An insider interview with Executive Vice President of Academics, Dr. Joe Tranquillo

Q: You started your role as Executive Vice President of Academics at MSOE in July. What are some of your top priorities you plan to focus on in the first few months?

JT: My main priority these first few months is to meet as many people as I can and to understand how and where MSOE lives its values and mission. Everyone has been incredibly friendly and helpful. I am learning something new every hour. 

Q: What sparked your passion for pursuing a career in higher education?

JT: We transform lives. This is the role of every educator. Higher education is special because college students are exploring their personal and professional identity in a very deep way. MSOE exposes students to new ideas, people and environments, all in an immersive and experiential learning community. We set them up to lead fulfilling lives of purpose where they will impact the world around them in ways we cannot even imagine. While some other institutions say they do this, MSOE lives and breathes this. 

Q: What are you most excited to learn more about MSOE and living in the city of Milwaukee?

JT: I have visited Milwaukee about a dozen times over the past 10 years, and I have always come back impressed by the natural beauty of the lake and the river, the eclectic restaurants, the parks, the friendly people and more. Over this past month and a half, I have had a chance to explore more and I have not been disappointed! Living in the heart of Milwaukee I have come to learn that MSOE has a wonderful synergistic relationship with this vibrant city.

Q: A hands-on approach to learning has always been MSOE’s hallmark. How do you plan to support and empower our faculty as educators and mentors?

JT: MSOE graduates are world-ready because of the experiential nature of their learning. This is bolstered by our tight connections to industry, part of the founding of MSOE and still in our DNA today. Our amazing faculty are not only teacher-scholars, but are also actively consulting, owning their own businesses and sponsoring class projects with industry partners. I will continue to help faculty find and sustain their ties to organizations in our region as well as opportunities for professional development in experiential education.

Q: Alumni often serve as an important window into the evolving needs of industry. How do you think our alumni community can best help MSOE ensure that we’re teaching the skills and competencies our students need to remain competitive in today’s workforce?

JT: There are so many ways MSOE alumni can help us sustain our vision to train the leaders who will transform the world. Over half of the senior capstone projects from this past year were industry-sponsored, hundreds of students had life-transformative internships this past summer, every department has an industrial advisory board that ensures that our curricula reflect the needs of the world, and alumni support student academic clubs through their gifts. If you haven’t been engaged already as an alum, you should reach out. There are so many ways you can ensure that MSOE remains a vibrant living learning community.