Dr. K. Joel Berry, Ph.D., P.E.

ASME Technical Fellow

Professional Engineer, Michigan

kjberryceo@yahoo.com

Overview

High-impact Professor of Mechanical Engineering with a rich history of accomplishments, academic leadership, and an aggressive commitment to preparing students and faculty for global social-economic changes impacting 21st Century educational objectives.

Research Focus

  • Fuel Cell Systems Integration Engineering and Product Development

  • Fuel Cell Systems Hardware Controls and Software Development

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics and MPD Thruster Development

  • Catalytic Fuel Reforming, Modeling, and Systems Design

  • High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Stack Design and Systems Development

  • Finite Elements and Engineering Mechanics

Course Instruction

  • Fuel Cell Systems Integration Engineering and Laboratory

  • Computational Heat and Mass Transfer

  • Finite Element Analysis

  • Advanced Engineering Mathematics

  • Energy Systems Modeling and Simulation

  • Heat Transfer

  • Fluid Mechanics

  • Thermodynamics

  • Statics

Education

  • Carnegie Melon University

    Major: Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

    Minor: Artificial Intelligence

    Year of Completion: 1986

  • Michigan State University

    Major: M.S., Engineering Mechanics

    Minor: Thermal Fluid Systems and Finite Elements

    Year of Completion: 1981

  • General Motors Institute

    Major: B.S., Mechanical Engineering

    Minor: Automotive Engineering

    Year of Completion: 1979

    (GMI is now known as Kettering University)

Work Experience

Kettering University

Flint, MI

 

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering 1985-1989

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering 1989-1994

Professor of Mechanical Engineering 1994-Present

Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering 1994-2012

Responsible for high-impact leadership for a major academic department requiring effective faculty leadership, management of budgets, development of department resources including fundraising and laboratory and curriculum development, curriculum and program assessment, and development of a common shared vision among department constituents.

During this tenure, Mechanical Engineering was the largest Kettering University academic department with over 1100 students, 32 faculty members, 6 technical support staff, and post-doc research staff.

Dr. Berry was also the first African American faculty of color hired by Mechanical Engineering, was the youngest within the department, and was the longest serving engineering department head of nearly 20 years.

Mechanical Engineering reached its highest ranking within the U.S. News & World Report ranking for undergraduate engineering programs as #2 in 2011/12 under the leadership of Dr. Berry.

Director, Kettering Center for Fuel Cell Systems Integration 2003 - present

As Director, responsible for overall research programs, resource development, and Center marketing. Conceived vision, and implemented plan to acquire initial $5.7 million funding to establish Center which also includes commercialization incubator building. (kufuelcellcenter.info, kurainmaker.com)

Promotions

  • Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering 1994

  • Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering 1990

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering 1987

 

Westinghouse Electric

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Project Engineer, Westinghouse Nuclear Center, Monroeville, PA, 1986

Project engineer involved in a five-year plan to develop a series of Expert Systems to aid in the PLEX (Plant Life Extension) research efforts.

Research Engineer, Westinghouse Research Laboratory, Pgh., PA. 1981-1986

Research engineer responsible for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of engineering systems. Major projects include 3D thermal/structural/modal analysis of nuclear waste containment vessels, analysis of generator dovetails, analysis of DC motor commutator bars, analysis of steam turbine blades, and the analysis of engine box beam bay compartments. Positions also required the development of a Finite Element post-processor for Creep damage evaluation and the development of software modules for the computer-aided design of steam turbine blades.

Responsibilities also included finite element software updates and maintenance. Acquired extensive experience on UNIX operating systems for CRAY, CDC, and PRIME computers. Obtained an in-depth knowledge of FIGURES-the-Westinghouse pre/post processor and WECAN-the Westinghouse FEA code.

 

Detroit Diesel Allision

Detroit, MI

 

Progressed from an engineering co-op student to a graduate research engineer in advanced engine design and development. While in advanced engine design, developed finite difference models to study turbocharger exhaust flow patterns. Also executed computer programs to model overall engine performance and fuel injector simulation studies. Provided studies to evaluate a new engine brake feature for inclusion in the cycle simulation model. Investigated various heat transfer relationships for 2-cycle and 4-cycle diesel engines.

Publications

Dr. Berry has over 50 publications covering 30 years of research.

Browse his full publications list here.

Learn more about Dr. Berry

To see his entire list of qualifications and professional experience, download a more detailed version of his current CV here.