College of Engineering Alumni

How Deb Dauer Turned Opportunity Into a Lifetime of Giving Back

 

When Deb Dauer reflects on her career, she doesn't begin with the leadership positions she held or the awards she earned.

 

She begins with the people who believed in her.

 

As a student exploring her future, Dauer was encouraged to pursue engineering by Ray Huber, an alumnus of The University of Toledo College of Engineering and one of her instructors at Owens Technical College. After she completed her associate degree, Huber encouraged her to continue her education and helped her transfer to The University of Toledo. Later, Dr. Don Angelbeck connected her with an opportunity at Owens Corning following her junior year, launching what became a 37-year career with the company.

 

Those moments shaped more than her career—they shaped her outlook on life.

 

"UT completely changed my life," Dauer said. "They enabled me to have a life I never imagined I could have. I am forever grateful for what my professors did for me and for believing in me."

 

After earning her bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Dauer built a career that took her around the world and into leadership roles where she was often the first woman in the room. She became the first female plant manager in Owens Corning's Residential Roofing Division, built high-performing teams and championed employee development by helping members of her hourly workforce continue their education and advance their careers.

 

"I've always tried to give back because people helped me," Dauer said.

 

That philosophy has continued into retirement.

 

Today, Dauer serves as president of the College of Engineering Alumni Affiliate and helped establish and now co-chairs the Engineering Research Society and the Engineering Dean's Advisory Council. She also serves on the board of Aurora Project Inc., where she helps raise funds for women and children experiencing homelessness, and is treasurer of the Wood County Genealogical Society. Dauer mentors future engineers and established a scholarship at her alma mater to help students pursue engineering at The University of Toledo. Away from her volunteer work, she enjoys cheering on Rocket Athletics, golfing and raising and releasing monarch butterflies.

 

This fall, The University of Toledo will recognize Dauer during the Homecoming Gala for her outstanding career and lifelong dedication to the College of Engineering.

 

Looking back, she hopes her legacy won't be defined only by her professional accomplishments, but by the lives she has touched.

 

"I hope people remember that I cared about people, helped them realize their full potential and made a positive difference."

 

For Dauer, giving back has never been about recognition. It's about creating opportunities for others—just as others once did for her.

JJ Dai's Career Journey Fueled by Curiosity

 

Curiosity about how things work has guided JJ Dai’s 40-year career, which has taken the University of Toledo electrical engineering alumnus from software development into global industry leadership and federal energy planning.

 

Dai earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of Toledo in 1995, specializing in power systems. He said his time at UT required persistence and balance, completing his dissertation while working full time in California after leaving campus in 1992 with a job offer. “It was a very challenging time,” he said, reflecting on the demands of building a career while finishing his degree.

 

After graduation, Dai built a career in computer simulation software used for complex power systems, including applications supporting nuclear generation plants. He noted the high stakes of the work, where engineers must rigorously verify and validate tools used to support safe and reliable

 

Over the course of his career, he held roles across major industry and government organizations, including Eaton Corporation and later the U.S. Department of Energy. His work also included international assignments and leadership roles in Asia-Pacific operations, where he helped establish and expand regional offices.

 

Dai said he often volunteered for new challenges, seeing each transition as an opportunity to learn and contribute at a higher level. Curiosity, he said, remained the thread connecting each stage of his career.

 

Now serving in public-sector work focused on long-term energy planning and technology development, Dai encourages students to build strong technical foundations, stay open to opportunities and keep learning throughout their careers. “Keep learning, don’t complain and find something that fits your strengths,” he said.