Mary Frecker, head of the department of mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State University, recently received the 2025 Dedicated Service Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In a rare distinction, Dr. Frecker was nominated for the award by two ASME divisions: the design engineering division and the smart materials, adaptive structures, and intelligence systems division.
A Penn State faculty member for nearly three decades, Dr. Frecker currently holds the title of Reis Chair in Engineering. She also leads the university’s Center for Biodevices. As a mechanical and biomedical engineer, she studies compliant mechanisms, smart material systems, and biomedical device design. Her work has helped shape technical communities and foster collaboration across engineering disciplines.
Dr. Frecker earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton in Ohio. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.