Title: Interim President Emeritus and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Company: Michigan State University
Location: Okemos, Michigan, United States
Satish S. Udpa, interim president emeritus, university distinguished professor emeritus at Michigan State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academia.
With four and a half decades of experience to his credit, Dr. Udpa has established a successful career in education and research, specializing in nondestructive testing. His work ensures that planes and rockets can fly safely, gas pipes and nuclear reactors function properly, and equipment and components integrate effectively for their intended purposes. He has developed systems for assessing the integrity of pipelines, mechanical heart valves, and hardware. He currently excels as the interim president emeritus and university distinguished professor emeritus at Michigan State University, a position he has held since 2024. During his tenure at Michigan State University, he initiated a project to develop lightweight autonomous driverless vehicles for the U.S. Army. The goal is to leverage technology developed for the Army to support the U.S. auto industry.
The project has received funding from the state of Michigan to train the next generation of professionals in the automotive and semiconductor industries, and Dr. Udpa is actively working to secure contracts and grants to advance these initiatives. The project involves a dedicated group of faculty and students working on the U.S. Army project, alongside recruited students from the university’s engineering department to meet the talent needs of the U.S. automotive industry. The core concept is to reduce vehicle weight, which traditionally stands around three tons due to the need to withstand high-speed impacts. By incorporating advanced sensors capable of detecting objects a mile away, the project aims to design vehicles that can avoid hazards without heavy armor. He and his team are developing sophisticated control systems to ensure consistent vehicle performance regardless of load.
Dr. Udpa’s experience includes various roles at Michigan State University, where he served as university distinguished professor from 2009 to 2024, interim president in 2019, executive vice president for administration from 2013 to 2019, dean from 2005 to 2013, and chair of the electrical and computer engineering department from 2001 to 2005. He also held several positions at Iowa State University, including professor of electrical engineering from 2000 to 2001, professor from 1992 to 2000, and associate professor from 1990 to 1992. His earlier roles included assistant professor and associate professor at Colorado State University from 1984 to 1990, and working with Power Reactor Instrumentation Manufacturing Company in India.
Dr. Udpa’s memberships include fellow at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, fellow at the American Society of Nondestructive Testing, fellow at the Indian Society of Non-destructive Testing, and member of the National Academy of Inventors. He served as president of the Michigan State University Foundation from 2014 to 2019, supports local charities and fundraising, and is a member of the advisory council for the Michigan Governor’s Council for Future Mobility and Electrification. Laying a solid educational foundation, he earned a Bachelor of Technology in electrical engineering from JNT University, Hyderabad, India in 1975, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University in 1980, and a PhD in electrical engineering from Colorado State University in 1983.
Dr. Udpa attributes his success to his parents, who were his first teachers and instilled in him the values he holds dear today. In the coming years, he has expressed a desire to retire from the university, but he is involved in several significant projects. Therefore, the university has negotiated for him to allocate a percentage of his time there, and he is committed to ensuring the success of these projects and the 30 to 40 students involved. His ultimate goal is to impact the world with the next generation of self-driving automobiles. He is also dedicated to developing new transportation systems and ensuring that the technology is used ethically and transparently. His professional goals include continuing to serve on the American Society of Nondestructive Testing board of directors, a role closely related to his field. He intends to maintain this commitment until he fully retires and enjoys more leisure time. In his personal life, he looks forward to spending more time with his grandchildren on the beach.
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