ETM Distinguished Graduates

Michael Harrold-Panell is the 2022 ETM Outstanding Graduate

The Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) online master’s degree program at Washington State University is proud to announce Michael Harrold-Panell as the recipient of ETM’s Outstanding Graduate Award for the 2021/22 academic year.

Mr. Parnell was an exceptional student earning fifty-seven credits in a program that only requires thirty to graduate. Michael earned every certificate the ETM program offers including Project Management, Constraints Management, Six Sigma, Logistics and Supply Chain, Industrial Leadership, and Systems Engineering. Mr. Parnell set the record for most classes taken and certificates earned, and he went above and beyond in each class. He demonstrated mastery of each topic and was consistently looking for ways to apply what he was learning to his job.

“Working for a small organization, gaining knowledge and experience can be difficult. There is no one in our organization with a background in engineering management or quality management so finding mentors and gaining experience in my field is not easy. Without the ETM program, I would be at a disadvantage competing for jobs and promotions with candidates from larger organizations and demonstrating knowledge and experience outside the scope of my current position would be all but impossible. The ETM program has allowed me to compete with my peers from other organizations on a more level footing and allowed me to interact with people in other industries and with other experience despite having minimal exposure within the confines of our organization.”

 -Michael Harrold-Panell, METM ’22

Deepika Menon is 2021 ETM Outstanding Graduate

The Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) online master’s degree program at Washington State University is proud to announce Deepika Menon as the recipient of ETM’s Outstanding Graduate Award for the 2020/21 academic year.

Deepika stood out as an engaged, deeply curious learner who consistently sought out opportunities to broaden her academic experience by pursuing and successfully mastering challenging topics.  Her academic success was demonstrated not only through her high-quality academic performance but also through her thoughtful responses in her academic work, her support of team members, and the high level of energy she brought to in-class discussions.

She completed her METM studies with an emphasis in project management in just over 2 years.

“It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to successfully finish what we start. However, it should not stop us from setting a new goal and starting another project in life.”  

-Deepika Menon, METM ’21

2020 ETM Outstanding Graduates

The Engineering and Technology Management (ETM) online master’s degree program at Washington State University is proud to announce it had a tie for the Outstanding Graduate Award for the 2019/20 academic year.

Dan McDonald is the Tank Waste Disposal Project Manager in the Nuclear Waste Program at the Washington State Department of Ecology. He completed his METM studies with an emphasis in systems engineering in just over 2 years. “Dan was an outstanding student in all respects.  In addition to his superior accomplishment of ETM coursework, he was always prepared and organized in contributing to online class discussions.  His involvement and collaboration in student team assignments demonstrated his exceptional leadership qualities and his ability to inspire others.  His ability as a dynamic communicator was demonstrated in personal contacts with his instructors and in ETM receptions.  As a charismatic and enthusiastic student, Dan represents the very best of graduating ETM students,” said Dan’s advisor, Dr. Bill Gray.

“My experiences in the ETM program have been profound! I have benefited from challenging coursework, excellent instructors, and presentation formats that were thorough. My depth and breadth of knowledge have expanded significantly, and I am better positioned to engage in the workplace with engineers and technology professionals.”

Dan McDonald, METM ’20

Dylan Henderson is a Mechanical Design Engineer in the Technology Research and Development Department at ArcBest Technologies in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Dylan completed his degree with a focus on quality management in just under 2 years. “Dylan was a truly outstanding student in the ETM program because of his seemingly effortless ability to quickly understand complicated concepts.  Dylan was then able to apply the theory in his course work as well as to his current job to make an immediate impact. It has truly been a pleasure to have a student of Dylan’s caliber in the ETM program,” said Dr. David Paulus, Dylan’s advisor.

“As a mechanical engineer, I applied for WSU’s METM program looking for a practical mix of both technical and business-focused studies. I felt that all of my instructors were incredibly authentic and genuinely wanted me to succeed – they helped me find just that.”

Dylan Henderson, METM ’20

2019 ETM Outstanding Graduate

In 2019, Brian Watson was recognized as ETM’s Outstanding Graduate Student for 2018/19 academic year during ETM’s Handshake Reception in Tri-Cities, WA. The faculty was unanimous in the choice for Brian Watson! Each one had testimonies of his commitment, creativity, aptitude, and leadership in the classroom and even beyond the classroom. Brian has presented in the Theory of Constraint professional organization (TOCICO) events, and guest lectured in various ETM courses. His EM701 project, Bullfrog Spas: Throughput Analysis and Improvements, was exceptional and showed the breadth and depth of what can be achieved at ETM. He has been with Adobe for more than 8 years. Currently, the Adobe Global Search Manager. During his tenure, Brian has achieved annual double-digit global search traffic growth. He has worked with international teams in Europe, Australia, and Japan to develop successful search strategies, integrating many ETM concepts he has learned. And in the spirit of going beyond the classroom, he has even implemented a kanban system for the inventory of his home pantry, showing that good ideas can be applied anywhere. He resides in Utah with his wife and seven kids, all of who attended his graduation in Pullman.