2026 Ceremony & Seminar
Friday, October 9, 2026
- Seminar Featured Speakers: 1:30 - 3:00 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 The Garden in Duluth, - Invitation only event
2026 Awardees
Academy of Science and Engineering
Robert Carlson, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemsitry and Biochemistry
Robert Carlson is a native Minnesotan, attended the University of Minnesota (B. Chem. 1962), Princeton University (Ph.D., 1965), Harvard University (NIH-Harvard Fellow, 1965-1966) and began a productive career at the University of Minnesota Duluth (1966), where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Organic Chemistry. His research was a combination of fundamental and applied environmental chemistry. He was instrumental in the development of four commercial ventures NaturNorth, Apprise Technologies, RECEPTORS and Tundra Companies.
At UMD, he had a leadership position as Academic Vice Chancellor and received several UMD and UM Teaching, Research and Service Awards, including the President’s Service Award, 2020. He also helped develop and guide several new programs (UMD’s “Achievement Center, Large Lakes Observatory-LLO, Natural Resources Research Institute-NRRI and the Advanced Materials Center-AMC). He also provided active leadership in the community…. Senator Durenberger’s Acid-Rain Committee, and as chairs of the US-EPA/Canadian NRC”- Superior Binational Forum”, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) and the Lake Superior Aquarium Authority.
Academy of Science and Engineering
Daniel Palo, Ph.D., PE
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, 1994
Daniel R. Palo, originally from Eveleth, Minnesota, received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from UMD in 1994. After a year working at Lake Superior Paper Industries in Duluth, he attended graduate school at the University of Connecticut, receiving a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1999. His dissertation focused on homogenous catalysis for organic transformations in supercritical carbon dioxide. Upon graduation, he joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington as a research engineer with a focus on hydrocarbon chemistry related to synthetic fuels and hydrogen production. He worked at PNNL for 12 years, the second half of which he spent in Corvallis, Oregon, helping establish and build a joint research institute between PNNL and Oregon State University. Since late 2011, he has worked for Barr Engineering Co., first in Hibbing, Minnesota, then remotely in Southern California, where he resides today. At Barr, Dan focuses his work on mining and mineral processing, manufacturing and recycling, and applied research and development programs. Since 2018, Dan has served as Principal Vice President at Barr, leading teams and providing project leadership, conducting business development, providing professional engineering services, and coaching and mentoring staff in chemical, metallurgical, mechanical, and related engineering disciplines.
Inspiring Engineer
Bryce Hansen
Bachelor of Civil Engineering 2016
Master of Civil Engineering 2018
Bryce Hansen, PE, SE, is a Senior Structural Engineer and Group Supervisor with Black & Veatch, where he has led civil and structural engineering efforts for energy infrastructure projects across the United States. Since earning both a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from UMD, Bryce has built a career spanning power delivery, hydraulic structures, geohazard mitigation, and other industrial infrastructure. His work has included serving as discipline lead for the design and modernization of critical substations, managing multidisciplinary engineering teams, and supporting the delivery of complex projects that strengthen communities and improve system reliability. Beyond industry practice, Bryce has contributed to engineering research through multiple publications on fiber-reinforced concrete, including work recognized with the Transportation Research Record Paper of the Year in Concrete Materials in 2019. A licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer in multiple states, Bryce is passionate about engineering, innovation, and helping develop the next generation of engineers.
Inspiring Engineer
Husam Ismail
Master of Electrical & Computer Engineering 2013
Husam Ismail earned his Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2013, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He currently serves as Director of Software Engineering at Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, where he leads multiple software engineering teams responsible for delivering AI-enabled, enterprise-scale digital platforms serving customers across the foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, and industrial sectors.
Since joining Ecolab as a Firmware Engineer, Husam has progressed through a series of engineering and leadership roles, helping shape the company’s digital transformation journey. Over the course of his career, he has led large-scale product development initiatives, cloud modernization programs, DevOps transformations, and the adoption of AI-powered engineering practices that have accelerated innovation and improved business outcomes. His work has focused on building and scaling software platforms that connect IoT devices, cloud infrastructure, and real-time operational intelligence, enabling customers worldwide to operate more efficiently, safely, and sustainably. He is a named inventor on a U.S. patent related to liquid monitoring systems and has been recognized with Ecolab’s Research, Development & Engineering Innovation and Service Excellence Awards for his contributions to advancing technology and delivering customer value.
A passionate advocate for innovation and people development, Husam is committed to building high-performing teams and creating environments where engineers can grow, collaborate, and make meaningful contributions. He has championed modern engineering practices, automation, and data-driven decision-making while mentoring emerging leaders and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Known for his ability to bridge business strategy with technology execution, Husam continues to drive the development of digital solutions that create measurable impact for customers and businesses around the world while investing in the next generation of engineering talent.
Inspiring Statistician
Matt Ploenzke, Ph.D.
Bachelor of Science, Statistics & Actuarial Sciences, 2012
Matt Ploenzke holds two bachelor’s degrees in statistics and economics from the University of Minnestoa, Duluth, and a Ph.D. in biostatistics from Harvard. He logged experience working for the Office of Institutional Research at Minnesota, Duluth, and as a head research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before turning to football.
After being a part of the winning team in the NFL’s 2020 Big Data Bowl, per Michael Lopez of the NFL’s data & analytics department, Matt joined the 49ers as a football data scientist. He was elevated to manager of football research and development in 2022 and director in 2023.
Matt Ploenzke is in his sixth season with the 49ers and his first as vice president, football research & development. In his role, Ploenzke oversees the research strategies for the department and advises on the methodological approaches undertaken. His primary responsibilities involve developing player valuation metrics using advanced statistical techniques and providing interpretations of these metrics to aid in roster acquisitions. Matt joined the 49ers as a football data scientist in 2020 and spent two seasons (2020-21) in that role before being elevated to manager, football R&D in 2022 and director, football R&D in 2023.
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.