Duke Honorees

medalribbondukewhite1Pratt School of Engineering
Durham, North Carolina

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is an internationally-recognized teaching and research institution focused on educating and exploring the frontiers of engineering in a bold, personal and cross-disciplinary environment. Located within a multi-faceted university that dates from 1838, the School offers bachelor, master and doctoral degrees with majors in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. Also offered is a professional master in engineering management degree and several professional certificates.

The Pratt School’s stated mission is to provide a rigorous engineering education for students, enabling them to lead productive, rewarding, and ethical lives for the betterment of society. It is the School’s vision that Pratt students and faculty will be catalysts for generating and integrating knowledge across the disciplines required to address complex issues facing a global society.

The faculty and staff view teaching as a partnership where students and faculty share the responsibility to excel. Therefore, the School’s goal is to provide a personalized engineering learning experience to match the interests and commitment of its students.

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In 2006, Duke University became the first institution to celebrate two Mentoring Award honorees in a single year. Among their other contributions, in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane Katrina, Drs. Linda Franzoni and David Schaad developed a course, “Rebuilding from Ruins,” and together took 130 Duke students to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Website: http://www.pratt.duke.edu

CONTACT: Pamela Hanson, Director of Annual Fund, 305 Teer Engineering Building, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27706; Email: pamela.hanson@duke.edu, Voice: 919-660-5130, FAX: 919-684-4860.

There are many reasons to learn more about our honorees. You may benefit from knowing more about these outstanding individuals and perhaps become a better mentor or advisor yourself. You may wish to add your own congratulations! You may want to renew a former acquaintance.

A sincere effort is maintained to keep this information up to date. However, the individual’s or institutions’ own web sites and directory listings should also prove helpful.

Titles and affiliations are listed as at the time of each award.


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2005
Michael R. Gustafson II, Ph.D. – First Duke Honoree

Assistant Professor of the Practice,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2006
Linda P. Franzoni, Ph.D.

Associate Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2006
David Schaad, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professor and Assistant Chair,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2007
George A. Truskey, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2008
Joseph A. Izatt, Ph.D.

Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2009
Pei Zhong, Ph.D.

Associate Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2010
Krishnandu Chakrabarty, Ph.D.

Professor,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2011
Devendra P. Garg, Ph.D.

Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; Director, Robotics and Manufacturing Automation Laboratory; Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2012
Bridget Fletcher, M.A.

Assistant Director of Student Services,
Master of Engineering Management Program,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2013
La Tondra A. Murray, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor of the Practice,
Associate Director, Professional Masters Programs,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2014
Charles B. Parker, Ph.D.

Director,
Nanomaterials and Thin Films Laboratory,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2015
Jenny Sloop Johnson, M.Ed.

Associate Director,
Career Services, Engineering Professional Masters Programs, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


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2016
Claudia K. Gunsch, Ph.D.

Associate Professor,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University



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2017
Marc A. Sommer, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University
Associate Professor in Neurobiology,
School of Medicine, Duke University


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2018
Marcus H. Henderson

Teaching Laboratory Manager, Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


2019
Gregg E. Trahey, Ph.D.

Robert Plonsey Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


2020
Rebecca Simmons, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


2021
Shaundra Daily, Ph.D.

Professor of Practice, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Diversity in Tech (DiT) Lab,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University


Award Program Institutions

The program is endowed to operate through six supporting institutions.

An international recognition is part of the annual society-level award programs of ASME. U. S. national honorees are recognized through the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. Other outstanding mentors are selected annually through similarly-endowed institutional programs at Duke University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – universities where sponsor Capers McDonald has been privileged to have been engaged as a learner, either as a student or faculty member.

Aside from simply learning more about each of these organizations, there are many reasons to contact our award program institutions! You may want to learn more and become a better mentor or advisor. You may wish to know the procedure for nominating an excellent mentor for one of the awards. Or, you may have some interest in contributing to the celebration by volunteering some of your time or funds to enhance the recognitions. All are welcomed!

A sincere effort is maintained to keep this information, including contacts, up to date. However, the institutions’ own web sites and directory listings should also prove helpful.


Connections Among the Six Institutions

In addition to their individual dedication to excellence in engineering and the applied sciences; to innovation, creativity and leadership; and to a broad social perspective on the role of engineers, these six institutions are prominent among those Capers McDonald has enjoyed working and learning in throughout his life – either as a student, faculty member or volunteer.

In the School of Engineering at Duke University, Capers earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree with majors in Biomedical Engineering and Zoology in 1974. He completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree at MIT in 1976, conducting his thesis work with fellow engineers at MIT and orthopedic surgeons at Children’s Hospital Boston. Following five years of employment, Capers concluded his formal education – to date – with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School in 1983.

Immediately following 12 years as President and CEO of BioReliance Corporation in 2004, Capers became an Executive in Residence and faculty member with Johns Hopkins University, teaching in graduate programs that in 2007 became parts of the newly-chartered Carey Business School.

Capers was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honorary, following his third undergraduate year at Duke and served as the student Chapter President during 1973-74. He is a Life Member of ASME, which for many years was known as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.


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Near Top of Page: Top portion of the Duke Honorees perpetual recognition plaque located inside the entrance to “Old Red,” Hudson Hall.