
Group of ECE undergraduate students with UW ECE Professor Daniel Kirschen (center, at back) at the Cushman Hydro dam. Photo courtesy of Daniel Kirschen
Daniel Kirschen, who is the Donald W. and Ruth Mary Close Professor in the UW Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, recently had the opportunity to take a group of UW ECE undergraduate students on a field trip to Cushman Hydro to learn more about the hydroelectric dam’s operations. Ozan Ferrin, Engineering Manager at Tacoma Power, led the group on a tour.
“This visit helped the students get a better understanding of the material we covered in class. It was also a great opportunity for them to learn about what utility engineers do.” — UW ECE Professor Daniel Kirschen
The trip was sponsored by Tacoma Power and UW’s Electric Energy Industry Consortium.

UW ECE undergraduate students in the control room of the Cushman Hydro power plant. Photo: Daniel Kirschen

Ozan Ferrin (left) and UW ECE undergraduate students outside the Cushman Hydro dam. Photo: Daniel Kirschen

Ozan Ferrin (right, in purple) explains the components of the control systems of the plant to UW ECE undergraduate students. Photo: Daniel Kirschen