MSOE is under the guidance and leadership of Dr. John Y. Walz, who began his term as the university’s fifth president on July 1, 2016.  The impact of Walz’s leadership can be seen across campus and strengthens the MSOE community.   

One of Walz’s first projects at MSOE was the implementation of a five-year strategic plan, leading to new a new degree, construction of campus advancements, improvements to student life, and so much more.  

Walz was instrumental in the creation of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science focused on artificial intelligence at MSOE, joining Carnegie Mellon as one of the first two universities in the nation to offer such an undergraduate degree. In order to support the technology forward degree and advance other academic programs, Walz worked with alumnus Dwight Diercks to develop the Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall, which is filled with next generation technologies that position MSOE at the forefront of artificial intelligence education.  

Additional campus improvements under Walz’s leadership include the creation of the Spitzer Dining Commons, the transformation of Roy W. Johnson Residence Hall into Hermann Viets Tower, the expansion of the Ruehlow Nursing Complex, the creation of the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE, and the development of Raider Stadium in partnership with Nicolet High School. Walz received honorable mention for CEO of the Year in 2019 from the Milwaukee Business Journal for his exceptional leadership and influence on the community.

Outside of campus, Walz is an active board member for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Wisconsin Technology Council, Higher Education Regional Alliance, and Wisconsin Policy Forum. He also participates in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Association of Independent Technological Universities, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and Rotary of Milwaukee.

Walz earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University. After six years as a process support engineer for Shell Oil Company, he left to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 and returned to Tulane as an assistant professor.  

In 1997, Walz joined Yale University’s faculty as an associate professor of chemical engineering and in 2002 he became the department’s chairman. In 2005 he became professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech and in 2012 Walz became dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Walz has received honors and awards from the universities where he has taught as well as from the National Science Foundation, who awarded him a Research Initiation Award in 1993 and a Faculty Early Career Development Award in 1997. In 2010, Virginia Tech recognized the Chemical Engineering Department’s achievements, chaired by Walz, with an Exemplary Department Award. Walz is past-chair of the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (2011). He and his wife Moira have three daughters: Megan, Bridget and Emily.