Moog, Inc. gift establishes professor of innovation in the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

BUFFALO, N.Y. — One of Western New York’s most venerable companies, Moog, Inc., has given $1.5 million to fund a new Moog Professor of Innovation position at the University at Buffalo’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).

Long a loyal supporter of the university, Moog’s gift supports the creation of a new professorship, a three-year appointment of a highly regarded faculty member who demonstrates a strong track record of research, teaching and industry collaboration in areas of mutual interest to Moog and UB.

The first professor of innovation, Kemper Lewis, PhD, will begin his term in January. Lewis, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is a renowned expert in design theory, advanced manufacturing, systems optimization, tradespace modeling, and machine learning in design, with a proven track record of productive collaboration with industry.

“Moog has supported SEAS in innumerable ways over the years – including supporting our students through internships, competitions, and mentoring, and helping to develop online courses in digital design and manufacturing,” said Liesl Folks, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “We value Moog’s partnership and deep commitment to our school and we see the named professorship as another example of our shared effort to explore new frontiers of technology.”

Under this collaboration, representatives from Moog and the school will meet and communicate regularly to cultivate ideas and new initiatives. The collaboration is designed to go beyond the discipline of engineering and will include cross-functional teams from areas such as architecture and planning and medicine.

It also opens avenues for UB students to gain experience through internships, co-ops and fellowships, in addition to possible eventual employment at Moog.

“Moog has enjoyed a strong and productive relationship with the university,” said Moog CEO John Scannell, “from collaborating on research projects and serving on advisory boards to guest lecturing and designing online courses. UB is a wonderful training ground for tomorrow’s engineers, and we are pleased to expand our involvement. It is also a testament to the university that so many UB alumni are employed here at Moog.”

A reception to celebrate the Moog gift was held Monday, Dec. 3, in the Buffalo Room in Capen Hall on North Campus.

The Moog gift was made during Boldly Buffalo: The Campaign for UB, the largest fundraising campaign by a SUNY school and the largest in UB’s history. It will raise $650 million to transform student experiences, empower faculty research and discovery and improve local and global communities.

Boldly Buffalo is a university-wide initiative, with 17 UB schools, colleges and units declaring goals and fundraising priorities. When successfully completed, the campaign will create more scholarships and student experience programs, including study abroad and internships; will renovate and build innovative new facilities where students learn, create and discover; and will bring more talented professors, researchers and teachers to campus.

About Moog

Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at www.moog.com.