Dr. Niccolo Fiorentino, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a secondary appointment in Biomedical Engineering, has been invested as the inaugural holder of the Karl and Mary Fessenden Professorship in Biomedical Engineering. In a formal ceremony on November 7, 2024, Interim President Patricia Prelock was joined by Acting Provost Linda Schadler, faculty from the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, and other guests to honor Dr. Fiorentino and celebrate the generosity and stewardship of Karl and Mary Fessenden.
“As strong proponents of the power of education and technology to improve society and the lives of individuals, the Fessendens are particularly appreciative of the growing relationship between the CEMS and the Larner College of Medicine and feel that biomedical engineering is a vital field to fuel innovation and improve human health,” said Acting Provost Linda Schadler.
The chair of the CEMS Board of Advisors since 2019, Karl graduated from ̽̽ in 1985 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He received his master’s degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before launching a successful career encompassing several industries, including the aviation, power, energy, and construction industries. Karl currently leads — A leading provider of specialized services to the global industrial, commercial, and infrastructure markets—as President and CEO.
Mary Fessenden graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Botany. An avid learner, Mary continues to develop herself through education, which has been reflected in her extensive career—from owning and teaching at Montessori preschools to compliance and health and safety roles in the environmental engineering industry.
In addition to creating this transformative endowment, the Fessendens have provided exemplary support to the University and CEMS: contributing internship opportunities for engineering students and volunteering their time to support the College’s growth and success.
“The impact of endowed professorships cannot be underestimated. They signify our community support and commitment to excellence and innovation,” said President Prelock “They are incredible recruitment and retention tools to attract and retain the most creative researchers and the most effective teachers. Over the years, each named professor, or chair will touch countless numbers of lives through teaching, mentoring, research, and collaborative work.”
Dr. Nic Fiorentino
The inaugural Karl and Mary Fessenden Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Nic Fiorentino, PhD, is a celebrated educator, university citizen, and researcher. A leading biomechanist with a mechanical engineering background in solid mechanics and dynamics. Fiorentino’s research is at the forefront of musculoskeletal biomechanics, with additional expertise in orthopaedics, and imaging.
He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, where he received a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his entire graduate career. He then completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Utah in the Department of Orthopaedics where he was further honored with a Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Fiorentino joined the faculty of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Science at ̽̽ as an Assistant Professor in 2017 and currently leads the Musculoskeletal Imaging and Orthopaedic Biomechanics (MIOB) research laboratory, working at the crossroads of biomedical and mechanical engineering.
Dr. Fiorentino's long-term research goals include improving the overall health and well-being of those who have suffered an orthopedic injury and reducing the burden from all disabling musculoskeletal conditions. His work has been published in nearly 30 peer-reviewed publications and 65 conference papers.
After sharing the impressive milestones of Dr. Fiorentino's career, Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering chair Dr. Marilyn Cipolla described his supportive cultivation of the undergraduate and graduate students who work alongside him in his lab. "I highlight this because Nic clearly understands the need for a pipeline and that training the next generation to fill our shoes one day is truly one of the most impactful things we can do in science," said Dr. Cipolla. "I have had the privilege of seeing Nic interact with his students. They all love him, and he and his students have a mutual respect that is critical to mentoring and training students."
During his remarks after formally receiving the investiture, Dr. Fiorentino shared his admiration of and gratitude to the Fessendens. "I’m excited to accept the Fessenden Professorship, and I hope to emulate Karl’s leadership qualities, whereby the professorship accelerates not just my career but also the students in my research lab, the BME Program as a whole, and CEMS," he said. "For all of us to be part of a larger pursuit of knowledge that improves society, drives innovation, and deepens our understanding of the world. I will foster an atmosphere that values groundbreaking biomedical research and prioritizes inspirational education while doing everything in my power to create a truly inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.”
Musculoskeletal Imaging and Orthopaedic Biomechanics (MIOB) Laboratory
Established in 2017 by Dr. Fiorentino, ̽̽'s Musculoskeletal Imaging and Orthopaedic Biomechanics (MIOB) Laboratory is focused on improving human health and performance for those who suffer from musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions through scientific investigations of structure and function using the latest imaging technology and research.
Using both experimental and computational methods, Fiorentino and his corps of student researchers use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize disease and quantify anatomy and use dynamic X-rays to image bone motion directly. The lab’s computational studies combine patient-specific MR-based models with dynamic motion measurements to estimate internal tissue mechanics of orthopaedic tissues.
One recent area of focus for the lab researchers is the study of patients who have received commonplace knee joint surgeries such as torn meniscus repairs and ACL reconstructions. By better understanding how those injuries and subsequent surgeries alter the function of the joint in a way that often leads to early-onset arthritis, the researchers hope to develop new therapeutic interventions to prevent the onset of arthritis—which increases the likelihood of the patient needing joint replacements at a relatively young age.
The MIOB lab provides biomedical research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, often in the biomedical or mechanical engineering programs, who can then further collaborate with researchers in the Larner College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, among others.
Divya Pradip Roy, a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant who works with Dr. Fiorentino in the MIOB lab, saw a promising opportunity to pursue his research interests in orthopedic biomechanics at ̽̽. “When I was looking for opportunities for my PhD, I really liked the research that is happening in Dr Fiorentino’s lab,” said Roy. “The Experience has been great because everyone's very interconnected, and you can ask for help from anyone. It is wonderful that everyone is in touch with each other”
Karl and Mary Fessenden
The ceremony concluded with Karl Fessenden sharing his pride and excitement to inaugurate Dr. Fiorentino as the Karl and Mary Fessenden Professor in Biomedical Engineering, describing the moment as "not just a milestone for ̽̽ but a testament to our collective commitment to advancing education and research in the biomedical field."
Fessenden reflected on his own experience as a ̽̽ undergraduate engineering student, "I recall the moments that shaped my passion for engineering and the profound impact that mentorship and research opportunities can have on a student’s life," he shared. "The engineering principles I learned here laid a solid foundation for my future, but it was the encouragement from faculty, the camaraderie with fellow students, and the exposure to critical thinking and analytical skills that ignited my ambition."
His later involvement with the CEMS board impressed upon him the potential of the college and especially the biomedical engineering program, sharing, "This program has the potential to be a game-changer—not just for the students who pass through its halls, but for the state of Vermont and beyond. By fostering a strong partnership between education and industry, a vibrant ecosystem can be created that attracts talent, drives innovation, and ultimately improves health outcomes for our communities."
Fundraising for the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) is a major focus for ̽̽ Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established to secure and manage private support for the benefit of ̽̽. To inquire about making a gift to CEMS, please contact Maxwell Seeland at 802-735-7321 or Maxwell.Seeland@uvm.edu. More information about the impact of donors like Karl and Mary Fessenden and the work of the ̽̽ Foundation can be found at .