The success of any department or university can be measured by the contribution its alumni make to the world. The MatSE 2022 Alumna of the Year, Susan Trolier-McKinstry, has played a major role in the success of MatSE and Penn State.
Trolier-McKinstry began her career at Penn State as an undergraduate student. She continued to receive her master's of science and her doctorate degrees, both in ceramic science. She could have gone anywhere and done almost anything, but she chose to stay at Penn State and build her career here.
She has been described by one of her peers as "the cream of the crop” in the field of materials science.
Another peer said, “She is simply amazing at what she does, she is one of a kind in her field."
One of her students said, “She is by far the best teacher I have ever had. She pushes me to be better.”
Her list of well-deserved awards and accolades is impressive, but one of her most cherished accomplishments is finishing the book she started writing with Robert E. Newnham, titled Materials Engineering Bonding, Structure, and Structure Property Relationships, published in 2017.
It is inspiring and encouraging to see all the accomplishments in her career up to this point.
Digital publication: Imagine, Summer 2022