Seaver Spotlight
Seaver Spotlight is LMU Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineer’s signature speaker series featuring distinguished leaders in STEM who share their experiences and insights as they seek to live lives of meaning and purpose.
Seaver Spotlight with Global Propulsion Expert Tom Mueller, M.S. '92
"It IS Rocket Science: An Engineer's Path to CEO"
Tom Mueller, M.S. ’92, is one of the world’s leading spacecraft propulsion experts, as well as founder and CEO of Impulse Space. As one of SpaceX’s founding members, he is the creator of the Merlin, the most reliable rocket engine in history. He led the development of propulsion systems for the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy, as well as the Dragon line of spacecraft. He played a crucial role in the development of the company's reusable rocket technology, which has dramatically reduced the cost of launching payloads into space. Through Impulse Space, Mueller’s ultimate vision is to lead the in-space transportation infrastructure that will accelerate the expansion of the overall space economy.
Past Speakers
"Great Minds of STEM"
Traci Minamide, M.S. '87, Chief Operating Officer, City of Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment
Joshua Mosqueira, Game Director, Bad Robot Games
Kirk Tamaddon, Area Medical Director, Chief of Staff, Kaiser Permanente, West Los Angeles Medical Center
Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
Wanda Austin, Ph.D.
Former President & CEO, Aerospace Corporation
Former Interim President, USC
"Leadership in a Complex World"
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Deepak Srivastava, M.D.
President, Gladstone Institutes
Director, Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes
Attending Pediatric Cardiologist, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
"Hacking the Genetic Code to Treat Human Disease"
Thursday, October 28, 2021
Guy Consolmagno, S.J.
Director, Vatican Observatory
President, Vatican Observatory Foundation
"Your God is Too Small"
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Stephen Speicher, M.D.
Associate Medical Director of Patient Safety Programs, Flatiron Health
"Innovation in the Time of COVID-19"
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski
Retired Four-Star General
"The Only Woman in the Room"
Friday, October 4, 2019
"Electronic Health Records: Past, Present and Future Trends"
Panel Discussion
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Paul Viviano
President and CEO, Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Chair, LMU Board of Trustees
"Do You Want to Hear God Laugh?"
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Robert Sclabassi, M.D. '62
CEO, Computational Diagnostics, Inc.
Managing Partner, Clinical Neurophysiological Services, LLC
Director of Intraoperative Monitoring Services, Allegheny Health Network
"Life is Not Linear: How LMU Prepares You for the Curves"
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Annette Walker '79
President of Strategy, Providence St. Joseph Health
Chief Executive, St. Joseph Health
"From Scientist to Strategist: A Mother's Journey"
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Dorota Shortell '98
President, Simplexity Product Development
"Success on Your Own Terms: Seizing Opportunity While Focusing on Your Priorities"
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Christian DeVirgilio, M.D. '82
Surgeon and Professor of Surgery
"From the Classroom to the Operating Room"
Thursday, November 6, 2014