The Root of Innovation: How IWU Is Redefining Engineering Through Design
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is committed to developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership. Within the Engineering program, the mission emphasizes teaching students technical innovation and ethical integrity. In recent years, there has been a growing need for an additional skill set: creative design.
This recognition ultimately led to the development of IWU’s Design Engineering specialization within a four-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) program, approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in May 2022.
As the Design Engineering program celebrates its first graduate, Dr. David Che, engineering program director and professor of mechanical engineering, reflects on how the program complements IWU’s four other engineering specializations (civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical) by equipping students to approach problems with both technical excellence and Christian imagination.
Inspired by the Ultimate Designer
When Che arrived at IWU, he brought experience from the manufacturing industry. When deciding on the direction for the Engineering program, he was encouraged by visionary leaders, including Dr. John Lakanen, to emphasize design and to nurture students’ creativity in the curriculum.
Che observed that while many engineering programs across the country emphasize analysis, fewer intentionally cultivate creativity.
“For many years, engineering education has focused on breaking problems down,” he said. “But in real-world engineering, we also need to put things together and synthesize. God is a problem solver, and we teach our students to be problem solvers. God is also a designer – He designed the entire universe. As image bearers, we want to exercise our God-given creativity and talent.”
After collaborating with professors from the Art+Design Division at IWU, including Professor Henrik Soderstrom, Che helped establish what is now IWU’s Design Engineering specialization.
Proactive Preparation for World Changers
According to Che, engineers are often seen as “firefighters” who step in reactively to fix problems. However, when the root cause of a problem lies in the original concept or structure, proactive design engineers become essential.
“Often, problems happen because someone ignored important conditions in the design process or overlooked an aspect,” Che explained. “Design engineers work to prevent issues before they arise.”
To prepare students for this professional responsibility, IWU’s Engineering program emphasizes innovation, ethics, and integrity, training engineers who are not only technically proficient but also grounded in purpose.
“In many classes, students have opportunities to design products that meet real-world needs. For example, one of the projects in the Introduction to Engineering class last fall was to design a folding stool commonly used in China. These assignments help students exercise their creativity and learn to think like an engineer.”
Alongside design thinking, ethics are woven into every course, reinforcing the program’s commitment to developing engineers who lead with Christ-centered integrity.
“Each Christian has a calling, and one of the most noble callings is engineering. I explain to students that in engineering, there is a code of ethics that binds each person to a state of integrity as they hold public safety and innovation together,” said Che.
Coming to Fruition
For an inaugural program, one of the most significant milestones is celebrating its first graduate. That milestone was reached at the two 2025 Commencements, with five students graduating in May and one in December. In May, Hannah Ruppert was the first electrical engineering graduate, and Ethan Stewart, Trey Denigan, Josh Bainbridge, and Luke Bantz were the first mechanical engineering graduates. In December, Abby Huizinga became the program’s first Design Engineering graduate.
For Huizinga, the program offered a way to fully embrace both creativity and logic.
“When I came to IWU, I didn’t want to give up my creative side or my logical side,” Huizinga said. “That’s when I discovered IWU’s engineering program. With Design Engineering, I didn’t have to give up either of my God-given callings.”
Her achievement paves the way for future students who feel called to engineer with imagination, excellence, and Christian faith.
“Abby is a true trailblazer,” Che said. “I’m thankful she jumped on the opportunity and took a chance with this program.”
As IWU’s Engineering program continues to grow, it stands as a testament to IWU’s commitment to educating engineers who think creatively, act ethically, and lead faithfully. By integrating technical excellence with Christ-centered imagination, IWU’s Engineering program is shaping a new generation of engineers prepared not only to solve problems but to design with purpose.
Learn more about IWU’s engineering program here: https://indwes.edu/program/division-of-math-and-computer-information-sciences/bs-engineering
