College of Engineering’s Director of Experiential & Entrepreneurial Learning and Professor of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Mike Rust has been elected to the prestigious KEEN Leadership Council (KLC). Dr. Rust’s election to the KLC, a select group within the KEEN/ Engineering Unleashed network funded by the Kern Family Foundation, marks a significant achievement.

Since 2011, WNE has partnered with KEEN to reshape engineering education, focusing on empowering graduates to generate personal, economic, and societal value through impactful work. The KLC, established in 2021, collaborates to advance KEEN’s mission and transform engineering education through entrepreneurial principles.

“It is quite an honor to be elected to the KEEN Leadership Council,” said Rust. “KEEN has been a transformative experience for me over the past decade. Serving on the Council allows me to further influence the network’s future and advance entrepreneurial engineering education.”

Rust, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and member of the American Society for Engineering Education, has significantly contributed to engineering education. His research in point-of-care medical technologies has received funding from prestigious organizations, and he holds four U.S. patents. Rust’s involvement in startups such as FloDesign Sonics and New England Breath Technologies showcases his entrepreneurial spirit.

As a KLC member, Rust will engage in strategic planning and discussions to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students across the KEEN network. This role, requiring both in-person and virtual meetings, reflects Rust’s dedication to innovation and excellence in engineering education at Western New England University.

This appointment underscores WNE’s commitment to innovative engineering education and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students.