Jesse French, Ph.D.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dean, School of EngineeringBio
Dr Jesse French is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as Dean of the School of Engineering at Spring Arbor University. Dr French received the Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. His M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are both in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa, with a concentration in Solid mechanics, Polymer and Composite materials, and Sustainable Energy. Jesse served in the United States Army for eight years on active duty and seven years on reserve status. He served as a Cavalry Platoon leader and Aeroscout pilot, a Cavalry company commander, Installation commander, and as a Maintenance Test Pilot.
His engineering and industry experience is in the repair of gas and oil pipelines with non-metallic materials and in the analysis, fabrication, and testing of composite and lightweight structures, primarily aircraft and wind energy devices. Jesse and his wife have served as full time missionaries in Korea, China, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia and have lead student missions teams to 8 different countries to conduct engineering missions support work. Dr French joined the SAU faculty in the fall of 2022 and teaches materials, design, and measurements courses at the undergraduate level as well as directing senior engineering projects. In addition to enjoying the training of students in their engineering vocation he revels in discipling young Christians as they seek their part in the Kingdom.
Education
- BS: (Mechanical Engineering) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 1995
- MS: (Mechanical Engineering) The University of Tulsa, 2007
- Ph.D.: (Mechanical Engineering) The University of Tulsa, 2010
Why SAU
In 2018, Jesse and Anna French were visited by an old friend who was launching an engineering program at a small liberal arts school in Southern Michigan. In 2021, the Frenches visited the campus of Spring Arbor University, where a new Electrical Engineering program had been launched under the direction of their old friend, the inaugural Dean of Engineering, Ron DeLap. Dr DeLap invited Jesse to apply for a newly opened position as a professor of Mechanical Engineering, as SAU was adding a Mechanical Engineering major. This was laughed off, as Dr French was in a very comfortable position that matched his goals and skillset perfectly at another institution. Through the subsequent weeks, the holy spirit strongly convicted Jesse about his response to the invitation. Dr French was hired as a professor of Mechanical Engineering and as the Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department in January of 2022. Jesse and Anna moved to Spring Arbor, Michigan in the Fall of 2022 with 2 of their four children. After 7 months of living in the student apartments, they were blessed with a beautiful, small farm in Horton, Michigan. In June of 2023, Dr French was appointed Dean of the School of Engineering.
Memberships and Affiliations
Publications
Jason N. Small and Jesse J. French, “A Method for Estimating Critical Flight Loads on a Small Aircraft Fuselage Using Numerical Methods, Conventional Design Tools, and Risk Assessment Techniques”, International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering (IJMPE), ISSN:2320-2092, Vol 8. No. 2 (Feb 2020)
Ben S. Carpenter and Jesse J. French, “Development and Evaluation of a Thermal Based Failure Detection Algorithm for Use on Aviation Powerplant Gearboxes”, International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering (IJMPE), ISSN:2320-2092, Vol 8. No. 2 ( Feb 2020)
James W. Hilbish and Jesse J. French, “A Backpack Portable Power Station for Humanitarian Medics In Post Conflict And Disaster Zones”, International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering (IJMPE), ISSN:2320-2092, Vol 8. No. 2 (Feb 2020)
Guerney D. H. Hunt and Jesse J. French, “Thermal classification of Human Transportable Solutions for Applications in Developing World Vaccine Cold Chain Systems,” Proceedings of Seoul International Conference on Applied Science and Engineering (SICASE), March 2019, Seoul, Korea, Paper# SICASE2019-0110
Amber E. Keith and Jesse J. French, “Design and Testing of a Remote Deployable Water Purification System Powered by Solar Energy,” Advances in Technology Innovation (AITI), ISSN: 2415-0436, Vol 4. No 1, pp 30-36 (2019)
Judah D. Rutledge and Jesse J. French, “Design and Analysis of a water Channel for Characterization of Low Reynolds Number Flows,” Advances in Technology Innovation (AITI), ISSN: 2415-0436, Vol 3. No 2 (2018)
Jesse J. French, Corey P. Ressler, and James Hilbish, “Novel Controlled-Velocity Wind Turbine Testing Apparatus to Simulate Turbulent, Non-Return Flow,” Proceedings of ASME 2014 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Paper# ESFuelCell2014-6664.
Jesse J. French and Paul R. Leiffer, “The Genesis of Transformation: Preventing Failure to Launch Syndrome in Generation iY First Year Engineering Students,” Proceedings of the 2012 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, June 2012
Colton Sheets, Greg A. Reynolds, Jesse J. French, “Effects of Spring Constant Variation in the Low Aspect Ratio Drag Coefficient During Vortex-Induced Vibration of an Elastically Mounted Cylinder,” Proceedings of ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping 2012, Paper# PVP2012-78647
Stephen M. Raney, Jeremy R. Brooks, Jared P. Schaffer, and Jesse J. French, “Experimental Validation of Solar Chimney Performance Models and Operational Characteristics for Small Scale Remote Applications,” Proceedings of ASME Energy Sustainability 2012, Paper# ES2012-91192