Administrator

Imagine, September 2025

Dear MatSE Community,

It is the privilege of a lifetime to write to you as the new head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State. I would like to thank my predecessor, Susan Sinnott, for her outstanding leadership of our department over the past decade.

I have many fond memories of the good times under Susan’s leadership, most notably for me personally, her enthusiasm and support for my LionGlass research. But what truly defines a leader is how they guide others through difficult times.

In 2016, Susan led us through the unexpected flooding of the Steidle Building, which had just reopened after being completely renovated. Then, in 2020, when the global COVID-19 pandemic forced an overnight shift to remote teaching and operations, Susan once again rose to the occasion. Through every challenge, her steady and compassionate leadership ensured that MatSE emerged stronger, more resilient, and more welcoming than ever.

I thank Susan for her lasting contributions to MatSE, which empowers all of us to pursue new opportunities and strengthen MatSE’s impact together. Looking ahead, I am excited to lead our department as we strive toward our mission to “develop leaders in materials science and engineering, generate scientific discoveries, and enable new opportunities that serve twenty-first-century societal needs through educational innovation, groundbreaking research, entrepreneurial pursuits, translational impact, and community outreach.”

As I step into this new role with optimism and purpose, I also find myself reflecting deeply on the people who made this journey possible, especially Carlo Pantano.

Writing my first “From the Department Head” message is bittersweet, as it follows the unfortunate passing of Carlo this past May.

I’ve long considered him one of my personal role models, and my respect and admiration for him have only deepened over time as I’ve come to understand the many quiet ways he helped others—often without their knowledge.

More than anyone else, Carlo is responsible for my being here at Penn State. In 2010, while attending a conference in Brazil, he invited me to join him for breakfast. I remember us enjoying a delicious Brazilian breakfast, and Carlo planting the idea of me become a professor at Penn State.

At the time, I was working as an industrial research scientist at Corning Incorporated and was not looking for a career change. It took seven years for me to take the leap to academia, but I am forever grateful to Carlo.

Our amazing community truly made my move to Penn State feel like coming home. Every day since, I’ve been deeply inspired by our students, faculty, and staff—their passion to learn, discover, and translate ideas into reality to make a positive difference in the world continues to motivate me.

Even after his passing, I continue to learn from Carlo—through his unfailing kindness, generosity, humility, and his enduring dedication to mentoring the next generation of students and faculty. At Penn State, we are all beneficiaries of Carlo’s legacy. His outstanding leadership of the Materials Research Institute and his visionary role in the creation of the Millennium Science Complex stand as lasting monuments to his tireless efforts to build a cross-disciplinary community of scientists—one that benefits not only Penn State, but the world.

As I begin my tenure as department head, I look forward to hearing from you, our MatSE Community. I invite you to visit us in person and stop by my office in 221A Steidle Building to say hello. You are also welcome to email me anytime at jcm426@psu.edu. I look forward to meeting many of you during the academic year.

We Are!

John C. Mauro
Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State

Imagine, August 2025

Showcasing materials science to lifelong learners through the Road Scholar program

This summer, Penn State Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) welcomed a group of curious and passionate lifelong learners as part of the Road Scholar program, “A week with the scientists at Penn State University.” 

The weeklong program, held on the University Park campus, offered participants a deep dive into the world of materials science, showcasing cutting-edge research, and its real-world applications. Road Scholar is a not-for-profit educational travel organization that offers immersive experiences to adults aged 50 and older.

Participants came from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including education, publishing, and science. Among them were retirees Tom Moslak, who worked in the nuclear field for more than 40 years, and his wife Teresa Moslak, a former fifth-grade science teacher and Penn State alumna. Both expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to reconnect with science and the University.

“I decided to take the materials program to come up to speed as to what some of the latest developments in chemistry are and how it's being applied,” said Tom Moslak.

After teaching science to elementary students for 24 years, Teresa Moslak said, “I wanted to find out how the science that I taught the kids is being implemented by people in the modern era. The subject matter is presented in such a way that no matter where you are in terms of what you know, you can be impressed by the research that’s occurring right now.”

The program was designed to be accessible to participants regardless of their academic background. Stephanie Law, associate professor of materials science and engineering, and Nairiti Sinha, assistant professor, co-organized the program. 

The experience was not only enriching for participants but also benefited the department. “We are spreading the word about materials science and engineering and about science in general,” Law said. “Many participants said that they had no idea what MatSE was before the program but thought it was extremely interesting and important.”

Participants also learned about the role of federal funding in scientific research. “Many participants were unaware of the role that federal funding plays in our research,” Law said. “We hope that by educating the public on what materials science and engineering is, why it is important, and how we use federal funds, we will help build public support for materials research and education.”

Sinha said she enjoyed working with the group and appreciated the diversity of perspectives. “The participants had varied backgrounds, so their questions were broad, big-picture questions and very insightful,” she said. “For example, we hosted an 80-year-old editor who was still active, a retired chemist, and a retired high school teacher in literature.”

For the Moslaks, the experience was both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful. “Just being around people who want to improve the world regenerates our energy,” Teresa said. 

Tom said, “The passion, I like that. Penn State has very passionate faculty that love what they’re doing and love to share the news.”

Law confirmed that MatSE is already booked to host the Road Scholar program again next year. “It is rare that we get to engage with adults for outreach, and it was a nice change of pace,” said Stephanie Law. “The participants were all very enthusiastic, and I look forward to working with Road Scholar next year.”

Founded in 1975, Road Scholar is the world’s largest not-for-profit provider of experiential learning for adults. The organization offers more than 4,000 learning adventures in 100 countries, on all seven continents and across the United States, serving more than six million participants.

RSVP for the annual welcome back 

MatSE Picnic at Sunset Park 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28 

Friends and family are welcome! 
Department photo will be taken at 5 p.m. 
Supported by members of Materials Research Society and Material Advantage