Page 15 - ME Spring 2020 Newsletter

STAYING CONNECTED TO ME Au Revoir, Steven Girshick
Kenneth T. Whitby Professor Steven Girshick retired at
the end of the spring 2020 semester, bringing his 35-year career at the University of Minnesota to an end. His work on nanosynthesized plasma particles became a cornerstone of the department’s research.
Girshick’s students remember him as a talented teacher
and thoughtful and patient mentor not only in the field of
mechanical engineering but in life; his fellow faculty members remember him as
a great colleague, collaborator, and, perhaps most impressively, friend. They were struck by his tireless work to improve the department and his profession through his commitment to excellent classroom instruction, his groundbreaking theoretical and experimental research on particle formation and behavior in plasma systems, and his service and leadership on many departmental, university, and professional committees. And, adds former colleague Peter McMurry, “he is an eloquent speaker and an outstanding writer.” As a professor, he had it all.
In retirement, Girshick will be moving to Berkeley, CA, to spend more time with his grandchildren. He will continue to pursue his hobbies: tennis, cycling, and art — and we suspect some engineering will sneak in there from time to time.
Hello, Alumni!
Ann Sheldon (BME 1988) knew her strengths lay
in statics, dynamics, and fluids — that’s why she picked mechanical engineering. Since her time at ME, she completed the Minnesota Executive Program from the Carlson School of Business before climbing the ranks at Medtronic to her current position: Vice President of Product Security.
ME didn’t just teach Sheldon the fundamentals of
engineering: she also learned “problem solving, team work, and investigative skills,” said Sheldon. “This has given me the ability to take on various roles in my career with the confidence that I could succeed.”
Sheldon cites study groups as being one of her first lessons in camaraderie and “how people with similar goals can lift each other up.” She also enjoyed the hands-on labs offered at ME, and still has the UMN emblem she cast in her office.
Sheldon stays connected to the U through the Alumni Association because she feels it’s important to give back to students as they begin their careers. “My education taught me to work hard, never stop learning, and stay relevant,” said Sheldon. “I am a lifelong learner.”
What advice does Sheldon have for students considering mechanical engineering? “Go for it! ME will offer a variety of career options to satisfy your desires.”
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