Daniel Black

Professor of Physical Science and Engineering Science

More about Daniel Black

B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Iowa State University

The Gary and Donna Hoover Distinguished Professorship in Engineering Science
Established in 2013 with a gift from Gary and Donna Hoover

Dr. Daniel Black earned B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University. In addition to his faculty duties, he has served as a foundational studies coordinator and is currently chair of the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Engineering Science. He joined the Wartburg College faculty in 1993.

As an undergraduate student, Black completed a co-op program with McDonnell Aircraft Company, during which he assisted in balance calibration, development of opto-electronic data acquisition systems, and flight-test engineering. He went on to serve as a laboratory engineer for McDonnell, conducting research in improved wind-tunnel technology and methods.

Later, as a graduate student, Black served as a research assistant and teaching assistant. As a research assistant, he developed computational methods for the prediction of separated flow past airfoils and helped develop a mathematical/statistical theory of turbulence. His papers have appeared in Mathematika, the Journal of Computational Physics, and the Proceedings of the Royal Society, among others.

In addition to teaching a variety of courses in the sciences, Black designed and implemented the engineering science major and has developed new engineering offerings as well as a History of Science course. He advises pre-engineering, physics, and engineering science students and actively recruits prospective students.

Black is an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, serving as the congregational president from 2012 to 2013. He serves as Faculty Parliamentarian and is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. His wife, Karen, is the Wartburg College organist and Rudi Inselmann Endowed Professor in Organ. They have two daughters, Ruth and Rachel.