Associate Professor Maurizio Manzo is one of 29 faculty nationally to earn the prestigious 2025 Engineering Unleashed Fellowship, a recognition awarded to faculty who champion an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering education.

Manzo earned this honor for his project “Houston, We Have a Problem: Connecting Student to Stakeholders.” This project in his Applied Fluid Mechanics course bridges classroom theory with real-world challenges, encouraging students to explore the human impact of flooding and design solutions that are practical, sustainable, and socially responsible.

“The activity emphasizes understanding the human impact of flooding, encouraging students to consider the experiences of those directly involved, from residents to first responders,” Manzo elaborated. “Students engage stakeholders to ensure their solutions are actionable and assess the long-term effects of their recommendations.”

This work resonates strongly with Manzo’s role as co-PI on a National Science Foundation-funded project (led by Dr. Kamesh Namuduri) that engages first responders and other key stakeholders to improve disaster response operations through the use of drones equipped with hazmat sensors. By aligning his research with his teaching, Manzo gives students a clear view of how engineering solutions are informed by stakeholder needs and societal impact.

The Engineering Unleashed Fellowship is part of the national KEEN (Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network) initiative, which empowers faculty to equip students with curiosity, connections, and the ability to create value, skills essential to becoming world-class problem-solvers and leaders.