Mark Gordon, Ph.D.

Dr. Mark Gordon earned his B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2003. He then received his M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

In the fall of 2012, Dr. Gordon joined the College of Engineering at California Baptist University where he is currently an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering. He worked at Innotec, Inc., a tier two supplier to the auto industry, as a production engineer from 2003 to 2005. While there, he designed and made improvements to automated assembly equipment, derived a financial formula used for quoting new products, and developed an automated production and shipping schedule.
While at the University of Michigan, Dr. Gordon worked in the Biomechanics Research Laboratory. His research focused on the cause of unsteadiness of the hand in the elderly when performing precision tasks. During this time, Dr. Gordon also worked with Dr. John Hart to restructure the sophomore level Design and Manufacturing course.

Since joining the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering in the fall of 2012, Dr. Gordon has focused his research on two main areas. The first is understanding the biomechanics of injuries that occur to a mother during childbirth. Approximately 10% of women have surgery for these types of injuries later in life. Despite this billion dollar a year industry, 29% of the patients must undergo a re-operation because the first surgery was not successful. Dr. Gordon is working with researchers at the University of Michigan to develop a method of modeling surgeries to better understand why the surgeries are failing and develop more effective surgical methods.

Dr. Gordon’s second research area is using technology, such as videos, to enhance the learning experience in engineering education. Dr. Gordon teaches two courses using the “flipped classroom” technique which enables him to transfer knowledge through videos outside of class while answering students’ questions during class as they are working on homework. Dr. Gordon’s research showed that students’ opinions of the new teaching style started low, but increased greatly over the first five weeks of the course and remained high through the end of the course.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Gordon enjoys spending time with his wife Catherine and their three young children. Dr. Gordon also enjoys rock climbing, playing Ultimate Frisbee, strategy games, and baking sourdough bread.

*EGR 102 - Introduction to Engineering Design
*EGR 122 - Visualization Languages I
*EGR 182 - Introduction to Math Engineering Applications
*EGR 242 - Strengths of Materials
*EGR 263 - 3D CAD for Biomedical Engineers
*EGR 304 - Leadership Cohort
*EGR 343 - Dynamics
*EGR 346 - Machine Design
*EGR 362 - Engineering Physiology
*EGR 401 - Capstone Design
*EGR 402 - Capstone Design and Presentation
*EGR 443 - Vibrations

*Biomechanics
*Gerontology
*Pelvic Floor Injuries
*Hand Steadiness
*Flipped Classroom

*University of Michigan 2006-2011

Gordon MT, Swenson CW, DeLancey JO, , and Chen L. Monte Carlo Simulation of Pelvic Floor Support Biomechanical Model: POPSIM. Presented at the European Society of Biomechanics, 2021.

Gordon MT, DeLancey JO, Swenson CW, Ashton-Miller JA, and Chen L. Resting genital hiatus and ligament length have a threshold effect on prolapse size and apical tension: Simulation results from POP-SIM biomechanical model. Presented at Pelvic Floor Disorder Week 2020.

Gordon MT, Schmidt P, Swenson CS, DeLancey JO, Chen L. Association Between Levator Plate Shape and Long-Term Surgical Outcomes Following Native Tissue Prolapse Repair: A Principal Component Analysis. Presented at Pelvic Floor Disorder Week 2020.

Gordon MT, DeLancey JO, Swenson CW, Ashton-Miller JA, and Chen L. The relative effects of apical and genital hiatus changes on prolapse size and ligament tension: results from POP-SIM biomechanical simulations. Presented at International Urogynecological Association 45th Annual Meeting, 2020.

Gordon Mark T., DeLancey John O. L., Renfroe Aaron, Battles Andrew and Chen Luyun Development of anatomically based customizable three-dimensional finite-element model of pelvic floor support system: POP-SIM1.0 Interface Focus 2019, 9(4) 2019.0022.

Gordon, MT, Renfroe, A, and Chen, L. Development of a 3D customizable finite element model of anterior vaginal wall support system. Presented at the World Congress on Biomechanics, 2018.

Gordon, MT, DeLancey, J, and Chen, L. The effect of enlarged hiatus on the exposed vaginal length and apical ligament tension in women with anterior vaginal wall prolapse: a 3D customizable finite element model analysis. Presented at the World Congress on Biomechanics, 2018.

Gordon, MT, Chun, S, Zhao, X, Nalbandian, M, Han, M, and Oyanader, M. Design Course for First-Year Students in Multiple Engineering Disciplines. Presented at 2018 ASEE Zone IV Conference; Boulder, Colorado, 2018.

Rickard, M, Kim, SJ, Gordon, MT, Kong, S, and Havrisik, P. Design of a Practice Fundamentals of Engineering Exam for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Students. Presented at Biomedical Engineering West Regional Conference, 2017.

Anklam, A, Oyanader, M, Zhao, X, Gordon, MT, and Young, V. Stealing a Freshman-Level Separations Project. Presented at the AIChE meeting, 2016.

Gordon, MT, Ashton-Miller, JA, DeLancey JOL, Chen, L. (2016). Use Inverse Finite Element Method to Determine the Impairments in Pelvic Floor Support Structure in Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Paper presented at Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference, National Harbor, MD.

Gordon, MT. (2015) How Students’ Views of New Teaching Techniques Change Over Time. Paper presented at American Society of Engineering Education 2015: Making Value for Society, Seattle, WA.

Hekman, KA and Gordon, MT. (2013) Automated Grading of First Year Student CAD Work. Computers in Education Journal. 5(2), 16-24.

Hekman, KA and Gordon, MT. (2013) Automated Grading of First Year Student CAD Work. Paper presented at American Society of Engineering Education 2013: Atlanta, GA.

Cook PL, Vanderhill JL, Cook AE, Van Norstrand, DW, Gordon MT, and Harper PE. (2012) Light scattering measurement and Avrami analysis of the lamellar to inverse hexagonal phase transition kinetics of the lipid DEPE. Chem. Phys. Lipids 165, 270-276.

Schulz BW, Hart-Hughes S, Gordon MT, and Bulat T. (2012) Training implications of maximal forces on a computer-controlled and motor-driven leg press by age group, sex, footplate direction, and speed. Experimental Gerontology 47(4) 295:303.

Seidler RD, Bernard JA, Burutolu TB, Fling BW, Gordon MT, Gwin JT, Kwak Y, and Lipps DB (2010) Motor control and aging: Links to age-related brain structural, functional, and biochemical effects. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 34(5) 721:733.

Gordon MT, Schulz BW, and Ashton-Miller JA. A Comparison of Maximal Knee Moments Generated During Single Joint Knee Extension and Leg Press Tasks. Annual Meeting of American Society of Biomechanics, Providence, RI 2010.

Gordon MT and Ashton-Miller JA. A Theoretical Study of the Effect of Elbow Muscle Co-Contraction Level on Forearm Steadiness. Annual Meeting of American Society of Biomechanics, State College, PA 2009.

Gordon MT, Machiela MJ, Cook PL, and Harper PE. 2-D Cellular Automata Simulation of the Lα-Hii Phase Transition. Annual Meeting of Biophysical Society, Baltimore, MD 2004.

Crest Community Church

My wife Catherine and I have three young children that keep us busy.

*Sports (ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, soccer, disc golf, etc.)
*Strategy Board Games (Carcassonne, Pandemic, etc.)
*Baking Sourdough Bread

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

--Isaiah 40:30-31