Learn The Art of Presenting and Pitching

Dr. Luke Venstrom is the chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, the Paul and Cleo Brandt Professor of Engineering, and an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Valparaiso University where he co-directs the James S. Markiwiecz Solar Energy Research Facility, home to the only solar furnace at a primarily undergraduate engineering college.  He was the 2019-2020 Valparaiso University Research Professor, the 2021 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work, and the 2022 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award.  Dr. Venstrom is passionate about effective oral communication of complex ideas.  He teaches a course entitled “Engineering Oral Communication” in the College of Engineering and hosts the annual Engineering Public Presentation Competition.  His research broadly encompasses the thermal fluid sciences, with a focus on renewable energy systems and, in particular, high-temperature solar thermal and electrothermal chemistry.  He is a graduate of Valparaiso University (B.S.M.E. 2007) and the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities (M.S.M.E. 2010, Ph.D. 2012).