Opening Keynote
A recent Accenture report forecast that the manufacturing sector will reap the greatest financial benefit from AI adoption, with a gain of $3.8 trillion expected by 2035. AI has the potential to significantly transform the landscape of higher education, raising questions about its implications and costs. The opening plenary of ABET’s highly anticipated 2024 symposium will ignite discussion and debate, both on and off the stage, about how yesterday’s science fiction is becoming today’s reality in higher education.
After Dr. Hamid Fonooni, ABET's President, provides an overview of ABET's achievements and current goals, Dr. Michael Milligan, ABET's CEO, will introduce this year's keynote speaker, Dr. Karen Panetta, with a dynamic TED-style presentation centered on the theme of the symposium. Dr. Panetta, an AI pioneer, Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University, will then share her vision for AI and its potential impact on higher education. As a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering, Dr. Panetta's keynote promises to be a captivating presentation that should not be overlooked.
A recent Accenture report forecast that the manufacturing sector will reap the greatest financial benefit from AI adoption, with a gain of $3.8 trillion expected by 2035. AI has the potential to significantly transform the landscape of higher education, raising questions about its implications and...
Karen Panetta
Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts UniversityJoin us at the 2024 ABET Symposium for an enlightening keynote session featuring Dr. Karen Panetta, a distinguished figure in engineering education and the dean of graduate education at Tufts University's School of Engineering. Dr. Panetta's pioneering research in AI and machine learning aligns with our Symposium's theme, "Science Fiction to Science Fact: The Impact of AI on Higher Education." Renowned for her work in image recognition databases and addressing bias in AI applications, Dr. Panetta will explore AI's transformative potential in higher education.
In her keynote, Dr. Panetta will illustrate how AI revolutionizes teaching and learning in higher education, showcasing applications that personalize education for diverse student populations. She will emphasize the importance of developing an accessible AI toolbox for individuals across disciplines. Don't miss this chance to gain insights from Dr. Panetta at the 2024 ABET Symposium as she navigates the path from science fiction to science fact in higher education.
Dr. Karen Panetta received her B.S. degree in computer engineering from Boston University, Boston, MA, USA, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Northeastern University, Boston. She also holds secondary appointments in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering. She is the Director of the Panetta Vision and Sensing System Laboratory. Her research interests include developing efficient algorithms for Artificial Intelligence, simulation, modeling, signal, and image processing for biomedical, security and conservation applications. She was a recipient of the 2023 IEEE-HKN Asad M. Madni award for Outstanding Technical Leadership and Excellence, 2012 IEEE Ethical Practices Award and the Harriet B. Rigas Award for Outstanding Educator. In 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Award for Engineering and Science Education and Mentoring by U.S. President Obama for her Nerd Girls Program to empower young women in STEM. She was the Vice President of the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society. Karen was the 2019 President of IEEE-HKN (Eta Kappa Nu) honor society and 2021-2022 IEEE Awards Board Chair. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine. She was the IEEE-USA Vice-President of communications and public affairs. From 2007 to 2009, she served as the Worldwide Director for the IEEE Women in Engineering, overseeing the world’s largest professional organization supporting women in engineering and science. Karen is the CEO and Co-founder of Tessera Intelligence Inc., Co-founder of Sea Deep Inc. and Co-inventor of the first Digital Twin. She is a Fellow of NAI, IEEE, AAIA, NASA JOVE and AAAS and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
Hamid Fonooni
ABET President, Director, Ergonomics Program, University of California, DavisDr. Hamid Fonooni is currently serving as the director of the ergonomics program in Occupational Health Services at the University of California-Davis. Prior to his appointment at UC Davis, he served as the director of the master of science in occupational safety at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina for 10 years, and from 1995-2006, he served as the director of master of environmental health and safety program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has 22 years of experience working in academia, plus 13 years of industrial experience, which includes eight years working as a senior ergonomics engineer for the Ohio Division of Safety and Hygiene serving industries in Northwest Ohio. In addition, he has provided consultation in the areas of ergonomics, process improvement and risk management to industries in Northern Minnesota and Eastern North Carolina.
Fonooni received his doctoral and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from University of Cincinnati and his undergrad degree in mechanical engineering technology from Indiana State University. He has published numerous articles, book chapters, papers and technical reports related to occupational ergonomics, biomechanics and occupational safety. Fonooni is also a Board Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE).
Michael Milligan
Chief Executive Officer, ABETMichael K. J. Milligan is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of ABET, the global accreditor of over 4,300 college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.
Prior to joining ABET in 2009, Milligan was a systems director at the Aerospace Corporation, leading a team at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center developing the next generation environmental satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Milligan served over 24 years as a career U.S. Air Force (USAF) officer working in operations, education, international research & development, and technology acquisition. During his USAF career, he served as an associate professor and deputy department head in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Milligan earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, his M.S.E. from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and his B.S. from Michigan State University — all in electrical engineering. He also earned an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Western New England College, is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Colorado and Maryland, and a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Milligan is also a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, IEEE Eta Kappa Nu Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society, and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Jessica Silwick
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, ABETJessica Silwick is ABET’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer (CFO/COO). She is responsible for developing ABET’s financial management strategy and the integrity of the financial information. She leads communications and marketing, professional offerings, operations, human resources, and lead internal auditor. She previously worked for large organizations in manufacturing, pharmaceutical and energy fields. Her bachelor’s in accounting is from University of Notre Dame of Maryland, and an MBA from University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler School of Business. She is an active Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Association Executive, and has professional certificates from Yale and Cornell. She was recognized as a 2022 top 50 CFOs by OnCon ICON Awards, and won the AICPA’s, Emerging Leader Award in 2015.
AI and Higher Education Around the World – Evolution and Revolution?
Join University World News on a journey around the globe, through the eyes of our expert commentators and correspondents, exploring how universities are responding to the rise of generative AI, to ethical challenges and assessment opportunities, and the AI race to lead the world of science.
Join University World News on a journey around the globe, through the eyes of our expert commentators and correspondents, exploring how universities are responding to the rise of generative AI, to ethical challenges and assessment opportunities, and the AI race to lead the world of science.
Brendan O’Malley
Editor in Chief and Freelance Journalist, University World NewsBrendan O’Malley is a freelance journalist and editor in chief of University World News, the global higher education news and commentary platform/online publication.
He is also an international consultant who has worked with UN agencies and INGOs on education and development issues, including the impact of conflict on education and vice versa.
He was author of the first two global studies on violent political and military attacks on education institutions, students, teachers, academics and personnel for UNESCO (Education under Attack 2007 and 2010) and lead researcher of the third such global study (Education under Attack 2014) for the Global Coalition to Prevent Attacks on Education (GCPEA).
These reports played a role in helping to catalyse UN agencies and INGOs to put attacks on education on their agenda and persuade the UN Security Council to give monitoring and reporting of attacks on schools a higher priority in its Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for listing and potentially sanctioning parties to conflict who carry out violations against children in armed conflict.
He is a former international editor of The Times Educational Supplement and author of numerous reports and papers on Education for All for UNESCO and others.
He has researched in and reported from dozens of countries including numerous developing countries many conflict-affected countries, and is co-author of an investigative documentary book on the impact of US and UK military interests on the Cyprus problem, The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion (IB Taurus 1999), which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and was a Guardian Book of the Year.
He is a member of the non-partisan UK parliamentary group, Friends of Cyprus, which seeks a peaceful bicommunal settlement of the Cyprus problem and has been involved in track 2 efforts to build confidence in mutual cooperation and peace in Cyprus through education initiatives.
Accreditation Program Under Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission’s (ANSAC) General Criteria
Many programs under the applied sciences have ANSAC approved program criteria including but not limited to: Industrial Hygiene, Safety, Surveying, Facilities Management and Construction Management, while other programs under the natural sciences and mathmatics do not have program criteria. An increasing number of these programs are being considered for accreditation by ANSAC. Learn about the protocols for determining appropriateness of your request and if ANSAC is right for you.
Many programs under the applied sciences have ANSAC approved program criteria including but not limited to: Industrial Hygiene, Safety, Surveying, Facilities Management and Construction Management, while other programs under the natural sciences and mathmatics do not have program criteria. An increasing number of these programs...
Lu Yuan
Corporate EHS Manager, Performance Contractors, Inc.Dr. Lu Yuan, CSP, is Corporate EHS Manager of Performance Contractors, Inc. Before joining Performance Contractors in December 2023, he was Professor of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment at Southeastern Louisiana University. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Yuan has been extensively involved in occupational ergonomics and safety research in construction and other industrial sectors. He is a professional member of American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and a member of American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Dr. Yuan served on the ASSP Council on Academic Affairs and Research Educational Standards Committee from 2018 to 2022. He served as ASSP Academics Practice Specialty Administrator from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Yuan was awarded the William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year by ASSP in 2015 for his innovative approach to teaching, incorporating new technology and teaching approaches to reach the students. He received the Craft Workforce Development Champion Award from the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance in 2016 for his academic leadership in the field. Dr. Yuan currently serves as Vice Chair-Operations of the 2023-2024 ABET Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC).
Rebecca Popeck
Survey Project Manager, SPACECO, Inc.Rebecca Popeck is a licensed Land Surveyor at Rosemont-based SPACECO, Inc., a civil engineering, land surveying and consulting firm. Popeck studied land survey engineering and civil engineering at Purdue University’s West Lafayette Campus, earning bachelor’s degrees in both disciplines. She has been a licensed Illinois Land Surveyor since 2005. Popeck has spent almost 20 years performing surveys and providing surveying services in the greater Chicagoland area. Her specialties include development work in residential, commercial and industrial sectors with an increased focus on projects within the limits of the City of Chicago.
Popeck joined ABET in 2006 as a program evaluator, supporting her member society of National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). NSPS is a member of three accreditation commissions including Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC), Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). She has had the pleasure of serving as a program evaluator for both ETAC and ANSAC visits early in her ABET career. In 2014, Popeck became a commissioner/team chair for the ANSAC, joining the commission's executive committee in 2017. She is currently the 2023-24 ANSAC chair.
During the 2019-2020 accreditation cycle, Popeck was a team chair for her first international visit to Krishnan Kovil, Tamil Nadu, India.
Introducing AI Development Tools in Software Development Courses
With the advance of artificial intelligence technologies, academics must respond appropriately. A recent study showed that 90% of software developers use AI coding development tools. As students enter the workforce, familiarity with AI tools enhances their skill sets. Integrating copilot tools, generative AI and machine learning topics in an information systems curriculum enhances the program. This case study reviews adding AI tools to three courses in an undergraduate software development curriculum. A survey was given to students and faculty of three undergraduate courses: an introductory programming class, an object oriented programming class and a database class. The survey results were used to tailor the type of AI technologies to add to the class. In the two programming classes, an AI copilot programming tool was used. In each of the classes, generative AI was used in the graded class discussions.
With the advance of artificial intelligence technologies, academics must respond appropriately. A recent study showed that 90% of software developers use AI coding development tools. As students enter the workforce, familiarity with AI tools enhances their skill sets. Integrating copilot tools, generative AI and machine...
Gina Cooper
Senior Professor, DeVry UniversityDr. Gina Cooper has been teaching at DeVry University since June 1999. She received her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in Mechanical Engineering, Master’s Degree from Ohio State University in Industrial Engineering and Ph.D. from Wright State University in Computer Science and Engineering with specializations of database, math and bioinformatics. She has presented her bioinformatics research at an IEEE International Bioinformatics Conference in Taiwan in May 2004 and in Las Vegas in July 2009. Since then she has published papers in the proceedings of computer science education conferences relating to courses she developed and improved. Since joining DeVry, Cooper's instructional area of focus is information systems.
Edwin Hill
Senior Professor, DeVry UniversityEd Hill is a senior professor at DeVry University with over 20 years of experience in teaching and curriculum development. His interests include systems development and educational technology. Ed has a PhD in Computer Information Systems and an EdS in Computing Technology in Education, both from Nova Southeastern University.
Continuous Improvement is More Than Assessment
From its beginning in 1932, ABET has focused on improvement of engineering education. The explicit expectation that individual programs engage in improvement now appears as a common Criterion 4, continuous improvement, in all four Criteria. Continuous improvement is an ongoing effort to improve based on the belief that a steady stream of improvements diligently executed will create transformational results. As such it involves repeating cycles of assessment, evaluation and corrective action in a culture of improvement. Unfortunately, the focus of many ABET-accredited programs is solely on assessment of student outcomes with a compliance mindset. This compliance mindset misses the whole point of Criterion 4. In this session we will explore continuous improvement as a sustainable quality management system that can reap the benefits and improvements that are intended.
From its beginning in 1932, ABET has focused on improvement of engineering education. The explicit expectation that individual programs engage in improvement now appears as a common Criterion 4, continuous improvement, in all four Criteria. Continuous improvement is an ongoing effort to improve based on...
Susan Schall
Founder and Lead Consultant, SOS ConsultingSusan O. Schall is founder of SOS Consulting. She has 35 years of experience with manufacturing, non-profit and higher education clients using engineering, statistical and process improvement methods. Schall also held engineering and leadership roles at RR Donnelley, GE Lighting, DuPont and Kodak. Schall is a fellow of ABET and the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). She has been on the ABET Board and Engineering Accreditation Commission. As the first ABET adjunct training director, she transformed program evaluator candidate training.
Schall's B.S. in Mathematics is from SUNY Fredonia, and B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Penn State. She is an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence and Certified Prosci Change Practitioner.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – Assessment
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Assessment, attendees are invited to ask any and all assessment-related questions and our experts will answer them.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Assessment, attendees are invited to ask any and all assessment-related questions and our experts will answer them. Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific...
James Warnock
Professor and Founding Chair, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of GeorgiaJames N. Warnock is a professor and the founding chair of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Before coming to Athens, Warnock served as the associate dean for academic affairs at Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering. He earned a doctorate in chemical engineering and a master’s in biochemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, before completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Warnock has conducted research in the areas of cell and gene biomanufacturing, bioreactor design, tissue engineering and cellular mechanobiology. He is actively involved in engineering education research and has earned international acclaim for his work using problem-based learning to enable students to develop professional skills. He currently serves as the director for Engineering Workforce Development for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT).
Warnock is an adjunct director of professional offerings for ABET. In this role, he facilitates the planning, production and execution of the organization’s professional development programming and directs activities related to educational offerings and workshop-facilitator training.
Daina Briedis
Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment, Michigan State UniversityDaina M. Briedis, Ph.D., is currently an Adjunct Director of Professional Offerings at ABET. She also serves as Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University and is a faculty member and ABET Coordinator in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Over the past 32 years, Briedis has served ABET as a program evaluator for AIChE, a team chair and member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the first chair of the EAC Training and Materials Development Committee and an Executive Committee member of the EAC. She was a program evaluator on one of the very first “EC2000” visits and subsequently chaired several new criteria visits. Briedis has been an AIChE Representative Director on the ABET Board of Directors and has been involved in the design teams for the new program evaluator and train-the-trainers training materials. She is a lead facilitator for the program evaluator training sessions. She also consults in the area of accreditation and assessment and evaluation and serves on the Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). She was elected a Fellow of ABET in 2007, a Fellow of the AIChE in 2011 and a Fellow of ASEE in 2015. She is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar.
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
Getting Started with Program Assessment
Are you new to program assessment? Have you volunteered or been assigned the task of leading your program assessment efforts and you need assistance on how to move forward? In this session, the speakers share experiences related to getting started and sustaining program assessment and program continuous improvement processes. The speakers will use a continuous improvement framework to share practical approaches and best practices for each step of the process. This session will provide relevant tips for individuals whose new programs are up for first-time accreditation and to those from established programs who are new to assessment or accreditation.
Are you new to program assessment? Have you volunteered or been assigned the task of leading your program assessment efforts and you need assistance on how to move forward? In this session, the speakers share experiences related to getting started and sustaining program assessment and...
Jenny Amos
Teaching Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignJennifer “Jenny” Amos, Ph.D., joined the bioengineering department at the University of Illinois in 2009 and is currently a teaching professor in bioengineering with affiliations in educational psychology, healthcare systems engineering and medicine. She received her bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering at Texas Tech and doctorate in chemical engineering from University of South Carolina. She is an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Board of Director Member, two-time Fulbright Specialist in engineering education and has won multiple awards and recognitions for her teaching and scholarship of teaching.
Outside of BMES, she has also worked to revolutionize the future of graduate medical education serving as a founding member of the new Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, a first-of-its-kind engineering-driven college of medicine. Amos is part of the Illinois NSF RED (Revolutionizing Engineering & Computer Science Departments) research team leading efforts to innovate assessment practices for engineering toward producing more holistic engineers. Amos has a decade’s worth of experience leading curriculum reform implementing robust assessment strategies at multiple institutions. Amos has served as an ABET program evaluator for BMES since 2012 and a commissioner for the Engineering Accreditation Commission at ABET from 2018 until 2021. She is a 2011 IDEAL Scholar graduate and has been leading program assessment workshops since 2012.
Ben Juliano
Professor, Computer Science, California State University - ChicoBen Juliano is a professor of computer science at California State University, Chico. He served as the campus interim chief institutional research officer and WASC accreditation liaison officer and has served the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management as associate dean in 2016, interim associate dean in 2015-2016, interim dean in 2013-2015 and associate dean in 2010-2013. He also served as chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering in 2011-2013. In 2007-2013, serving as the college’s assessment coordinator, he managed and facilitated all assessment, accreditation and academic program review efforts for all 11 undergraduate programs (nine accredited) and two graduate programs offered in his college.
Juliano was the director of the Institute for Research in Intelligent Systems (IRIS) and co-director of the Intelligent Systems Lab (ISL) in his college. His research interests are in data visualization and predictive analysis, intelligent systems, data mining and computational intelligence algorithms. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños and his M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science and a certificate in cognitive science from Florida State University. He is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar and a WASC Assessment Leadership Academy alumnus.
How to Prepare for Your ABET Site Visit
Preparing for your ABET site visit can be challenging. This presentation offers insight into the visit process which is one of the most important events in the accreditation cycle. The presentation focuses on what an institution can do to prepare for the visit in order to make the process as smooth as possible. Both virtual and on-site visits are covered.
Preparing for your ABET site visit can be challenging. This presentation offers insight into the visit process which is one of the most important events in the accreditation cycle. The presentation focuses on what an institution can do to prepare for the visit in order...
Shari Plantz-Masters
Professor, Software Engineering, Regis UniversityShari Plantz-Masters is a professor of software engineering whose main focus has been software engineering and professional practice. She is the current vice chair of operations for ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission and has contributed to most facets of accreditation. As a consultant and former practicing software engineer in the telecommunications field with U S WEST (now Lumen), Plantz-Masters is focused on adult population education and learning. Her research interests consider the impact technology has on society and organizations. Plantz-Masters served as the dean of the Anderson College of Business and Computing at Regis for the last eight years.
Lisa Sachs
Managing Principal Emeritas, Cumming Construction ManagementFor over 25 years, Lisa Sachs was a key contributor to the success of two of the largest multi-billion dollar educational construction management bond programs in California, initially as a principal of her own firm and then as managing principal of Cumming, after merging firms. Recognized as an industry leader, she was inducted into the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) College of Fellows in 2012 and 2017. She is past president of the CMAA Southern California Chapter and Chapter Foundation, and in 2014 was appointed by CMAA as its first ABET commissioner representing construction management in the applied and natural sciences where she is currently serving on the Executive Committee. Sachs also serves on the CMAA National Foundation and Southern California Chapter Foundation Boards, the Cal State University of Northridge CM Industry Liaison Council, and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Architectural Program Advisory Council (her alma matter).
Leonard Bohmann
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering, Michigan Technological UniversityLeonard J. Bohmann is the associate dean for academic affairs within the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University as well as professor of electrical and computer engineering. As associate dean, he coordinated Michigan Tech's recent ABET visit of 18 programs across three commissions.
Bohmann has been a program evaluator since 2005 and a member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission since 2016. He is a registered professional engineer in Michigan and a member of IEEE and American Society for Engineering Education. He earned master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a bachelor of science from the University of Dayton.
Michael Johnson
Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Success and Professor of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, Texas A&M UniversityDr. Michael D. Johnson is a professor in the department of engineering technology and industrial distribution (ETID) at Texas A&M University. He also serves as interim associate provost for faculty success. Prior to joining the Provost’s team, Johnson was associate dean for inclusion and faculty success in the College of Engineering. Before joining the faculty at Texas A&M, he was a senior product development engineer at the 3M Corporate Research Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also a member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET Executive Committee.
Johnson received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University in addition to his S.M. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Johnson’s research focuses on production economics, engineering education, and design tools. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and industry. Johnson has over 100 peer reviewed publications and several patents.
Industry Advisory Council – Artificial Intelligence Panel Session
Artificial Intelligence technology is impacting many aspects of our lives. It is already changing education, healthcare, finance, and numerous other businesses. This panel will address three key areas: 1.) What does AI mean to industry; how are different companies currently using AI and where do they plan to go next? 2.) What are industry’s needs; what skills and concepts should university graduates understand? 3.) What does industry expect from ABET? Experts from a wide range of businesses will discuss their learning experiences, strategies, skill sets, current and future requirements for the fast-moving AI field.
Artificial Intelligence technology is impacting many aspects of our lives. It is already changing education, healthcare, finance, and numerous other businesses. This panel will address three key areas: 1.) What does AI mean to industry; how are different companies currently using AI and where do...
Naguib Attia
Distinguished Engineer and Vice President (Retired), IBM Global University ProgramsDr. Naguib Attia was responsible for setting up IBM academic relations strategy, creating next generation global technical training programs in collaboration with universities, research institutions, and manage the overall award programs budgets. Previously, Attia was the VP& CTO of IBM Middle East and Africa. With over 25 years of industrial, manufacturing, research and academic experience, Attia has contributed to shape the development of IBM’s intellectual capital, industry insights and overall solution portfolio for IBM. His specializations include Cloud, Business Analytics, Security and Supply Chain optimization.
Attia was the chair of Aerospace Industry Association (AIA) Technical group, a senior member of IEEE Computer Society, member of ChemIT and other industry organizations. Attia holds a doctorate in computer science from University of Essex, England.
Matt Conwell
VP Operations Engineering, Invenergy LLCMatt Conwell is the Vice President, Operations Engineering for Invenergy, the largest privately held, global developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy projects. He joined the organization in 2010 and now leads a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and data scientists dedicated to improving the safety, reliability, and performance of Invenergy's operational wind, solar, and energy storage projects. Matt holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Illinois. He has been a member of the ABET Industrial Advisory Council since January 2021.
Andrew Lloyd
Project Manager, AECOMAndrew Lloyd, PE possesses over a decade of expertise in roadway design across the southeast United States, including projects in every FDOT District. His work spans from small-scale improvements to major reconstruction, offering a comprehensive view of industry standards and graduate expectations. Before joining AECOM, he contributed as an industrial engineer to operational advancements in steel and rebar factories both domestically and abroad. At the University of South Florida, he pursued a degree in civil and environmental engineering, complementing his studies with leadership roles in student government and engineering societies including Tau Beta Pi and Theta Tau where he served in both to an advisory capacity for many years after completing his bachelor’s degree. His contributions at USF were acknowledged through a nomination for the Golden Bull Award by the Engineering Dean, John Wiencek. Andrew’s diverse professional and academic experiences provide him with a unique perspective on the civil engineering industry’s evolving needs, particularly in preparing graduates for these challenges.
Craig A. Kaplan
CEO and Founder, iQ CompanyDr. Craig A. Kaplan has many years of expertise in the fields of collective intelligence, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantitative modeling.
Kaplan has served as CEO of various technology companies. He is currently CEO and founder of iQ Company, a consulting company focused on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He was also the founder and CEO of PredictWallStreet, a data-gathering firm whose clients included NASDAQ, TDAmeritrade, Schwab, and other well-known financial institutions. In 2018, PredictWallStreet powered a fund that ranked in the top 10 of all
market-neutral hedge funds.His current focus is the development of AGI systems, including the topics of AI safety and ethics. In addition, he produces educational videos via iQ’s production company, iQ Studios, with a mission of raising awareness about AI. He is working to apply AI and collective intelligence to solve challenging problems that affect the planet globally, including the development of super-intelligent systems.
Kaplan’s academic background includes a visiting professorship in computer science at the University of California. He earned both master’s and doctoral degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and co-authored research with the Nobel-Prize-winning economist (and co-inventor of the field of AI), Dr. Herbert A. Simon. Kaplan’s more than 50 publications include a book, research published in scientific journals, a blockchain whitepaper, and 26 patents on AGI and other subjects. He was elected to the scientific research society Sigma Xi and has been an invited speaker and consultant at institutions ranging from the business schools at Harvard and Wharton to international conferences on software and technology.
Let’s Chat about Chat GPT: Using AI to Enhance Engineering Education
AI can be used as an ally, rather than adversary, and as a tool to empower students. This transformative session will debunk myths surrounding AI in engineering education and showcase its power as a collaborative ally. We will illustrate this with case studies showing how generative AI, when thoughtfully integrated, enhances teaching and learning experiences. Large language Models (LLMs) can be used to support students learning in a variety of ways, such as personalized learning, intelligent tutoring, and facilitating group discussions. LLMs also call for new approaches to assessment, which may improve upon current practices. We will illustrate these points with examples of practical applications and lessons learned, fostering a positive shift and opening up new opportunities for engineering education.
AI can be used as an ally, rather than adversary, and as a tool to empower students. This transformative session will debunk myths surrounding AI in engineering education and showcase its power as a collaborative ally. We will illustrate this with case studies showing how...
Brock Craft
Associate Teaching Professor, Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of WashingtonBrock Craft is an Associate Teaching Professor in the department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington and Director of the B.S. in HCDE. His areas of expertise include educational technology, data visualization and embedded systems.
George Ayoub
Associate Professor, University of MichiganGeorges Ayoub is an Associate Professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Director of the Human-Centered Engineering Design Program. His research interests encompass characterizing processed materials and developing mathematical models to guide the design of materials for in-service performance.
Performance Indicators for Use in Program Assessment
Performance indicators are vital educational tools for programs, both in setting course objectives and helping students understand expectations of their learning. As such, performance indicators should be developed carefully and once assessed, the results should be reviewed to determine what actions should be taken to improve student learning. With emerging interest in the importance of ethics and ethical practice of engineering, this session focuses on a mature program's experience with a case study of ethics introduction within an engineering curriculum. The session will delve into the mechanics of performance indicator development, best practices for their monitoring at varying stages of student development and faculty engagement strategies.
Performance indicators are vital educational tools for programs, both in setting course objectives and helping students understand expectations of their learning. As such, performance indicators should be developed carefully and once assessed, the results should be reviewed to determine what actions should be taken to...
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
Christina Haden
Associate Teaching Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Lehigh UniversityDr. Christina Viau Haden is a faculty member in the mechanical engineering and mechanics department at Lehigh University. Her research involves the material property prediction of additively manufactured metals. Besides her research, a passion for teaching has lead her to co-develop of a new interdisciplinary course at Lehigh at the intersection of art and engineering on the topic of Leonardo da Vinci's life works. Haden also leads her department's ABET accreditation process, enjoys being an ABET facilitator and serves as the chair of her department's undergraduate curriculum committee. Haden is also deeply committed to improving the retention rates of women in STEM. She runs a yearly three-day welcome event for incoming engineering freshwomen at Lehigh University, offers a mentoring program for women in her department and advises the Society for Women Engineers (SWE) and Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) local chapter, among others.
A Practical Guide to Creating a Sustainable Program Assessment Process
Developing a sustainable program assessment process is crucial for programs seeking to enhance their long-term impact and deliver quality education. This session outlines key steps for creating an effective assessment framework, including (i) the need for clearly defined student outcomes aligned with the institution's mission; (ii) active engagement with faculty to ensure their input in shaping assessment criteria and expectations; (iii) implementing data collection processes that provide timely and accurate information; (iv) use of assessment results to drive continuous improvement and enable programs to adapt and evolve based on the data and feedback received and (v) investment in faculty professional development to enhance program assessment awareness and expertise. By creating sustainable assessment processes, programs can optimize their educational offerings, ensure ongoing improvements and create a culture focused on student learning.
Developing a sustainable program assessment process is crucial for programs seeking to enhance their long-term impact and deliver quality education. This session outlines key steps for creating an effective assessment framework, including (i) the need for clearly defined student outcomes aligned with the institution’s mission;...
James Warnock
Professor and Founding Chair, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of GeorgiaJames N. Warnock is a professor and the founding chair of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Before coming to Athens, Warnock served as the associate dean for academic affairs at Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering. He earned a doctorate in chemical engineering and a master’s in biochemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, before completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Warnock has conducted research in the areas of cell and gene biomanufacturing, bioreactor design, tissue engineering and cellular mechanobiology. He is actively involved in engineering education research and has earned international acclaim for his work using problem-based learning to enable students to develop professional skills. He currently serves as the director for Engineering Workforce Development for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT).
Warnock is an adjunct director of professional offerings for ABET. In this role, he facilitates the planning, production and execution of the organization’s professional development programming and directs activities related to educational offerings and workshop-facilitator training.
We Are Interested in Seeking ABET Accreditation: Are We Ready?
Considering ABET accreditation for the first time? You can't miss this session! You will gain a firm understanding of the foundational processes and procedures of the ABET accreditation process, what is needed to prepare for the initial accreditation of a program and where to turn for additional information. We will go over the entire process of ABET accreditation — from how to apply, to the purpose of the Self-Study Report, to what to expect during the on-site visit. You will also understand what a due process response entails and when to expect the final decision.
Considering ABET accreditation for the first time? You can’t miss this session! You will gain a firm understanding of the foundational processes and procedures of the ABET accreditation process, what is needed to prepare for the initial accreditation of a program and where to turn...
Douglas Bowman
Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering, ABETDouglas Bowman, Ph.D., entered the engineering profession in 1978 after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy with a degree in general engineering. He attended Stanford University as a Hertz Fellow, receiving MSEE and doctorate degrees in 1983 and 1986, respectively. During a multifaceted career, he held a wide variety of engineering and leadership positions in the military, academia and the aerospace industry until retiring from Lockheed Martin.
A senior member of IEEE and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. (AAIA), Bowman is also a registered professional engineer and an ABET Fellow. Included among his activities are stints on the National Society of Professional Engineers Industry Advisory Group and the AIAA Systems Engineering Technical Committee. Other accomplishments include service on the Research Advisory Committee of the Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland and the Board of Directors of the Microelectronics and Computer Technologies Corporation. He currently serves as an adjunct accreditation director for the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Winston Erevelles
Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering, ABETWinston F. Erevelles, Ph.D., F.ABET., is dean emeritus, special advisor to the president and professor of engineering at St. Mary’s University. During his 12 year tenure as dean of the school of science, engineering and technology, he led the development and enhancement of the school’s education and research capabilities, community and industrial outreach, and domestic and international partnerships, with over $45 million raised to support these initiatives. His current projects include a STEM Innovation Center that is currently under construction and a new Nursing program. Erevelles previously served in engineering, faculty and leadership roles at Robert Morris University, Kettering University and Mykron Engineers (India) over a 25-year period.
Erevelles earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bangalore University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Management (manufacturing engineering emphasis) from the University of Missouri-Rolla. His affiliation with ABET began in 1998 and includes service as a program evaluator, team chair and chair of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). He currently serves as an adjunct accreditation director for the EAC of ABET.
Using the FE Exam for Effective Outcomes Assessment
This session highlights best practices in outcomes assessment using the NCEES Subject Matter Reports to provide participants with information about the strengths and weaknesses of students in a program. The presentation will specifically focus on using the FE results as one tool in assessing the ABET student outcomes. Attend and learn more about how the FE exam can be an effective tool for your program.
This session highlights best practices in outcomes assessment using the NCEES Subject Matter Reports to provide participants with information about the strengths and weaknesses of students in a program. The presentation will specifically focus on using the FE results as one tool in assessing the...
David Whitman
Professor Emeritus, University of WyomingDavid L. Whitman, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASEE, is professor emeritus at the University of Wyoming. He is a past president of National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), an emeritus member of the Wyoming State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, and the current ABET treasurer on the Board of Directors. He has been involved with various NCEES committees and has been part of the FE exam preparation since 2001.
Rhonda Young
Professor, Gonzaga UniversityRhonda Young is the professor and chair of civil engineering at Gonzaga University. She has over 20 years of teaching experience with faculty and administrative positions at the University of Wyoming and Gonzaga University. Young serves on the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Committee for the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) and is a program evaluator for ABET. She is also active in Institute of Transportation Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and American Society for Engineering Education professional societies.
Ethical Dimensions of AI: Navigating Inclusive Transformations in Education and the Future of Work
This session will focus on the unique opportunities and ethical considerations presented by artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping education, social contacts & belonging, and the evolving landscape of future work. In alignment with ABET's mission and the core values of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), the symposium seeks to explore the ethics of AI through interdisciplinary reflection. Distinguished panelists will engage in discussions addressing the dual potential of AI systems to enhance education and learning while also posing risks of perpetuating biases, compounding existing inequalities, and disproportionately affecting marginalized groups within educational systems and the workforce. Emphasizing the crucial role of ethical frameworks in AI application, the session aims to underscore the replication of real-world biases and exclusion, ensuring a positive societal impact and focusing on fairness, inclusivity, and the equitable deployment of technology tools.
This session will focus on the unique opportunities and ethical considerations presented by artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping education, social contacts & belonging, and the evolving landscape of future work. In alignment with ABET’s mission and the core values of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility...
Samuel J. Cummings III
Co-Founder & Head of Data Science, DataPlantSamuel Cummings is a Customer Success and Generative AI visionary. He's globally recognized for revolutionizing how businesses use AI and data science to scale Customer Success operations, driving remarkable outcomes. From St. Louis to London and Sydney, he has shared success stories on data science's impact on CX and won the 2021 Inspire award at LinkedIn as a CSM. Now, he leads Dataplant, the world's first Generative AI platform for Customer Success.
Kevin Kuck
Student, George Mason UniversityKevin Kuck is a dedicated 5th year senior, and soon to be graduate at George Mason University, majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in photography. He has consistently been named to the Dean's List in eight of the ten semesters he has attended while maintaining a GPA of 3.76. He is currently serving as President of the student section of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and as a member of the Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Board at George Mason University.
Through his education at George Mason, Kuck discovered a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics especially relating to the realm of engineering, and as a result, influenced a self-guided research paper on DEI in generative artificial intelligence. Last October, he had the honor of presenting his research paper titled, Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword, at the 2023 World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) and Global Engineering Dean's Council (GEDC) conference in Monterrey, Mexico. His paper was later published in IEEE Xplore.
Additionally, during his time at the conference, he befriended the leadership team of the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED) and joined the organization's leadership as webmaster and photographer. He looks forward to aiding the organization's growth and contributing to their mission to make engineering education more accessible and advocate for student voices to be recognized in engineering dialogue.
Kevin embraces the philosophy that growth and learning come abundantly from failing and believes that if you love to learn, you should also love to fail. Alongside his studies, he follows his creative instincts with photography, allowing him to be a better engineer, as photography often requires thinking outside the box and being creative to get results.
Wendy Turner-Williams
Founder & CEO, Adjunct Professor and Advisory Board Member, TheAssociation, Culstrata-ai, Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College, University of Washington Informatics School, and KensuWendy is a proven business, data and engineering leader who uses communication, data, organization, and technical prowess to shepherd both enterprise strategic alignment, and tactical delivery of AI, data and digital transformation objectives. With an eye for process improvement, workflow automation and service-oriented solutions, Wendy is a change-agent known for tangible impact, operational improvement, monetization realization, and risk mitigation that is amplified by her ability to build collaborative data-culture to ensure repeated success.
A known author, AI & Data thought-leader and speaker with 20+ years in AI, cloud-services, Data, and software. Wendy has led AI & data strategy, CoE AI & Analytics, data architecture, data science & ML, data governance, data management maturity, literacy, platforms & services, privacy by design, and risk management at Accenture, Microsoft (Bing/MSN, Advertising and Azure), Salesforce, and Tableau.
On a more personal note, Wendy is the mother of 4 girls, and an active member in the Women in Technology, Women in Data forums. Wendy is a public speaker, and advocate for Chronic Illness, blood/plasma donations and learning disability improvement due to her struggle with a genetic Primary Immune Deficiency disease, and experience navigating public school systems with a child who has ADD/ADHD, dyslexia and dysgraphia challenges. Wendy studied European History, at Oklahoma State University.
Jamie VanDodick
Director, AI Ethics Project Office and AI Governance, IBMJamie VanDodick is IBMs Director, AI Ethics Project Office and AI Governance, for IBMs AI Ethics Board, a multi-disciplinary team responsible for the governance and decision-making process for AI ethics policies and practices. She has held leadership roles at IBM in cybersecurity, GDPR vendor management, supply chain, CIO and is a former chief of staff in the CIOs office. Jamie holds a JD, MBA, PMP and is a certified Agile Coach.
Generative AI for KY Engineering Technology and How to Assess
Large-scale manufacturing has been located in Kentucky, with 4,276 manufacturers employing 289,822 workers. Community and technical colleges and universities in KY have faced challenges recruiting students to their programs in advanced manufacturing. New computer and lean systems engineering technology programs launched at the University of Kentucky, merging training and recruiting from 2-year technical colleges and 4-year universities. New programs are designed based on industry-integrated multi-disciplinary training programs. Curricula integrate generative AI (GenAI) into course student projects to help them increase their efficiencies, improve productivity and enhance learning outcomes. Using GenAI tools, students transform their draft ideas into high-fidelity products to explore their concepts. We examine if GenAI helps students quickly generate project ideas and broaden their thinking. We will also discuss how to develop and assess GenAI-integrated courses for intended outcomes.
Large-scale manufacturing has been located in Kentucky, with 4,276 manufacturers employing 289,822 workers. Community and technical colleges and universities in KY have faced challenges recruiting students to their programs in advanced manufacturing. New computer and lean systems engineering technology programs launched at the University of...
Philip Lee
Professor, University of KentuckyDr. Philip Lee is an associate professor and distinguished Toyota Engineering Technology professor in the Fujio Cho department of engineering technology at the University of Kentucky, where he is involved in engineering and engineering technology education. As program director of undergraduate study, he has more than 10 years of program assessment and accreditation experience in engineering technology. His research is on renewable energy, embedded systems and artificial intelligence. He received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from North Carolina State University.
David Parsley
Professor, University of KentuckyDr. David Parsley is an assistant professor in the Fujio Cho Department of Engineering Technology at the University of Kentucky. Before this role, Parsley was a member of the True Lean team as an industry extension specialist from 2008 to 2021. During this time at the University, he has assisted in the delivery and facilitation of standardization, 8 Step problem solving and model area development within various manufacturing organizations. He was also part of the team responsible for the facilitation and continuous improvement of the Lean Systems Certification, a core offering of the True Lean Systems Program. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky.
Assessment and Program Improvement in the Context of Smaller Programs: Challenges and Strategies
Best practices in program assessment and, more generally, program improvement can often be difficult to implement in the context of smaller programs due to the limited number of faculty members and/or small student numbers in each cohort. This can be particularly challenging as we consider faculty time (our most precious resource!) and sustainability over the long term. Given these constraints, how can programs sort through “critical” initiatives versus “nice to have” enhancements to their existing processes? Designed to be an interactive session, we will begin by brainstorming assessment requirements along with accompanying best practices and evaluate them for applicability to small programs. As a group, we’ll identify challenges associated with their implementation along with strengths inherent to smaller programs that can be leveraged. We’ll discuss concrete examples and close with an exercise to develop tangible strategies the participants can take back to their own programs.
Best practices in program assessment and, more generally, program improvement can often be difficult to implement in the context of smaller programs due to the limited number of faculty members and/or small student numbers in each cohort. This can be particularly challenging as we consider...
Owens Walker
Associate Professor, United States Naval AcademyOwens Walker is an associate professor in the electrical and computer engineering department at the United States Naval Academy, where he has served as both the assessment chair and the associate chair. He has led initial ABET accreditation and reaccreditation efforts for multiple programs and has served on the Executive Steering Committee for the Naval Academy’s 2016 Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaccreditation. Walker received his bachelor degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University in 1987 and both his master's and doctorate in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California in 1995 and 2009, respectively. He is a senior member of the IEEE, a member of Eta Kappa Nu, and an ABET Senior Institute for the Development of Excellence in Assessment Leadership (IDEAL) Scholar.
Carolyn Judge
Professor, United States Naval AcademyCarolyn Judge is the deputy director for teaching, learning, and multimedia in the Center for Teaching and Learning at the United States Naval Academy. She is also a professor in the naval architecture and ocean engineering department and the director of the Naval Academy Hydromechanics Laboratory. Her research area is on the hydrodynamics of high-speed boats and she has done experimental research on dynamic instabilities and wave slam impacts. Judge is currently serving on the ABET Board of Delegates representing the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and served on the ABET IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Council from 2021 to 2023.
Maximizing the Benefits of Rubrics in Program Assessment
Many programs utilize rubrics in their assessment processes. However, not all rubrics are equally clear or useful for every purpose. This session will explore the development and use of rubrics to efficiently engage faculty, aid in selecting the best type of rubric for a given purpose and best inform meaningful improvement. Topics to be explored include characteristics of rubrics, types of rubrics, scoring variations and faculty engagement. Examples of different types of rubrics will be reviewed and experiences engaging faculty will be shared.
Many programs utilize rubrics in their assessment processes. However, not all rubrics are equally clear or useful for every purpose. This session will explore the development and use of rubrics to efficiently engage faculty, aid in selecting the best type of rubric for a given...
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
Karen Tarnoff
Associate Dean, East Tennessee State UniversityKaren Tarnoff, Ph.D., is the associate dean for assessment and international programs for the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University. In this capacity, she coordinates the assessment of student learning outcomes across seven diverse departments (i.e., accountancy; economics and finance; management and marketing; computing; military science; engineering, engineering technology, surveying; and digital media) and multiple accrediting bodies, i.e., Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), ABET, National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), CIDA. She has given numerous presentations on assurance of learning and assessment-related topics and, likewise, has helped many schools develop, implement and refine their assessment systems. Tarnoff is a global lead facilitator for the AACSB having authored materials for its Assurance of Learning I and II seminars and having served as a seminar facilitator since 2005. Tarnoff is pleased to be joining ABET to facilitate Fundamentals of Program Assessment Workshops and create content for other offerings. Her primary areas of research include assessment of student learning, the skills gap, team-based work systems and shared mental models.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – International Accreditation
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about International Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all international accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. Join ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet, Manager of International Accreditation Sherri Hersh, Director for International Engagement and Governance Daniela Iacona and International Accreditation Coordinator Anna Karapetyan to discuss the topics that are most important to you.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about International Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all international accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. Join ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet, Manager of International Accreditation Sherri Hersh, Director for International...
Jane Emmet
Senior Director, Accreditation Operations, ABETJane Emmet has been responsible for the management and administration of ABET’s accreditation policies and procedures and the overall operations of ABET’s accreditation processes since November, 2015. She joined ABET in January 2014 as the training manager responsible for the training of the over 2,000 volunteer professionals who serve ABET. Today, Emmet is the senior director, accreditation operations.
Emmet's background, prior to joining ABET, includes directing and managing training and leadership development programs at professional service organizations, energy companies and developing education programs for history museums. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College in history/education and a master’s degree in museum education from The George Washington University. She also holds a graduate certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in instructional systems design.
Sherri Hersh
Senior Manager, International Accreditation, ABETSherri Hersh has been with ABET for over 15 years. Originally a member of the Engineering Credentials Evaluation International (ECEI) team, she joined the accreditation department in late 2006 when ABET decided to undertake accreditation activities for programs outside the U.S. During her time at ABET, Hersh has seen the organization's international market grow to accredit programs in 41 countries around the world.
Hersh holds a master’s degree in management from New York University.
Daniela Iacona
Director for International Engagement and Governance, ABETDaniela Iacona is the director for international engagement and governance at ABET, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university-level programs in the disciplines of applied & natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology worldwide. Iacona has supported ABET’s mission for over 15 years and has played a key role in the development and implementation of its global operations plan. Iacona currently oversees all of ABET’s international initiatives, including its engagement in mutual recognition agreements, memoranda of understanding, and global outreach and collaboration activities.
In her dual role, Iacona is also responsible for managing all operational activities related to the governance of ABET. In this capacity, she is responsible for leading all Board of Directors, Board of Delegates, four Area Delegations and affiliated Council and Committees operational functions.
Iacona earned her master of global management degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management and baccalaureate in international studies from Old Dominion University. She has also earned American Society of Association Executives' (ASAE) Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.
Anna Karapetyan
Specialist, International Accreditation, ABETAnna Karapetyan is the Specialist, International Accreditation who works closely with ABET’s constituencies, both volunteer experts and institutions outside the U.S. She provides necessary support to ABET’s volunteer experts preparing for international accreditation visits. While responsible for reviewing Requests for Evaluation from programs outside the U.S., she provides guidance on ABET’s requirements and accreditation process as requested. Anna holds a bachelor’s degree in Philology, Pedagogy in the field of English Language and Literature from Yerevan State University, Armenia and a master’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs from the American University of Armenia.
Leveraging Best Assessment Practices for Accreditation Review
ABET-accredited programs should theoretically be in compliance with ABET criteria throughout an accreditation cycle. Many aspects of compliance are continuous in any typical academic setting such that an accreditation review team could show up on our doorstep and we’d be ready! However, demonstration of compliance around the Accreditation Policy and Procedure Manual, Criterion 2, Criterion 4, and, by association, Criterion 3, usually accelerates in preparation for an accreditation review. Continuous and resourcefully conducted assessment processes that go beyond mere compliance can streamline preparation for review. This session will offer a perspective on how to leverage best assessment practices to provide the various evidences required in accreditation reviews for each of the four ABET commissions. Included in the presentation will be a discussion of “do this, not that” from the perspective of a program preparing for a review. The specific case for new programs will be addressed.
ABET-accredited programs should theoretically be in compliance with ABET criteria throughout an accreditation cycle. Many aspects of compliance are continuous in any typical academic setting such that an accreditation review team could show up on our doorstep and we’d be ready! However, demonstration of compliance...
Daina Briedis
Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment, Michigan State UniversityDaina M. Briedis, Ph.D., is currently an Adjunct Director of Professional Offerings at ABET. She also serves as Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University and is a faculty member and ABET Coordinator in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Over the past 32 years, Briedis has served ABET as a program evaluator for AIChE, a team chair and member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the first chair of the EAC Training and Materials Development Committee and an Executive Committee member of the EAC. She was a program evaluator on one of the very first “EC2000” visits and subsequently chaired several new criteria visits. Briedis has been an AIChE Representative Director on the ABET Board of Directors and has been involved in the design teams for the new program evaluator and train-the-trainers training materials. She is a lead facilitator for the program evaluator training sessions. She also consults in the area of accreditation and assessment and evaluation and serves on the Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). She was elected a Fellow of ABET in 2007, a Fellow of the AIChE in 2011 and a Fellow of ASEE in 2015. She is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar.
Larraine Kapka
Professor Emeritus, Sinclair CollegeLarraine Kapka is a professor emeritus at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. She received her B.S. degree from the University of Missouri in mechanical engineering and has M.S. degrees from both the University of Central Missouri (industrial management) and the University of Dayton (mechanical engineering). She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio, where her disciplinary specialty is heating, ventilating and air conditioning.
Before working in academia full-time, Kapka served in the Air Force and spent 20 years working in industry as a Department of Energy contractor. She has significant experience preparing self-studies for ABET visits at her own institution as a faculty member, department chair and assistant dean. She has served as an ABET evaluator and team chair for several years. She is the current Engineering Technology Accreditation director for ABET. Besides being an ABET director and program evaluator, she has been the chair for the subcommittee designing training for new program evaluator candidates. She spends hours each year updating and teaching in this course.
Kapka is proud of two awards she earned while working in industry: being named an “Energy Manager of the Year” by the Department of Energy, and receiving a national Federal Energy Efficiency award. As an academic, she received the Rousche Excellence in Teaching award from the League for Innovation. Besides her work in ABET, she remains active in both American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and ASME, serving on the latter's Committee for Engineering Technology Accreditation and as a national scholarship evaluator.
Sharing the Program Evaluator (PEV) Perspective
This talk is designed for a prospective Program Evaluator (PEV) who is interested in having as much information as possible on what the job really entails. The presentation will cover the details of an ABET visit from the perspective of a PEV, from the initial assignment to the campus visit and return home. Topics include communication with the rest of the team, tips for reviewing the materials prepared by the program and communicating with the program before the visit, required documentation, making travel arrangements, and what happens after arrival on campus. The importance of the team as the decision-making body, and the support that the more experienced team members will provide, are a focus of this talk.
This talk is designed for a prospective Program Evaluator (PEV) who is interested in having as much information as possible on what the job really entails. The presentation will cover the details of an ABET visit from the perspective of a PEV, from the initial...
Jennifer Brock
Associate Dean for Academics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alaska AnchorageJennifer McFerran Brock is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for Academics at the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering. In addition to leading her own department’s assessment efforts since 2012, she was chair of the UAA College of Engineering Assessment Committee from 2014-2018 and has been involved in numerous campus-wide assessment- and accreditation-related initiatives, most recently serving as a tri-chair of the UAA Institutional Self-Study Committee from 2016-18 in connection with the institution’s regional accreditation. She joined the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET in 2022.
Paul J. Benkeser
Professor and Senior Associate Chair, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory UniversityPaul J. Benkeser is a professor and senior associate chair in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. He has been a member of the Georgia Tech faculty since September 1985. He received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He was one of the founding faculty members of the Coulter Department in 1998 and served as its first associate chair for Undergraduate Studies.
His early research interests were in the areas of therapeutic and diagnostic application of ultrasound. After joining the Coulter Department, his energies were redirected toward enhancing undergraduate biomedical engineering (BME) education, with particular interests in integrating problem-driven learning and global experiential learning opportunities into the BME curriculum. His research and education endeavors have been funded by grants from NIH, NSF, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Whitaker Foundation.
In 2019, Benkeser and colleagues Drs. Joseph LeDoux and Wendy Newstetter were awarded the National Academy of Engineering's Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education “For fusing problem-driven engineering education with learning science principles to create a pioneering program that develops leaders in biomedical engineering.” Benkeser has been active in engineering accreditation activities for ABET since 2002, serving in a number of capacities including as a program evaluator, commissioner for the Engineering Accreditation Commission, and member of its Board of Delegates. He is a member of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, American Society for Engineering Education, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society.
Yufeng Hu
Master Faculty Specialist, Civil and Construction Engineering Department, Western Michigan UniversityDr. Yufeng Hu, P.E., is a master faculty specialist in the Civil and Construction Engineering Department at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He teaches various engineering mechanics and civil engineering courses and coordinates the senior capstone design program. Hu's research focuses on bridge engineering and engineering education.
Ken Christensen
Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Affairs, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South FloridaKen Christensen is professor and associate chair of Undergraduate Affairs in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF). Christensen received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from North Carolina State University in 1991, MSEE from North Carolina State University in 1983, and BSEE from University of Florida in 1981. From 1983 to 1995, he was an engineer at IBM RTP.
Christensen joined USF in 1995 and was first involved with ABET in 2007 as the department ABET coordinator. Christensen has been a program evaluator for the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission for three years. He is one of the founders, and currently president, of The Pledge of the Computing Professional – an organization founded in 2011 to promote and recognize the ethical and moral behavior and responsibilities of graduates of computing-related degree programs. There are 73 US institutions that are members of the Pledge. Christensen has over 100 journal and conference publications and 13 U.S. patents. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Florida, a senior member of IEEE, and a member of Association for Computing Machinery and American Society for Engineering Education.
Kumar Yelamarthi
Associate Dean and Professor, College of Engineering, Tennessee Tech UniversityKumar Yelamarthi is currently the Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University. In the past, he served as the Director of the School of Engineering and Technology and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Central Michigan University (CMU). He served as the chair for the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering programs and Assistant to the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at CMU. His research interests are in the Internet of Things, wireless sensor networks, edge computing, embedded systems, and engineering education. He has published over 175 articles and delivered over 100 talks in these areas. He has successfully raised funding of over $5 Million for research from organizations such as NSF, DoE, NASA, and the industry.
Throughout his career, Yelamarthi has launched multiple engineering programs, including undergraduate programs, 2+2 programs with international universities and community colleges, and graduate programs in engineering. He has served as a chair, technical program committee chair, treasurer for several international conferences, and as a reviewer and panelist for numerous externally funded proposals. He served as editor for journal special issues, currently serves as the topic editor for Sensors, and is on the editorial board for the Internet of Things Journal and the International Journal of Forensic Software Engineering; he has served as the Chair of IEEE Northeast Michigan Section, and vice-chair for ASEE North Central Section. He led several engineering and engineering technology programs through successful ABET accreditation and currently serves as an ABET Program Evaluator for EAC and ETAC.
John Estell
Professor of Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Ohio Northern UniversityJohn K. Estell, Ph.D., is the Reichelderfer Endowed Chair and professor of computer engineering and computer science at Ohio Northern University. He is an ABET Fellow, a 10-year ABET commissioner and an Accreditation Council Training Committee member; he previously was an Executive Committee Member, editor, and Training Committee co-chair for the Computing Accreditation Commission. He is also a fellow and a ASEE vice president for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Estell has received multiple ASEE awards for both his scholarship on engineering education pedagogy and his service to the Society. His research includes streamlining program outcomes assessment processes, including developing the well-known FCAR methodology and applying entrepreneurial mindset approaches to engineering design pedagogy.
Continuous Improvement Plans from Scratch
A key to a quality educational program is a clear, concise, and systematic continuous improvement plan. However, sometimes it’s not clear where to start or how to use the information once the plan is implemented. In this session, attendees will receive pointers on how to start, structure, and implement a continuous improvement plan.
Learning Objectives –
By the end of this session, attendees will
- Identify the importance of a well-documented continuous improvement process.
- Analyze the basic elements of a continuous improvement plan that best fits their program/institution.
- Recognize the need to evaluate their continuous improvement plan.
A key to a quality educational program is a clear, concise, and systematic continuous improvement plan. However, sometimes it’s not clear where to start or how to use the information once the plan is implemented. In this session, attendees will receive pointers on how to...
Kevin Huggins
Professor of Computer Science and Data Science, Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyKevin Huggins, Ph.D., is a Professor of Computer and Data Science at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Prior to being a professor at Harrisburg, he was a faculty member of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the United States Military Academy. There, Kevin worked as the Director Research for Network Science Center as well as Director of the Information Technology Program. Dr. Huggins also served as commissioner for the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET and is currently a Senior IDEAL Scholar.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from West Point, Kevin also holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and MINES ParisTech in France, respectively.
Catalina Plúa Morales
Head of the Office of Curriculum Design & International Accreditation and Professor of Education, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQCatalina Plúa Morales is the head of the Office of Curriculum Design & International Accreditation and professor of Education at Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ. She oversees the international accreditation processes at USFQ and manages and facilitates all assessment, accreditation, and academic program review efforts for all the undergraduate programs and graduate programs offered in her university.
She received her bachelor degree in linguistics from Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo UEES and her master degree in higher and postsecondary education administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is an ABET IDEAL Scholar, assessment leader for several higher education institutions in her country, and she is a recurrent consultant expert for the national accreditation agency in her country.
Providing Culmination of Knowledge Through the Senior Project and Assessment of Student Achievement
The Industrial and Systems Engineering students complete a senior project to demonstrate the application of the program knowledge obtained in their curriculum. For all projects, the students should understand complexity of the problem, have systematic structural understanding of the designed solution and apply the engineering design process to address constraints on design, economics, ergonomics and others. The students acquire the knowledge through background study, and utility of the software and hardware, to apply in any of three areas (product based, system based and process based). The students’ feedback showed that they have difficulty in fully comprehending the concept generation and develop the final design in one semester. In this presentation, the new two-semester structure of the senior design project design, delivery, and assessment (in the first and the second semester), methods for student feedback, and continuous improvement process would also be discussed. Some of the rubric models used for assessing the acquisition and demonstration of knowledge would also be provided. The session is also expected to help the presenter to bring in the feedback to further enhance the delivery and quality of senior project.
The Industrial and Systems Engineering students complete a senior project to demonstrate the application of the program knowledge obtained in their curriculum. For all projects, the students should understand complexity of the problem, have systematic structural understanding of the designed solution and apply the engineering...
Shaligram Pokharel
Professor, Qatar UniversityShaligram Pokharel is a professor of Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in Qatar University. He has been the program coordinator for five years and the senior project coordinator for two years. As the program coordinator he was involved in the design and development of the senior project to transition from a one semester project to two semesters. He was involved in the implementation of the two semester senior project. He was involved in the restructuring and advising of the senior projects to facilitate the students to work collaboratively and develop project subsystems and integrate them to develop the final project and demonstrate the culmination of knowledge to the peers and to the public.
Scenarios for 2033 and the Role of the Engineering Community
Engineering Change Lab – USA (ECL), is a social change lab that seeks to be a catalyst for change within the engineering community. ECL serves as a connector and convener, complementing the work of other engineering organizations. The 2023 ECL Engineering Ideas Institute featured a deep dive into the future of engineering using scenario planning. Participants examined signals of change, driving forces and critical uncertainties to develop three futures centered on the critical challenges facing society and then examined the role of the engineering community in these futures. This session will delve into the three scenarios developed at the 2023 Engineering Ideas Institute with emphasis on the role of AI in the future. Participants will have opportunities to offer their thoughts on future trends. Participants will also discuss the role of the engineering community in these future scenarios and strategize regarding the actions we can take now to prepare for an uncertain future.
Engineering Change Lab – USA (ECL), is a social change lab that seeks to be a catalyst for change within the engineering community. ECL serves as a connector and convener, complementing the work of other engineering organizations. The 2023 ECL Engineering Ideas Institute featured a...
Michael McMeekin
President / Executive Director, Engineering Change Lab - USAMichael “Mike” P. McMeekin, P.E. is one of the founders of Engineering Change Lab-USA (ECL-USA), a non-profit focused on the future of engineering and fostering change in engineering that will increase its contributions in support of a more resilient society. He took on the role as ECL-USA’s first president /executive director in August 2019.
McMeekin served as president of Lamp Rynearson, an engineering, landscape architecture and surveying firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1997-2017. Following his tenure as president, he served as chairman of the board and senior advisor from 2017-2021. He has over 45 years of engineering experience and has played a leadership role in numerous signature projects in the Omaha area. McMeekin is a graduate of the American Council of Engineering Companies’ Senior Executives Institute, an advanced management, leadership and public policy training program for current and emerging leaders of engineering and architectural firms.
McMeekin is deeply involved in the Omaha-area community, including recently serving as chairman of the Board of Directors of Omaha by Design and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACE Mentor Omaha. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Aqua Africa, Immigrant Legal Center and Conservation Nebraska.
McMeekin received his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1974 and his M.S. in environmental engineering from Washington State University in 1976.
Organizing Effective Display Materials for ABET Criterion 4: Continuous Improvement
ABET Criterion 4 focuses on continuous improvement and serves to guide educational institutions toward greater efficacy and quality. This session seeks to empower educators, administrators and evaluators to navigate Criterion 4 with a focus on developing effective display materials that support the assessment and evaluation processes and drive meaningful change. We will first explore the role of well-organized materials and structured documentation in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The second topic is the display of assessment data. We will showcase best practices in visualizing assessment data, making it accessible to all stakeholders and facilitating data-driven decision-making. The session will also discuss documentation of the essential evaluation steps that underpin the process of decision-making and "closing the loop." By the end of this session, attendees will possess a comprehensive understanding of the documentation needs related to Criterion 4.
ABET Criterion 4 focuses on continuous improvement and serves to guide educational institutions toward greater efficacy and quality. This session seeks to empower educators, administrators and evaluators to navigate Criterion 4 with a focus on developing effective display materials that support the assessment and evaluation...
Jenny Amos
Teaching Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignJennifer “Jenny” Amos, Ph.D., joined the bioengineering department at the University of Illinois in 2009 and is currently a teaching professor in bioengineering with affiliations in educational psychology, healthcare systems engineering and medicine. She received her bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering at Texas Tech and doctorate in chemical engineering from University of South Carolina. She is an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Board of Director Member, two-time Fulbright Specialist in engineering education and has won multiple awards and recognitions for her teaching and scholarship of teaching.
Outside of BMES, she has also worked to revolutionize the future of graduate medical education serving as a founding member of the new Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, a first-of-its-kind engineering-driven college of medicine. Amos is part of the Illinois NSF RED (Revolutionizing Engineering & Computer Science Departments) research team leading efforts to innovate assessment practices for engineering toward producing more holistic engineers. Amos has a decade’s worth of experience leading curriculum reform implementing robust assessment strategies at multiple institutions. Amos has served as an ABET program evaluator for BMES since 2012 and a commissioner for the Engineering Accreditation Commission at ABET from 2018 until 2021. She is a 2011 IDEAL Scholar graduate and has been leading program assessment workshops since 2012.
John Estell
Professor of Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Ohio Northern UniversityJohn K. Estell, Ph.D., is the Reichelderfer Endowed Chair and professor of computer engineering and computer science at Ohio Northern University. He is an ABET Fellow, a 10-year ABET commissioner and an Accreditation Council Training Committee member; he previously was an Executive Committee Member, editor, and Training Committee co-chair for the Computing Accreditation Commission. He is also a fellow and a ASEE vice president for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Estell has received multiple ASEE awards for both his scholarship on engineering education pedagogy and his service to the Society. His research includes streamlining program outcomes assessment processes, including developing the well-known FCAR methodology and applying entrepreneurial mindset approaches to engineering design pedagogy.
Engineering for One Planet Workshop: ABET-Aligned Resources to Bring Sustainability into Your Classroom
Are you interested in learning how to integrate sustainability into your engineering curricula while meeting ABET accreditation criterion? Are you looking for sustainability-focused resources and activities? Do you want to know more about the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Framework? Join us for a hands-on, how-to workshop about utilizing the EOP Framework and three companion teaching guides to infuse environmental and social sustainability into engineering curriculum, no matter the course or discipline. We will:
- Familiarize participants with the EOP Framework & Guides.
- Demonstrate how to address all seven ABET student outcomes in course work to help meet ABET accreditation standards.
- Share an abundance of freely-available sustainability-focused teaching and learning resources and activities.
NOTE: Participants should bring laptops/tablets/phones to access online resources during the workshop.
Are you interested in learning how to integrate sustainability into your engineering curricula while meeting ABET accreditation criterion? Are you looking for sustainability-focused resources and activities? Do you want to know more about the Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Framework? Join us for a hands-on,...
Cindy Anderson
Founder & CEO, Alula Consulting and Engineering for One Planet, The Lemelson FoundationCindy Anderson (she/her/hers), Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Strategy Consultant with The Lemelson Foundation, is honored to be a collaborative partner on the EOP initiative since its inception, co-author of the EOP Framework and three framework companion teaching guides, and an active EOP Network Member. Anderson is the founder and CEO of Alula Consulting which specializes in innovative sustainability-focused research and curriculum projects for academic institutions, non-profits, government and corporations. She has taught thousands of people through courses and workshops, around the world and online, in the fields of biology, sustainability and biomimicry. Anderson holds a master of science degree from Oregon State University, a MEd from Griffith University (Queensland, Australia), and a BSc in biology from the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada).
Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC): Accreditation Anti-Patterns – Common Review Challenges
An anti-pattern is a common response to a recurring problem that is usually ineffective and risks being counter productive. This talk focuses on commonly seen anti-patterns based on the presenters’ experience as program evaluators (PEVs), team chairs and editors. While it does not provide a comprehensive list of things that could go wrong, it does offer advice on many commonly seen anti-patterns and offers advice to help an institution avoid them.
An anti-pattern is a common response to a recurring problem that is usually ineffective and risks being counter productive. This talk focuses on commonly seen anti-patterns based on the presenters’ experience as program evaluators (PEVs), team chairs and editors. While it does not provide a...
Jean Blair
Distinguished Professor of Innovation, United States Military AcademyJean Blair is the EECS Distinguished Professor for Innovation and a Professor of Computer Science at the United States Military Academy where she previously held positions as deputy to the chief academic officer, director of the computer science program and director of the information systems engineering program. An ABET volunteer since the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) merged with ABET, Blair has served as a program evaluator, team chair, commissioner, and on the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) executive committee, where she currently serves as the past chair. She is a senior member of Association for Computing Machinery and IEEE and a member of American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Blair was named both an ABET Fellow and a CSAB Fellow in 2023.
David “Hoot” Gibson
Computing Accreditation Chair, ABET, Professor Emeritus of Computer and Cyber Sciences, United States Air Force AcademyDavid "Hoot" Gibson is professor emeritus of computer and cyber sciences at the United States Air Force Academy where he was professor and head of the department for 15 years. He served over 34 years in the United States Air Force working in electronic warfare, computer security, cyber operations, and computer science research and education. At the Air Force Academy, he established one of the nation’s first undergraduate cybersecurity degrees. He was a principal co-author of the Association for Computing Machinery's Cybersecurity Curricular Guidelines (CSEC 2017) and guided the development of ABET’s cybersecurity program accreditation criteria for baccalaureate and associate level degree programs. Gibson has been an ABET volunteer for over 23 years and currently serves as 2023-24 chair of ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
Scott Murray
Staff Data Engineer, Procore TechnologiesScott Murray is currently a Data Engineer for Procore Technologies (www.procore.com) and has worked in the data analytics/business intelligence area for over 20 years. Additionally, Murray is an adjunct instructor for Kennesaw State University, Maryville University and Reinhardt University. He also currently serves on the executive committee of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission and is a current CSAB board member.
Sandra Gorka
Professor of Computer Science, Pennsylvania College of TechnologySandra Gorka is professor of computer science at Pennsylvania College of Technology. She has been at Penn College for over 25 years and is currently information technology department head and primarily teaches information technology and cyber security courses. Gorka has been an ABET volunteer since 2009 and is member of the Computing Accreditation Commission Executive Committee. She is also a member of the CSAB Executive Committee.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – Accreditation
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet and Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering Winston Erevelles will lead the conversation.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet and Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering Winston Erevelles will lead the conversation....
Jane Emmet
Senior Director, Accreditation Operations, ABETJane Emmet has been responsible for the management and administration of ABET’s accreditation policies and procedures and the overall operations of ABET’s accreditation processes since November, 2015. She joined ABET in January 2014 as the training manager responsible for the training of the over 2,000 volunteer professionals who serve ABET. Today, Emmet is the senior director, accreditation operations.
Emmet's background, prior to joining ABET, includes directing and managing training and leadership development programs at professional service organizations, energy companies and developing education programs for history museums. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College in history/education and a master’s degree in museum education from The George Washington University. She also holds a graduate certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in instructional systems design.
Winston Erevelles
Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering, ABETWinston F. Erevelles, Ph.D., F.ABET., is dean emeritus, special advisor to the president and professor of engineering at St. Mary’s University. During his 12 year tenure as dean of the school of science, engineering and technology, he led the development and enhancement of the school’s education and research capabilities, community and industrial outreach, and domestic and international partnerships, with over $45 million raised to support these initiatives. His current projects include a STEM Innovation Center that is currently under construction and a new Nursing program. Erevelles previously served in engineering, faculty and leadership roles at Robert Morris University, Kettering University and Mykron Engineers (India) over a 25-year period.
Erevelles earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bangalore University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Management (manufacturing engineering emphasis) from the University of Missouri-Rolla. His affiliation with ABET began in 1998 and includes service as a program evaluator, team chair and chair of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). He currently serves as an adjunct accreditation director for the EAC of ABET.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Accreditation
The Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Accreditation Ask Me Anything Discussion Den provides a platform for high-level academic discourse. This is a special invitation for key administrative and faculty such as deans of arts and sciences or directors of technology that are involved in interdisciplinary roles merging social sciences and technology, to engage in a dialectical exploration of the value of accreditation across diverse disciplines. Discussion prompts such as “what is the value of accreditation across different disciplines?” and “how is accreditation being prioritized (or not) by administration and faculty in various disciplines” will serve as a launch point for open discussion.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
The Interdisciplinary Perspectives of Accreditation Ask Me Anything Discussion Den provides a platform for high-level academic discourse. This is a special invitation for key administrative and faculty such as deans of arts and sciences or directors of technology that are involved in interdisciplinary roles merging...
Amanda Grace Taylor
Director, Communications, ABETDr. Amanda Grace Taylor, ABET's director of communications and a first-gen college graduate, holds a recent Ph.D. in media and communication from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Specializing in etiquette and interpersonal communication with a global perspective gained from living in Germany, South Africa, the U.K., and the U.S., Taylor leverages her diverse background and research to support students in being confident through ABET accreditation.
Her scholarship, pedagogy and workshops have been dedicated to subverting and critically analyzing etiquette hegemony to empower individuals by raising awareness of their habitus and perpetuate inclusive etiquette that fosters unity.
Dedicated to her communities, Taylor serves as the Central State Communication Association (CSCA) chair elect of the CSCA Women's Caucus. Previously, she served in leadership roles at BGSU, including Graduate Student Senate president and treasurer. Outside of work, Taylor, alongside her husband Nathan and dog Blue, enjoys hiking, baking bread and supporting local businesses.
Stephanie Harrington
Director, Constituent Relations, ABETStephanie Harrington has spent over 25 years in STEM education as an expert in academic and professional society environments. With a background as a structural engineer, she brings professional practice expertise to her roles in advancing education. In addition to working with STEM education programs at professional organizations, she been on faculty at the Catholic University of America and is currently an adjunct at Northern Virginia Community College. Harrington most recently served as the director of marketing and development at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). She is currently the director of constituent relations at ABET.
Harrington received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and her master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Programs with Online Components: Program Characteristics and Evaluation Approaches
ABET has been visiting programs available entirely online for several years. The criteria remain the same whether the program delivery is online or in-person or mixed; however visits to these programs have some unique characteristics. Currently, at least 40 institutions have more than 60 programs available fully online with ABET accreditation representing all four commissions. The panel members will discuss characteristics of programs with online delivery and visits to these programs from both a program and a visit team perspective. We will also encourage audience members to be prepared to ask questions and share their experiences with online program delivery implementation, assessment and evaluation.
ABET has been visiting programs available entirely online for several years. The criteria remain the same whether the program delivery is online or in-person or mixed; however visits to these programs have some unique characteristics. Currently, at least 40 institutions have more than 60 programs...
Barbara Price
Professor Emerita, Quantitative Analysis, Georgia Southern UniversityBarbara Price received her B.S. degree in mathematics from Grove City College and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in statistics from Virginia Tech. Her academic career began at New River Community College before accepting positions at other schools including: Radford University, Mississippi State University, Lynchburg College, Winthrop University and Georgia Southern University. At Georgia Southern, Price served as department chair in the College of Business Administration, founding director of the School of Information Technology, professor of quantitative analysis and interim associate vice president for continuing education. She served as a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. She was recognized as a fellow of CSAB and a fellow of ABET in 2013.
Price’s ABET service includes her prior role as secretary of the ABET Board of Directors, past member of the Computing Area Delegation and the Board of Delegates, lead/support facilitator for program evaluator candidate training, member of the Accreditation Council Training Committee and Computing Accreditation Commission chair for the 2012-2013 cycle.
Stephen Phillips
Professor of Electrical Engineering/Director, School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, Arizona State UniversityStephen Phillips serves as professor of electrical engineering and director of the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. Phillips received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University and master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University.
From 1988 to 2002, he served on the faculty of the Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. In 2002, he joined the faculty of Arizona State University as professor of electrical engineering. Phillips was appointed electrical engineering department chair in 2005 and director of the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering in 2009. He has served as an ABET program evaluator and as a member of the board of directors of ABET where he is currently director of the Engineering Area Delegation. Phillips is a professional engineer registered in the state of Ohio. He has served as IEEE vice president for Educational Activities. His research includes applications of systems and control, microfabrication on novel substrates and non-traditional delivery and assessment of accredited engineering degree programs.
The Future of Learning: Harnessing Generative AI for Enhanced Engineering Technology Education
Engineering and engineering technology education stand at the precipice of a profound transformation driven by the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI). The session aims to provide an overview of a study that explores the transformative future of Generative AI that has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn and prepare for careers in the field. The study ventures into the multifaceted applications of Generative AI in engineering technology education. It explores how Generative AI can revolutionize the traditional pedagogical approach by enabling the development of interactive virtual laboratories, simulations and practical exercises. It also scrutinizes the ethical implications and challenges tied to the incorporation of Generative AI in higher education. It emphasizes the need for unbiased AI algorithms and responsible usage while calling for comprehensive training and support for instructors in harnessing this innovative technology.
Engineering and engineering technology education stand at the precipice of a profound transformation driven by the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI). The session aims to provide an overview of a study that explores the transformative future of Generative AI that has the potential...
Jody Alberd
Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State UniversityMr. Jody Lee Alberd is an assistant professor with the department of engineering technology at Austin Peay State University (APSU) from where he earned his master of science in engineering technology. Alberd’s industrial career as a manufacturing engineer included working with several renowned companies such as Trane Technologies and Electrolux North America. Previously, he served in the United States Navy during a 20-year career that included service during the Persian Gulf War as well as the Global War on Terror having completed six deployments to the Persian Gulf region. Alberd seeks to enhance educational opportunities and experiences for veteran, non-traditional and traditional students in engineering technology careers.
Ravi Manimaran
Professor and Chair, Austin Peay State UniversityRavi C. Manimaran is a professor and chair of the department of engineering technology at Austin Peay State University. His education includes two master of science degrees in electrical & computer engineering and electronics and control engineering. He has been involved in higher education leadership as a dean, department chair, project director and a faculty member since 1997. He served as the PI / Co-PI of multiple internal and external grants yielding several conference presentations and publications. His research interests include industrial automation systems, very large-scale integration (VLSI), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), active learning, innovative pedagogy, and higher education leadership. He had led the accreditation journey for numerous ABET accredited programs since 2011.
Tips for Writing Good Self-Study Reports: Do’s and Don’ts
Executive committee members from each commission will discuss the various elements of Self-Study Reports (SSRs), important content areas, and frequently asked questions about the preparation and review processes for the SSRs. The discussion will also include recommendations for the SSR format and content from the lens of the reviewer.
Executive committee members from each commission will discuss the various elements of Self-Study Reports (SSRs), important content areas, and frequently asked questions about the preparation and review processes for the SSRs. The discussion will also include recommendations for the SSR format and content from the...
Gary Clark
Senior Associate Dean, Kansas State UniversityDr. Gary Clark is a training co-chair and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a Program Evaluator (PEV) for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). He currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean for the College of Engineering at Kansas State University and is a Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He is a Fellow of ASABE and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Berrin Tansel
Professor, Florida International UniversityDr. Berrin Tansel is training co-chair and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a program evaluator for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). Tansel is an environmental engineer, researcher, author, educator and professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Florida International University (FIU). Tansel is a diplomate of American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, and Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEES). She is an elected fellow of Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and Environmental and Water Resources Engineers (EWRI).
Pierre Larochelle
Professor, South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyDr. Pierre Larochelle is the training chair and executive committee member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. He serves as Department Head and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a Senior Member of IEEE, and a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, ASEE, and the Order of the Engineer.
Bruce McMillin
Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyDr. Bruce McMillin is professor emeritus of computer science at the Missouri University of Science and Technology where he worked for 34 years in cybersecurity research and teaching. For the last 14 years he has been an ABET volunteer and currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC), co-chair of the CAC documents and procedures committee, and co-chair of the program evaluator candidate training subcommittee.
Prahlad Murthy
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Wilkes UniversityPrahlad Murthy is a professor of civil & environmental engineering at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He served as the interim dean for nearly four years and as an associate dean for eight years for the College of Science & Engineering at Wilkes University. Since receiving his doctoral degree in civil & environmental engineering from Texas A&M University, Murthy has over 35 years of experience in teaching, research and consulting in the field.
Murthy has served as an ABET program evaluator for the Engineering Accreditation Commission since 2006 and is currently a commissioner for the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission. He is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.
Designing an Efficient Assessment Process to Meet Multiple Accreditors’ Standards
Driven by need to comply with multiple accreditors’ standards, schools often proliferate complicated inefficient assessment processes by addressing each accreditor’s requirements separately rather than developing a focused efficient measurement process that centers on core program learning objectives. This challenge arises because responsibility for disciplinary and institutional accreditations resides at different levels in the organization. It also occurs because schools focus more on compliance with standards than on AOL as a continuous improvement process. An improvement- focused assessment process allows schools to simply capture the results of the assessment process in documentation tailored for various accreditors. In this session, participants will explore how to develop and implement a single, efficient assessment process to satisfy the requirements of multiple accreditors. Participants will utilize a typology that captures key AOL process dimensions to identify commonality across their accreditors and determine how to efficiently design an AOL process to addresses those common dimensions. Participants will also identify requirements unique to specific accreditors and determine how to best address these in their assessment process. Lastly, participants will consider the utility of shared measures (e.g., rubrics) across multiple programs at the same level (e.g., undergraduate programs) as a means to gain efficiency in the AOL process.
Driven by need to comply with multiple accreditors’ standards, schools often proliferate complicated inefficient assessment processes by addressing each accreditor’s requirements separately rather than developing a focused efficient measurement process that centers on core program learning objectives. This challenge arises because responsibility for disciplinary and...
Cheri Clavier
Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation Liaison, East Tennessee State UniversityDr. Cheri Clavier serves as director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation Liaison at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). A true lifelong learner, she holds degrees in chemistry, education and leadership from ETSU and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After working in secondary education and pharmaceutical quality assurance, Clavier returned to ETSU in 2012, where she has worked as an assessment and accreditation professional at both the college and university levels. Professionally, she enjoys serving on substantive change, on-site and ad-hoc committees for discipline-specific accreditors and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Karen Tarnoff
Associate Dean, East Tennessee State UniversityKaren Tarnoff, Ph.D., is the associate dean for assessment and international programs for the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University. In this capacity, she coordinates the assessment of student learning outcomes across seven diverse departments (i.e., accountancy; economics and finance; management and marketing; computing; military science; engineering, engineering technology, surveying; and digital media) and multiple accrediting bodies, i.e., Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), ABET, National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), CIDA. She has given numerous presentations on assurance of learning and assessment-related topics and, likewise, has helped many schools develop, implement and refine their assessment systems. Tarnoff is a global lead facilitator for the AACSB having authored materials for its Assurance of Learning I and II seminars and having served as a seminar facilitator since 2005. Tarnoff is pleased to be joining ABET to facilitate Fundamentals of Program Assessment Workshops and create content for other offerings. Her primary areas of research include assessment of student learning, the skills gap, team-based work systems and shared mental models.
Accelerating the Development of Program Assessment Processes with AI
This presentation demonstrates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing assessment processes for academic programs. AI offers the potential to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of assessment processes. Through this session, we will discuss the practical applications of AI, including analysis, real- the development of performance indicators and scoring rubrics. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of faculty involvement and informed leadership in harnessing the power of AI in the development of program-specific processes. While AI presents opportunities, we will also address the challenges and ethical considerations associated with its adoption while informing continuous improvement.
This presentation demonstrates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing assessment processes for academic programs. AI offers the potential to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of assessment processes. Through this session, we will discuss the practical applications of AI, including analysis, real- the development...
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
James Warnock
Professor and Founding Chair, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of GeorgiaJames N. Warnock is a professor and the founding chair of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Before coming to Athens, Warnock served as the associate dean for academic affairs at Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering. He earned a doctorate in chemical engineering and a master’s in biochemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, before completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Warnock has conducted research in the areas of cell and gene biomanufacturing, bioreactor design, tissue engineering and cellular mechanobiology. He is actively involved in engineering education research and has earned international acclaim for his work using problem-based learning to enable students to develop professional skills. He currently serves as the director for Engineering Workforce Development for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT).
Warnock is an adjunct director of professional offerings for ABET. In this role, he facilitates the planning, production and execution of the organization’s professional development programming and directs activities related to educational offerings and workshop-facilitator training.
Reception
Closing Plenary
University World News Editor-in-Chief Brendan O'Malley will chair a special guest panel that will delve into Dr. Panetta's keynote presentation and offer their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. They will field questions from the chair and our international audience. Joining Brendan on the panel are Dr. Brian Charles, an AI practitioner and researcher, and Chair of the 2U AI Advisory Council, Dora Smith, Senior Director of Global Education & Startup Strategy at Siemens, Boris Martin, CEO of Engineers Without Borders USA, and Dr. Hamid Fonooni, President of ABET.
University World News Editor-in-Chief Brendan O’Malley will chair a special guest panel that will delve into Dr. Panetta’s keynote presentation and offer their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. They will field questions from the chair and our international audience. Joining Brendan...
Brendan O’Malley
Editor in Chief and Freelance Journalist, University World NewsBrendan O’Malley is a freelance journalist and editor in chief of University World News, the global higher education news and commentary platform/online publication.
He is also an international consultant who has worked with UN agencies and INGOs on education and development issues, including the impact of conflict on education and vice versa.
He was author of the first two global studies on violent political and military attacks on education institutions, students, teachers, academics and personnel for UNESCO (Education under Attack 2007 and 2010) and lead researcher of the third such global study (Education under Attack 2014) for the Global Coalition to Prevent Attacks on Education (GCPEA).
These reports played a role in helping to catalyse UN agencies and INGOs to put attacks on education on their agenda and persuade the UN Security Council to give monitoring and reporting of attacks on schools a higher priority in its Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for listing and potentially sanctioning parties to conflict who carry out violations against children in armed conflict.
He is a former international editor of The Times Educational Supplement and author of numerous reports and papers on Education for All for UNESCO and others.
He has researched in and reported from dozens of countries including numerous developing countries many conflict-affected countries, and is co-author of an investigative documentary book on the impact of US and UK military interests on the Cyprus problem, The Cyprus Conspiracy: America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion (IB Taurus 1999), which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and was a Guardian Book of the Year.
He is a member of the non-partisan UK parliamentary group, Friends of Cyprus, which seeks a peaceful bicommunal settlement of the Cyprus problem and has been involved in track 2 efforts to build confidence in mutual cooperation and peace in Cyprus through education initiatives.
Boris Martin
CEO, Engineers Without Borders USABoris believes that every engineer today can play a role in helping humanity heal and adapt to climate change, and that profound impact happens when engineers embrace their own acts of generosity as a journey of personal transformation.
Boris is the CEO of Engineers Without Borders USA. His personal commitment to building positive, respectful, and mutually accountable partnerships across the world mirrors EWB-USA’s long-term commitment to communities which has allowed the organization to understand the deep complexities and nuanced challenges that resilient infrastructure can address.
Perhaps above all, Boris is proud to contribute to EWB-USA’s global impact projects that provide reliable access to safe water, renewable energy, nutritious food, and improved economic opportunities for thousands of underserved communities across the USA and around the world. His commitment is to make EWB-USA a leading Community Engineering organization and a catalyst and partner for Community Engineering around the world.
Dora Smith
Senior Director, Siemens Empowers Education and Startups, Siemens Digital Industries SoftwareDora Smith directs the global education and startup strategies for Siemens Digital Industries Software. The strategic education initiative empowers learners to create a more innovative sustainable future through access to industrial strength software, industry-aligned learning resources, and an ecosystem of more than 1.5 million students at more than 4,000 institutions worldwide. The strategic startup program empowers entrepreneurs to make an impact on the world through cutting-edge tools and resources to take their innovations from digitalization to realization. Smith also serves in academic-industry advisory roles with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES).
She is an accredited business communicator with more than 25 years of experience in the engineering and manufacturing industry. Previously, she held executive management positions at CAD Potential (now Tata Technologies), where she developed the company’s first academic and certification programs. Prior to that, she directed the Unigraphics Users Group (now Digital Enterprise Society) an independent, not-for-profit user advocacy organization supporting the engineering community. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s in business administration from Washington University.
Brian Charles
Head Managing Instructor, edX/Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDr. Brian Charles serves as the head managing instructor for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) cornerstone executive-education course on artificial intelligence (AI) and business strategy, delivered through 2U/edX. He facilitates this and other online courses on disruptive technologies and strategy. Charles also manages teams of the company’s 4,000+ academicians and industry practitioners charged with educating business leaders who choose to maintain and advance their skills through courses offered via the world’s leading educational institutions In concert with his academic work, Charles founded and heads Silver Lead Technology Advisors, an AI systems-development and -strategy firm that serves commercial, educational and government organizations around the world to help conceive, design and build intelligent, connected systems.
His instructional and academic-management work combined with his practice in the areas of AI development and organizational leadership provide Charles with panoramic insights into the opportunities and challenges confronting leaders in the fifth industrial revolution.
Previously, Charles led business units for Dell, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services and several tech startups addressing their global clients’ digital transformation needs as various enabling technologies emerged over the past 30 years. Early in his career, Charles created some of the world’s first websites, working in the U.S. high energy physics laboratory system which fostered today’s Internet.
Charles authored "Embracing the Future of Organizational Leadership: Navigating the Era of AI." He holds B.A., M.S., MBA and Ph.D. degrees. Charles lives in the Chicago, Illinois area with his wife and family.
Hamid Fonooni
ABET President, Director, Ergonomics Program, University of California, DavisDr. Hamid Fonooni is currently serving as the director of the ergonomics program in Occupational Health Services at the University of California-Davis. Prior to his appointment at UC Davis, he served as the director of the master of science in occupational safety at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina for 10 years, and from 1995-2006, he served as the director of master of environmental health and safety program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has 22 years of experience working in academia, plus 13 years of industrial experience, which includes eight years working as a senior ergonomics engineer for the Ohio Division of Safety and Hygiene serving industries in Northwest Ohio. In addition, he has provided consultation in the areas of ergonomics, process improvement and risk management to industries in Northern Minnesota and Eastern North Carolina.
Fonooni received his doctoral and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from University of Cincinnati and his undergrad degree in mechanical engineering technology from Indiana State University. He has published numerous articles, book chapters, papers and technical reports related to occupational ergonomics, biomechanics and occupational safety. Fonooni is also a Board Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE).
A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Approach to Assigning and Assessing Writing
This presentation details our institution’s experiences assessing engineering students’ writing skills to achieve ABET Student Learning Outcome 3. Historically, the engineering department faced several challenges in improving student writing, including constraints on time, resources and personnel. Additionally, students often relied on unethical methods of researching and writing their assignments, including unauthorized AI usage. To resolve these issues, the engineering department partnered with the University Writing Center to redesign assignment prompts and assessment rubrics, particularly the Senior Project Plan. Our data shows that our old rubrics may have been misrepresenting the students’ actual writing abilities and that requiring writing center visits benefitted the students. This session aims to highlight the importance of collaborating with faculty across the disciplines by demonstrating the positive impact of a successful interdisciplinary approach.
This presentation details our institution’s experiences assessing engineering students’ writing skills to achieve ABET Student Learning Outcome 3. Historically, the engineering department faced several challenges in improving student writing, including constraints on time, resources and personnel. Additionally, students often relied on unethical methods of researching...
Jared Teague
Associate Professor of Engineering, University of Tennessee at MartinDr. Jared Teague is an associate professor and the ABET assessment coordinator in the department of engineering at the University of Tennessee at Martin. His areas of teaching and interest include ferrous metallurgy, quality engineering and industrial controls. He led the department’s transition to the one through seven learning outcomes and completed a self-study for a new bachelor of science mechanical engineering program accredited last year.
Kelle Alden
Associate Professor of English and Director of the Writing Center, University of Tennessee at MartinDr. Kelle Alden is an associate professor of English and the director of the Writing Center at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Her areas of expertise include rhetoric and composition, writing center studies, creative writing and writing in the disciplines. She coordinates and leads Ad Hoc Writing Across the Curriculum initiatives at UT Martin.
Ashley Owens
Assistant Professor of Engineering, University of Tennessee at MartinDr. Ashley Owens is an assistant professor in the department of engineering at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She has more than 10 years experience as design/project engineer. Her areas of teaching and interest include project management, robotics, hydraulic and pneumatics, computational methods and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
Future Directions on Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC): Associates, Masters and Emerging Technologies
In this session, participants will receive an update on the future directions of the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC). Beginning with bachelor-level programs in computer science, over the years, the commission expanded to information systems, cyber security, information technology, and data science. In recent years, the CAC has added associate-level programs in Cyber Security. CAC is now proposing new criteria for associate-level programs in information technology and masters-level programs in computing. The commission is also seeking to update its criteria in emerging areas, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
In this session, participants will receive an update on the future directions of the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC). Beginning with bachelor-level programs in computer science, over the years, the commission expanded to information systems, cyber security, information technology, and data science. In recent years, the...
Andy Borchers
Professor of Management, Lipscomb UniversityAndy Borchers serves as a professor of management in the College of Business at Lipscomb University. Previously, he was department chair in business at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. Borchers spent 20 years in the automotive industry before moving into the academic world. His research interests include enterprise systems, sustainability, supply chain management and general management topics.
Sherif Aly Ahmed
Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The American University in CairoSherif Aly Ahmed is the current chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the American University in Cairo with a mandate of transformation. Above all, he is a professor of computer science and engineering with significant industrial and governmental consultation experience. At the American University in Cairo (AUC), Ahmed has served as vice-chair of the University Senate, member of the senate executive committee, member of its standing committees and senate chair nominee. He is the former associate dean of Graduate Studies and Research of the School of Sciences and Engineering, director of its doctorate program and head of the council of graduate program directors.
Ahmed is a member of the Executive Committee of the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, where he also serves as a commissioner. He is also a steering member of the international Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), IEEE and Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) taskforce to define decennial worldwide guidelines for computer science education. Ahmed is also editor of the flagship communications of the ACM magazine.
For his work amongst these associations, Ahmed has received numerous recognitions for outstanding performance including the AUC President’s Catalyst for Change Award, Google faculty research award and the Egypt National Prize for Scientific Research.
Ruth Davis
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Engineering, and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara UniversityRuth Davis serves as associate dean for undergraduate engineering, and professor of computer science and engineering at Santa Clara University (SCU). She has been recognized by CSAB's Association for Computing Machinery (Doctoral Dissertation Award in 1980, Distinguished Scientist since 2006), Society of Women Engineers (Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, 2020), and SCU (endowed professorships 1993-97, 2004-09, and 2009-20, and Faculty Senate Professor of the Year 2015). Davis' research interests include: formal methods, functional and relational programming, and increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in engineering.
Scott Murray
Staff Data Engineer, Procore TechnologiesScott Murray is currently a Data Engineer for Procore Technologies (www.procore.com) and has worked in the data analytics/business intelligence area for over 20 years. Additionally, Murray is an adjunct instructor for Kennesaw State University, Maryville University and Reinhardt University. He also currently serves on the executive committee of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission and is a current CSAB board member.
Autonomous Learning in Cybersecurity: Bridging Gaps with Generative AI
Generative AI holds the promise of helping students bridge learning gaps through autonomous learning. Students can personalize their learning experience through AI-driven real-time content creation and guided problem solving. Instant feedback on complex topics deepens comprehension and empowers learners, especially in challenging subject areas. Practical examples will demonstrate how AI can assist in crafting personalized and efficient learning materials. Generative AI is poised to revolutionize learner assessment by providing real-time, nuanced feedback, enabling immediate intervention. This transformation could significantly improve alignment with learning objectives, ensuring fairness and relevance in student assessment. We will also explore the ethical considerations for integrating generative AI in education. Our discussion will extend to how generative AI could transform program assessment and accreditation.
Generative AI holds the promise of helping students bridge learning gaps through autonomous learning. Students can personalize their learning experience through AI-driven real-time content creation and guided problem solving. Instant feedback on complex topics deepens comprehension and empowers learners, especially in challenging subject areas. Practical...
Michael Erskine
Associate Professor, Middle Tennessee State UniversityMichael A. Erskine is an associate professor in the department of information systems and analytics faculty at Middle Tennessee State University. Previously, he served as the director of the Educational Technology Center at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Nita Brooks
Professor, Middle Tennessee State UniversityNita Brooks is a professor in the department of information systems and analytics and associate dean of undergraduate programs and accreditation of the Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University. She has served as a program evaluator for ABET and is currently a member of the Computing Accreditation Commission.
Tim Greer
Professor, Middle Tennessee State UniversityTim Greer is a professor and chair of the department of information systems and analytics at Middle Tennessee State University.
Continuous Improvement in ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) Programs: A Journey to Reaccreditation
The presentation explicates the unique strategies utilized and lessons learned in the attainment of ABET Criterion 4, Continuous Improvement (CI) process in the Engineering Technology (ET) department's ETAC of ABET accredited programs by involving the constituents. Department faculty, led by the author, successfully implemented a 3-year schedule of assessment and evaluation of Student Outcomes (SO). As part of the CI process, all SO’s were systematically assessed, evaluated, with documented reflection and CI action items recommended for implementation. Documented evidence of implemented actions demonstrate that the results of student outcome assessment and evaluations were systematically utilized as input for the program’s CI actions. As part of the CI process, review of course descriptions by involving the constituents led to the revision of the program’s degree requirements; Input from the Advisory Board resulted in enhanced Industry 4.0 content in the program benefiting the region.
The presentation explicates the unique strategies utilized and lessons learned in the attainment of ABET Criterion 4, Continuous Improvement (CI) process in the Engineering Technology (ET) department’s ETAC of ABET accredited programs by involving the constituents. Department faculty, led by the author, successfully implemented a...
Ravi Manimaran
Professor and Chair, Austin Peay State UniversityRavi C. Manimaran is a professor and chair of the department of engineering technology at Austin Peay State University. His education includes two master of science degrees in electrical & computer engineering and electronics and control engineering. He has been involved in higher education leadership as a dean, department chair, project director and a faculty member since 1997. He served as the PI / Co-PI of multiple internal and external grants yielding several conference presentations and publications. His research interests include industrial automation systems, very large-scale integration (VLSI), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), active learning, innovative pedagogy, and higher education leadership. He had led the accreditation journey for numerous ABET accredited programs since 2011.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – Assessment
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Assessment, attendees are invited to ask any and all assessment-related questions and our experts will answer them.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Assessment, attendees are invited to ask any and all assessment-related questions and our experts will answer them. Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific...
Daina Briedis
Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment, Michigan State UniversityDaina M. Briedis, Ph.D., is currently an Adjunct Director of Professional Offerings at ABET. She also serves as Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University and is a faculty member and ABET Coordinator in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Over the past 32 years, Briedis has served ABET as a program evaluator for AIChE, a team chair and member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the first chair of the EAC Training and Materials Development Committee and an Executive Committee member of the EAC. She was a program evaluator on one of the very first “EC2000” visits and subsequently chaired several new criteria visits. Briedis has been an AIChE Representative Director on the ABET Board of Directors and has been involved in the design teams for the new program evaluator and train-the-trainers training materials. She is a lead facilitator for the program evaluator training sessions. She also consults in the area of accreditation and assessment and evaluation and serves on the Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). She was elected a Fellow of ABET in 2007, a Fellow of the AIChE in 2011 and a Fellow of ASEE in 2015. She is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar.
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
James Warnock
Professor and Founding Chair, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of GeorgiaJames N. Warnock is a professor and the founding chair of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Before coming to Athens, Warnock served as the associate dean for academic affairs at Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering. He earned a doctorate in chemical engineering and a master’s in biochemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, before completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Warnock has conducted research in the areas of cell and gene biomanufacturing, bioreactor design, tissue engineering and cellular mechanobiology. He is actively involved in engineering education research and has earned international acclaim for his work using problem-based learning to enable students to develop professional skills. He currently serves as the director for Engineering Workforce Development for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT).
Warnock is an adjunct director of professional offerings for ABET. In this role, he facilitates the planning, production and execution of the organization’s professional development programming and directs activities related to educational offerings and workshop-facilitator training.
Promoting Gender Equity and Retention in Engineering
The need for diversity in engineering is more than just about equity and fairness; it is also about recognizing the value of diverse thoughts and how they can spur creative and innovative solutions for a complex and ever-changing world. This is also the motivation for ABET student outcome 5: “an ability to function effectively on a team…creat[ing] a collaborative and inclusive environment…” Recognizing the need for a diverse engineering workforce appeals us not only to include, but to retain, diversity along the entire educational path. Despite the increasing efforts to keep young women interested in STEM before college, once there, a sizeable number of them will still end up leaving engineering majors for non-STEM related fields. As such, it is critical that efforts continue well into college to help maintain and foster inclusive environments which encourage the retention of women, especially in historically poorly diverse STEM fields, such as mechanical engineering. This session will interactively discuss a variety of possible approaches for the retention of women in engineering and explore the outcomes and impact of those programs.
The need for diversity in engineering is more than just about equity and fairness; it is also about recognizing the value of diverse thoughts and how they can spur creative and innovative solutions for a complex and ever-changing world. This is also the motivation for...
Christina Haden
Associate Teaching Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Lehigh UniversityDr. Christina Viau Haden is a faculty member in the mechanical engineering and mechanics department at Lehigh University. Her research involves the material property prediction of additively manufactured metals. Besides her research, a passion for teaching has lead her to co-develop of a new interdisciplinary course at Lehigh at the intersection of art and engineering on the topic of Leonardo da Vinci's life works. Haden also leads her department's ABET accreditation process, enjoys being an ABET facilitator and serves as the chair of her department's undergraduate curriculum committee. Haden is also deeply committed to improving the retention rates of women in STEM. She runs a yearly three-day welcome event for incoming engineering freshwomen at Lehigh University, offers a mentoring program for women in her department and advises the Society for Women Engineers (SWE) and Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) local chapter, among others.
Tips for Meeting the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) ABET Criteria
This session will discuss commonly identified shortcomings and how to avoid them when seeking ABET accreditation for an Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program. In addition, common criteria terminology will be defined and explained to better understand requirements. The presentation will also discuss statistics on shortcoming findings.
This session will discuss commonly identified shortcomings and how to avoid them when seeking ABET accreditation for an Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program. In addition, common criteria terminology will be defined and explained to better understand requirements. The presentation will also discuss statistics on shortcoming...
Patsy Brackin
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyPatsy Brackin is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she also serves as Director of Engineering Design. Her B.S. and M.S. are from the University of Tennessee and her Ph.D. is from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has significant industry experience and is a licensed professional engineer as well as a Fellow of ASME and ABET. Brackin has been involved in several areas of ABET accreditation, including her position as her departmental ABET coordinator and member of ASME’s Committee on Engineering Accreditation. She has also served as a Program Evaluator, Team Chair and a member of the EAC Executive Committee, where she also served as chair of the Criteria Committee.
Philip Schenewerk
Retired Geological and Petroleum EngineerPhilip "Phil" Schenewerk has served as an ABET volunteer since 1989 and is currently a member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission Executive Committee. He is a retired geological and petroleum engineer with a B.S. degree in earth sciences from the University of New Orleans, an M.S. in geological engineering and a Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, both from the University of Oklahoma at Norman. He is a distinguished member of Society of Petroleum Engineers and a licensed Professional Engineer and Professional Geologist.
Meeting Outcomes While Making an Impact in the World: Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Model for Community-Engaged Learning
Opportunities to meet a wide range of learning outcomes that can be challenging to meet in traditional courses may lie within our local and global communities. Community-engaged learning places students in partnerships with organizations within a community to develop solutions together to meet compelling human and sustainability needs within a broad range of communities. The Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program is an internationally recognized model for community-engaged design that was founded at Purdue University and integrated into curricula at several other institutions around the world. EPICS engages students in real projects that are developed, delivered and supported within local, regional and international communities. Student design teams are diverse including students from across and outside of engineering with students participating as early as their first year and as late as their final year and in some cases as capstone design. The model for design, community partnerships, and assessment will be presented and discussed along with lessons learned that can be applied at other institutions. Evidence will be shared how to approach can meet outcomes, prepare students for success in professional practice and increase diversity.
Opportunities to meet a wide range of learning outcomes that can be challenging to meet in traditional courses may lie within our local and global communities. Community-engaged learning places students in partnerships with organizations within a community to develop solutions together to meet compelling human...
William Oakes
Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning and Professor of Engineering Education , Purdue UniversityWilliam (Bill) Oakes is the Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning, a 150th Anniversary Professor, Director of the EPICS Program, Professor of Engineering Education at Purdue University, and a registered professional engineer. He is one of the founding faculty in the School of Engineering Education having courtesy appointments in Mechanical, Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Curriculum and Instruction. He was the first engineer to receive the U.S. Campus Compact Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service-Learning and a co-recipient of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering’s Bernard Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education. He is a fellow of NSPE and ASEE and member of the ASEE Hall of Fame.
ABET Certificate Recognition – Beyond the Pilots
Certificates and other micro-credentials are rapidly evolving to meet learner and employer needs. These credentials provide opportunities for learners to gain up-to-date skills to stay current or to move into emerging areas. Also, many non-traditional learners are looking to these credentials as a faster and cheaper alternative to 2 or 4-year degrees. However, due to the confusing array of credentials being offered across a broad spectrum of providers, both employers and learners struggle to be confident of the value and quality of many of these offerings. In response to this situation, ABET is still investigating how to conduct this service and will ultimately provide a quality assurance service in this space.
Draft criteria and processes were presented at last year’s symposium and used to conduct pilot reviews at educational institutions that were familiar with ABET accreditation. This session will focus on lessons learned and changes to the criteria and processes informed by these pilots. In addition, session participants will have the opportunity to further shape these criteria and processes through interactions in the session and provide their thoughts on the potential value added by ABET involvement. This input will impact the expansion of this model as it moves beyond just the offerings at academic institutions to a second round of pilots with a broader range of certificate providers.
Certificates and other micro-credentials are rapidly evolving to meet learner and employer needs. These credentials provide opportunities for learners to gain up-to-date skills to stay current or to move into emerging areas. Also, many non-traditional learners are looking to these credentials as a faster and...
Donna Reese
Professor Emerita, Mississippi State UniversityDonna Reese is professor emerita of computer science at Mississippi State University, where she retired as head of computer science and engineering in 2017. She is currently serving as president of CSAB, the professional society for all computing accreditation as well as on the Computing Area Delegation, the Engineering Area Delegation and the Board of Delegates for ABET. Reese also serves as a lead facilitator for ABET’s program evaluator training. She began her ABET service in 2005 as a program evaluator and was elected to the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) in 2009. After serving on the CAC Executive Committee from 2014-2017, she served as the chair of the CAC in 2017-18. Reese was named an ABET fellow in 2020.
Paul Leidig
Director, School of Computing, Grand Valley State UniversityDr. Paul M. Leidig is a professor and the founding director of the School of Computing at Grand Valley State University. He serves as vice president of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB), the Computing Area Director on the ABET Board of Directors, and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Education Board. He co-chaired the ACM/AIS Information Systems Curriculum (IS2020) taskforce, co-chaired the ACM taskforce for Computing Competencies for Undergraduate Data Science Curricula, and served on the Computing Curricula 2020 (CC2020) taskforce. He was named a fellow of CSAB and is an EDSIG fellow. Leidig earned his Ph.D. in business: information systems from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jessica Silwick
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, ABETJessica Silwick is ABET’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer (CFO/COO). She is responsible for developing ABET’s financial management strategy and the integrity of the financial information. She leads communications and marketing, professional offerings, operations, human resources, and lead internal auditor. She previously worked for large organizations in manufacturing, pharmaceutical and energy fields. Her bachelor’s in accounting is from University of Notre Dame of Maryland, and an MBA from University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler School of Business. She is an active Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Association Executive, and has professional certificates from Yale and Cornell. She was recognized as a 2022 top 50 CFOs by OnCon ICON Awards, and won the AICPA’s, Emerging Leader Award in 2015.
Andrew T. Phillips
Executive Director, CSAB Inc.Andrew Phillips is the executive director for CSAB Inc, the lead ABET member society for accreditation of degree programs in computing (computer science, cybersecurity, data science, information services, information technology and software engineering). Prior to becoming CSAB’s executive director in 2023, he served from 2009-2023 as academic dean and provost at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Phillips has been a program evaluator for ABET since 1997, and was a member of its Computing Accreditation Commission from 2004-2009, and served as the Computing Area Director and member of the ABET Board of Directors from 2018-2022. He is also a past president of CSAB, a CSAB fellow, an ABET fellow, and continues to be a team chair and program evaluator for both ABET and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Barbara Price
Professor Emerita, Quantitative Analysis, Georgia Southern UniversityBarbara Price received her B.S. degree in mathematics from Grove City College and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in statistics from Virginia Tech. Her academic career began at New River Community College before accepting positions at other schools including: Radford University, Mississippi State University, Lynchburg College, Winthrop University and Georgia Southern University. At Georgia Southern, Price served as department chair in the College of Business Administration, founding director of the School of Information Technology, professor of quantitative analysis and interim associate vice president for continuing education. She served as a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. She was recognized as a fellow of CSAB and a fellow of ABET in 2013.
Price’s ABET service includes her prior role as secretary of the ABET Board of Directors, past member of the Computing Area Delegation and the Board of Delegates, lead/support facilitator for program evaluator candidate training, member of the Accreditation Council Training Committee and Computing Accreditation Commission chair for the 2012-2013 cycle.
Jean Blair
Distinguished Professor of Innovation, United States Military AcademyJean Blair is the EECS Distinguished Professor for Innovation and a Professor of Computer Science at the United States Military Academy where she previously held positions as deputy to the chief academic officer, director of the computer science program and director of the information systems engineering program. An ABET volunteer since the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) merged with ABET, Blair has served as a program evaluator, team chair, commissioner, and on the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) executive committee, where she currently serves as the past chair. She is a senior member of Association for Computing Machinery and IEEE and a member of American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Blair was named both an ABET Fellow and a CSAB Fellow in 2023.
Lawrence Jones
President 2015-16, ABETLawrence G. Jones’ 35+ years of ABET service includes: 2015-16 president, accreditation council chair and computing accreditation commission chair. More recently, he has led projects to accredit associate programs in cybersecurity and bachelor degree programs in data science and helped investigate piloting ABET recognition of certificates.
Jones' U.S. Air Force (USAF) career includes chair of computer science at the USAF Academy. He retired from Carnegie-Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute as Distinguished Principal Researcher.
His B.S and M.S. in industrial engineering are from the University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. in computer science is from Vanderbilt. He is a Fellow of ABET and CSAB and recipient of ABET’s Grinter Award for Distinguished Service.
Building A Sustainable Outlines Assessment Process
Six years ago we started to build a college wide automated direct measures outcomes assessment process. Each program identified which junior and senior courses would be responsible for measuring each outcome. Care was taken to limit the number of outcomes assessed by each course. Instructors were required to upload a pdf of the metric they used to measure the outcome along with a paragraph explaining why it was an excellent measure. They also uploaded a spreadsheet with a student identifier and metric score normalized to 100 for each student in the class (permits disaggregation). Data is collected every term. 12 programs have adopted our Google Forms based data collection system and our results are compiled using Tableau. Faculty adoption and compliance has been remarkable and we have data for more than 7,000 students across all of our programs. We will present the results in a live demonstration as if we were presenting our results to our faculty.
Six years ago we started to build a college wide automated direct measures outcomes assessment process. Each program identified which junior and senior courses would be responsible for measuring each outcome. Care was taken to limit the number of outcomes assessed by each course. Instructors...
Steve Yalisove
Professor of Materials, Science & Engineering, University of MichiganSteve Yalisove obtained a Ph.D. in materials science & engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986. After a post doctorate at Bell Laboratories, he joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1989. He has made important contributions to the fields of surface science, thin film growth, evolution of thin film morphology and, most recently, the interaction of high intensity femtosecond lasers with materials. He has also been involved with revolutionizing engineering education by eliminating lectures and teaching team based/project based versions in large classes. In Yalisove's classes, he has eliminated exams in favor of mastery grading approaches and has developed novel ways to drive inclusion with his team-based approach.
Using Evaluation to Improve Learning – From Data to Wisdom
A sound evaluation process is critical to produce findings and recommendations for the improvement of student learning. Evaluation is where all the assessment processes come together for review and recommendations for improvements. This session will demonstrate the elements of an effective evaluation process that involves faculty and leads to the improvement of student learning, assessment processes and curriculum integrity around desired learning outcomes. Examples of how the process can improve the quality of stated learning outcomes, curriculum mapping and faculty engagement are provided. Participants will engage in identifying the important elements of evaluation and recognizing and diagnosing symptoms of ineffective processes.
A sound evaluation process is critical to produce findings and recommendations for the improvement of student learning. Evaluation is where all the assessment processes come together for review and recommendations for improvements. This session will demonstrate the elements of an effective evaluation process that involves...
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
Daina Briedis
Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment, Michigan State UniversityDaina M. Briedis, Ph.D., is currently an Adjunct Director of Professional Offerings at ABET. She also serves as Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University and is a faculty member and ABET Coordinator in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Over the past 32 years, Briedis has served ABET as a program evaluator for AIChE, a team chair and member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the first chair of the EAC Training and Materials Development Committee and an Executive Committee member of the EAC. She was a program evaluator on one of the very first “EC2000” visits and subsequently chaired several new criteria visits. Briedis has been an AIChE Representative Director on the ABET Board of Directors and has been involved in the design teams for the new program evaluator and train-the-trainers training materials. She is a lead facilitator for the program evaluator training sessions. She also consults in the area of accreditation and assessment and evaluation and serves on the Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). She was elected a Fellow of ABET in 2007, a Fellow of the AIChE in 2011 and a Fellow of ASEE in 2015. She is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar.
Supplemental Materials for Site Visits
This presentation will provide guidance on supplemental materials for programs preparing for an upcoming accreditation visit, whether virtual or in-person. We will review the scope of materials a program needs to provide evidence to show compliance with the relevant criteria as well as options for organizing and providing materials. Our presentation focuses on those aspects of supplemental materials common to all ABET commissions. Commission-specific issues will be addressed via a follow up Question & Answer panel of commission representatives.
This presentation will provide guidance on supplemental materials for programs preparing for an upcoming accreditation visit, whether virtual or in-person. We will review the scope of materials a program needs to provide evidence to show compliance with the relevant criteria as well as options for...
Stan Thomas
Adjunct Director of Training, ABETDr. Stan Thomas, Ph.D. has nearly four decades of experience in computing and computing education. He currently serves as the adjunct director of training for ABET. Thomas has been a faculty member of Wake Forest University since 1983, serving as department chair from 2004 to 2011, with visiting appointments at the United States Air Force Academy and Lahore University of Management Science, Lahore, Pakistan. His research interests are data management, data analysis and computer science education.
Thomas earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Davidson College and a Ph.D. in computer science from Vanderbilt University. He went on to spend four summers as research faculty at the NASA Kennedy Space Center and has worked as an expert witness and professional consultant with several organizations. Thomas has been an ABET program evaluator since 1996 and served as the chair of the Computing Accreditation Commission in 2014-15. He is also a senior member of IEEE-CS and was identified as a CSAB fellow in 2013 and an ABET fellow in 2018.
Venancio Fuentes
Faculty, Mohawk Valley Community CollegeVenancio “Venny” L. Fuentes, P.E. is currently the department chairperson for the Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science department at County College of Morris, a two-year college. His experience in ABET includes being on both sides of a visit, as a department chair and serving in the roles of program evaluator, team chair and statement editor. He has been an IEEE program evaluator since 2002. He served on the IEEE Committee on Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities (CETAA) prior to joining the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) as a commissioner. He is presently serving on the ETAC Executive Committee and chairs the ETAC Documents Committee. Prior to his teaching career, he was a systems engineer working on navigation systems for air, sea and space applications.
Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar
Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Idaho State UniversityDr. Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar is professor of Nuclear Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Idaho State University. She has a doctorate degree in nuclear engineering and a master of science in environmental engineering from Penn State University and a bachelor of science in chemistry from Cedar Crest College. Her nuclear career spans about 25 years, during which she has performed research in various aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, including waste form development, spent fuel pyroprocessing, spent TRISO particle fuel qualification for disposal, fuel and material development and characterization (pre- and post-irradiation), development of a waste minimization plan for a next generation nuclear reactor design, and fuel cycle modeling.
Dunzik-Gougar’s research has led to national and international collaborations, including a year-long position with PBMR Ltd in South Africa and a consulting contract with EDF energy of France. She has served as consultant/ subject matter expert for subsequent projects coordinated by the European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency. She has led multi-institutional teams of researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory and through Idaho State University.
To share her expertise with a new generation of researchers, Dunzik-Gougar developed and teaches a number of undergraduate and graduate level courses, from basic nuclear physics to more advanced topics in the nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive waste management. Before going to graduate school she taught high school science and mathematics for seven years in the U.S. and the U.K. In addition to her scholarly and technical activities, she has been a contributing member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) at local and national levels for about 30 years. In 2019, she was elected to serve as vice-president/president elect for ANS and she completed her term as president in June 2021. In 2022, she began service on the advisory committee for the Nuclear Fuels and Materials Complex at the Idaho National Lab. Also in 2022, she was honored to be named an Outstanding Engineering Alumna by the Penn State College of Engineering.
David “Hoot” Gibson
Computing Accreditation Chair, ABET, Professor Emeritus of Computer and Cyber Sciences, United States Air Force AcademyDavid "Hoot" Gibson is professor emeritus of computer and cyber sciences at the United States Air Force Academy where he was professor and head of the department for 15 years. He served over 34 years in the United States Air Force working in electronic warfare, computer security, cyber operations, and computer science research and education. At the Air Force Academy, he established one of the nation’s first undergraduate cybersecurity degrees. He was a principal co-author of the Association for Computing Machinery's Cybersecurity Curricular Guidelines (CSEC 2017) and guided the development of ABET’s cybersecurity program accreditation criteria for baccalaureate and associate level degree programs. Gibson has been an ABET volunteer for over 23 years and currently serves as 2023-24 chair of ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
Chris Taylor
Professor and EECS Vice Chair, Milwaukee School of EngineeringChris Taylor is professor and vice chair of the electrical engineering and computer science department at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1998. Taylor is a member of the CSAB board and is the CSAB liaison to the IEEE CEAA. He has served as an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program evaluator for CSAB and IEEE and has also been an EAC Commissioner. He served as chair of the EAC Training Committee and has served on the EAC Executive Committee.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – Accreditation
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet will lead the conversation.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about Accreditation, attendees are invited to ask any and all accreditation-related questions and our experts will answer them. ABET Senior Director of Accreditation Operations Jane Emmet will lead the conversation. Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together...
Jane Emmet
Senior Director, Accreditation Operations, ABETJane Emmet has been responsible for the management and administration of ABET’s accreditation policies and procedures and the overall operations of ABET’s accreditation processes since November, 2015. She joined ABET in January 2014 as the training manager responsible for the training of the over 2,000 volunteer professionals who serve ABET. Today, Emmet is the senior director, accreditation operations.
Emmet's background, prior to joining ABET, includes directing and managing training and leadership development programs at professional service organizations, energy companies and developing education programs for history museums. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College in history/education and a master’s degree in museum education from The George Washington University. She also holds a graduate certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in instructional systems design.
Winston Erevelles
Adjunct Accreditation Director of Engineering, ABETWinston F. Erevelles, Ph.D., F.ABET., is dean emeritus, special advisor to the president and professor of engineering at St. Mary’s University. During his 12 year tenure as dean of the school of science, engineering and technology, he led the development and enhancement of the school’s education and research capabilities, community and industrial outreach, and domestic and international partnerships, with over $45 million raised to support these initiatives. His current projects include a STEM Innovation Center that is currently under construction and a new Nursing program. Erevelles previously served in engineering, faculty and leadership roles at Robert Morris University, Kettering University and Mykron Engineers (India) over a 25-year period.
Erevelles earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bangalore University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Management (manufacturing engineering emphasis) from the University of Missouri-Rolla. His affiliation with ABET began in 1998 and includes service as a program evaluator, team chair and chair of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). He currently serves as an adjunct accreditation director for the EAC of ABET.
Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC): Common Challenges and Findings
This presentation is designed for representatives from Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) accredited programs or those interested in seeking ETAC accreditation. In either case, the session will help programs proactively prepare for future accreditation reviews. Two senior members of the ETAC leadership group provide general information related to common challenges and the high frequency of findings. Examples of common findings are used to provide a context for discussion about how to safeguard against such findings being written for a program.
This presentation is designed for representatives from Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) accredited programs or those interested in seeking ETAC accreditation. In either case, the session will help programs proactively prepare for future accreditation reviews. Two senior members of the ETAC leadership group provide general...
Gary Clark
Senior Associate Dean, Kansas State UniversityDr. Gary Clark is a training co-chair and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a Program Evaluator (PEV) for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). He currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean for the College of Engineering at Kansas State University and is a Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. He is a Fellow of ASABE and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Berrin Tansel
Professor, Florida International UniversityDr. Berrin Tansel is training co-chair and executive committee member of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, and a program evaluator for the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). Tansel is an environmental engineer, researcher, author, educator and professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Florida International University (FIU). Tansel is a diplomate of American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, and Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEES). She is an elected fellow of Water Environment Federation (WEF), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and Environmental and Water Resources Engineers (EWRI).
Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword
Despite the advancements that have come out of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and subsequent generative AI race, there are a significant number of problems under the surface. With the rise of AI generators in social media and pop culture, these problems amplify as the demand for AI tools skyrockets. These solutions regularly exhibit harmful biases and stereotypes deeply embedded in the data developers use to train AI models. Perhaps exacerbating the immediacy of the issue, generative AI models can create highly realistic imagery, empowering users with malicious intent. This session will explore the pervasive issue of bias in generative AI and its implications and examine how these models, often trained on biased datasets, can unintentionally amplify, replicate, and reinforce harmful biases and stereotypes. Additionally, it delves into the objectification of individuals, particularly women, and in a novel study, discusses how a popular TikTok filter that uses generative AI exhibits gender and racial biases while excessively sexualizing its users.
Despite the advancements that have come out of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and subsequent generative AI race, there are a significant number of problems under the surface. With the rise of AI generators in social media and pop culture, these problems amplify as the...
Kevin Kuck
Student, George Mason UniversityKevin Kuck is a dedicated 5th year senior, and soon to be graduate at George Mason University, majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in photography. He has consistently been named to the Dean's List in eight of the ten semesters he has attended while maintaining a GPA of 3.76. He is currently serving as President of the student section of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and as a member of the Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Board at George Mason University.
Through his education at George Mason, Kuck discovered a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics especially relating to the realm of engineering, and as a result, influenced a self-guided research paper on DEI in generative artificial intelligence. Last October, he had the honor of presenting his research paper titled, Generative Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword, at the 2023 World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) and Global Engineering Dean's Council (GEDC) conference in Monterrey, Mexico. His paper was later published in IEEE Xplore.
Additionally, during his time at the conference, he befriended the leadership team of the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED) and joined the organization's leadership as webmaster and photographer. He looks forward to aiding the organization's growth and contributing to their mission to make engineering education more accessible and advocate for student voices to be recognized in engineering dialogue.
Kevin embraces the philosophy that growth and learning come abundantly from failing and believes that if you love to learn, you should also love to fail. Alongside his studies, he follows his creative instincts with photography, allowing him to be a better engineer, as photography often requires thinking outside the box and being creative to get results.
The Impact of ABET Accreditation in the Engineering Education of Colombia
Nowadays, 54 engineering programs are accredited in Colombia by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, compared with 6 programs back in 2008, and many are in preparation for their initial review. An increasing interest in pursuing ABET accreditation has been evidenced, mainly due to recognition of the EAC criteria as a source of quality for the engineering education and a catalyst for building global engineering programs. In this presentation, a transformative path will be discussed in terms of the influence of the EAC Criteria in the engineering education of Colombia, such as the implementation of an engineering assessment national community, an Outcome-Based national accreditation system, the effect of ABET-EAC Student Outcomes in curricular changes, the adoption of an innovative culminating major engineering design experiences, new global avenues of collaboration, and the sense of community between programs to share the accreditation value for students and institutions.
Nowadays, 54 engineering programs are accredited in Colombia by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, compared with 6 programs back in 2008, and many are in preparation for their initial review. An increasing interest in pursuing ABET accreditation has been evidenced, mainly due to recognition...
Humberto Gómez
Professor, Universidad del NorteDr. Humberto Gómez is associate professor of the mechanical engineering department and graduate school director at Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla- Colombia. He is also the executive director of the Materials and Manufacturing Center (CIMM) of Uninorte. Gomez holds a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Florida, Tampa, and his M.Sc and B.S in mechanical engineering from Universidad del Norte. Gomez provides permanent contributions in international engineering education topics and volunteers as an ASME program evaluator for ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission in addition to his work with ASME CEA, ASME Scholarship Committee, international liaison for ACOFI (the Colombian Association of Engineering Colleges) and president of the Educational Committee of UPADI (The Pan American Federation of Engineering Societies).
Embedding DEI: Preparing a Diverse and Inclusive Next Generation Workforce
The general criteria for accrediting engineering programs have evolved to incorporate the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as related to faculty and the curriculum. This workshop will engage participants in meaningful dialogue to prepare for the new accreditation process. We will explore best and promising practices to develop a blueprint and a roadmap to incorporate the principles of DEI into an engineering program and to identify resources available at the institution. If you are a faculty or administrator seeking strategies and resources to both achieve engineering accreditation and prepare the next generation workforce, this is the workshop for you. Using an interactive and engaging approach and leveraging my experience as an administrator at a research-intensive higher education institution, we will explore ways to leverage institutional resources to engage faculty, improve student outcomes, and enhance curricular design to prepare students for success.
The general criteria for accrediting engineering programs have evolved to incorporate the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as related to faculty and the curriculum. This workshop will engage participants in meaningful dialogue to prepare for the new accreditation process. We will explore best...
Fatima Alleyne
Director, Community Engagement & Inclusive Practices, University of California, BerkleyFatima Alleyne, Ph.D., is a professionally trained engineer and transformational leader who serves as the director of Community Engagement and Inclusive Practices in the College of Engineering (CoE) at the University of California, Berkeley. She brings her passion and love for STEM and education into her work to develop programs that promote equity, foster a positive, inclusive culture and increase access and opportunities to those who have historically been underrepresented in STEM.
As director, Alleyne develops, leads, executes and evaluates professional trainings and workshops for faculty to increase their knowledge and awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). A core component of her work, Alleyne engages diverse members of the campus community on the topic of DEI and, particularly faculty, on how to integrate these principles into research, teaching, service, faculty recruitment and retention and holistic graduate admissions. Such programs include the Faculty Engagement Fund, Inclusive Excellence Orientation for Faculty, Inclusive Excellence Library Collection, and Empowering Engineers for Positive Change (EMPOWER) Certificate Program, which have made a significant impact in the College and beyond.
Alleyne also led a strategic planning process to guide programs and priorities to advance DEI in the College. The diversity plan she authored led to CoE’s recognition with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Bronze Exemplar Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an institution. Her work has been lauded by UC Berkeley’s chancellor with recognition as a Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Award recipient as well as an Equity Champion Award recipient by Advising and Student Services in 2022.
Prior to this role, Alleyne served as the director of CoE faculty engagement, consultant for the Center for Restorative Solutions, research general engineer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and education and outreach coordinator at an NSF-funded research center and research specialist, both at the University of California, Berkeley. Her commitment and passion for STEM education has led to her service on a range of committees on campus and in her community, including the UC-wide Next Opportunity at Work (NOW) Conference, development of STEM programs in K-12 schools, and service as an elected official on the Contra Costa County Board of Education.
Alleyne earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in materials science and engineering from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in chemistry from the City University of New York, Hunter College. She also holds a Certificate in Project Management from UC Extension and is in pursuit of a Strategic Management Certificate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Certificate in Higher Education and Student Affairs from UC Berkeley Extension.
The Impact of AI Tools on Assessment Data
Assessment practices must now consider the impact of student use of AI. Understanding how AI tools like Chat-GPT and GitHub Copilot can solve many engineering and programming problems will allow us to design and deploy more effective assessment instruments and collect more meaningful data. This presentation will consider example instruments used by various programs, e.g., computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, and demonstrate how the increasing student use of AI tools could mislead as to the perceived degree of student outcome attainment. General suggestions for improving the design and deployment of assessment instruments will be offered, as well as specific examples of improvement efforts made by the presenter's program to address these AI challenges. Active discussions will be invited during the Q&A portion to facilitate knowledge transfer among attendees.
Assessment practices must now consider the impact of student use of AI. Understanding how AI tools like Chat-GPT and GitHub Copilot can solve many engineering and programming problems will allow us to design and deploy more effective assessment instruments and collect more meaningful data. This...
Michael Verdicchio
Associate Professor, The CitadelDr. Michael Verdicchio is an associate professor of computer science in the department of cyber and computer sciences at The Citadel, which he joined in 2011. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science and a BSE in computer systems engineering from Arizona State University. Verdicchio teaches computer science students at all levels, and his current research interests include computer science education and software engineering. He serves as the chair of the graduate curriculum committee and as the assessment lead for computer science. Verdicchio is a professional member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and a program evaluator for the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Utilizing Generative AI as Learning Tools in Engineering Education
This design case study delves into freshman engineering students' utilization of generative technologies in a software engineering course to learn C programming. The design case is a description of a real artifact or experience that has been intentionally designed. In my course, I introduced ChatGPT as a self-regulated learning tool and tasked students with understanding arrays in C programming within an open-ended structure using ChatGPT, providing minimal guidelines. While students typically received weekly practice problems, I designated one week for a "Pink Time Activity," emphasizing the significance of self-regulated learning. During this week, students were free to choose any activity to replace their assignment. The Pink Time Activity, inspired by Daniel Pink's book "Drive" (2011), encourages students to take a break from their regular schedule, pursue activities of their choice with guidance and self-assess based on specific criteria.
This design case study delves into freshman engineering students’ utilization of generative technologies in a software engineering course to learn C programming. The design case is a description of a real artifact or experience that has been intentionally designed. In my course, I introduced ChatGPT...
Olgun Sadik
Faculty Lecturer, Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana UniversityDr. Olgun Sadik holds a Master's and Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University. His research focuses on computer science education, emerging learning technologies and technology-enhanced learning environments and his scholarly work has been published in reputable journals. Sadik has presented at significant international and national conferences and with over 14 years of experience in academia, he has taught courses in computer programming, engineering and instructional technology. Sadik successfully secured research grants and received awards for his dedication to integrating emerging technologies into education. Currently, his research centers on implementing generative AI and understanding faculty perceptions and practices related to AI.
Discussion Den: Ask Me Anything – ABET Bridge
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about ABET Bridge, attendees are invited to ask any and all ABET Bridge advising-related questions and our expert will answer them. As part of the ABET Foundation, ABET Bridge provides general and specialized advisory services for programs. Services range from general advising for new program development to focused activities for programs preparing for accreditation by any of the four ABET commissions (applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology). Dr. Scott Danielson, ABET Bridge Coordinator, leverages his extensive experience from years of service as a volunteer for ABET Inc. to connect programs with highly-qualified Bridge Advisors. Danielson will be there to answer your inquiries regarding the services offered and expertise of ABET Bridge advisors. In addition, experienced ABET evaluator or team chairs are invited to talk with Danielson about the process of becoming a Bridge advisor.
Each Discussion Den brings ABET thought leaders together with Symposium attendees for an informal and enlightening discussion on a specific topic. These are organic conversations. There is no agenda or PowerPoint presentation. The audience’s questions and experiences build an inquisitive conversation that the group leaders guide with their insight and expertise.
Discussion Dens allow attendees to learn from the group leaders as well as from the questions and experiences of their peers.
In this Ask Me Anything Discussion Den about ABET Bridge, attendees are invited to ask any and all ABET Bridge advising-related questions and our expert will answer them. As part of the ABET Foundation, ABET Bridge provides general and specialized advisory services for programs. Services...
Scott Danielson
Emeritus Faculty Member, Arizona State UniversityAfter retiring in May 2023, Dr. Scott Danielson, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASME, F.ABET, is now an emeritus faculty member in the engineering programs within the Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). Before returning to the faculty, Danielson was an associate dean for almost four years and a department chair at ASU for over 13 years. He was awarded ASME Fellow status in 2020 and ABET Fellow status in 2022.
He became the coordinator for ABET Bridge in fall 2022. As coordinator, he fields inquiries from programs or schools about Bridge services. Upon agreement on services requested and timing, advisors are arranged and agreements created for signatures. He also fields inquiries from people who are interested in becoming a Bridge advisor and processes their applications for approval by ABET and the Bridge Board of Directors. Danielson also serves as a Bridge advisor and has advised institutions beginning new engineering programs, conducted self-study reviews and mock visits (which includes self-study reviews) for a variety of programs.
Within ABET, he has been an ABET program evaluator since 2003 for ASME, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He has conducted over 14 evaluations as program evaluator (spanning both the ETAC and the EAC) and over 15 evaluations as a team chair for ETAC. Six of these evaluations have been international visits (both EAC and ETAC). He also served as editor 1 or editor 2 for over 60 reports within the ETAC.
Danielson served in ABET commission leadership roles (all positions, including commission chair). He has served on a variety of special ABET-wide ad hoc committees and on the ABET Accreditation Counsel Training Committee several times (most recently 2021-2022).
Within ABET governance, he served on the Board of Directors (in the old structure) and then as the area delegation director. In this director role, he also served on the ABET Board of Directors in the new governance structure.
Danielson has extensive experience in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, doing United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported engineering educational capacity building. This work includes a strong component related to quality improvement of teaching as well as preparing for international recognition via external evaluation by ABET and AUN-QA. As might be expected, the latter has included extensive offerings of workshops related to continuous improvement along with other aspects of reaching full compliance with ABET criteria.
ABET Assessment Resources and Education Information Session
Continuous improvement is the heart of the accreditation process. Best practices in the assessment of student learning is central to successfully and continuously improving program processes. Join us to learn more about ABET assessment resources and education to help you improve student learning in your program. You will be able to identify these assessment resources and determine which educational offerings best meet your needs. Interactive activities will test your program assessment knowledge.
Continuous improvement is the heart of the accreditation process. Best practices in the assessment of student learning is central to successfully and continuously improving program processes. Join us to learn more about ABET assessment resources and education to help you improve student learning in your...
Gloria Rogers
Senior Adjunct Director, Professional Offerings, ABETGloria Rogers, Ph.D., is currently serving as a senior adjunct director for professional offerings at ABET. She is also the assessment and data analyst for Indiana State University’s physician assistant program and senior scholar emerita for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. She has been providing workshops, webinars, seminars and institutes for the development of continuous quality improvement of educational programs and institutional effectiveness related to strategic planning for over three decades. She has been an external evaluator for major science, math, engineering and technology initiatives and has served as chair of two national advisory committees and been a member of numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation. She has served as a reviewer for the Fulbright Senior Scholars program and has been a special editor for two issues of the International Journal of Engineering Education.
Rogers has authored assessment‐related articles, given invited presentations at national and international conferences and facilitated workshops/seminars on over 80 campuses. In addition to her local and national involvement in assessment and educational reform, she has given invited presentations, consultations and workshops in 31 countries including a Fulbright Senior Scholar assignment in Lima, Peru. In 2008, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education for her contributions to the engineering education profession.
James Warnock
Professor and Founding Chair, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of GeorgiaJames N. Warnock is a professor and the founding chair of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Before coming to Athens, Warnock served as the associate dean for academic affairs at Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering. He earned a doctorate in chemical engineering and a master’s in biochemical engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, before completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Warnock has conducted research in the areas of cell and gene biomanufacturing, bioreactor design, tissue engineering and cellular mechanobiology. He is actively involved in engineering education research and has earned international acclaim for his work using problem-based learning to enable students to develop professional skills. He currently serves as the director for Engineering Workforce Development for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT).
Warnock is an adjunct director of professional offerings for ABET. In this role, he facilitates the planning, production and execution of the organization’s professional development programming and directs activities related to educational offerings and workshop-facilitator training.
Daina Briedis
Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment, Michigan State UniversityDaina M. Briedis, Ph.D., is currently an Adjunct Director of Professional Offerings at ABET. She also serves as Assistant Dean Emerita for Student Advancement and Program Assessment in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University and is a faculty member and ABET Coordinator in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Over the past 32 years, Briedis has served ABET as a program evaluator for AIChE, a team chair and member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), the first chair of the EAC Training and Materials Development Committee and an Executive Committee member of the EAC. She was a program evaluator on one of the very first “EC2000” visits and subsequently chaired several new criteria visits. Briedis has been an AIChE Representative Director on the ABET Board of Directors and has been involved in the design teams for the new program evaluator and train-the-trainers training materials. She is a lead facilitator for the program evaluator training sessions. She also consults in the area of accreditation and assessment and evaluation and serves on the Board of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). She was elected a Fellow of ABET in 2007, a Fellow of the AIChE in 2011 and a Fellow of ASEE in 2015. She is an ABET Senior IDEAL Scholar.
Robyn Hall
Director, Professional Programs, ABETRobyn Hall serves as ABET’s director of professional programs. In her current capacity, she oversees ABET’s portfolio of assessment education. Prior to this, Hall served as the Assistant Vice President for Seminars and Digital Learning at Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. She received her B.A. in anthropology from Eckerd College, MBA from the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa and, more recently, her master trainer certificate from the Association for Talent Development (ATD).
Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) Town Hall
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate in the town hall session of their choice.
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate...
Niaz Latif
Professor and Dean, College of Technology, Interim Dean, College of Engineering and Sciences, Purdue University NorthwestDr. Niaz Latif is professor and dean, College of Technology and interim dean, College of Engineering and Sciences at Purdue University Northwest (PNW). Latif has played several important leadership roles at PNW, most recently as the interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. He also served as the interim associate vice chancellor for research and graduate studies.
Latif is a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and received the ASEE Frederick J. Berger Award for programmatic and individual excellence in engineering technology education. He was awarded PNW’s Outstanding Administrative Leader Award. He is the executive director of the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC). Latif received several federal grants for workforce development, including grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Latif earned his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Lisa Sachs
Managing Principal Emeritas, Cumming Construction ManagementFor over 25 years, Lisa Sachs was a key contributor to the success of two of the largest multi-billion dollar educational construction management bond programs in California, initially as a principal of her own firm and then as managing principal of Cumming, after merging firms. Recognized as an industry leader, she was inducted into the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) College of Fellows in 2012 and 2017. She is past president of the CMAA Southern California Chapter and Chapter Foundation, and in 2014 was appointed by CMAA as its first ABET commissioner representing construction management in the applied and natural sciences where she is currently serving on the Executive Committee. Sachs also serves on the CMAA National Foundation and Southern California Chapter Foundation Boards, the Cal State University of Northridge CM Industry Liaison Council, and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Architectural Program Advisory Council (her alma matter).
Lu Yuan
Corporate EHS Manager, Performance Contractors, Inc.Dr. Lu Yuan, CSP, is Corporate EHS Manager of Performance Contractors, Inc. Before joining Performance Contractors in December 2023, he was Professor of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment at Southeastern Louisiana University. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Yuan has been extensively involved in occupational ergonomics and safety research in construction and other industrial sectors. He is a professional member of American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and a member of American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Dr. Yuan served on the ASSP Council on Academic Affairs and Research Educational Standards Committee from 2018 to 2022. He served as ASSP Academics Practice Specialty Administrator from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Yuan was awarded the William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year by ASSP in 2015 for his innovative approach to teaching, incorporating new technology and teaching approaches to reach the students. He received the Craft Workforce Development Champion Award from the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance in 2016 for his academic leadership in the field. Dr. Yuan currently serves as Vice Chair-Operations of the 2023-2024 ABET Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC).
Rebecca Popeck
Survey Project Manager, SPACECO, Inc.Rebecca Popeck is a licensed Land Surveyor at Rosemont-based SPACECO, Inc., a civil engineering, land surveying and consulting firm. Popeck studied land survey engineering and civil engineering at Purdue University’s West Lafayette Campus, earning bachelor’s degrees in both disciplines. She has been a licensed Illinois Land Surveyor since 2005. Popeck has spent almost 20 years performing surveys and providing surveying services in the greater Chicagoland area. Her specialties include development work in residential, commercial and industrial sectors with an increased focus on projects within the limits of the City of Chicago.
Popeck joined ABET in 2006 as a program evaluator, supporting her member society of National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). NSPS is a member of three accreditation commissions including Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC), Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). She has had the pleasure of serving as a program evaluator for both ETAC and ANSAC visits early in her ABET career. In 2014, Popeck became a commissioner/team chair for the ANSAC, joining the commission's executive committee in 2017. She is currently the 2023-24 ANSAC chair.
During the 2019-2020 accreditation cycle, Popeck was a team chair for her first international visit to Krishnan Kovil, Tamil Nadu, India.
Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) Town Hall
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate in the town hall session of their choice.
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate...
Carol Schulte
Professor (retired), McNeese State UniversityCarol Schulte is retired from McNeese State University, where she taught courses in process plant technology, a chemical engineering technology program. She earned her BSChE degree at Wayne State University in Detroit. Schulte also has an M.S. in chemistry and an M.E.M. from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Also at Lamar, she received her DE in industrial engineering. She has worked in industry for companies such as DuPont, PPG and Condea Vista. Schulte is currently a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Education and Accreditation Committee and leads the Engineering Technology Education Subcommittee. She is an Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) evaluator for AIChE and Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and has been an ETAC commissioner representing AIChE. She is currently a member of the ETAC Executive Committee and was the 2022-23 ETAC chair. She has also served as chair of the ETAC Quality Committee and the ETAC Training Committee.
Raju Dandu
Professor/Director Bulk Solids Innovation Center, Kansas State University SalinaRaju Dandu is the Chair-Elect of Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET and served on ABET Governance as a member of board of delegates. Dandu is an experienced American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Engineering Technology Program Evaluator (PEV), ETAC Commissioner and has performed several ABET accreditation visits in the U.S. and internationally. Dandu served as a member of the ASME Committee on Engineering Education, Board of Directors of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and Board of Directors of Salina Area United Way. Dandu provided consulting services in product design, manufacturing, industrial automation, patent filing, grant writing, startup business development, product CE certification, reliability centered maintenance and training industry workforce. Currently, he works with a team of industry experts at Bulk Solids Innovation Center (BSIC), the only university-centered facility and staff in North America dedicated to improving technology and knowledge of powder and bulk solids handling of various industries including: food, chemicals, minerals, pharmaceuticals and plastics. From research, education, training, access to technology and lab scale sample to full-scale testing of dry bulk solids, this unique Center identifies and solves real-world industrial problems.
Dandu is also a Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology and Director of Kansas State University BSIC. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, Diploma Engineer from Slovak Technical University, Czechoslovakia in Thermal and Nuclear Power Engineering, and Diploma in Automobile Engineering from Andhra Polytechnic, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. He also served as graduate program director Kansas State University Salina campus. Dandu is fluent in spoken and written English, Slovak, Czech and Telug and can communicate in Russian, Spanish, Arabic and Hindi.
Mark Lower
Program Manager, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryMark Lower, Ph.D., P.E., is a program manager at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has worked in operations and energy-related research and development for over 30 years including areas of neutron sciences, battery manufacturing and additive manufacturing. He has performed several accident investigations for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and authored several technical papers on pressure safety. Lower is currently the vice-chair of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards Committee, and past-chair of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pressure Safety Committee. He earned his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and holds several certifications from American Welding Association and the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors in addition to being named an ASME fellow.
Venancio Fuentes
Faculty, Mohawk Valley Community CollegeVenancio “Venny” L. Fuentes, P.E. is currently the department chairperson for the Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science department at County College of Morris, a two-year college. His experience in ABET includes being on both sides of a visit, as a department chair and serving in the roles of program evaluator, team chair and statement editor. He has been an IEEE program evaluator since 2002. He served on the IEEE Committee on Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities (CETAA) prior to joining the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) as a commissioner. He is presently serving on the ETAC Executive Committee and chairs the ETAC Documents Committee. Prior to his teaching career, he was a systems engineer working on navigation systems for air, sea and space applications.
Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) Town Hall
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate in the town hall session of their choice.
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate...
Jean Blair
Distinguished Professor of Innovation, United States Military AcademyJean Blair is the EECS Distinguished Professor for Innovation and a Professor of Computer Science at the United States Military Academy where she previously held positions as deputy to the chief academic officer, director of the computer science program and director of the information systems engineering program. An ABET volunteer since the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) merged with ABET, Blair has served as a program evaluator, team chair, commissioner, and on the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) executive committee, where she currently serves as the past chair. She is a senior member of Association for Computing Machinery and IEEE and a member of American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Blair was named both an ABET Fellow and a CSAB Fellow in 2023.
Scott Murray
Staff Data Engineer, Procore TechnologiesScott Murray is currently a Data Engineer for Procore Technologies (www.procore.com) and has worked in the data analytics/business intelligence area for over 20 years. Additionally, Murray is an adjunct instructor for Kennesaw State University, Maryville University and Reinhardt University. He also currently serves on the executive committee of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission and is a current CSAB board member.
Shari Plantz-Masters
Professor, Software Engineering, Regis UniversityShari Plantz-Masters is a professor of software engineering whose main focus has been software engineering and professional practice. She is the current vice chair of operations for ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission and has contributed to most facets of accreditation. As a consultant and former practicing software engineer in the telecommunications field with U S WEST (now Lumen), Plantz-Masters is focused on adult population education and learning. Her research interests consider the impact technology has on society and organizations. Plantz-Masters served as the dean of the Anderson College of Business and Computing at Regis for the last eight years.
David “Hoot” Gibson
Computing Accreditation Chair, ABET, Professor Emeritus of Computer and Cyber Sciences, United States Air Force AcademyDavid "Hoot" Gibson is professor emeritus of computer and cyber sciences at the United States Air Force Academy where he was professor and head of the department for 15 years. He served over 34 years in the United States Air Force working in electronic warfare, computer security, cyber operations, and computer science research and education. At the Air Force Academy, he established one of the nation’s first undergraduate cybersecurity degrees. He was a principal co-author of the Association for Computing Machinery's Cybersecurity Curricular Guidelines (CSEC 2017) and guided the development of ABET’s cybersecurity program accreditation criteria for baccalaureate and associate level degree programs. Gibson has been an ABET volunteer for over 23 years and currently serves as 2023-24 chair of ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) Town Hall
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate in the town hall session of their choice.
Culminating the 2024 ABET Symposium, each of ABET’s Accreditation Commissions will have an interactive town hall session. After a brief presentation, members of the respective commission’s volunteer leadership and its Adjunct Director(s) will open the floor for accreditation questions and discussions. Symposium attendees may participate...
Lorraine Fleming
Professor, Howard UniversityDr. Lorraine Fleming is a professor of civil engineering at Howard University. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her doctoral degree from University of California, Berkeley. She is a licensed professional engineer and a fellow of American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE). Fleming has been involved in ABET accreditation since 1999, when she began her service as a program evaluator through ASCE. Since, she has taken on more roles in the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), including team chair, commissioner and editor 2. Fleming currently serves as EAC chair for the 2023-24 accreditation cycle.
Lizette Chevalier
Dean, Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering, University of New OrleansLizette Chevalier is currently serving as the Dean of the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering at the University of New Orleans. Her B.S. degree is from Wayne State University and her M.S./Ph.D. degrees are from Michigan State University. She is a licensed professional engineer, a Fellow of ASCE and a Diplomat of Water Resources Engineering. She has held several academic administrative positions at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, all of which involved accreditation of programs as well as the institution. She has served as an ABET Program Evaluator, Team Chair, a member of the Executive Committee of the EAC and Chair of the EAC Continuous Improvement Committee.
Mohammad Hosni
Professor and Director of the University Engineering Alliance, Kansas State UniversityMohammad Hosni, Ph.D., is a professor and director of the University Engineering Alliance at Kansas State University (K-State). He earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University. He joined the faculty at K-State in 1991, served as the director of a multidisciplinary research center from 1993 to 2001, and department head of mechanical and nuclear engineering from 2001 to 2008. Hosni served as the ASME vice president for education and a member of the Council on Standards and Certification of ASME. Hosni served as the ABET Executive Committee member, Chair of the Training Committee and is the Vice Chair of Operations. He is a Fellow of ABET, ASME and ASHRAE.
Chris Taylor
Professor and EECS Vice Chair, Milwaukee School of EngineeringChris Taylor is professor and vice chair of the electrical engineering and computer science department at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1998. Taylor is a member of the CSAB board and is the CSAB liaison to the IEEE CEAA. He has served as an ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) program evaluator for CSAB and IEEE and has also been an EAC Commissioner. He served as chair of the EAC Training Committee and has served on the EAC Executive Committee.