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Distinguished Alumni Awards Profiles

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Scott Abrams

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.33.11 AMScott Abrams ’80 is the founder and president of The Omnicon Group, one of the nation’s leading engineering firms specializing in software, systems, reliability, safety, and test engineering. He has been dubbed “Mr. Reliability” by the Long Island Business News and “The Gizmo Doctor” by the New York Times. Scott is past president of the Stony Brook University Alumni Association and is a member of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean’s Council, Friends of Women in Science & Engineering Advisory Board, and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial Advisory Board. He received his BE in Electrical Engineering from Stony Brook in 1980.

Scott has received many awards for his accomplishments, but his most proud citation is the “Reliability Engineer of the Year” award he received in 2001 from his peers at the IEEE Reliability Society. Now, in 2010, the company Scott founded, The Omnicon Group, has more engineers named “Reliability Engineer of the Year” than any other company in the world.

Diane Brink

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.33.20 AMIn her current role as Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for IBM’s Global Technology Services, Diane Brink leads IBM’s marketing and communications efforts for Energy, the Environment and Sustainability among numerous other responsibilities. She is currently a member of the Dean’s Council at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a board member to the Advanced Energy Center at Stony Brook. Diane received her BS in Computer Science from Stony Brook University in 1980.

Diane has held many senior marketing roles in IBM, including leading IBM’s marketing’s efforts in General Business, one of IBM’s fastest and largest growth businesses. In this role, she was responsible for extending IBM’s reach and participation in the segment through the introduction of IBM Express Advantage and the Express offerings and solutions. She also worked to develop IBM’s strong ecosystem of business partners.

Christine Goerke

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.33.45 AMSoprano Christine Goerke ’94 has appeared in the major opera houses of the world including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, as well as with a number of the leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Ms. Goerke’s engagements this season have included Ortrud in Lohengrin at the Houston Grand Opera and A Sea Symphony with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She is also an alumnus of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists Program and the recipient of the 2001 Richard Tucker Award.

Ms. Goerke’s recording of Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Classical Recording and Best Choral Performance.

Kevin Law

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.33.53 AMKevin Law became president and CEO of the Long Island Association on Sept. 7, 2010. Previously, as president and CEO of the Long Island Power Authority, he demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy by launching “Efficiency Long Island,” the largest energy efficiency program for any public utility in the country.

In 2009, he was appointed chairman of the Stony Brook University Council by Governor David A. Paterson. He also sits on the boards of the Advanced Energy Research Technology Center, Energeia, and New York’s Health Insurance Exchange and is the vice chairman of the Long Island Housing Partnership. After receiving a B.A. from Stony Brook University in 1982, he earned an M.S. from the Graduate School of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.

Hyun-Soon Lee

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.34.00 AMHyun-Soon Lee received a M.S. in ’79 as well as a Ph.D. in ’81 in Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University and began his professional career at the General Motors Research Institute. Currently, Dr. Lee is the Vice Chairman of the R & D Division of Hyundai Motor Company.

After joining Hyundai Motor Company in 1984, he was instrumental in developing the first engine produced by HMC (α-Engine) and the development of the β-Engine. His history with HMC includes responsibilities for Gasoline and Diesel Engine, Ulsan Vehicle R & D Center, and Senior Executive Vice President of the Hyundai and Kia Powertrain Division.

Dr. Lee has received many awards for his contributions to the automotive industry. In 2009, he was awarded Grand prize from the national academy of engineering of Korea in March, and Korean top science technician award from ministry of education, science & technology in July.

David R. Walt

Screen Shot 2015-09-29 at 9.34.13 AMDavid R. Walt, Ph.D ’79 is Robinson Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University and is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor. His laboratory is renowned for its pioneering work that applies micro- and nano-technology to urgent biological problems.

He has published over 250 scientific papers and holds over 50 patents. Dr. Walt is the Scientific Founder and a Director of both Illumina Inc. and Quanterix Corp. He has received numerous national and international awards and honors for his fundamental and applied work in the field of optical sensors and arrays.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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