James Obermeyer

James Obermeyer serves as a Teaching Professor in the Department of Engineering Management, Systems, and Technology at the University of Dayton's School of Engineering, leveraging 35+ years of automotive industry experience to teach mechanical engineering technology courses since 2019. His international background includes teaching at the UD China Institute in Suzhou (2017-2019) and professional roles across Germany, Japan, China, Mexico, Canada, France, Poland, and India with General Motors, Delphi, and BWI Group.

• Master of Science in Engineering Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute)

His research centers on Industry-Education collaboration, 3D CAD and Product Lifecycle Management, and Automotive safety testing, directly integrating real-world engineering applications into curriculum development. Obermeyer's teaching methodology emphasizes practical implementation of core subjects like mechanical design, statics, and dynamics through industry case studies and capstone projects.

Publication trends reveal a clear evolution from automotive safety engineering (1990s) to contemporary engineering education research (2020-2024), highlighting his transition from industry practitioner to academic innovator. Recent works focus on optimizing educational structures through class scheduling analysis and industry partnership models, while earlier publications established foundational contributions to crash dynamics and vehicle safety systems.

Key recognitions include:

• Outstanding Teacher Award from Phi Sigma Rho Engineering Sorority (2015)
• Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honorary society memberships
• Delphi President Council Honors for Mercedes-Benz cockpit development
• GM Extraordinary Accomplishment Award for airbag safety education
• SAE Ralph Isbrandt Award for seminal safety engineering research (1991)

As capstone project advisor for MCT 490, Obermeyer guides students through industry-sponsored design challenges while fostering professional development through SME student chapters. His industry-academia pipeline creates direct pathways for student employment, particularly through collaborations with automotive manufacturing partners. Though specific grant details aren't documented, his international industry network enables continuous curriculum enrichment with current engineering practices.

Obermeyer's leadership in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers student chapter demonstrates his commitment to professional development beyond the classroom. His global industry experience informs cross-cultural engineering perspectives in student projects, while patented innovations like the tray assembly mechanism (U.S. Patent 5749554) exemplify practical problem-solving approaches integrated into teaching.