Education
Ph. D. 1996, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
M. S. 1993, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
B. S. 1990, Mechanical Engineering, Minor French, University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Study Abroad, Institute for American Universities, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1986.
Career / Bio
Dr. Holte's area of interest is kinematics and computer-aided design of planar-linkage mechanisms. Early employment in a special equipment department of MICRO SWITCH, a Division of Honeywell, initially sparked her interested in mechanism design. After completion of her MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, she accepted a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. While at the University of Wisconsin -Platteville, Dr. Holte taught Computer Aided Design, Theory of Machines, and General Dynamics and continued her kinematics research. Though she enjoyed it very much, she wanted to devote more time to her children, so she returned to Minnesota and taught part time for University of Minnesota and served as an engineering consultant on a variety of industrial projects. At the University of Minnesota she taught System Dynamics, Mechanisms and Machine Design, and Advanced Mechanism Design. She also served one term as the faculty advisor to the human-powered hydrofoil senior-design team. In the Fall of 2009, Dr. Holte began teaching Mechanics I (Engineering Statics and Dynamics) at the University of St Thomas.
The flexibility of part-time teaching and engineering consulting has also allowed Dr. Holte to become involved in advocating for English language learners. Since 1999 she has been working with immigrant children through the public schools. In the spring of 2011, Dr. Holte also began teaching Adult English as a Second Language through the Minnesota Literacy Council.
One aspect of the engineering program that attracted Dr. Holte to University of St Thomas was the partnership between students and faculty in developing technologies to improve the lives of people in third-world countries. Regardless of the vehicle, Dr. Holte believes serving others is an essential part of our humanity. She values the University of St Thomas' mission to educate students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.
UST Courses:
Mechanics I (ENGR 220)
Engineering Courses Taught at Other Institutions:
University of Minnesota
Mechanism and Machine Design*
Advanced Mechanism Design*
System Dynamics and Controls
Human-Powered Hydrofoil Senior Design Project*
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Computer-Aided Engineering
Theory of Machines*
General Dynamics
*courses which include a hands-on design project
Interests / Expertise:
Computer aided design of planar linkage mechanisms. Contributions in the areas of transmission indices for planar-linkage mechanisms, and synthesis of mechanisms using mixed exact and approximate position and velocity specifications.
Highlighted Industrial Experiences:
Mechanism Design and Analysis for Computype, Roseville, MN and Integrated Design, Chippewa Falls, WI.
Evaluation of musculoskeletal forces and other biomedical applications: Advanced BioSurfaces, Inc. Minneapolis, MN, and Wilson Wolf Corp., Minneapolis, MN
Drafting, process control, and basic design related to metal stamping and switch assembly for MICRO SWITCH, a Division of Honeywell, Freeport, IL and Unisys Corp., Roseville, MN
Awards:
ASME Graduate Teaching Fellowship (1994-1996)
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Mechanical Engineering Dept., University of Minnesota (1995)
Senior Valedictory Speaker for the University of Wisconsin - Platteville (1990)
Community Service:
Adult English as a Second Language Instructor for the Minnesota Literacy Council
Steering Committee Member of Public School District 281's Legislative Action Coalition
Tutor/Mentor for English Language Learners in public elementary schools.
Selected Publications
“Approximate Velocities in Mixed Exact-Approximate Position Synthesis of Planar Mechanisms,” ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 123, no. 3, pp. 388-394, 2001 (with T. R. Chase and A. G. Erdman).
"Mixed Exact-Approximate Position Synthesis of Planar Mechanisms," ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 122, no. 3, pp. 278-286, 2000 (with T. R. Chase, and A.G. Erdman).
"A Transmission Index for Planar Linkage Mechanisms," with T. R. Chase, DE-Vol. 70, Mechanism Synthesis and Analysis, Proceedings from the ASME 1994 Design Technical Conferences, Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 11-14, pp. 377-386.
"Branching and Immovable Configurations" with T. R. Chase, DE-Vol. 82, Design Automation, Proceedings from the ASME 1995 Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Boston, MA, Sept. 17-21, vol. 1, pp. 861-866.
