Dr. Dusseau is viewed by students as someone that toes the line of being friendly while upholding expectations exceptionally well. One student said they would nominate him for “Faculty of the Decade” if they could, while another referred to him as an “absolutely wonderful guy.”

“He is an amazing human being and is so easy to talk to,” another student said in their nomination. “His teaching style is fun and keeps everyone involved. He keeps it light and makes everything make sense.”

Dr. Dusseau founded the IME program upon his arrival at Indiana Tech in 1996. In the 2025-26 academic year, he taught applied probability and statistics, statistical problem-solving, three levels of six sigma and university experience courses.

“For more than 30 years, Professor Dusseau has made an extraordinary impact on our students, the IME program and the College through his unwavering dedication to teaching, mentoring and service,” said dean of Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Dr. Lucy Yang. “His commitment to student success, combined with his leadership and contributions to the growth of the college, has left a lasting mark on our community.”

Indiana Tech vice president for academic affairs Dr. Kathleen Hanold Watland presented Dr. Dusseau with the award, adding that he always made her feel supported while admiring his “generous heart.”

“This faculty member makes intentional efforts, in every class, with every student, to ensure the students feel that they are part of the Indiana Tech family,” Watland said. “This faculty member’s teaching evaluations are always impressively positive, and students frequently comment how much they learned, and how much guidance they received, and the most recurring theme, they felt welcomed.”

In addition to his university teaching experience, Dr. Dusseau’s professional background includes work as a junior metallurgical engineer for General Motors, as a quality engineer for Wire Rope Corp. of America and as the founder of his own consulting firm, Hire Standard Consulting.

The grant will fund an AI cybersecurity and innovation clinic pilot, which will be developed and delivered by the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. The goal is to bridge the technical gap of AI adoption and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities through a three-pronged model of support, which includes consultation services, an accessible platform and targeted training.

The proposal that was presented to the Ball Venture Fund was developed by Indiana Tech associate dean Dr. Stephanos Mavromoustakos.

Through the clinic, faculty-supervised Indiana Tech students will guide participants from local nonprofits, community organizations and small businesses through topics like:

• Conducting cybersecurity risk assessments.
• Helping organizations strengthen defenses against phishing, ransomware and data breaches.
• Providing cybersecurity training and practical security recommendations.
• Assisting organizations in adopting responsible AI tools for workflow automation, data analysis and operational efficiency.

“The core mission is to bring university education and the local community together,” said Indiana Tech professor of practice for information systems Dr. David Li. “Our students will directly apply their learned skills to support non-profit organizations, providing them with free or low-cost AI training, professional consultation and critical cybersecurity enhancements.

The pilot is expected to launch in the spring of 2027.

About the Ball Venture Fund: The Ball Venture Fund is a competitive grant program established by the Muncie, Indiana-based Ball Brothers Foundation and administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI). Created in 1998, the fund provides seed money to stimulate creativity, innovation and collaboration across the 29 private, non-profit colleges and universities that comprise ICI.

IYPC is a Lilly Endowment initiative designed to help Indiana colleges and universities in their efforts to create new or expand and enhance existing high-quality, on-campus programs for Hoosier youth, ages five through 18.

Indiana Tech previously received $1 million in the first round of IYPC funding in 2022 for its proposal, which helped establish the STEAM Academy. This new round of funding will extend support for the STEAM Academy over the next three years.

The STEAM Academy at Indiana Tech provides students with innovative youth programming and hands-on learning opportunities that will enhance their academic and creative strengths in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

Programs offered through STEAM Academy include:

• Girls Tech Takeover
• Middle School STEM Club
• Robotic Warriors Club
• Introductory Robotics Program
• Build + Learn Middle School Camp
• High School STEM Camp
• Launch + Lead Camp
• Creative Expression and Communication Camp
• Examine + Explore Science Camp

The STEAM Academy’s year-round programming and summer camps are led by a team of dedicated faculty and staff collaborating to create world-class academic experiences for the next generation of Warriors.

You can learn more about STEAM Academy and its programs at indianatech.edu/steam.

The second round of IYPC funding was announced in the Fall of 2024, and Indiana Tech’s internal team, led by Academic Camp Director Caleb Hunter worked to successfully secure these funds to support students in the community.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

The STEAM Academy’s summer camps run through June and July, and are targeted towards students of all grade levels through high school.

This year’s Launch + Lead Camp will feature a new focus on leadership and sports marketing. Campers will meet with local industry professionals and get behind-the-scenes access at local sports facilities and stadiums.

The TinCaps, Komets and Fort Wayne FC are expected to participate in this year’s camp.

For campers interested in a career in sport management, this is an outstanding opportunity to learn from the professors who lead Indiana Tech’s successful sport management degree program. Over the past 11 years, this growing program has launched careers in professional and collegiate sports across the country for numerous graduates, including:

• Allie Lane (2014), director of development for Purdue Fort Wayne athletics.
• Christian Calderon (2022, 2024), marketing manager for FC Cincinnati.
• Javon Sanders (2024), an account executive for the Memphis Grizzlies.
• P. Tyler Sinclair (2023), a group sales executive for Calgary Sports and Entertainment.
• Anthony Frank (2018), manager of athletic operations for University of Idaho.
• Chauntel Smith-Jones (2015), operator of Capture Sports Agency which represents WNBA and FIBA athletes.
• Israel Vaides (2022), a content producer for the Tennessee Titans.
• Victoria (Raffle) Bockstahler (2022), a membership assistant at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Verda Beach, Florida.

The goal of the sports management program is to send graduates out into the sport world equipped with the skills and experiences to succeed. Campers at this summer’s Launch + Lead Camp will get a first-hand look at these opportunities.

The Launch + Lead Camp is still accepting campers for the 2026 session, which takes place July 13 through 17. Learn more about STEAM Academy Summer Camps, or by contacting steam@indianatech.edu.

Come talk to representatives from Huntington University’s nursing program to learn how during an open house on Thursday, June 11. The event is from 6-8 p.m., in the Keene Building on the Indiana Tech campus, 1120 E. Washington Blvd. Learn about:

• Scholarship opportunities through Parkview Health and the Questa Education Foundation.
• ABSN prerequisite requirements, program curriculum, class schedules and more.
• Our classrooms and facilities on the Indiana Tech campus, which were purpose-build to support this program’s learning objectives.

Learn more about this program at academics.indianatech.edu/bsn.

Hosted by the College of Business and the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, the Innovation Challenge continues to grow as a signature opportunity for students to explore the intersection of innovation, business and applied learning. This year, a record 12 proposals were submitted.

The diversity of ideas reflected the interdisciplinary strength of Indiana Tech’s students. Finalists presented a compact bowling simulator for small spaces, an AI-powered digital safety partner for families, a robotic arm controlled through eye movement, a cloud-based infrastructure platform for educational institutions and an AI-enabled plastic-to-fuel system designed to address environmental concerns.

Taking first place was ClassCloud, developed by cybersecurity majors Martin Topp and Avery Hughes. Their platform, designed to simplify infrastructure management for educational environments, earned them the top prize of $5,000 and recognition from judges and attendees alike. 

For Topp and Hughes, both sophomores, the experience was about far more than winning. It pushed them to expand beyond their technical strengths and develop critical business and communication skills.

“We’re very technical people,” Topp said. “This challenge really gave us experience with everything else, especially marketing and how to promote what we’ve built. It helped us see the bigger picture.”

Hughes pointed to public speaking as a key area of growth. “Getting up on stage and presenting was huge for me,” he said. “That’s something I wasn’t very comfortable with before, and now I feel a lot more confident.”

Their next steps include testing ClassCloud in future courses at Indiana Tech and continuing to refine the platform based on the feedback they receive.

The team of Naina Kalra, Yatin Kalra and Gurkirat Kaur Cheema finished second after presenting its AI-enabled plastic waste-to-fuel platform called Plas2Fuel AI. The team won $2,000, to be shared among team members.

Compact bowling simulator entrepreneurs Meagan Kennedy, Gary Glaser and Noah McEldowney won $1,000, to be shared among team members.

The Innovation Challenge’s continued growth is fueled in part by strong alumni support, including that of entrepreneur and 1994 graduate Gil Farley. Farley has taken to this initiative and was struck by this year’s progress.

“The jump from last year to this year was amazing,” Farley said. “We had double the teams, more finalists and a noticeable increase in the quality of ideas. The business plans were stronger and the presentations were more polished. It was a big step forward.”

Farley, a first-generation entrepreneur and visionary founder of Fort Wayne-based companies Biodyne USA and BW Fusion, views the event as an opportunity to give back by mentoring students and sharing real-world insights. He emphasized the importance of helping students move from idea to execution.

“I’m really passionate about mentoring and helping shorten that gap—from starting a business to actually growing it into something successful,” he said. “This competition gives students a chance to think through that process early.”

He also sees significant potential for the Innovation Challenge to expand its impact. Farley suggested increasing participation, growing the audience and even reconnecting with past competitors to track their progress.

“I’d love to see this become an even bigger event,” he said. “Bring in more students, more ideas, more energy. And it would be great to follow up with past teams to see where they are now. I think in five or 10 years, we’re going to have some real success stories.”

Farley added that continued encouragement is key, especially for teams that may not win right away. Referencing one of this year’s concepts, he noted that early-stage ideas still hold promise with further development.

“You don’t want students to get discouraged,” he said. “Some of these ideas just need more time. With the right support, they could turn into something really meaningful.”

Faculty advisor to the Innovation Challenge, professor of marketing and management Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, echoed that optimism, highlighting the collaboration across disciplines and the resources available to help students continue developing their ideas beyond the competition.

“Entrepreneurship and innovation are my passion,” Lugar Brettin said. “I love working with our students who have innovative, out-of-the-box ideas to make the world a better place.”

With growing participation, strong mentorship and a clear vision for the future, Indiana Tech’s Innovation Challenge is not only celebrating student ingenuity, it’s helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The Tragos Quest to Greece program is a 10-day study abroad opportunity for a select group of undergraduate students with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. The journey covers historical sites in Athens, Delphi, Nauplion and Olympia as these students experience how Greek philosophy, governance, and the arts continue to influence everyday life.

Indiana Tech mechanical engineering and industrial manufacturing engineering senior Braydan Fishel was chosen as one of the 18 fraternity members for this year’s journey out of a pool of over 12,000 students.

Fishel has maintained a 4.0 GPA, and serves as a Presidential Ambassador for Indiana Tech. Outside of his work as a student and a leader within Sigma Phi Epsilon, he also spends time volunteering as a tutor and mentor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana.

“SigEp has granted me a lifetime of cherished memories from my local chapter to the national chapter,” Fishel said. “I am ecstatic to be able to represent my small chapter with this incredible opportunity and further expand my horizons of the world. I am looking forward to seeing more of the world around me and continuing my passion for studying ancient history.”

Participants begin the journey at home, studying a curriculum focused on ancient Greek philosophy and culture. In Greece, scholars discuss the Socratic method of teaching in the Agora, hold athletic competitions in the original Olympic stadium and study the fraternity’s ritual in Delphi after learning about the Mysteries of Eleusis, all while participating in daily conversations designed to challenge each student on their journey of introspection and transformation.

The opportunity is funded by a grant from the SigEp Educational Foundation, which raises money for Sigma Phi Epsilon’s local and national leadership programs.

Beginning May 2026, graduates of Fort Wayne Community Schools’ and 3DE® by Junior Achievement’s instructional model will be able to transfer credits obtained from the program toward the course requirements for an Indiana Tech degree program. In addition, these students will be eligible for a 3DE Scholarship, which is the equivalent of a 20% reduction of tuition for online undergraduate programs at Indiana Tech or the Traditional Merit Scholarship, which ranges from $5,000 to $18,000 per year. This agreement can create a substantial savings in time and money for FWCS 3DE students who choose to pursue a degree at Indiana Tech.

“The 3DE model resonates well with Fort Wayne Community School students who are looking for real-world education that will prepare them well for what is next in their lives,” said Indiana Tech Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Steve Herendeen. “Those are the kinds of students who will flourish at Indiana Tech—a university that, for nearly 100 years, has dedicated itself to guiding students of all ages toward meaningful careers, competitive salaries, real-world skills and a clear pathway to the workforce.

The 3DE learning model was developed by Junior Achievement, integrating core academics with real world business challenges to engage students and allow them to explore local career opportunities. Under the Junior Achievement umbrella, a network of local, regional and national businesses collaborates with students to bring learning to life. Schools using the 3DE model have shown higher graduation rates, improved attendance and increased student engagement. 3DE is being implemented at all five Fort Wayne Community High Schools.

FWCS students who successfully complete the annual 3DE curriculum from their freshman year on can earn up to 12 credits toward their Indiana Tech education. That’s a savings of approximately $16,000. 3DE curriculum immerses students in, among other things, public communication, interpersonal communication, and other essential skills like critical and analytical thinking, and cultural agility. What makes 3DE by JA so unique is it’s an integrated model, so students are engaged through their entire four-year high school career.

“This agreement is a powerful validation of the full four-year 3DE experience—not just a single year—affirming that sustained, real-world learning translates into meaningful college credit and readiness. More importantly, it creates a clear pathway for FWCS students to earn an Indiana Tech degree faster and at a lower cost, accelerating both their academic and career journeys,” said Pat Morello, 3DE by JA market lead, Northern Indiana.

For more information about this program, contact Erica Lay, Indiana Tech associate director of admissions, at eclay@indianatech.edu, or 260.215.9275.

Warrior Life is an opportunity offered for free to students on the autism spectrum by accessibility services, a department in Indiana Tech’s Office of Student Success. This optional program aims to help students transition to college life and settle into new routines ahead of the academic year, while working to meet each student’s individual perspective and needs.

Services provided by Warrior Life include early move-in to facilitate familiarity and comfort with campus, personalized activities and weekly meetings with program leaders. The goal is to help build a diverse and inclusive community that encourages growth and skill development for participants.

Angela Williams is the assistant director of accessibility services for Indiana Tech. She says the program began as a two-day offering in response to students on the autism spectrum struggling with the “invisible curriculum” of college life–things like where to eat, how to make maintenance requests and accessing laundry facilities.

As the first set of Warrior Life students prepares for graduation, Williams says she’s impressed with the effort those students have put in to mentoring newcomers.

“What continues to amaze me most is the organic growth of leadership and confidence among the students; it is never forced, it simply happens,” she said. “We provide the tools, and the students show us what they are capable of accomplishing. Watching them not only complete their degrees but truly succeed has been incredibly rewarding.”

One of those graduating students is Sam Adams, a criminal justice major with minors in psychology and humanities. He says Warrior Life helped him settle into his comfort zone and establish himself academically.

“It allowed me to meet people I could come to for help if anything was going wrong, and allowed me to adjust to campus and get my bearings,” Adams said. “I was able to acquire personal skills like how to talk to college faculty, who to talk to when I need help as well as meeting new people who had a similar situation to mine.”

That connection to community was echoed by Ava Miller, an information systems major and women’s wrestler at Indiana Tech.

“Warrior Life helped me move in early, connected me with resources and helped find other people like me on campus,” she said. “The program is a good thing for neurodivergent students and a good way to start the year.”

Beau Kendall recently earned a cybersecurity degree from Indiana Tech after three years. He was also a member of the first cohort of Warrior Life students, making him the first participant of the program to graduate.

Kendall said the program was crucial in getting him used to campus and making his transition to the university smoother.

“Warrior Life helped me with socializing, peer-to-peer communication and problem-solving,” he said. “It is very beneficial for people that need assistance with adjusting to college residency and understanding what resources they have while there.”

For incoming students on the autism spectrum that are concerned about transitioning to college life, Adams says Warrior Life helps put everything into perspective.

“As a freshman I was nervous and worried I would fail in some way, but now I realize just how much Warrior Life helped prepare me for all four years of school,” he said.

Williams notes that Warrior Life was able to evolve from a two-day program to four days thanks to a generous contribution from a donor in its third year, and her office continues to fundraise annually through Indiana Tech’s Day of Giving.

She emphasizes that it’s important for accessibility services to do what it can to keep the program free.

“After the first year, we noticed something remarkable: only one student had withdrawn, and many were eager to return for their second year,” she said. “With cohort sizes averaging five to six students, it became clear we were onto something meaningful.”

Williams added that accommodations specialist Andrew Bray and the Office of Institutional Advancement are actively pursuing grant opportunities to help sustain the program’s funding and preserve it as a free resource to students who need it in the future.

Warrior Life registration for the 2026-27 school year is open until July 30, and can be found on the Office of Student Success web page.

“Indiana Tech is excited to be part of this event because it gives students a chance to experience live music, connect with the Fort Wayne community, and explore opportunities in the area,” said director of student engagement Jared Harvey. “It also supports our goal of creating strong student experiences through local partnerships.”

Middle Waves is grateful to Indiana Tech to come alongside and partner with us as to present this hype event! This is a way for our community to get excited for the festival in June, discover local artists, and help expand public access to the arts for students. The Middle Waves Music Festival will take place at Headwaters Park on June 6 and will feature Passion Pit, Beach Bunny, The Paradox, Los Aptos and Man of the Flood.

Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. ALT 99.5/102.3’s “Homegrown Showcase” host Zack will be the emcee for the evening.

A limited number of complimentary tickets will be offered to Indiana Tech students, employees and community partners.

TICKETS: $10 for the general public or $5 for those with a student ID. Tickets can be purchased at middlewaves.com, ticketmaster.com and at the STAR Bank box office at the Embassy at 125 W. Jefferson Blvd (M-F, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and two hours prior to performances).

Get tickets at: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0500648191484FFE

About the Middle Waves Music Festival: Middle Waves is a one-day music festival held in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our mission is to connect the Northeast Indiana region through unique, jaw-dropping, pride-inducing music and art experiences. The festival was created in 2016 by community volunteers. To ensure the growth and longevity of the festival, the Embassy Theatre acquired Middle Waves in the summer of 2023. For festival details, visit middlewaves.com.

Middle Waves Music Festival Fort Wayne LLC is a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of the Embassy Theatre, a 501(c)three charitable organization.