Speicher (left) said the doctor of engineering program was "transformative" and opened a third phase of his career as a researcher. Credit: Provided by Terry Speicher.
From student to adviser: How one doctor of engineering graduate gives back
Sept 8, 2026
By Tucker Leighty-Phillips
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Terry Speicher, one of the earliest graduates of Penn State’s doctor of engineering program, a doctoral degree was not something he had previously considered.
“When I first entered the industry, I joined Hughes Aircraft Company as a master’s fellow,” Speicher said. “They paid for my education, and I received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. I debated continuing my education, and spoke to my advisor at Hughes, who told me a PhD wasn’t necessary unless I was considering academia. I agreed because I saw myself as a practicing engineer more than a researcher.”
Speicher, who is a now teaching professor in engineering at Penn State as well as director of the Manufacturing Innovation & Learning Lab (MILL) and project coordinator for the Berks Learning Factory, did eventually move into academia, joining Penn State in 2000, where he also acted as program coordinator for the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (EMET) degree, a program he still teaches in.
“Once I entered academia, I realized that not having a doctorate degree is a limitation,” Speicher said. Speicher appreciated knowledge acquisition, but wanted to be able to apply his knowledge, which made him hesitant about traditional doctoral programs, where he worried research might be more theoretical.
When Penn State announced the online Doctor of Engineering program through World Campus, he was “intrigued” and saw it as a program more in-line with his goals.
“I always want to continue learning, and I saw the degree as a chance to learn more.”
According to Sven Bilén, director of the doctor of engineering program, the program was established by following similar European models and creates access for a population that believes the chance for a doctoral degree had passed them by.
“We have a significant number of veterans and active duty military, and a much higher rate of students of color compared to those in residence,” Bilén said.
The program, which formally launched in 2023, is online and self-paced, and “incorporates the rigor of a PhD” with a targeted focus toward leadership within an industrial or commercial setting, according to the degree’s website.
Joanna DeFranco, associate director of the program, said the ability to participate in the program remotely with a minimal on-site residency requirement has created more opportunities for those working in the industry to obtain a doctorate degree.
“When I pursued my PhD, I had to leave my industry position to fulfill a yearlong residency requirement,” DeFranco said. “Today, we can offer this degree remotely, allowing students to remain in their professional roles while conducting research that is directly relevant to their industries.”
DeFranco was also Speicher’s adviser in the program, who Speicher said was “fantastic” and helped him reimagine what he could offer both academia and industry.
“The program was transformative, and helped establish a third phase of my career,” Speicher said. “I’ve gone from engineering practitioner to engineering educator to engineering researcher.”
Speicher said he has found ways to work within the industry and find useful ways to apply research, and to help industry partners use research for their own projects. He has even been invited to company retreats to give presentations and share his expertise.
Upon completing his degree, Speicher became an adviser himself, a decision he called “a no-brainer.”
“I have a student, Rustam Niyaz, who works at Northrop, and I came from the aerospace industry,” Speicher said. “He’s from California, which I’m very familiar with, and we have good conversations.”
Niyaz, who was once in a different doctoral program for engineering, made the difficult decision to step away to pursue his professional career, feeling he was tasked with choosing between career progress and academic development. Now, the Penn State doctor of engineering program offers him the “perfect balance” between professional practice and academic growth.
“The program has allowed me to apply what I learn directly to real engineering challenges while continuing to grow in my career,” Niyaz said, whose research primarily focuses on control theory and the application of machine learning to improve the performance of dynamic systems.
The pair meet every two weeks and discuss Niyaz’s progress in the program, methods for exploring research and how to establish tasks to satisfy degree requirements. Speicher said it is rewarding to share his experience earning a doctoral degree as an example for Niyaz to follow.
“Working with Dr. Speicher has been one of the highlights of my time in the program,” Niyaz said. “He has always encouraged me to think independently while offering thoughtful advice when I needed it. His support has helped me stay motivated, navigate challenges and continue making steady progress toward my degree. I am grateful for both his mentorship and his genuine interest in helping his students succeed.”
The program has roughly 150 advisers across Penn State’s campuses, and there are several pairing processes to ensure each accepted student has an adviser with expertise and knowledge pertinent to the student’s research interests and professional goals.
Although Speicher is considering retirement, he believes he would stay on if another student needed his support.
“Advising is a reason to stick around,” Speicher said.
To learn more about the Penn State doctor of engineering program, visit their website.
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