Milwaukee School of Engineering will hold Commencement on Saturday, March 20 honoring the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 undergraduate and graduate students in engineering majors, the Rader School of Business and the School of Nursing as they receive their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.  

To reduce capacity and promote social distancing there will be two ceremonies: at 9 a.m. for the Fall 2020 graduates and at 11 a.m. for the Winter 2021 graduates. Each ceremony is limited to 75 graduates, who can each bring two guests. Masks are required for all attendees.  The ceremonies will be broadcast online.

Michael W. Paddock, P.E., P.S. will deliver a keynote address at both ceremonies. Paddock is a senior technical advisor for COVID-19 for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). After unexpectedly surviving Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Paddock and his wife Cathy set out on a mission to allow him to use his engineering skills to help others around the globe.  

Paddock has led more than 70 international service projects across five continents, with a focus on bridges, schools and potable water and served as Engineers Without Borders USA’s Chief Engineer before joining UNDP.   

Previously, Paddock was a senior program manager with CH2M HILL where he managed multi-billion dollar transportation projects such as the design for the Marquette Interchange; the Mitchell Interchange and the Zoo Interchange project.  

Paddock has over 30 years of experience and is a Professional Engineer (WI & NM) and Professional Surveyor (WI). He is a graduate from Michigan Technological University. He recently published the book “Bridging Barriers – How a Community Changed Its Future with Help from Engineers Without Borders USA Volunteers.”