Wilkistar Otieno has made many contributions to the engineering community through her research in predictive data analytics, sustainable manufacturing, energy sustainability and reliability analysis of products and systems, colleagues said.
Otieno serves as department chair and an associate professor within the University of Wisconisn-Milwaukee’s College of Engineering & Applied Science, and is also co-director of the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Assessment Center at UWM.
Otieno expands her research impact by partnering with local and regional businesses, said Michael Cook, director of global academic engagement for Rockwell Automation.
“Dr. Otieno has continually worked with industry to engage in a true partnering fashion, including a sabbatical in industry, adopting applied automation and controls laboratories into her classes, working with industry researchers, end users, subject matter experts and system integrators to directly shape relevant and forward-looking learning labs and curriculum,” Cook said.
In May 2021, Otieno was selected to represent UWM faculty in a roundtable discussion with vice president Kamala Harris and academic and elected Wisconsin officials regarding sustainable energy, research innovation and education.
