President John Walz to assume role of President Emeritus; Dr. Eric Baumgartner named President

President John Y. Walz, Ph.D. has announced his retirement and transition from President to President Emeritus of Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), effective Jan. 1, 2026. Dr. Walz is only the fifth president in MSOE’s 122-year history and has guided the university since 2016. In his new role as President Emeritus, he will focus his efforts on fundraising and external outreach to support the university’s Next Bold Step campaign and long-term strategic priorities.

As part of a thoughtful succession planning process by the Executive Committee of the MSOE Board of Regents, MSOE Executive Vice President of Academics Eric T. Baumgartner, Ph.D. has been named the next President of MSOE. Baumgartner has served the university since 2017 and will assume his presidency Jan. 1, 2026.

This seamless leadership transition comes during a pivotal time for higher education as a whole and places a trusted and proven leader at the helm of MSOE. As Baumgartner becomes MSOE’s 6th president, Walz will continue to lead the successful completion of MSOE’s Next Bold Step campaign as President Emeritus. 

“MSOE has a deep history of impactful leadership,” said Dr. James C. Rahn, chairman of the MSOE Board of Regents and president of the Kern Family Foundation. “This transition ensures a solid foundation for the next era of academic excellence and institutional growth. John Walz and Eric Baumgartner have forged a strong working relationship and share deep character, humility and love for MSOE.”

To build on its current standing and cement the university’s position for the next 125 years, MSOE has set ambitious strategic goals to become a leader in applied AI education, create the Health Professions Pathways in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin, continue the Next Bold Step comprehensive campaign, build the state-of-the-art Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center, and launch the Dwight and Dian Diercks School of Advanced Computing.

Under Baumgartner’s leadership, MSOE will continue to expand its graduate and continuing education programs that respond to the priorities of the businesses and industries it serves; expand alumni engagement; expand business outreach and partnerships; and continue with initiatives that further strengthen the university’s financial stature.

The Impact of Dr. John Y. Walz
The impact of Walz’ leadership can be seen across campus in new construction, programs, and developments that enhanced academics and student life, supported MSOE’s mission to offer hands-on learning experiences, and strengthened community partnerships and more. 

One of Walz’ first projects at MSOE was the implementation of a strategic plan. Walz and MSOE began supporting those commitments with the creation of a new degree, construction of campus advancements, improvements to student life with dorm and dining enhancements, and so much more.

Walz was instrumental in the creation of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree with a focus on artificial intelligence at MSOE, joining Carnegie Mellon as one of the first two universities in the nation to offer such an undergraduate degree. In order to support the technology forward degree and advance other academic programs, Walz worked with alumnus Dwight Diercks to develop the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall. The hall opened in September 2019 and is filled with next generation technologies that position MSOE at the forefront of artificial intelligence education. 

Additional renovations across MSOE’s campus have been made under Walz’ leadership, including the creation of the Spitzer Dining Commons and the Welcome Center, the transformation of Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall into Hermann Viets Tower (a living-learning community) and Regents Residence Hall into Mellowes Hall, the expansion of the Ruehlow Nursing Complex, the creation of the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE, the development of Raider Stadium in partnership with Nicolet High School, construction of Raiders Field on campus, the acquisition of a building adjacent to campus, on Knapp Street, for future development, and the acquisition and renovation of the building which now houses the Patricia E. Kern Conservatory of Music. 

In March 2025 Walz announced the university’s largest comprehensive campaign to date, the Next Bold Step: MSOE’s Campaign to Accelerate Innovation. This $125 million fundraising campaign includes the $76.5 million Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center, which is set to break ground in July and be completed by fall 2027, the Dwight and Dian Diercks School of Advanced Computing, student scholarships, faculty support, student support, operational support and general excellence. 

Outside of campus, Walz is an active board member for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Wisconsin Technology Council, Wisconsin Policy Forum and Higher Education Regional Alliance, and is a member of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council. He also participates in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Association of Independent Technological Universities, National Association of Independent Colleges, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges, and Rotary of Milwaukee. 

Walz earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. After six years as a process support engineer for Shell Oil Company, he left to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 and returned to Tulane as an assistant professor. In 1997, Walz joined Yale University’s faculty as an associate professor of chemical engineering and in 2002 he became the department’s chairman. In 2005 he became professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech and in 2012 Walz became dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky. 

The Vision of Dr. Eric T. Baumgartner
Baumgartner has served as MSOE’s Executive Vice President of Academics since 2017. Under his astute leadership, MSOE accomplished numerous strategic academic initiatives. Baumgartner led MSOE’s conversion from a century-old, quarter-based academic calendar to a semester-based model; led the COVID-19 crisis response committee to guide MSOE through the pandemic; supported the development of undergraduate and graduate programs focused on AI and machine learning; contributed to the design of new academic spaces such as those within the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, Hermann Viets Tower, and the soon-to-be-built Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center; and established the Center for Professional Education. He also created the opportunity to broaden MSOE’s academic offerings in the health professions in collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin; supported the launch of engineering and computing explorer pathways for undecided students; supported the formulation of the MSOE Mindset and the integration of this mindset into program courses and curricula; and created a focus on data-informed decision making by providing transparent access to data through numerous institutional dashboards. 

Specific academic offerings created during Baumgartner’s tenure as EVP of Academics include an M.S. in Machine Learning, Graduate Certificates in Applied Machine Learning and in Machine Learning Engineering, and a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Business Strategy using AI and Analytics; a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Post-Master’s Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate, and a B.S. in Technical and Business Management. The CREATE Institute was launched and the Ruehlow Nursing Complex was expanded. Enrollment growth in MSOE’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department necessitated a split into two departments: the Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering Department and the Dwight and Dian Diercks School of Advanced Computing.  

Baumgartner came to MSOE from Ohio Northern University where he served as dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering and a mechanical engineering professor 2006-2017. While at ONU, he executed strategic plans and fundraising campaigns on behalf of the college and developed new partnerships and degree programs. He previously was a senior member of the engineering staff at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Baumgartner also taught at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Michigan Technological University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati, a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

While at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Baumgartner held leadership roles on the Mars Science Laboratory Sample Acquisition/Sample Processing and Handling team and Mars Exploration Rover project that successfully launched, landed and operated the Curiosity, Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the surface of Mars. 
 
Baumgartner and his work have been recognized with several honors, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) Outstanding Dean Award and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics and Automation Award. 

About Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,900 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.