Become a Mentor

Alumni of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland hold degrees in mechanical, reliability, or nuclear engineering. They form a unique community that stays connected and also gives back through a combination of time, talent, and treasure.

Cara Martin, B.S. '06 M.S. '07

After earning her Bachelor’s and Master's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Cara launched her career in Albany NY, consulting on energy efficiency solutions and supporting LEED® certification. She returned home to Maryland in 2013 to support the development and growth of Optimized Thermal Systems (OTS), a company founded by University of Maryland professor Dr. Reinhard Radermacher. In 2023, OTS split its assets and formed OTS R&D, a 100% employee owned worker cooperative focused on supporting the HVAC industry with advanced research and product development. Cara is a member owner of OTS R&D and proudly serves as its CEO since January 2024.

Justin Di Palo, B.S. ‘11 M.S. ‘12

A childhood fascination with cars fueled University of Maryland (UMD) alumnus Justin Di Palo’s (‘11, M.S. ‘12) interest in engineering. As a professional engineer, however, he’s turned his focus to a broader concern: developing technologies that can support sustainable living and help save the planet. Today, Di Palo has built a career as a decarbonization expert and currently serves as associate partner and national sustainability integration lead for the Syska Hennessey Group. A global mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design consultation firm, it specializes in large commercial projects, including in areas such as industry, commerce, healthcare, and aviation.

Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, B.S. ‘94

Donya Douglas-Bradshaw is the Mars Sample Return Deputy Director at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She previously served in multiple senior leadership positions at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, including most recently as Deputy Director for Planning and Business Management for the Engineering and Technology Directorate overseeing operations, training/development, facilities, and budget of one of NASA’s largest engineering organizations. Her work has included project management of multi-million-dollar projects, for example, Lucy, a space probe mission to the Jupiter asteroids. She has served as principal investigator and manager of technology developments achieving breakthrough innovations, as systems engineer of large multi-disciplinary teams, and as technical line manager for senior engineers and instrument managers. Donya and her husband have five children and are both proud Terp alumni.