Patricia D. Brackin

Patricia "Patsy" D. Brackin is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she also serves as Director of the Engineering Design Program. She is the architect of the Home for Environmentally Responsible Engineering (HERE) living-learning community and previously directed the Operation Catapult outreach program for eleven years.

Education

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1997
• MS, Mathematical Sciences, University of Memphis, 1988
• MS, Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, 1975
• BS, Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, 1974

Research Interests

Dr. Brackin’s scholarship centers on engineering design methodology and creativity, with particular emphasis on embedding design experiences across all four undergraduate years. She investigates how sustainability and humanitarian engineering mindsets can be cultivated through curricular interventions such as first-year sustainability modules and capstone design courses. Additional work applies Six Sigma principles to manufacturing and medical-device design processes, informed by her industry sabbaticals with Cummins, Inc. and Eli Lilly.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on capstone design pedagogy, formative assessment of student teams, and professional identity formation. Collectively, these works advance evidence-based strategies for mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams and assessing complex design outcomes.

Honors & Awards

• ABET Fellow (2020)
• ASME Fellow (2016)
• ASME Dedicated Service Award (2015)
• ASEE Best Paper Awards (2012, 2010)
• Kern Family Foundation Fellow (2006–2007)
• Rose-Hulman Rosie Award (1997, 2001)

Advising, Grants & Programs

While specific grant amounts are not disclosed, Dr. Brackin has spearheaded several high-impact initiatives. She directs the campus-wide Engineering Design Program, integrating design experiences across multiple disciplines. She founded and continues to lead the HERE program, a living-learning community focused on sustainability and humanitarian engineering. Over an 11-year span, she directed Operation Catapult, a summer outreach program that introduces high-school seniors to engineering. These efforts collectively engage hundreds of students annually and are sustained through institutional and external partnerships.

Labs, Teams & Professional Service

Dr. Brackin maintains active collaboration with industry partners (Cummins, Eli Lilly) and professional societies, especially ASME and ASEE. Her leadership roles extend to ABET accreditation activities, where her expertise in design assessment informs national standards for engineering education quality.