Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department and Dean, College of Engineering and Architecture
n.d.
Bio:
Professor Uicker earned a Bachelor of Science degree (1931) and a Master of Engineering (1935) from the University of New Hampshire, and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State College (1943). He taught mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State College before joining U. of D. and was a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan.
He joined the University of Detroit in 1940 as an Instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Assistant Professor in 1943, Associate Professor in 1946, full Professor in 1949. He taught thermodynamics on the undergraduate level. John Uicker was promoted to the Chairman of the department in1942, remaining in the position until 1962. Laurence V. Britt, S.J., President, University of Detroit named John F. Uicker, Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture in 1962 and he served in this position until 1965.
While Chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Department he developed a new course of studies. In a letter he stressed “that the profession is now placing more emphasis upon basic engineering, and studies in the field of aerodynamics, hydraulics, heat transfer and materials, and less on the application or utility type course which is gradually passing into the field of employment and graduate study.”
His research projects covered heat transfer through building materials, design and heating transfer characteristics of steam and hot water radiators, design of healing and ventilating systems for industrial and residential use, flow of wet vapors in capillary tubes, and fan performance investigations.
Actively participating in the university outside of the classroom Professor Uicker served as Director of the Engineering Shop, Moderator of Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma, and committees including Committee on Contracts, Rank and Tenure, Engineering Council, Engineering Research, Chairman University Committee on Exhibits, Faculty Affairs Committee, and Committee on Improvement of Teaching.
An ongoing contributor to the work of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he served as Chairman of the Program Committee, Detroit Section, Chairman of the Detroit Section, Section Delegate to Regional Conferences, Jr. Region V. Delegate, Sr. Regional V Delegate and Speaker, Secretary Region V, Member Engineers’ Registration Committee, and Honorary Chairman of the Student Branch. For Engineering Society of Detroit, he was a member of the Program Committee, Education Committee, and Civic Affairs Committee, and Director of ESD Refresher Courses; for the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers he was chairman of the Education Committee and Director of Training Courses. SAE benefited from Professor Uicker’s expertise while he served as a member on the Stationary Steam Engineers Licensing and Boiler Ordinance Committee.
Professor Uicker was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers American Society of Heating and Air-conditioning Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, and Phi kappa Phi.
There is no documentation in his archive file when the Professor Emeritus title was conferred on Professor Uicker or the date of his retirement.