“Looking back, I see MSOE as the launchpad that allowed me to grow from a curious student into an engineer, educator, researcher and author; one who is passionate about helping the next generation of engineers embrace innovation, problem-solving and lifelong learning.”

This foundation and spirit for engineering not only supported Dr. Lisa Bosman ’03 in her career journey, but they are values she instills in her students each day. After honing these skills as a practicing engineer, and today a professor and researcher, she’s now leveraging her industry expertise to ensure the next generation of problem-solvers possess the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset required to build the future.

Lisa’s interest in entrepreneurship was sparked by her father, who established his own construction business in her hometown of Gresham, Wisconsin. His dedication and drive, coupled with her love for math and science, were what inspired her to enroll at MSOE.

“I chose MSOE because I wanted a hands-on, industry-focused education that would prepare me for real-world engineering challenges,” Lisa said.

As an industrial engineering major and business minor, the university’s close ties to industry proved foundational to her learning experience. “I had the opportunity to work with six different real-world industry projects. Working directly with companies taught me how to apply classroom concepts to practical problems and helped build confidence in working with real clients and constraints.”

In addition to her coursework, industry-sponsored projects and maintaining a part-time job, Lisa developed vital skills in organization, time management and responsibility. These are lessons she still implements for herself and her research teams today. She also struck a good work-life balance, enjoying campus events such as the annual St. Patrick’s egg drop contest and spending time with her friends around downtown Milwaukee.

After graduating in 2003, Lisa started her career as a manufacturing engineer for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. In 2005, she transitioned to Transaxle Manufacturing of America in South Carolina as a manufacturing process engineer.

While in South Carolina, she earned her master’s degree in industrial engineering and management information systems from Clemson University. In 2011, she moved back to Wisconsin, becoming a faculty member in the mathematics and science department at the College of Menominee Nation, a federally recognized Tribal College/University, in Keshena.

During this time, she earned her Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 2015, she took on a new postdoctoral position at Marquette University, working directly with engineering faculty to integrate the entrepreneurial mindset into the engineering curriculum. This initiative was supported by the Kern Family Foundation through the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN).

KEEN is a partnership of 70 colleges and universities committed to instilling the entrepreneurial mindset into undergraduate engineering students. Lisa has seen how KEEN programs empower students and challenge them to take risks to create value in their fields.

In 2018, she continued her career in academia at Purdue University in Indiana, where today she is a tenured associate professor at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. In this role, she not only teaches and researches engineering but has also brought in over $1 million in grant funding to support innovative projects, curriculum development and student research opportunities.

During her distinguished career, Lisa has also helped to improve engineering education through initiatives such as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Accelerator program and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). She has helped empower students and faculty to embark on research-based approaches as well as hands-on experience through these programs.

Today, Lisa is a globally recognized researcher, author and speaker. She’s published over 70 articles—and recently, her third book—on both engineering scholarship and best practices in education. She has also traveled across the country and internationally as a speaker for sustainability and entrepreneurial principles in engineering curricula. She and her husband, a retired military combat veteran, are happily married and enjoy spending time with their chihuahua, Juno.

“My industry experience helps me to connect theory to practice for my students and provides insight into the skills and mindset needed to succeed in professional engineering roles. This path has allowed me to combine my love of engineering with a passion for teaching and shaping the next generation of problem-solvers.”