Dr. H. Joseph Sommer III Receives 25-Year Service Award

Above: Dean Wormley (left) with Dr. Sommer (right).

Dr. H. Joseph Sommer III, Interim Department Head of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, received Penn State’s 25-Year Service Award at the awards ceremony that was held at Kunkle Lounge, Hammond Building on April 19, 2006.

Sommer joined the Penn State faculty in 1980 following completion of his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He previously served as professor-in-charge of graduate programs in MNE.

His research focuses on machine design, mechatronics, machine vision, three-dimensional kinematics, biomechanics and vehicle dynamics. He is affiliated with the Penn State Biomechanics Laboratory (formerly Center for Locomotion Studies) and was a Visiting Scientist at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda Maryland.

Sommer’s award history includes the Penn State Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching, Schreyer Honors College Outstanding Honors Advisor Award, University of Illinois Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award; three Penn State Engineering Society awards for Premier Teaching, Outstanding Teaching and Outstanding Advising; and the Halliburton Faculty Award.

Congratulations Dr. Sommer on 25 Years of great service to Penn State University!