UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Mary Frecker, professor of mechanical engineering, was named the associate department head for graduate studies in the mechanical and nuclear engineering department. Her new position will be effective Jan. 1, 2016. In this role, Frecker will coordinate the activities of the department’s graduate office, including recruiting, admissions, curricula and advising.

Frecker will step down from her role as director of the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory in the College of Engineering and transition to this new position. She directed the Learning Factory from 2012 to 2015. During her tenure, Frecker grew the Learning Factory’s industry-sponsored capstone design program to include 200 projects per year involving 13 engineering programs.

Frecker has been with Penn State since 1997. She co-directs the Engineering Design and Optimization Group at Penn State. Her research focuses on mechanical design, compliant mechanisms, design optimization with applications in aerospace, medical devices and origami engineering.

Frecker has received ongoing recognition for her research, service and teaching. In 2001 she received the Department Head Faculty Award in mechanical and nuclear engineering. In 2002 she received the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society (PSEAS) Outstanding Advising Award and in 2005 the PSEAS Outstanding Research Award. She was named a fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2008.