Summary

What a year it has been?! Spend a few moments with us as we close out the season with a reflection on what we learned and what we think are the key take-aways of the year but also a look to the future. Spoiler alert - collaboration and community are key.

Name Drop

Thank you to this year’s guests and inspiration:

Alan Cheville, Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Bucknell University

Sarah Rodriguez, Associate Professor, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech

Meagan Kendall, Associate Professor, Engineering Education and Leadership, University of Texas at El Paso

Bevlee Watford, Professor Emerita, Virginia Tech

Walter Lee, Professor and Director of SEED, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech

Rucha Joshi, Associate Professor, Plaksha University

Trina Fletcher, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation and Economic Development

Edward Berger, Professor and Department Head, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech

Summary

Dr. Berger, Virginia Tech Department Head gives us his bird’s eye view of engineering education at the undergraduate and graduate level, and for scholars in the field. He paints a picture of engineering education from the perspective as an engineer, engineering educator, NSF program officer, and department head. He challenges us to reimagine engineering education with hope for what is ahead.

Name Drop

Allison Godwin, Cornell University

Shanna Daly, University of Michigan

Idalis Villanueva Alarcón, University of Florida

SCALE: SCalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement

Summary

Dr. Trina Fletcher shares with us the origins and continued relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on STEM more broadly and engineering, specifically. Dr. Fletcher shares her journey in engineering education, from her path through UAPB’s STEM academy to her graduate experiences where she found a purpose-focused, people-centric approach to graduate engineering. The conversation delves into the history and purpose of HBCUs, the current landscape for minority-serving institutions, and the impact of funding and policy decisions on HBCUs. We discuss ABET accreditation, program models like 2+3 pathways, and the opportunities and challenges facing HBCU engineering programs today. Dr. Fletcher offers perspectives on the future of engineering education at HBCUs, potential pathways for collaboration, and the scholars and initiatives to watch.

Fletcher, T. L., Jefferson, J. P., Boyd, B., Park, S. E., & Crumpton‐Young, L. (2023). Impact of COVID‐19 on sense of belonging: Experiences of engineering students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Journal of Engineering Education, 112(2), 488-520.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jee.20512

Name Drop

Dr. Monica F. Cox

Dr. Erin Lynch

Dr. Shaun Harper

Dr. MaryBeth Gasman

Dr. Walter Kimbrough

Dr. Jelani M. Favors

Dr. Ivory Toldson

Dr. Robert T. Palmer

QEM - QEM Heros - https://qem.org/project/heroes-program/

Institutions to watch:

Morgan State University

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Report:

CMSI The MacKenzie Scott Donations to Historically Black Colleges and Universities:Exploring the Data Landscape

https://cmsi.gse.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/ScottHBCU_Report%20Final.pdf