Biography

Michael D. Wilson, did his PhD coursework in engineering at Purdue University, his Master’s degree at the University of Chicago, and undergraduate work at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Professor Wilson is the Faculty Director for Innovators for the Americas and Entrepreneurship; Additionally, as the Faculty Director of Entrepreneurship programs in the Miami Business School (MBS), Wilson spearheads curriculum, the annual business plan competition, various summits, and University-Industry (U-I) relations. 

Prior to academe, Michael founded several startup companies, consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and global brands. Wilson founded a large Internet Service Provider (ISP) backbone serving greater New England both connectivity and complex web development projects for over 1000 business-to-business customers. 

As the resident “Pracademic” for the University of Miami, Wilson bridges U-I relations through commercial applications whether spin-in or spin-out opportunities. An expertise in technology as a catalyst for entrepreneurial ventures and engineering education; hands-on advising with cognitive frameworks and careful attention to deal/growth strategy. Specialties: Project management, public speaking, new software development, digital and distributed platforms using high-end supply PLM/FPX tactics with idea brokering, c-level presenting, writing, big data analyzing, machine learning, and major advisory/board expertise.

Featured Publications

• Wilson, M.D. and Fernandez, T.,(2017) “Making engineering education more
  entrepreneurial,” Guest Editorial, JEEN 

  Wilson, M.D. (2017), “Forward reasoning and worked-examples: What
  silence, eye-gaze, and missteps tell us through problem solving coding stripes,”
  ASEE, Columbus, OH (Abstract Accepted)

  Wilson, M.D. (2016) “An entrepreneurial mindset empowers engineering
  education research: How rigor can exist while embracing ambiguous
  research approaches,” Last Word, PRISM (In Review)

  Berger, E., Wilson, M.D. (2016), “A laboratory study of student usage of workedexample
  videos to support problem solving,” ASEE, New Orleans, LA

  Wilson, M.D., Summers, M., Gordon, J., Goris, T. (2013), “SMART Technology
  Learning Tools: Analysis of Industry Leader Perceptions and Satisfaction,”
  Technology Interface International Journal, Fall/Winter, Volume 14, No. 1, pg. 53-59

Degrees

• Ph.D., Engineering Education, Purdue University, 2018
• M.L.A., University of Chicago
• B.S., Management, University of Massachusetts

Honors and Awards

• Recipient of CPE 5,000.00 award to develop a new Master’s class for the M.S. department in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Massachusetts @ Amherst., 2017
• Recipient of an “Innovation for Teaching Curriculum Award” by the Krannert Undergraduate Dean. In the amount of $10,000.00, Co-PI., 2015
• “Grant Donation Recipient of two SMART Boards from Smart Technologies, Inc., in the amount of 50,000.00, PI., 2013
• “National I-Corps Finalist for patent-pending algorithm, NSF, Washington, D.C., 2014
• “SEED Grant Recipient for Innovation” by the Associate Dean of Research in the College of Technology in the amount of 10,000.00, Co-PI., 2013
• Master Sommelier Certification I, IL, 2010
• Guinness World Book Record Holder, 2003
• Entrepreneur of the Year in the Pioneer Valley, MA, 1998