In 1875, Major William J.L. Nicodemus was appointed UW–Madison’s first professor of mechanical engineering and laid the cornerstone of mechanical engineering at UW. For 150 years, Mechanical Engineering at UW–Madison has shaped not only careers, but communities, industries, and our sustainable future.
We will recognize and celebrate the UW-Madison Department of Mechanical Engineering’s 150th anniversary during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Visit our UW-Madison College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering site.