UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brian Fronk, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Jessica Menold, associate professor of mechanical engineering and industrial engineering, both in the Penn State College of Engineering, were elected fellows of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). ASME fellowship is reserved for members with outstanding engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession, with fewer than 4% of ASME members attaining the grade.
Fronk was elevated to fellow status in recognition of his research contributions to thermal systems and energy technologies, as well as his mentorship and commitment to engineering education.
“I’m honored to be recognized as an ASME fellow for my contributions to the field,” Fronk said. “I’m deeply grateful to the students I've had the privilege to work with, and to the mentors and colleagues who have supported me throughout my career. I look forward to continuing to advance the profession and to supporting our students in the pursuit of their careers in mechanical engineering.”
Menold was honored by ASME for her work on engineering design, innovation processes and design theory, and for her active leadership role within the ASME community over the past decade.
“I am honored to be named an ASME Fellow, and thankful for the support of my colleagues, in particular Zoubeida Ounaies, for putting the nomination package together,” Menold said. “I am eager to continue to contribute to ASME through research and service and to use my position as fellow to increase the impact of my own work and the work of my colleagues.”
Menold currently serves as an associate editor for the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design and served as program chair of the Design Theory and Methodology Track of the 2025 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences. She previously served as secretary, vice chair and chair of the ASME Design Theory and Methods Technical Committee from 2019 to 2022. Earlier in her career, Menold was selected as an ASME Graduate Teaching Fellow from 2016 to 2018 and was the winner of the ASME Innovation Showcase USA in 2016.