ECE alum visits ECE210 class to share industry experience

Last month, UW–Madison Electrical Engineering alum Donn Dengel (BSEE‘82) traveled from Illinois back to the Badger state to share his industry experience with a group of current ECE undergraduate students. Dengel visited Assistant Teaching Professor Nathan Strachen’s ECE210 Introductory Experience in Electrical Engineering classes, where he spoke about the benefits of amateur radio and his work as an electrical engineer. Dengel has held roles at world-renowned companies such as Motorola, IDEX Corporation, and most recently, global foodservice provider, A.J. Antunes. 

A former ECE student himself, Dengel has firsthand knowledge of the ways that hearing from industry professionals can shape the academic experience. “Students are learning the tools which they need to be successful in their careers,” Dengel says. “Engaging students with practicing engineers shows the many ways we can put the tools to use.  It answers the question, Why is this concept important to know?”

By engaging with students, Dengel aims to not only exemplify the real-world applications of a UW–ECE education, but to also create excitement around the future of an industry that is constantly evolving. “In my own career, I was part of development teams that gave the world handheld mobile communications, wireless connectivity, advanced automotive electronics, and energy management. None of these things existed when I began my career. My classmates and I had no idea that our daily work would change the world,” Dengel says. 

Photo: Donn Dengel in classroom

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