Sheryl A. Sorby

Sheryl A. Sorby is Professor Emerita of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Michigan Technological University, with current appointments in engineering education. She holds B.S. in Civil Engineering (1983), M.S. in Engineering Mechanics (1986), and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (1991) from Michigan Tech.

Her research focuses on engineering education innovation, spatial visualization development, and advanced composite materials. Key contributions include:

• Pioneering spatial visualization training for engineering students
• Developing assessment tools for engineering self-efficacy
• Designing affordable prosthetic devices (Jaipur Foot)
• Implementing curriculum reforms to improve STEM retention
• Studying cognitive factors in engineering problem-solving

Professor Sorby has led over $14 million in educational grants and served as program director at NSF. Her spatial skills research earned the Betty Vetter Award and ASEE Fellowship. Current work continues to focus on spatial cognition interventions in K-12 and undergraduate education.