Primarily, he was tasked to conduct the most thorough survey to date, outlining American technical manpower needs and educational means to achieve them.
In conjunction with the Carnegie Corporation, United States Bureau of Education, Eta Kappa Nu, and national engineering societies, the study lasted six years and 150 schools.
[3] Wickenden later served as the national president of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (SPEE) from 1933 to 1934.
Immediately, he had to deal with the onset of the Great Depression, working hard to keep the university solvent during the 1930s.
[5] Wickenden died of a heart attack at Monadnock Community Hospital on September 1, 1947, while on vacation at Peterborough, New Hampshire.