Murray Named SAMPE’s 2026 Young Professional of the Year

Colleen Murray, Ph.D. ’24, lecturer in the University of Maryland’s Department of Aerospace Engineering, was named the 2026 Young Professional of the Year by the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE).

Murray was one of 10 finalists selected from across industry and academe for SAMPE’s 2026 Young Professional Emerging Leadership Awards, from which the Young Professional of the Year is chosen, which recognize early career professionals demonstrating exceptional leadership and notable success in material and process engineering.

“Receiving the Young Professional of the Year Award is an honor,” said Murray. “I learned about what composites were from a group of SAMPE students many years ago, so having the privilege to help shape this organization for the next generation of students and industry professionals has been incredible.”

Her area of research is in the field of additively manufactured structures for energy absorption applications, where she studies foams, honeycombs, and lattices undergoing both quasi-static and dynamic crush.

Murray completed her B.S. in mechanical engineering, and her master’s in materials science and engineering at the University of Delaware, before coming to UMD to pursue her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. Murray completed her Ph.D. work in the Composites Research (CORE) Laboratory under the advisement of Norman Wereley, Minta Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering.

Now a lecturer in aerospace engineering, Murray teaches manufacturing and design courses for the Mechatronics Engineering program at the Universities of Shady Grove.

An active member in SAMPE, Murray serves as chair of the Young Professionals Committee, a board of directors member, a University of Maryland faculty advisor, and the industry partnership liaison for the Baltimore/ Washington Chapter.

Murray credited the organization’s mentorship network with helping shape her career, saying, “I would not have been able to advance in my career in the ways that I have without my SAMPE mentors and colleagues.”

Published May 12, 2026