence and drive, he never imagined he could afford a college education. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve after graduating from high school and trained as an electronics technician. After WWII, he came to the U of M on the GI Bill and earned his B.S. in electrical engineering in 1949. He died in Central Valley, CA on Feb 3, 2021.
During his career, which started in 1950 at North American Aviation (later Rockwell International), he worked on airborne electronic and optical instrumentation for various avionics weapons systems. He also supervised engineers who designed the aircraft modifications and equipment installations. In the last two years of his working life, he was assigned to Lear-Seigler to work on the flight computer of the Stealth fighter.
Russ’ generosity to CSE over the past 35 years includes many endowment funds, which ensures his support of CSE’s teaching and research goes on in perpetuity:
- Penrose Honors Scholarship (supports several four year/full tuition awards)
- Penrose Fellowship in Astronomy
- Penrose Chair and a Penrose Professorship in AEM
- Penrose Professorship in Nanotechnology
- Penrose Excellence in Teaching Award in ISyE
- Penrose Excellence in Teaching Award in ECE
- Generous support to the ECE Exceed Lab
- Generous support to the ME New Building Campaign
He has left the bulk of his estate to the college as well. Russ was proud of his legacy of giving, knowing it will help the people in CSE forever.
Your gift. Your way.
Learn how you can leave a bequest in your will or develop a giving strategy that is uniquely yours on our Ways to give website.