Moog gift establishes professorship in innovation in engineering school

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

Long a loyal supporter of the university, Moog’s gift supports creation of the 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, 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,” says 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,” says 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 on Dec. 3 in the Buffalo Room in Capen Hall, 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.