Alumnus Profile
Jackie Mutschler,
’84 B.S. College of Science and Mathematics
Jackie Mutschler attended Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle, Ohio, where she was the valedictorian of her graduating class. She was awarded an Honors Scholarship at Wright State, from which she graduated summa cum laude in 1984 with a B.S. in geological sciences/geophysics option and with departmental honors. Jackie pursued her graduate education at Cornell University supported by fellowships from the National Science Foundation and from Cornell.
Jackie began her career with BP in 1986. From her beginning as an exploration geophysicist, Jackie rose to become a vice president within 15 years. During that time, she held geoscience, commercial and leadership roles that spanned the Upstream value chain including Sakhalin, Russia, North America gas, and Gulf of Mexico shelf and deepwater. Jackie also held project roles in strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, drilling & completions, supply chain management and digital business. In 2006, she was promoted to head of upstream technology. As head of upstream technology, Jackie was responsible for delivering technology aligned with business strategy. This included responsibility for the research and development portfolio, technical specialists, and technology collaborations that provide technology solutions to enable safe and reliable operations, to enable the development of new energy sources and to increase business value. Throughout her career, Jackie has placed an emphasis on building strong relationships with external stakeholders, as well as mentoring and developing diverse talent within BP.
Jackie lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband Doug (also a Wright State graduate) and their two teenage boys.
Faculty Profile
Dennis Hance, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Program, Lake Campus
Dennis Hance has served as an adjunct faculty member since 2000 and full-time lecturer of mechanical engineering at Wright State’s Lake Campus since 2011.
He has played a vital role in the growth of the Mechanical Engineering program, laying the foundation for improved instruction. In the classroom, he emphasizes hands-on and project-based learning. Committed to helping students succeed, he spends a remarkable amount of time, including evenings and weekends, assisting students with their undergraduate studies and career pursuits.
Hance has worked with local agricultural businesses and students to design and prototype low-cost, multiuse autonomous farming equipment; developed and manages the freshman orientation for the Mechanical Engineering program at the Lake Campus; and established partnerships with local industries to provide meaningful experiential learning for his students, leading to internships and full-time employment.
Hance also serves as chair of the redesign and redevelopment of two undergraduate mechanical engineering courses, and served as lecturer for the University of Applied Sciences study-abroad course in Germany this summer.
He created and now advises the Lake Engineering Club, the Lake Robotics Club, and the Engineering without Borders student organization.
“He has placed Wright State University, the Engineering program, and the Lake Campus in a strong, more robust position,” said Ruby Mawasha, assistant dean in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and director of Engineering and Computer Science programs at the Lake Campus.
Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence Outstanding Lecturer