SPRING 2026

The CBS show, “The Visioneers with Zay Harding,” visited the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources to learn about the StickBug robot pollinator from Yu Gu, Madhav Rijal and Trevor Smith.

Balls and Lego bricks may be toys, but for Annie Harmon, program assistant for the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering at the West Virginia University, they are a way to introduce kids to a new world: robotics engineering.

The world often celebrates engineering breakthroughs — the towering bridges, life-saving technologies and infrastructure that transform communities. Behind many of these achievements are women whose innovation, resilience and leadership have shaped the field and paved the way for future generations.

The Statler College continues to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to research, reporting $54.5 million in total research expenditures for the 2024 fiscal year. As a result, engineering programs remained ranked among the top 100 nationwide in the latest National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey.

Camndon Reed, a dual robotics engineering and computer engineering major was named a Goldwater Scholar for his robotics research.

WVU has earned national recognition through the work of Statler College graduate student Noah C. Parsons, whose advanced aerospace engineering research has garnered international attention.

Six members of the WVU Class of 2026 and two December 2025 graduates have earned the Order of Augusta, the University’s most prestigious honor for academic excellence, leadership and service. The eight inductees were selected from the 52 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors.

Twenty incoming WVU students from across the Mountain State who are driven by shared passions for innovation and service have been named the 2026-27 cohort of Bucklew Scholars. From this distinguished group of students, five have been selected as Foundation Scholars, the highest academic scholarship the University awards.

Yu Gu, MMAE Academy of Distinguished Alumni Professor, was named a 2026 Travis Stimeling Award Recipient for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research for the Physical Sciences and Technology category.

WVU roboticist Yu Gu lets his curiosity lead him — all the way to outer space. Professor in the MMAE Department, Gu calls himself a “life tourist,” and curiosity is his way of looking at robots and the world.

Anand Mishra, an assistant professor in the department who leads the Robiotics Lab, has been selected for the WVU March Faculty Feature.

A 1984 WVU engineering graduate, for his generous contribution of $50,000 to the Department’s Mountaineer Mentor program.

Three WVU alumni who work on these technologies have been living and breathing the Artemis II mission.

Alumni of the Statler College have a broader impact in the world. Whether a recent graduate or seasoned professional, they remain vital in upholding Mountaineer values and spirit beyond their time at WVU — inspiring others and helping shape next generation of students.

Dear MMAE Alumni and Friends,

This is the time of year we get to enjoy our students proudly displaying their triumphs in designing, building, testing and competing with their all-terrain vehicles, balloon satellites, electric vehicles, experimental rockets, formula-style racecars, industry-sponsored design projects, planetary rovers, small satellites, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The talent in our department is truly awesome!

Please get ready to cheer on our Mountaineer Engineers as they compete across the nation in engineering design competitions this spring and into the summer. We are so grateful to have dedicated faculty, staff, and donors who enable the success of our students in these experiences. Check out the Statler College social channels @wvustatler on their experiences!

Speaking of Mountaineer Engineers, we are so proud of Reese Allen who is studying mechanical engineering and data science and was named the 72nd Mountaineer Mascot of WVU. We are equally excited for Camndon Reed, a dual robotics engineering and computer engineering student who just earned the nationally competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship for his undergraduate research in robotics. Camndon is the second consecutive Goldwater Scholarship recipient in a department major. Meanwhile, Noah Parsons, an aerospace engineering master’s student was recognized by Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties 2026 class for his academic achievement, community involvement, personal perseverance, and research impact. Finally, Isabella Hart, dual Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering graduate was named to the Order of Augusta, WVU’s highest undergraduate student award.

Our department continues to grow and find success. Three new faculty joined us in Fall 2025 and two more are joining us in Fall 2026. Our undergraduate population has grown about 30% in the past few years and now exceeds 720 undergraduate students this semester. Faculty-led externally funded research has nearly tripled over the past five years and is on track to exceed $20 million annually with the field-specific NSF research and development rankings continuing to improve each year.

Please read the stories above in detail to learn more about deserving faculty award recipients and recognition, student awards, outstanding alumni and WVU features of some of the people who make our department proud.

Let's Go

MAILING ADDRESS:
Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering | West Virginia University
1306 Evansdale Drive | P.O. Box 6106 | Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
PHONE: 304.293.3111 | EMAIL: Statler-MAE@mail.wvu.edu

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