MSOE under new leadership; advancements in AI

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is under new leadership, and it comes at a unique time. Many private colleges and universities are experiencing declining enrollment. MSOE has been able to buck that trend and maintain steady growth.

Dr. Eric Baumgartner, who’s been with MSOE since 2017, became president of the school on Jan. 1, 2026. Before this role, he served as MSOE’s executive vice president of academics. He helped develop new programs focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. He said he wants to continue building on that.

“We’ve learned how to make it a very engaging, application-focused environment,” said Baumgarten. “In which we can buffer the challenges of the enrollment cliff. The technology is going to change. The tools are going to change. We want to create learners who have that ability to adapt and evolve.”

Baumgartner said he feels a great responsibility to provide students with the best learning opportunities possible. That corresponds with a responsibility to help advance the engineering industry and the companies that rely on MSOE students.

“How can we serve them the best?” said Baumgartner. “They are, in many respects, our customers and our students really are the mission that serves that customer.” 

Baumgartner succeeds Dr. John Walz, who was president of MSOE for nearly 10 years. Despite announcing his retirement, Walz has transitioned to the role of president emeritus of MSOE. His focus is on fundraising and external outreach to support MSOE’s Next Bold Step Campaign.

“I will focus on fundraising. Helping with that in any way that I can,” said Walz. “Helping the new president and supporting him and being an ambassador for the university.”

The Next Bold Step Campaign helped make MSOE’s new Robert D. Kern Engineering Innovation Center a reality. It’s set to open in the fall of 2027.

The campaign’s goal is to raise $125 million. So far, Walz said they’ve raised roughly $97 million.

“It will help us start new programs, and things like robotics and advanced order, you know, advanced automation,” said Walz.