Mary Kasarda retires after nearly three decades of service

Mary Kasarda’s career began with a singular passion, one nurtured from the time she could walk.

“I’ve always been very interested in cars,” Kasarda said. “My earliest memory is of the release of the first Ford Mustang at the 1964 New York World’s Fair when I was 2 years old, so I’ve always been fascinated by cars. Growing up, I had hoped to work for a car company or do related research. I switched course when I ended up getting involved in interesting research as an undergraduate in high-speed turbo machinery and magnetic bearings, and so I continued with that for my graduate work.”

After almost three decades of service, Kasarda retired on Aug. 9 from her roles as associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and as the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science’s (ICTAS) faculty director of scholarship. She previously served as the associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

“Mary is a highly respected colleague in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the College of Engineering who has contributed significantly to our academics, outreach, and research,” said Brian Lattimer, mechanical engineering department head. “She is a leader in curriculum assessment and created our department’s ABET [formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology] evaluation program for our undergraduate degree. We will truly miss her enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, and dedication to all activities she was a part of in the department.” 

After working for approximately five years in industry as a mechanical engineer, she returned to graduate school. After earning a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Virginia, she began her academic career as an assistant professor at Virginia Tech in 1997. 

Kasarda credits her decision to become a professor to her lifelong love of learning, and said as a professor, “you’re always learning, period.” She said she’s loved working on a variety of projects and not only teaching engaged students, but also learning from them.

As a mechanical engineering professor, Kasarda primarily researched topics in high-speed rotating machinery, active magnetic bearings, smart buildings, and vibrations. She personally secured over $1.3 million in research funds while at Virginia Tech, and she has 91 research publications with over 1,200 citations.  

Kasarda’s other accomplishments during her time at Virginia Tech include

• Garnering a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award in 1998
• Receiving the Virginia Tech Diggs Teaching Scholar Award in 2010
  
• Earning the rank of fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2011

In 2019, Kasarda further expanded her impact at Virginia Tech by joining ICTAS as the faculty director of scholarship.

“When we were hiring for this role, we wanted someone who could bridge the gap between disciplines and create a community of scholars,” said Stefan Duma, the institute's director. “An active member of the Virginia Tech community with a diverse research background and an understanding of what it means to be a successful researcher, Mary has not only invested in a transdisciplinary space but also nurtured an impressive community of scholars devoted to their education. We are grateful for the five years that she spent with ICTAS and wish her the best as she embarks on her next adventure.”

As director, Kasarda oversaw the institute’s doctoral scholars program, created and managed the Engineering Faculty Organization-Opportunity grants, reviewed proposals for institute-sponsored programs, and facilitated institute support for undergraduate research at Virginia Tech, among other activities.

Kasarda’s efforts directly supported ICTAS’s 2019-25 strategic priorities of advancing regional, national and global impact, elevating the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) difference, being a destination for talent, and ensuring institutional excellence.­­

Desiring a true community among the ICTAS doctoral scholars and to encourage professional development and cultural literacy, she invited visiting speakers to engage with them and became a personal and professional resource among the scholars as they navigated their Ph.D. programs.

Kasarda’s love for learning and mentorship extended to all aspects of her life, as proven by the testimonies of her students.

“She wasn't just a mentor but someone who fostered an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust within our team,” Eva DeCesare, a 2024 mechanical engineering graduate, said about Kasarda’s leadership as the advisor of her senior design team. “Because of this, we were able to collaborate more seamlessly and build personal relationships. Her guidance was always helpful, to say the very least. She encouraged us to think outside the box to solve problems, especially when it came to testing our prototypes. We could have never done it without her, but she made sure that we got all the credit anyway.”

“Dr. Kasarda took me under her wing during my time as a graduate student and was always one of my biggest cheerleaders,” said Zakia Ahmed, a former graduate teaching assistant of Kasarda’s in mechanical engineering. “She is incredibly kind and knowledgeable, as well as strong and assertive – qualities I also hope to embody as I grow in my professional and personal life. ​Throughout my graduate school journey, she made sure I knew that she was always there for me, whether it be for academic or personal reasons. Graduate school can be both mentally and physically exhausting for many, but she contributed to creating a safe space and making it a pleasant experience for me. I am truly grateful for having the opportunity to get to know her and wish her the best in retirement.” 

“As a nontraditional graduate student coming back to school after several years as a practicing engineer, Dr. Kasarda was a wonderful advisor to have,” said Robert Prins, who joined Kasarda’s research group and received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 2005 and is currently a professor and assistant department head in engineering at James Madison University. “While she and I were mutually interested in ‘moving the ball forward’ regarding research, she considered the most important product of my research to be a more professionally developed version of me. This approach led to me being given a significant amount of freedom with respect to how I addressed our research problem. That treatment had a positive impact on me as it helped me develop confidence in my abilities to perform my own research as well as to evaluate the results of other’s research. In the longer term, as I mentor my own students, the impact is passed down as I consider student development to be a primary goal. Also, Dr. Kasarda made it clear that she cared about me as a person, not simply as a worker bee. This is not to be taken for granted in academia and I have attempted to honor that tradition as I work to build community with my own students.”

In retirement, Kasarda looks forward to spending more time with her horses, participating in autocross, working on her car, hiking with her husband, and contributing to the migratory raptor count in the upcoming fall migration.