Kathleen Issen Named Professor Emerita at Clarkson University

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Clarkson University Research Associate Professor Kathleen Issen has been named professor emerita for 26 years of exceptional contributions to the University's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. Formal recognition took place at a special ceremony on May 8.

Issen has taught a broad range of core and advanced courses, including statics, strength of materials, dynamical systems, and mechanics of composite materials, and has been instrumental in modernizing the engineering curriculum through innovations in active learning, peer instruction, and assessment-driven improvement.

A committed mentor, Issen has supervised six Ph.D. students and more than a dozen master's students, in addition to advising numerous undergraduate researchers and Honors students. Her dedication to student success is reflected in strong teaching evaluations and the accomplishments of her students in both academia and industry.

Issen's research has made significant contributions to the mechanical engineering field, particularly in the mechanics of complex materials. Her work focuses on topics such as strain localization, material instability and failure, and the behavior of porous and heterogeneous materials, with applications ranging from geomaterials and metal foams to biomechanics and vertebral fracture.

Supported by approximately $3 million in external funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Sandia National Laboratories, her scholarship includes 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, invited book chapters, and more than 35 conference publications.

Issen has provided extensive leadership and service to Clarkson, including chairing the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee, founding and leading the undergraduate research committee, and supporting faculty hiring and program development. At the University level, she has served on committees focused on faculty development, student success, advising, and equity, including the STEM-LEAF/ADVANCE Women Faculty Advisory Committee and the Honors Program Council.

Her honors include multiple teaching and advising awards, including the University Distinguished Teaching Award, the University Outstanding Advisor Award, Student Association Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Tau Beta Pi Faculty Award. She has also been recognized by the National Academy of Engineering's Frontiers of Engineering Education program.

Issen earned a Ph.D. and master's degree in theoretical and applied mechanics from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in general engineering from the University of Illinois.