ASME NEWS
Chandrakant Patel Joins Lester Su on ASME Insights
Interviewing Engineering Changemakers
In the latest episode of ASME Insights, ASME President Lester Su is joined by Chandrakant Patel, a consultant and advisor on technology strategy. Previously a senior vice president, senior fellow and chief engineer at HP, he worked there for 37 years. He held the title of adjunct faculty member at Chabot College and the University of South Florida. In 2021, Patel earned the ASME Foundation’s Inaugural Next Gen Award.
In this episode of the podcast, Chandrakant covers the engineering industry’s critical need for local workforce development and how community college programs can help bridge that gap. His vision aligns directly with ASME’s Community College Engineering Pathways (CCEP) Program, launched in 2021 to increase access to engineering and technical careers for students from different backgrounds. By the 2027–2028 academic year, ASME expects to engage 80+ community colleges and more than 2,200 students across the United States in its multi-channel program that attracts, develops, and accelerates careers in skilled technical roles.
CCEP student Michelle Rivera recently shared with ASME: “I feel more confident now. Before, I only had one project and some certifications that I gained in high school. I feel now that I have something that sets me apart and can continue to grow. It makes me feel more relaxed about getting an internship and job.”
>> Chandrakant Patel
International Offshore Engineering Community Honors Professor
Celso Pupo Pesce, professor at the School of Engineering at University of São Paulo (USP), was recently recognized by ASME for his significant contributions to ocean and offshore engineering. The recognition highlights his six years of service on the executive committee of ASME’s Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering Division, including a term as chair.
Pesce has participated in the International Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering Conference (OMAE) for 25 years, and he is currently chair of the technical-scientific program committee for the 2026 edition in Tokyo, which will also honor fellow USP professor Kazuo Nishimoto.
The field is dedicated to designing and maintaining complex maritime structures such as oil platforms, ships, ports, offshore wind turbines, and subsea systems. Numerous research groups within the School of Engineering have contributed to ASME’s ocean engineering efforts, particularly through long-standing partnerships with Petrobras and the creation of key laboratories in the 1980s and 1990s.
<< Professor Celso Pesce, from University of São Paulo’s School of Engineering (EP)
Photo: University of São Paulo
ASME Scholarship Recipients Discuss College and Career
Among the 139 individuals who were recently named ASME’s 2025–2026 scholarship recipients, three students discuss what ASME grant funding means to their college plans and future careers.
Dawson Durr, a senior at Trinity University, is preparing to graduate with a degree in engineering science and begin a career in roadway and transportation engineering. His excitement grew when he learned he had received ASME’s prestigious Kenneth Andrew Roe Scholarship—an award of $13,000, which he described as a “game changer.”
Another scholarship recipient, Joshua Spicer, a mechanical engineering junior at North Carolina A&T State University, discovered a passion for mechanical engineering and now uses his experience to help younger students feel more confident in the field. At the University of Georgia, Roberto Montiel has found ASME to be a vital part of his academic and professional development. Through projects such as NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge, he has gained real-world engineering skills while forming strong community connections.
Learn more about these ASME 2025–2026 Scholarship Awardees in “Scholarship Recipients Thrive in Engineering.”
>>Joshua Spicer, winner of an ASME Ansys Inc. Scholarship, helps rebuild a carbon filter.
Photo: Joshua Spicer
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