Alumni Achievement Award

honors alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their chosen career or area of professional life.

Cheryl (Bunnett ’84) Schrader earned her Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Valparaiso University and also was a Christ College Associate. She received her Master of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1987 and her Ph.D. in 1990, both from the University of Notre Dame. She was recently appointed associate vice president for strategic research initiatives at Boise State University after 27 years of leadership in academia and industry.  She previously served as dean of the college of engineering at Boise State University, and she also holds the position of professor of electrical and computer engineering.  Schrader has held positions at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rice University, Valparaiso University, Chimera Research and McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company.  She has authored approximately 100 publications in the areas of systems and control, robotics and intelligent systems and received several best paper awards.  She has delivered over 70 invited presentations and keynote addresses.  Schrader was honored by the Valparaiso University Alumni Association as one of the 150 Most Influential Valpo People. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Discovery Center of Idaho and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership and the advisory board for Highway 12 Ventures.  She is a past president of the IEEE Control Systems Society, a professional organization with 9,000 members worldwide.  In 2005, the White House presented her with The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. She and her husband, Jeffrey ’84, met at Valpo and their son, Andrew, is currently a sophomore in Christ College, majoring in mechanical engineering.