Faculty

Our faculty seek to make a difference professionally, academically, and spiritually in the lives of our students. Our professors have a broad range of experience and backgrounds. Their primary motivation is to be in the classroom with their students or in a lab working on real-world projects. Students are encouraged to visit professors in their offices or even contact them at home. Faculty members are ready to be friends and mentors and to build relationships that students will value for a lifetime.

See what degrees you can earn when you learn from these professors.


Delvin Peterson

Dean, Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2079
delvin.peterson@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD Oregon State University, 2012
  • MSME Oregon State University, 2004
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 2001 

Teaching Areas
Intro to engineering, engineering mechanics, engineering economy, writing for engineers and instrumentation

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla College, 2004-Present 
  • Bechtel, Richland, WA 

Hobbies
Music, RVing, and board games 

Other

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 256

Bryce Cole

Associate Dean, Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2295
bryce.cole@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD Notre Dame, 1996
  • MSCE Massachusetts/Amherst, 1989
  • BSE/BA Walla Walla College, 1987  

Teaching Areas
Hydrology, soil mechanics, transportation and finite elements

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla College, 1995-Present  
  • Ground water flow modeling, hydrogeology
  • Consulting work, grade school and high school
  • Science outreach 

Hobbies
Foreign languages, travel, hiking and skiing  

Other

Professional Associations

  • National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • International Association of Hydrologic Science (IAHS)
  • American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 272


Rob Frohne

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2075
rob.frohne@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD Purdue University, 1988 
  • MSEE Purdue University, 1985
  • BSE Walla Walla College,1983 

Teaching Areas
Circuit analysis, signals and systems, electronics, instrumentation, electromagnetic propagation and radiation and communication systems 

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla College, 1988-Present 

Hobbies
Amateur Radio

Other

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 261

Dr. Frohne's website 

Natalie Smith-Gray

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2082
natalie.smith-gray@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • BSE Walla Walla University, 2018
  • PhD Washington State University, 2022

Teaching Areas
Circuit Analysis, Fundamentals of Programming, Data Science

Experience

  •  School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2022-Present
  • Research Assistant, Washington State University, 2018-2022

Hobbies
Hiking/backpacking, learning languages, flying small aircraft, and traveling

Other

  • American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE)
  • The American Ceramic Society (ACerS)
  • Engineers Without Borders (EWB)

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 260


Mark Haun

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2076
mark.haun@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003
  • MS University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 1996

Teaching Areas
Circuit Analysis, Instrumentation, System Design, Signals and Systems

Experience

  • Stratos Product Development and Diatomic Product Development, 2013-2020
  • Fujifilm Sonosite, 2011-2013
  • Philips Ultrasound, 2005-2010
  • Philips Research US, 2003-2005

Hobbies
Hiking, independent travel, bicycle touring, amateur astronomy, amateur radio, designing low-cost scientific instruments and other electronics

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 270

Qin Ma

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2537
qin.ma@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD Carnegie Mellon University, 2004
  • MS Florida International University, 1999
  • MS Chongqing University, 1994
  • BS Chongqing University, 1987 

Teaching Areas
Finite element methods, engineering mechanics, engineering materials and materials and processes in manufacturing 

Experience

  • EFC School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2004-Present
  • Heat Power Engineering Department, Chongqing University, 1994-1996  
  • Research Institute of Industrial Boilers, Nanjing, P.R.China
  • Post-doctoral Researcher at Carnegie Mellon University
  • Research Assistant at Carnegie Mellon University
  • Research Assistant at Florida International University 

Hobbies
Ping-pong, swimming, music and outdoor activities  

Other

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • The American Ceramic Society (ACerS)
  • The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)

Honors

  • Tau Beta Pi - the Engineering Honor Society, 2004
  • Liang Jidian (Hong Kong Bank) Fellowship, 2003
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1999

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 267


Janice McKenzie

Professor of Engineering/Bioengineering

(509) 527-2424
janice.mckenzie@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD Purdue University, 2006; Biomedical Engineering
  • BS Montana State University, 2001; Chemical Engineering, Bio focus

Teaching Areas
Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Bioreactors

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2017-Present
  • Biology Department, Walla Walla University, 2011-2017
  • Ivy Tech Community College Biotechnology Chair, 2008-2011
  • Nanovis, Chief Science Officer, 2007
  • Research in biomaterials for tissue engineering applications

Hobbies
Bible studies, prison ministry, gardening, skiing, biking, running, enjoying animals and nature

Other
Professional Associations

  • Society for Biomaterials (SFB)
  • Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS)
  • Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

Room
Chan Shun Pavilion 257

Melodie Williams

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2747
melodie.williams@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • MSCE Washington State University, 1994
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 1986

Teaching Areas
Collection and distribution system, design treatment, plant design, transportation engineering, environmental stewardship, environmental engineering systems, environmental principles and writing for engineers

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2009-Present
  • Six years consulting civil and environmental engineering
  • 
Seventeen years Washington State Department of Ecology, Nuclear Waste Program and Water Quality Program

Hobbies
Working on my doctorate, city council, and look forward to time for hobbies when I finish my doctorate in 2023

Other

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Civil Engineers
  • American Society of Engineering Educators
  • Engineers Without Borders

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 264

Professor Williams' LinkedIn profile


Eduardo Ribeiro

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2077
eduardo.afonsoribeiro@wallawalla.edu

 

Education

  • PhD Federal University of Parana, 2016
  • BSE Federal University of Parana, 2010 

Teaching Areas
Machine Design, Mechanical Vibrations, and Optimization

Experience

  • Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2023-present
  • Founder and Partner, DYN Technologies, 2010-present
  • Post-Doctoral Researcher, Federal University of Parana, 2017-2022
  • Assistant Professor, Engineering Department, UNIBRASIL, 2017-2017
  • Researcher, Product Development, WEG, 2010-2010

Hobbies
Family, swimming, gym, hiking, rollerblading and biking

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 266

 

Ralph Stirling

Instrument Engineer

(509) 527-2071
ralph.stirling@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • MSEE Purdue, 1985
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 1981

Teaching Areas
Manufacturing, communication systems, instrumentation, digital design and senior project ideas

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla University,1988-Present 
  • Calera Recognition Systems (Software Engineer)
  • Palantir Corp (Software Engineer)
  • Coopervision Surgical Imaging (Consultant)

Hobbies
Ham Radio and woodworking 

Other

Professional Associations

  • Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
  • Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
  • American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 262


Doug Thomsen

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2251
doug.thomsen@wallawalla.edu

Education 

  • PhD Purdue University, 1999 
  • MSE Purdue University, 1996 
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 1993 

Teaching Areas 
Fluid mechanics, Thermodynamics and Combustion 

Experience 

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 2018-Present 
  • Combustion Design Engineer, GE Aviation, 1999-2018 

Hobbies 
Birdwatching, hiking/camping, board games, reading 

Other 

Room: Chan Shun Pavilion 268

Louie Yaw

Professor of Engineering

(509) 527-2081
louie.yaw@wallawalla.edu

Education

  • PhD UC Davis, 2008
  • MS UC Davis, 1996
  • BSE Walla Walla College, 1992

Teaching Areas
Structural design, steel design, statics, structural analysis, writing for engineers, intro to engineering, mechanics of materials 

Experience

  • School of Engineering, Walla Walla University, 1992-1993, 2000-2005, 2008-Present 
  • Structural Engineering Practice for seven years
  • Licensed Civil and Structural Engineer in CA and WA

Hobbies
Oil painting, volleyball, tennis, reading and writing 

Other

Professional Associations

  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAC)

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 259

 

Dr. Yaw’s website


Tonia Jeffery

Administrative Assistant

(509) 527-2767
tonia.jeffery@wallawalla.edu

Tonia is a true lifesaver for engineering students at Walla Walla University. She can help them find people, pickup their homework or find their next class. The faculty also rely on her skill in managing photocopying, preparing reports and curriculum guide sheets, retrieving senior project documents, and a host of other essential tasks.

Other

Room

Chan Shun Pavilion 255 2nd Floor Office Suite