MechSE Magazine 2026
Special Features
You can come home again:
Making MechSE a family affair
The wide-ranging expertise of MechSE’s alumni, faculty, students, and staff encompasses incredibly varied fields. However, adding another layer of depth is a less prominent side of MechSE: its family ties. We explore the stories of five of MechSE’s own, each of whom treasure the tradition of a family legacy.
Twisting, creeping, bending, and breaking since 1890
One hundred years since the end of the tenure of the first department head of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM), the program is still one of international significance.
From the Department Head
Dear alumni, students, and friends of MechSE,
I am honored to write to you in my role as MechSE’s new department head, effective August 2026.
When I joined MechSE in 2014 as a new assistant professor, our communications team interviewed me about my academic background and what brought me to the University of Illinois. I had been recruited after earning my PhD from, and subsequently working as a postdoc at, MIT. In the article, I was quoted as saying, “I’ve always known Illinois was a powerhouse. It’s a fantastic school, and it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. I would have been kicking myself for the rest of my life if I didn’t take it.”
While those early days of choosing my path and launching my career as a new faculty member seem like a lifetime ago, my belief in the excellence of MechSE at Illinois is evergreen. My colleagues in the department and in The Grainger College of Engineering continue to do
groundbreaking research that directly impacts society and the planet, and our students still inspire me in the classroom with their ideas and wisdom.
I am humbled by the 11-year legacy of my predecessor and friend, Anthony Jacobi, and I hope to continue the work he did to increase our excellence at every level and elevate our research impact and research intensity. The MechSE department is already filled with extraordinary people and ideas. My goal is to build on that foundation by fostering a culture where collaboration and bold thinking drive us toward discoveries that matter. I am incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our great department.
I look forward to working closely with all of you to continue to earn your loyalty and deepen the pride in your alma mater.
I invite you to reach out to me at nmiljkov@illinois.edu. I would love to hear from you!
The enduring legacy of Senior Capstone Design
How can your company benefit from sponsoring a student design project?
You too can sponsor a team from our #4 ranked program while addressing your company’s proposed design challenge. Participating companies gain fresh perspectives on design issues, specific recommendations for resolution, invaluable access to recruit potential new hires, and world-class faculty expertise and resources. Everyone benefits from the open-ended, real-world, team-based experience. Additionally, participating in our Industry Allies program means your company could host Tech Talks for students, post job openings on our internal listserv, participate in a MechSE-specific career fair, get highlighted on our high-traffic social media platforms, and have your company logo displayed on our website. The advantages are clear.
Contact Steve Zahos at szahos@illinois.edu or 217-300-6798 to get started.
Purchase a personalized paver!
A prominent feature of the Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building is the patio, a beautiful gathering spot at the center of the building facing Green Street. Individuals, companies, and organizations can become a permanent part of the building, the MechSE Department, and the University of Illinois by sponsoring one of these paver bricks with a personalized engraved message.
Your inscription could honor a friend or family member, memorialize a cherished professor, or show the world you’re a supporter of MechSE. An engraved paver can also be a unique, meaningful and lasting gift. Most importantly, your contribution is an investment that will help empower the department to continue to be among the best in the world.
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