Department adds new staff to Senior Design, Systems Administration teams

Feb 21, 2019      By Victoria Grdina

Wayne Motycka, Kyle Conway, Melanie Kugler-Wright, and Ron Kruml.
Wayne Motycka, Kyle Conway, Melanie Kugler-Wright, and Ron Kruml.

The Computer Science and Engineering Systems Administration and Senior Design teams have added some new members over the last few months. 

Wayne Motycka, Research Technical Support Specialist
Wayne Motycka joined the Systems Administration team in December, but actually began working in the department in 2006 as an undergraduate research assistant in the Systems Engineering Lab. In that role, he tested new research subjects, website development techniques, and analysis and administrative tools for the software testing artifacts repository. Prior to working at CSE, he worked for AT&T Bell Labs for 22 years as a hardware development technician, a software testing engineer and a product support engineer. Wayne especially appreciates CSE’s welcoming staff and faculty.

Ron Kruml, Research Technical Support Specialist
Ron Kruml joined CSE in December. He has more than 17 years of experience in computer support and has worked for the Nebraska Book Company, The School of Natural Resources, and Ameritas. In his spare time, Ron enjoys being a Boy Scouts leader, building computers, and relaxing with a good book, show or movie—especially those in the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises. Of his experience in CSE so far, Ron says: “We have a great group of faculty, staff, and students. We have diverse backgrounds and each of us has a story to tell. We are united in our dedication to give our students the best educational experience that we can. The students are using technology that will allow them to be successful in their futures and we help them make this happen.”

Melanie Kugler-Wright, Senior Design Project Manager
Melanie Kugler-Wright joined CSE in September as a project manager for Senior Design. She works with 10 student project teams and guides them in best practices as they work on a computer software or hardware project sponsored by members of local industry or the university. Melanie is originally from Lincoln, but moved to the West Coast to attend San Jose State University and earn two master’s degrees in engineering and business administration. Melanie has worked in Silicon Valley in various project and IT management roles for several companies, including Apple, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, the U.S. Postal Service and Hewlett Packard. After returning to Lincoln to be closer to family, Melanie met her wife, Kara, and got married a year ago. Melanie loves the Huskers and Scott Frost, as well as riding on Lincoln’s bike trails. She also enjoys getting to know the Senior Design students and watching them grow and produce amazing systems.

Kyle Conway, Senior Design Development Manager
Kyle Conway graduated from CSE in August 2018 and now manages the equipment and technological systems that support Senior Design and the student teams throughout their projects. Kyle is a classically trained pianist who has been playing jazz piano for 15 years. He and his fiancée are both from Scottsdale, Arizona, but both graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Kyle said the things he enjoys most about working in the department are the fellow Senior Design faculty and staff and interacting with everyone in a different way than he did as a student.