There are various barriers facing adult students and veterans completing engineering degrees. Many of these student’s work part- or full-time while in college. In order to help these students, enable high retention rates, and decrease time to graduation require an in-depth understanding of specific student populations, especially ones classified as underrepresented. This paper provides an initial look into the first year of a scholarship program, funded by the National Science Foundation, and student success activities designed to support high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need pursuing bachelor's degrees in engineering and engineering technology. Support services and scholarships are for veterans who have exhausted their GI Bill Benefits, but have not yet graduated. This paper will give an overview of current academic and mentoring support to increase academic success and workplace readiness, ensuring these students are ready to meet the demands of government, industry, and business.
Dr. Vukica Jovanovic is a Batten Endowed Fellow and an Associate Professor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering Technology Program. She holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University in Mechanical Engineering Technology, focuses on Digital Manufacturing, Magistar (Ph.D. candidate) degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, focused on Production Systems Design, and dipl.ing. degree in Industrial Engineering focused on Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation. She went through engineering pathways herself, completing master electrician degree when completing Technical School in Uzice, Serbia, focusing on pre-engineering program on high power voltage systems and maintenance of electro-mechanical systems. Her research is focuses on engineering pathways, career and technical education, digital thread, cyber physical systems, mechatronics, digital manufacturing, broadening participation, and engineering education. She is a Director of Mechatronics and Digital Manufacturing Lab at ODU and a lead of Area of Specialization Mechatronics Systems Design. She worked as a Visiting Researcher at Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Disputanta, VA on projects focusing on digital thread and cyber security of manufacturing systems. She has funded research in broadening participation efforts of underrepresented students in STEM funded by U.S. Department of Education, focusing on computer science and cybersecurity pathways, and from Office of Naval Research, focusing on mechatronic pathways. She is part of the ONR projects related to the additive manufacturing training of active military. She is also part of the research team that has multiple projects funded from NSF focusing on veteran pathways and their success in engineering. She leads the team that delivers the summer program to nine graders that focus on broadening participation of underrepresented students into STEM (ODU BLAST), funded by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.
Dr. Anthony W. Dean has had several roles in academia. He is currently Assistant Dean for Research, Batten College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) at ODU. His previous appointments include Associate Professor of Engineering Technology and as Associate Director of the Institute for Ship Repair, Maintenance, and Operations at Old Dominion University (ODU).His research has focused mostly on control systems (integration and testing) and the reliability and maintainability of complex systems. He has been selected as both a NASA and an ONR Faculty Fellow. He regularly teaches courses in Marine Engineering and in Maintained Systems. Most recently Dr. Dean was on the Headquarters Staff the American Society of Naval Engineers. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering Technology, from the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University. Additionally, Dr. Dean received an MBA from the College of William and Mary. Prior to is academic career Dr. Dean was Director of Operations and Business Development for Clark-Smith Associates, P.C., and served as an Electrician in the US Navy aboard the USS South Carolina and the USS Enterprise.
Dr. Bullington is an experienced and accomplished leader in higher education and university administration with strong expertise in program management, organizational development, and student and academic affairs administration, with over two decades of university experience.
Dr. Bullington's research interests include student success - especially in the veteran and non-traditional student realm, higher education policy, and student access to higher education resources.
Program Director, Training Specialist; Director, ODU BLAST (Building Leaders to Advance Science and Technology); Professor in STEM Education and Professional Studies, Darden College of Education, Old Dominion University, VA.
Dr. Landaeta is an Associate Professor with tenure in the department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and a M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida, as well as, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UNITEC Venezuela. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Engineering Management Journal and is the Old Dominion University Faculty Advisor of the Student Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Student Chapter of the Engineering Management Honor Society.His scholarship focuses on generating, transferring, and applying multi-disciplinary knowledge that addresses current and future challenges in knowledge-intensive organizations. He has provided management coaching, training, and consulting to Fortune 100 companies and large government organizations. The American Society for Engineering Management recognized him with two Meritorious Service Awards in 2006 and 2012 and was elected Fellow of the society in 2014. Old Dominion University recognized him with the Shining Star Award in 2010, the Batten College of Engineering and Technology Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008 and the Industry Engagement Award in 2014. He was selected an entrepreneurship "Entsminger fellow" by Old Dominion University in 2015.
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