Mechanical Engineering Alums Win Big at Homecoming 2023

The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering was well represented at the annual Homecoming Engineers Breakfast. Zoe Draelos, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1979, won the Alumnus of the Year Award. Vy Kieu, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2014, won the Outstanding Young Alumni Volunteer Award.

In 1988, Draelos founded Dermatology Consulting Services to perform research in aging skin and provide aesthetic procedures in the cosmetic, OTC drug, and pharmaceutical arenas. She contributed chapters to 42 textbooks, served as the principal investigator on 750 studies, and was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology for 10 years. In 2019, she was the inaugural recipient of the Florence Wall Award from the Society of Cosmetics Chemists honoring her as the most influential woman in cosmetic science.

"I'm so grateful for this award today. I went to many Engineers Breakfasts with my father, and it's really an honor for me to receive this award,” Draelos said. “I have enjoyed my career tremendously, and at heart, I will always be a University of Arizona Engineering Wildcat."

Kieu spent nine years in the utility industry with Salt River Project and has nearly 13 years of professional experience, including with IBM. As the manager of generation planning, analysis and renewables, Kieu is leading SRP’s transformation of energy generation to include more renewable resources like solar photovoltaics and batteries.

Kieu served on the Alumni Engineering Council Board for more than five years and is currently council president. She volunteered her time and expertise consistently to support the next generation of engineers.