The Cockrell School's six Distinguished Engineering Graduates for 2015 are inventors, finance experts, CEOs and worldwide thought leaders in their fields. We honor them for their professional leadership, dedication to advancing engineering and support of higher education. Established in 1957, the Distinguished Engineering Graduate Award represents the highest honor that the Cockrell School bestows on its alumni.
Learn more about this year's inductees:
Sergio M. Alcocer
Ph.D. CE 1991
Undersecretary for North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
With a distinguished career in engineering research, higher education and public service, Sergio M. Alcocer is the undersecretary for North America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and president of the Academy of Engineering of Mexico. He delivered the keynote address at the Cockrell School’s Spring 2015 Commencement Ceremony.
Byron R. Baird
B.S. EE 1959
Former Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Baird's Bakeries
The Baird family has roots in Fort Worth, Texas, dating back to the early 1900s. Byron R. Baird is the grandson of the founder of Mrs. Baird’s Bread, Ninnie L. Baird. In 1908, she started selling bread, cakes and pies that she baked in a wood-burning stove. Her small business soon grew into a successful company that produces bread and baked goods stocked in grocery stores throughout Texas, Oklahoma and surrounding states.
Joseph J. Beaman
B.S. ME 1972, M.S. ME 1975
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Cockrell School of Engineering
Joseph J. Beaman is a world-renowned inventor, respected teacher and expert in manufacturing control. He currently serves as a mechanical engineering professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. His groundbreaking work in selective laser sintering (SLS) was instrumental in launching the 3-D printing industry and has made a remarkable impact on society.
Bella Goren
B.S. ChE 1983
Former Chief Financial Officer, American Airlines and AMR Corporation
Bella Goren earned her executive and Fortune 500 chief financial officer credentials in the airline industry, one of the most intensely competitive and dynamic global industries. She now serves as a director on the boards of three global companies, including LyondellBasell Industries N.V., one of the world’s largest plastics, chemical and refining companies; Gap Inc., a retail company with a portfolio of brands; and MassMutual Financial Group, a leading mutual life insurance company, with a number of major affiliates, including OppenheimerFunds.
Candice Koederitz
B.S. CE 1978
Head of Capital, Morgan Stanley
Candice Koederitz is an expert in global corporate finance. She currently serves as head of capital for Morgan Stanley.
As the daughter of an engineer, Koederitz, who grew up in San Angelo, Texas, was introduced to the field at an early age. In 1978, she received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and went to work for Exxon Chemical America as a project engineer in Baytown, Texas.
Charles M. Sander
B.S. EE 1978
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Managed Methods
Charles M. Sander is an innovator and entrepreneur in the IT industry, and his work in hard drive development was instrumental in the creation of laptop computers. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Managed Methods, a cyber security software startup based in Boulder, Colorado.
