2024 Ceremony & Seminar
Friday, October 4, 2024
- Seminar Featured Speakers: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. in Bohannon 90 - Open to the public. Hear from each of the awardees about their career journey and get inspired!
- Awards Ceremony 5:30 p.m. at Pier B in Duluth, - Invitation only event
2024 Awardees
Academy of Science and Engineering
Mark Deeg, Ph.D., MD. FNLA
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry 1981
Mark Deeg, MD, PhD, FNLA earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from UMD in 1981. He then earned his MD and PhD degrees from The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities followed by an Internal Medicine Residency at Case Western Reserve University and an Endocrinology Fellowship at The University of Washington. Working in academia and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry his career has been dedicated to improving patients’ lives. At Indiana University he conducted basic and clinical research in diabetes and dyslipidemia, treated patients, and was a national lecturer on preventive cardiology. He served as the Chief Medical Officer in the Chorus Group at Eli Lilly and numerous biotechnology companies leading the development of over 100 early-stage drugs, many now helping patients. Currently, he sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for WARF Therapeutics. He has a lifelong passion for running, and he and his wife are dedicated to supporting education and reducing food insecurity.
Inspiring Scientist Julie Lucas
2000 Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
2005 Masters of Science in Water Resources Science
As the Executive Director of MiningMinnesota, Julie Lucas leads a coalition of community and industry leaders who advocate for responsible production of mineral resources in Minnesota. Julie previously served as the Environmental Manager of Hibbing Taconite Company, shepherding Minnesota’s second largest iron mining and processing facility through environmental permitting and compliance. She then led the water resources program for Twin Metals Minnesota as the Director of Water Resources. Her efforts to educate the public about mining and environmental protection, including her TEDxSilver Lake presentation, have earned her two awards from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) – the Minerals Education Coalition Leadership Award (2013) and the Cindy Moore Courageous Impact Award (2023). In addition, Julie was named as one of the Top 100 people to know in Minnesota by the Twin Cities Business Magazine in 2023. She attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and an M.S. in Water Resources Science.
Julie is driven by a commitment to the community and was elected in March 2022 as a Township Supervisor. She has also served on the Board of Directors for several non-profits, including the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS), United Way of NE Minnesota, the Minnesota Section of SME, the Minnesota Discovery Center, and the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability. In addition, Julie is the Vice-Chair for the UMD SCSE External Advisory Board. As a first-generation college graduate, she is dedicated to helping others find a path to success.
Inspiring Statistician Lindsey Dietz, Ph.D.
2006 Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
2008 Masters of Science in Applied & Computational Mathematics
Dr. Lindsey Dietz is a Data Science Manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis where she leads a national group of 20 quantitative staff in large bank stress testing efforts. Her work has been honored with the William Taylor award – the highest and most prestigious honor in the Federal Reserve's supervision function. She was also previously selected as a recipient of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal 40 under 40. Lindsey is passionate about opening doors for more women to pursue STEM professions. She co-leads the R Ladies - Twin Cities chapter and organized the noRth R user conference for three years. She is an alumni of the AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador program where she served as a high-profile role model for the next generation of girls in STEM and appeared with her 3D printed statue at the Smithsonian. Lindsey earned a B.S. and M.S. in mathematics from the University of Minnesota - Duluth, where she is also in the athletic hall of fame for her accomplishments in basketball. She received her PhD in statistics from the School of Statistics at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and was honored with an alumni award in 2022.
SCSE Academy of Science & Engineering was established in 2002
The Academy of Science and Engineering was established by Dean James P. Riehl to publicly recognize distinguished alumni and special friends of Swenson College who have distinguished themselves through commitment and leadership in their chosen profession. It is the highest honor bestowed by the Swenson College of Science and Engineering. We have more than 15,000 alumni and each year a handful are nominated by their departments for induction into the Academy of Science and Engineering. Since its inception, 81 members have been inducted into the Academy.
In 2022 Dean Wendy Reed established the Inspiring Scientists and Engineers as part of the Academy of Science and Engineering. This award to recognize alumni who are early in their careers and making significant contributions in STEM fields.