Brad Deken

Brad Deken is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Engineering & Technology at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). He holds a PhD from Purdue University and prior degrees from the University of Missouri at Rolla (now Missouri S&T). His career includes engineering roles in electric power and motor manufacturing sectors, followed by academic transition after doctoral studies. He emphasizes applied learning through flipped classrooms and hands-on experiments.

Education: BS and MS in Electrical Engineering (UMR), PhD in Engineering (Purdue). Professional experience includes internships at electric cooperatives and motor manufacturers, and work at a military/government contractor in Indiana.

Research focuses on integrating practical engineering applications into education, energy systems management, and crisis response technologies. Notable initiatives include leading SEMO's industrial engineering program launch (2017) and coordinating the Neighborhood Solar Program with Ameren Missouri to advance renewable energy infrastructure and student opportunities. His team utilized 3D printing and laser cutting for PPE production during the pandemic, showcasing rapid prototyping capabilities in the Seabaugh Polytechnic Building.

Teaching philosophy emphasizes trial-and-error problem solving, drawing from his background in self-directed programming exploration in the 1990s. Current lab facilities include advanced manufacturing tools supporting interdisciplinary projects.