The Edward M. Mielnik and Samuel R. Harding Professor of Mechanical Engineering was established by C. Allan Poots and Dr. Jennifer Niebyl of Coralville, Iowa.
A former engineering student in the late 1950’s, Mr. Poots went on to become a successful residential developer, building more than 650 homes in the Iowa City area as well as Coralville’s Brown Deer Golf Course. Dr. Niebyl is professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa. Their gift honors two engineering faculty members who mentored Mr. Poots as a student. Mr. Poots’s academic mentors and lifelong friends were Professors Edward Mielnik and Samuel R. Harding.
Professor Mielnik was a 1943 graduate of the College of Engineering and received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses in materials science and materials processing at the college. He retired in 1983 and died in 2002.
Professor Harding joined the engineering faculty in 1944. He was superintendent of the Machine Tool Laboratory and instructor in manufacturing processes. He retired in 1960 and died in 1969.
College of Engineering recipient: Ching-Long Lin