Co-ops, internships, and undergraduate research are high impact, co-curricular experiences that can lead to improved retention, professional identity formation, employment outcomes, and graduate or professional school intentions. This panel aims to bring together various constituents to discuss barriers that may impede participation in these types of experiences for under-served groups: under-represented minorities, women, first generation college students, low-income students, students with disabilities, or veterans. Discussion questions include: (1) What theoretical, practical, or cultural frameworks exist in the literature to promote participation in these types of experiences; (2) what barriers to these types of experiences are common to all under-served groups, and what barriers are unique to a group; (3) what are some successful strategies that have been used to broaden participation in these types of experiences for under-served groups; and (4) to what extent should college GPA determine eligibility to participate in these types of experiences?
For those interested in: Academia-Industry Connections and Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
Dr. Chris Plouff is the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Assessment, Accreditation, and Planning, and Associate Professor of Engineering at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). He has managed various aspects of experiential education programs for 20 years, working with students, faculty and employers involved in internships and cooperative education. In his prior role as endowed chair of cooperative education at GVSU, he managed the mandatory engineering cooperative education program including employer development and student preparation, as well as overseeing the academic components of the program. His doctoral research focused on socialization of students to the work place in co-op programs. He has published and presented several studies on assessment of outcomes in experiential education programs.
A nuclear trained submariner, Mel Williams, Jr., Vice Admiral (retired), completed service in the U.S. Navy after thirty-two years as a commissioned officer and one year as an enlisted sailor. His nearly ten years in Command included service as a Fleet Commander; a Submarine Group Commander; a Submarine Squadron Commander; and a Submarine Commander. After military service and a two-year Presidential Appointee role (Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy), he has enjoyed the privilege of serving students, faculty, and staff at Universities: Associate Dean, School of Engineering at the Catholic University of America (CUA); Executive Director, Strategic Research Development, as well as fulfilling the role as a Consultant to the Vice Chancellor for Research regarding the University’s Research Nuclear Reactor at UC Davis; Associate Provost for Military and Veterans Affairs at the George Washington University (GW).
Dr. Leroy Long III is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Fundamentals at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He earned his PhD in STEM Education with a focus on Engineering Education within the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University (OSU). His research interests include: (a) technology use, (b) diversity and inclusion, and (c) retention and success, with a particular focus on students in STEM fields. Dr. Long has worked in industry at Toyota and has a high record of service with organizations such as the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
Dr. Sherri Frizell is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Prairie View A&M University. Her research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Educational Technology, Social Computing, and Computer Science and Engineering Education. She was recently awarded an NSF S-STEM grant titled, Engineering Scholars Program: Fostering the Next Generation of STEM Leaders. Dr. Frizell has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Jackson State University and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Software Engineering from Auburn University.
Shariq Yosufzai is Vice President, Global Diversity, Chevron Corporation. Previously, he served as President of Global Marketing, responsible for sales, marketing and operations in 65 countries under 3 brands, Chevron, Texaco and Caltex. He is the Vice Chair of the AIChE Foundation and a distinguished alumnus of Texas A&M University. In a 42 year career, Shariq has led several global business units within Chevron. The World Affairs Council of San Francisco selected Shariq as one the foreign born leaders in the Bay Area that have had an major impact in promoting economic development and diversity in California. He is a past Chair of The California Chamber of Commerce.
Rachelle Reisberg is the Assistant Dean for Engineering Enrollment and Retention as well as Director of Women in Engineering at Northeastern University. She was the Principal Investigator on the Pathways research grant titled “Self-Efficacy and Retention of Women in Undergraduate Engineering” funded by NSF's Gender in Science and Engineering program. She has extensive industry and management experience including serving as President of a high tech start-up company prior to joining the College of Engineering at Northeastern University.
Chuck Baukal is the Director of the John Zink Institute which is part of John Zink Hamworthy Combustion headquartered in Tulsa, OK where he has been since 1998. He has over 35 years of industrial experience focused on combustion, heat transfer, and pollution emissions and over 30 years of adjunct teaching experience. He has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, an Ed.D. focused on engineering education, and a Professional Engineering license. He is the author/editor of 13 books on industrial combustion, is an author/presenter on over 150 papers and presentations, is an inventor on 11 U.S. patents, and serves on a number of advisory boards.
Dr. Glenda D. Young recently completed her doctoral work in Virginia Tech’s Department of Engineering Education. Her dissertation focused on the role of university-industry partnerships in shaping student career expectations and pathways by leveraging a case study design focused on a specific co-op program. Dr. Young has worked as an Employer Relations Assistant for the VT Career and Professional Development office and has a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University and Master of Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University.