Pictured from left: Dr. Kristopher Pierson, Dr. Hazel Marie, Dr. Matthew Pierson, and Emma Pierson

Alumni Brothers

What do Kristopher Pierson and Matthew Pierson have in common, besides the obvious same last name? First as one might suspect they are related. They are brothers and the sons of Dr. Hazel Marie, Distinguished Professor in Mechanical Engineering. But there is more:

• Kristopher and Matthew both earned their bachelor degrees with minors in YSU STEM disciplines.
  • Kristopher was awarded a BE in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics in 2010.
  • Matthew was awarded a BS in Mathematics with a minor in Mechanical Engineering in 2013.
• Both spent a year in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag exchange program. Matthew while in high school before coming to YSU and Kristopher as a young professional right after graduating from YSU.
• While at YSU both were inducted into their respective disciplines honor societies: Kristopher in Tau Beta Pi and Matthew in Pi Mu Epsilon.
• Both recently earned a Ph.D. in their respective fields.
  • Kristopher in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron in 2019. Dissertation title: Multiphysics Cavitation Model with Application to the Dynamic behavior of Journal Bearings.
  • Matthew in Mathematics from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2021. Dissertation title: Some Applications of a Duality in Cyclic Homology.
• With an earned Ph.D., many individuals enter the academic work force. Neither are joining academia. Kristopher has a position at Hankook Tire Company and Matthew is now searching for an industry position in the Boulder/Colorado area.