SUNY Poly proudly celebrated its annual Women Who Inspire Luncheon earlier this week, honoring Dr. Aarthi Sekaran, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, as this year’s recipient. A trailblazer in her field, Dr. Sekaran was recognized for her dedication in her field and research, as well as her commitment to student mentorship, and leadership across campus.

The Women Who Inspire initiative began in 2015 to celebrate the extraordinary work of women across SUNY Poly whose contributions were too often overlooked. It also responds to voices from students—particularly women in male-dominated fields—seeking connection, recognition, and encouragement in academic spaces. Since its inception, the luncheon has become a meaningful tradition, gathering the campus community each spring to uplift and honor those whose impact resonates far beyond the classroom.

Dr. Sekaran embodies that spirit of inspiration. Her expertise spans fluid instabilities and flow through complex geometries, with applications in industrial, environmental, and biomedical settings. Her approach—combining computational fluid dynamics with hands-on experiments—helps solve real-world challenges, from turbomachinery and oil and gas to semiconductors and renewable energy.

She began her research career at the Turbomachinery Lab at Texas A&M University, where her work on hole-pattern seals revealed a critical flow instability mode change, providing insights that help prevent catastrophic turbine failures. Her academic journey has since taken her through internationally respected institutions, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in India and the Oden Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.

At SUNY Poly, Dr. Sekaran’s current research centers on airflow in the upper trachea, with implications for patients using mechanical ventilators. Motivated by the increase in respiratory illnesses, her work aims to optimize endotracheal tube designs using physics-based modeling to reduce bacterial infections—an effort supported by a SUNY Poly Research Seed Grant.

Beyond her research, Dr. Sekaran is a champion of innovative teaching. Her passion for project-based learning is reshaping how students engage with fluid dynamics, from building models to collaborating on video game development with SUNY Poly’s Interactive Media and Game Design Department. Whether incorporating flow visualization projects that culminate in gallery exhibits or mentoring student clubs across campus, Dr. Sekaran is deeply invested in creating accessible, dynamic learning environments.

“This event is about recognizing the people who create space for others to thrive—and Dr. Sekaran is doing just that for her students,” said VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jennifer Adams. “Her mentorship has been a lifeline, especially for women entering STEM fields.”

This year’s event featured a special conversation between Dr. Sekaran and her colleague, John Knight, recipient of SUNY Poly’s 2024 Passion with a Purpose Award. 

Past Women Who Inspire honorees include SUNY Poly faculty and leaders such as Veronica Tichenor, Joanne Joseph, Kathryn Stam, Lynne Browne, Carolyn Rodak, Lauren Endres, Grace Wang, Carlie Phipps, Jennifer Adams and Jennifer George. 

As part of this year’s celebration, the Office of Advancement also launched the Women of Impact campaign, a new initiative to support scholarships, research, and innovation across SUNY Poly—fueling the next generation of women leaders.

To Dr. Sekaran, whose curiosity, mentorship, and scholarship continue to light the way for others: congratulations, and thank you for inspiring us all.

Photo caption: SUNY Poly student Caroline LaQue, left, presents Dr. Sekaran with her award.