Photo of Deirdre Ragan

Deirdre Ragan

Associate Teaching Professor

Affiliation(s):

  • Aerospace Engineering

474N ECoRE Building

ddr5307@psu.edu

 
 

 

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Rice University, 1992
  • Master of Science, Materials, University of California, 1995
  • Ph.D., Materials, University of California, 1999

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Pooya Niksiar, Monika Bubacz, Deirdre Ragan, Gafar Elamin and Patrick Bass, 2021, "Emerging ways to conquer education challenges in times of COVID-19 and their influence on students' academic performance", Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21, (13), pp. 215-227
  • Deirdre Ragan, 2018, "A Structured Course in Personal and Professional Development", Honors In Practice, 14, pp. 43-57
  • Deirdre Ragan, Thomas Mates and David R Clarke, 2003, "Effect of yttrium and erbium ions on epitaxial phase transformations in alumina", Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 86, (4), pp. 541-545
  • Deirdre Ragan, P. Svedlindh and C. G. Granqvist, 1998, "Electrochromic Ni oxide films studied by magnetic measurements", Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 54, pp. 247-254
  • A. Azens, L Kullman, Deirdre Ragan and C G Granqvist, 1998, "Optically passive counter electrodes for electrochromic devices: transition metal-cerium oxide thin films", Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 54, (1-4), pp. 85-91
  • Deirdre Ragan, P. Svedlindh and C G Granqvist, 1997, "Magnetic measurements on electrochromic Ni-oxide-based films", Journal of Applied Physics, 82, (4)
  • A Azens, Kullmann, Deirdre Ragan and C G Granqvist, 1996, "Optical and electrochemical properties of dc magnetron sputtered Ti-Ce oxide films", Applied Physics Letters, 68, (26)
  • Deirdre Ragan, David R Clarke and David Schiferl, 1996, "Silicone fluid as a high-pressure medium in diamond anvil cells", Review of Scientific Instruments, 67, (2), pp. 494-496
  • Deirdre Ragan, R Gustavsen and David Schiferl, 1992, "Calibration of the ruby R 1 and R 2 fluorescence shifts as a function of temperature from 0 to 600 K", Journal of applied physics, 72, (12), pp. 5539-5544
  • SC Schmidt, D Schiferl, AS Zinn, Deirdre Ragan and DS Moore, 1991, "Calibration of the nitrogen vibron pressure scale for use at high temperatures and pressures", Journal of applied physics, 69, (5), pp. 2793-2799
  • SC Schmidt, D Schiferl, AS Zinn, Deirdre Ragan and DS Moore, 1990, "Vibrational frequency shifts of fluid nitrogen fundamental and hot band transitions as a function of pressure and temperature", High Pressure Science and Technology, 4, (1-6), pp. 577--579
  • SC SCHMIDT, D SCHIFERL, AS ZINN, Deirdre Ragan and DS MOORE, 1989, "VIBRATIONAL FREQUENCY SHIFTS OF FLUID NITROGEN FUNDAMENTALAND", AIIWT AND EHPRG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Conference Proceedings

  • James Righter, Nathan John Washuta and Deirdre Ragan, 2025, "Application of a House of Quality Intervention in an Engineering Capstone Design Course", ASEE PEER, ASEE Southeast
  • Simon Ghanat and Deirdre Ragan, 2024, "Implementing Entrepreneurial Minded Learning in a First-Year Seminar Course", ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
  • Simon Ghanat and Deirdre Ragan, 2024, "Implementing Entrepreneurial Mindset Learning Activities in Several Engineering Courses", 2024 South East Section Meeting
  • Simon Ghanat, Dena Garner, Todd Wittman, M Kristen Hefner, Deirdre Ragan, Thad Le-Vasicek, Emily Bierman and Blakely Adair-Hudson, 2022, "Assessing Students’ Metacognitive Skills in a Summer Undergraduate Research Program", Proceedings of 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
  • Gafar Elamin, Monika Bubacz, Adam DeVoria, Robert Rabb, Deirdre Ragan and Pooya Niksiar, 2022, "Student- Instructor Academic Relationships: Effects of background and culture", Proceedings of the ASEE SE Conference, American Society for Engineering Education
  • Monika Bubacz and Deirdre Ragan, 2022, "Using web-based textbook to improve students’ understanding of materials science", Proceedings of the 2022 ASEE Southeastern Section Conference
  • Deirdre Ragan and Jason Geathers, 2021, "Examining the Impact of Collaborative Homework on Student Performance in an Engineering Materials Course", ASEE SE Conference
  • Monika Bubacz, Pooya Niksiar, Gafar Elamin, Deirdre Ragan and Patrick Bass, 2021, "Potentials and limitations of face to face and hybrid teaching modes", Proceedings of the ASEE Southeastern Section Conference
  • Jeffery Maurice Plumblee, Emily Bierman and Deirdre Ragan, 2021, "Solar Powered Dehydrator", Proceedings of the American Society of Engineering Education Southeastern Section, American Society of Engineering Education Southeastern Section, USA
  • Monika Bubacz, Deirdre Ragan, Nathan Washuta and Kevin Skenes, 2020, "Introducing Competition to Improve Design Aptitudes in Introduction to Mechanical Design Course", Proceeding of American Society Engineering Education Southeastern Section, American Society for Engineering Education
  • Monika Bubacz, Deirdre Ragan and Kevin Skenes, 2020, "Student Perception on Ethics and Intercultural Issues in Introduction to Mechanical Design Course", Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education
  • Robert Rabb, Ronald W Welch, William J Davis, Deirdre Ragan and Jason Geathers, 2019, "Small mentoring efforts that make a big difference for retention", Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
  • Simon Thomas Ghanat, Mary Katherine Zanin, Dena Garner, Deirdre Ragan, Jeffery M Plumblee, Daniel B Bornstein and John H Lewis, 2019, "Comparison of Mentors’ and Mentees’ Perceptions of Mentees’ Research Skill Gains at The Citadel", Proceedings of 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
  • L Kullmann, M Veszelei, Deirdre Ragan, J Isidorsson and G Vaivars, 1997, "Cerium-containing counter electrodes for transparent electrochromic devices", Proc. SPIE 2968, Optical Organic and Semiconductor Inorganic Materials
  • Guanghai Xu, Deirdre Ragan, DR Clarke, Ming Y He, Qing Ma and H Fujimoto, 1996, "Measurement of the fracture energy of SiO2/TiN interfaces using the residually-stressed thin-film micro-strip test", MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL), Cambridge University Press, 458, pp. 465
  • Robert Rabb, Deirdre Ragan and Matthew B Parkinson, , "Preparation and Role of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants in a Makerspace and in a Traditional Laboratory Course"

Research Projects

Honors and Awards

  • Nominated for 2026 Excellence in Advising Award, Office of Undergraduate Education, December 2025
  • KEEN Engineering Unleashed Fellow, Kern Family Foundation, 2023
  • Excellence in Service Award, 2023
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, 2022
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2022
  • Development of Course Material, National Collegiate Honors Council, 2021
  • Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, 2019
  • Engineer of the Year, Charleston Engineering Joint Council, 2019
  • Fulbright Research Fellow, Fulbright, 1995

Service

Service to Penn State:

  • Assistance to Student Organizations, Volunteer, Judge, College of Engineering Research Symposium, March 2026 - April 2026
  • Participation in Governance Bodies and Related Activities, Committee Member, Leonhard Center, Faculty Advisory Board, October 2025
  • Participation in Recruitment and Retention Activities, Presenter, Department representative for prospective student presentations, June 2025
  • Assessment Activities, Assessment Leader, ABET Coordinator, July 2025
  • Committee Work, Committee Member, Undergraduate Studies Committee, September 2025
  • Participation in Recruitment and Retention Activities, Volunteer, Application Reviewer, Faculty Selection Committee, November 2025 - January 2026
  • Participation in Recruitment and Retention Activities, Volunteer, Interviewer, Millennium Scholars Program, February 2026

Service to External Organizations:

  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Peer Reviewer, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023
 


 

About

The Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, established in 1961 and the only aerospace engineering department in Pennsylvania, is consistently recognized as one of the top aerospace engineering departments in the nation, and is also an international leader in aerospace education, research, and engagement. Our undergraduate program is ranked 15th and our graduate programs are ranked 15th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, while one in 25 holders of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering in the U.S. earned it from Penn State. Our students are consistently among the most highly recruited by industry, government, and graduate schools nationwide.

The department is built upon the fundamentals of academic integrity, innovation in research, and commitment to the advancement of industry. Through an innovative curriculum and world-class instruction that reflects current industry practice and embraces future trends, Penn State Aerospace Engineering graduates emerge as broadly educated, technically sound aerospace engineers who will become future leaders in a critical industry

Department of Aerospace Engineering

308 Engineering Collaborative Research and Education (ECoRE) Building

556 White Course Drive

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2569