Supporting Faculty
Supporting Faculty
ME Supporting / Adjunct Faculty
Supporting Faculty | Primary Affiliation | Rowan E-mail | |
Mr. Michael Konyak | Adjunct Faculty | Federal Aviation Administration | konyak@rowan.edu |
Mr. Stephen Kozachyn | Adjunct Faculty | Rowan University | kozachyn@rowan.edu |
Dr. Pawan Mishra | Adjunct Faculty | Rowan University | mishra62@rowan.edu |
Mr. John Shoffner | Adjunct Faculty | Rowan University | shoffn28@rowan.edu |
Dr. Christoforos Somarakis | Adjunct Faculty | Merck & Co. | somarakis@rowan.edu |
Mr. Michael Konyak, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
I am an innovation leader, an accomplished and effective public speaker, a proven expert in my field, a published author, a volunteer for social justice, and I have a reputation for achieving results. I have a Master's degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with more than 30 years as an aeronautical engineer and systems analyst, 25 years with the FAA Technical Center, 15 years as an engineering manager, and 25 years as an adjunct professor. My engineering expertise includes modeling and simulation of air vehicles, control system design, and aerodynamic design and analysis.
Mr. Stephen (Steve) M. Kozachyn III, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Stephen Kozachyn, MBA, PMP, is the Executive Director of External Affairs for the Rohrer College of Business at Rowan University. With a master's degree in business administration and advanced degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering management, he is a skilled instructor in the engineering and business disciplines. He has 25 years of industry experience in developing over 300 successful consumer products. He has developed children's toys for Tyco Toys, Mattel Toys and Empire Industries (Big Wheel, Slip-n-Slide). Mr. Kozachyn's experience includes engineering, project management and operational disciplines.
Dr. Pawan Mishra, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Pawan Mishra is an accomplished academic and researcher with over 14 years of experience in the field of mechanical engineering. He earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology-ISM, Dhanbad, India, where he specialized in biomechanics and human motion analysis. Dr. Mishra's research primarily focuses on mechanical design including ergonomics, posture analysis, and the development of advanced prosthetics. His work has been widely published in reputable journals and presented at leading international conferences, reflecting his significant contributions to these interdisciplinary fields. As an educator, Dr. Mishra is deeply committed to fostering an engaging and innovative learning environment for his students. His teaching philosophy revolves around project-based learning, practical laboratory experiences, and ensuring a deep understanding of mechanical engineering concepts. Dr. Mishra's approach to education is designed to inspire the next generation of engineers, emphasizing hands-on learning and critical thinking to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the engineering profession.
Mr. John Shoffner, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mr. Shoffner has over three decades in the thermal processing and material handling industry. Primary responsibilities included machine design, electrical control, airflow, heat transfer, burner management, materials selection, and power transmission. Other responsibilities included training engineers in my teams.
Bühler Group: Sr. Mechanical Project Engineer / Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer Thermal Processing Division. Retired
Sr. Mechanical Project Engineer for the world’s largest Rayon convection drying equipment.
Co designed and patented a seal for non-lubricated cohesive and abrasive dry materials.
Designed a pressure relieving door latch approved by Factory Mutual Global (hazardous area applications).
Current goals are to assist students in their transition from academia to an engineer.
Dr. Christoforos Somarakis, Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Christoforos Somarakis received his Bachelors and Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with major in Communications and Control, from the National Technical of Athens, Greece. He holds a Master of Science, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Somarakis has 9 years of professional experience in various academic and industrial research positions. He has served as a Lecturer and Research Scientist with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, at Lehigh University. In addition, he has been member of research staff with the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at Palo Alto Research Center - Xerox. He is currently a Senior Scientist with the Applied Mathematics and Modelling Group at Merck & Co.. Dr. Somarakis' research interests include but are not limited to Dynamical System Theory, Networked Control and Optimization, AI-enabled System Diagnostics, Reduced order Modelling and Digital Twins. He is the author of 10+ journals and 40+ peer-reviewed conference papers in the area of Systems and Control, and he is a co-inventor of 5 patents.