Thayer Notes: Spring 2026

| 1950s |

Ron Read '57 Th'58: At age 90, I don’t have many new activities to report except for, as the Bee Gees song goes, just "Stayin' Alive." I can only report on events from ancient memories. During Green Key Weekend, Tuck-Thayer held an annual tricycle relay bike race around the circle in front of Tuck. Our team from '58 Thayer was Marty Anderson, "Snitch" King, myself, and a fourth member, maybe Wendell Smith or Clark Griffiths or Bill Davidow. These were fun times. 

| 1960s |

Harris McKee '61 Th'63: The year 2025 was marked by travel and Chicago activities, including the Alzheimer's walk, an event we've supported for several years, and a family trip to the Galapagos Islands with kids Laura, Tom, and Margaret. (It allowed me to recreate the famous race of the "tortoise and the Harris.") A 10-day trip to Icelåand in August with my friend Minna provided another opportunity to see an island shaped by volcanic activity. Like the Galapagos Islands, Iceland was uninhabited until the Vikings arrived by accident in the 800s. We saw waterfalls, glaciers, and soaked in naturally heated hot pools. My Dartmouth Class of 1961 responsibilities continued as I served as webmaster, co-head agent, necrologist, and publisher of our newsletters. I was again able to participate in our fall mini reunion in Hanover. Activities at my Admiral at the Lake community in Chicago have continued to provide a meaningful life. Golfing with a member of the Admiral group and Laura nearly every week of the summer has been a great physical outlet. I've also continued to handle the AV for a weekly satellite Second Unitarian Church service. Once again, I represented Santa at several Admiral functions, including presenting gifts to the third graders from Goudy School.

Neil Drobny '62 Th'64: I recently browsed through two books I purchased in 1964: The First Hundred Years of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College by William Phelps Kimball and The Beginnings of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, edited by Edward Connery Lathem. Both brought back wonderful memories. I knew several of the people mentioned (had a few in classes) and I had heard stories about others. It would be interesting to find a PhD history student to tackle the task of doing an update on the last 50-plus years at Thayer to see if and how the "early years" impacted the recent ones—and what that portends for the future. My favorite prof was Ed Bown. He was my advisor and an accomplished woodworker and taught me as much about woodworking as engineering (though there is a strong connection). Hopkins Center was brand new during my two graduate years at Thayer and had a great woodshop. I spent many hours there with Ed learning how to use all the high-tech tools of the day, such as electric-powered wood saws and drills. I still have furniture I built with Ed's guidance.

| 1980s |

Rick Rundell '80: In recognition of my work fostering research and innovation in the building industry, I was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in February. During the last decade, in my role at Autodesk, I led the development of digital fabrication labs and a global, open-innovation network advancing the use of technology in design and building. I am now focused on my advisory practice, Track 5, which I founded in 2024.

Joseph A. (Csizmadia) Peck '88: Truth is, I never got to really use my engineering training as I became a pilot. When it came time to apply for my first major airline job, it was my Dartmouth engineering background that more than likely got me ahead of my peers. Furthermore, my engineering background made systems training a breeze and proved invaluable many a time when I was a captain on the Boeing 777. My two daughters, however, became biomedical engineers. One daughter works at Johnson & Johnson in San Jose, Calif., building robots that do surgery, and the other daughter is in Philadelphia working for Globus developing spinal implants to reduce pain. They grew up knowing their father studied engineering at Dartmouth and without a doubt that set their aspirations very early on. They ended up at Tufts and Boston University. My son, Carson, who is applying to med school now, is a Dartmouth '22. I'm currently enjoying Florida, having flown down in my light twin Cessna 340 with my wife, Darcie. We're having such a wonderful time here we're planning on selling our home in New York and moving here permanently.

Himraj Dang '89 Th'90: I have not been active professionally since I last worked on financing for e-buses here in India, where I live. However, I am pleased to note progress in my efforts at "rewilding," aiming to reforest parcels of land near a national park in central India, using native, less-water-consuming tree species. This can be a demonstration for local farmers to follow once commercial success is evident. The work done every year is to keep the trees I have planted safe, and occasionally watered, while nature does the rest. This experience brings me solace living in a country and a world I can scarcely understand— solace in "internal exile," a tribute to Jean Giono, whose work was f irst shared with me by Prof. Dana Meadows at Dartmouth.

Moriya Chesler Th'89: I've been involved in the clean energy industry for the past four years as a senior software engineer. I solve complex problems involving modeling and upgrading distribution power networks via Kevala Analytics' web platform and collaborating with U.S. Department of Energy partners in cyber-security projects at Kevala Analytics. I enjoy working with power system engineers, data engineers, and other web software engineers across the company. The engineering courses I took at Thayer as well as at UMass Amherst provided a solid background for my current work. Kevala is currently hiring, so visit www.kevala.com/careers for more information.

| 1990s |

Kially Ruiz '98: I am developing data center power for artificial intelligence. My company, Ruiz Hyperscale Power Co. Inc. (RHPC), is developing the largest portfolio of energy for AI in the world, and we are at the forefront of solving a $1-trillion problem in energy and electrical distribution.

| 2000s |

Robbie Barbero '01 Th'02: In 2025, I stepped down from my role as chief business officer at Ceres Nanosciences to join Renaissance Philanthropy. There, I'm developing a thesis-driven, philanthropic fund to catalyze the development of a low-cost, easy-to-use blood lead test for the 800 million kids worldwide who have lead poisoning.

George Tsung Th'05: I am working at Amazon on Project Kuiper, recently rebranded to Amazon Leo. We are creating a mesh network of 3,000-plus satellites in space. I am working on the optical intersatellite link team as the senior enterprise planner. Amazon Leo is designed to deliver high-speed internet around the world, even in rural and remote locations. There are three systems, for personal, business, and government use. It will offer personal portable service options so individuals can be as connected as they want, no matter where they go. The business option will provide flexible networking solutions from primary to backup, while the version for government agencies will deliver secure connectivity for mission-critical needs.

| 2010s |

Benjamin Meigs '10 Th'11: I joined PhysicsX in January as a leader in the delivery engineering team. PhysicsX is building an AI platform for hardware engineering from simulation to design-for-manufacturing. We work with customers in aerospace, automotive, electronics, process engineering, and others. On the personal side, I'm enjoying spending time outdoors on the sled and ski hills with my 1- and 4-year-old daughters.

Chris Bilger-Salinas '11 Th'12 Th'13: My husband, Erick, and I welcomed Sierra Tinsley Bilger-Salinas in October. I am enjoying my last year on Thayer Dean's Council and am a mechanical engineer at Nvidia.

Lota Ezenwa '17 Th'18: Since graduating with a BE in systems engineering, I joined the Marine Corps and was designated a naval aviator early last year. So far, I've flown the Cessna 152, the T-6B Texan, and T-45C Goshawk, acquiring several memorable experiences and meeting some incredible people. I have recently qualified as a pilot of the F-35B, and I'm currently stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif. I have continued my education in aerospace engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School and hope to become a test pilot for the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Junfei "Fish" Yu Th'19: Lately I've been focused on building Hunter. AI (www.huntrix.ai), a YC China-backed startup focused on using artificial intelligence to reinvent high-volume hiring. In Asia, we help platforms recruit thousands of delivery drivers each month. In the United States, demand for delivery services (food, groceries, last-mile logistics) is booming, but labor supply often lags behind—creating a real opportunity to improve how frontline hiring works. This year, we are also collaborating with an ENGS 89/90: "Engineering Design Methodology and Project" group on a project exploring how we can better support New Hampshire's blue-collar workforce—especially truck drivers and caregivers—by improving job matching, outreach, and the end-to-end path from interest to placement. Outside of work, I'm an avid golfer and a swing dancer—both are great reminders that progress comes from feedback loops, patience, and staying calm under pressure.

| 2020s |

Chad Danger Klaas '23 Th'24 Th'25: I finished my MEM at Thayer last June. Before graduation, I played my final Dartmouth water polo game as a student at the Ivy championships hosted by Yale, which Dartmouth won again! And then played my first game as an alumnus, joining alums Colin Fristoe '17, John Hill '12, Dan Harnish '14, Cris Calby '12, Brian Yeh '14, and several current team members, including Nic Nikcevic '27, Max Sweeney '27, and Elton Sjoenell '25. Since graduation, I have been enjoying reconnecting with Chi Gam brothers and other friends in Boston and N.Y.C. Dartmouth water polo alumni who would like to be notified of future alumni games can reach me at chad.d.klaas.th@dartmouth.edu.

Jenna Martin '24 Th'25: I work at Draper in Cambridge, Mass., alongside three other female engineers who graduated from Thayer: Avery Moorhead '25 Th'25, Megan Leung '24 Th'24, and Joselyn Lopez Bonilla '22 Th'23. Thayer has given us a community within Draper, and I have found it a very special part of my experience here. I hope that we can bring more female engineers to Draper because it is such an amazing place to work!