Transforming engineering: Industry's role in improving the landscape
Featuring Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, Dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, UT Dallas
co-hosted with the Tech Titans Innovation Team
In 2004 and 2005, the National Academy of Engineering published the
Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century and the
Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century. A main takeaway from the first publication was the Engineer of 2020 would need “the ingenuity of Lillian Gilbreth, the problem-solving capabilities of Gordon Moore, the scientific insight of Albert Einstein, the creativity of Pablo Picasso, the determination of the Wright brothers, the leadership abilities of Bill Gates, the conscience of Eleanor Roosevelt, the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the curiosity and wonder of our grandchildren.”
To foster the development of such engineers, colleges and universities need to reexamine engineering teaching and learning. It is well documented that change occurs slowly in educational settings; a pace that lags significantly behind technological chan
ges. Yet we as academics continuously strive to create experiences for our students to prepare them for global competition. If we are to be successful in this endeavor we must adapt to new trends and educational approaches so that our students are armed with the necessary tools needed for the world they will inherit and lead and not the one that exists today. This talk will describe: 1) the role industry leaders play in aiding engineering schools in transforming engineering education, and 2) how systems thinking can be used to transform engineering education.
About Dr. Adams:
Dr. Stephanie G. Adams is the 5th Dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas, Dallas and President of the American Society of Engineering Education. Previously Dr. Adams served as the Dean of the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University (2016–2019), Department Head and Professor of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech (2011–2016) and held faculty and administrative positions at Virginia Commonwealth University (2008–2011) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1998–2008).
Her research interests include: Broadening Participation, Faculty and Graduate Student Development, International/Global Education, Teamwork and Team Effectiveness, and Quality Control and Management. In 2003, she received the CAREER award from the Engineering Education and Centers Division of the National Science Foundation. Dr. Adams is a leader in the advancement and inclusion of all in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. She has worked with a number of colleges and universities, government agencies and non-profit organizations on topics related to graduate education, mentoring, faculty development and diversifying STEM.
Dr. Adams is an honor graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering, in 1988. In 1991, she was awarded the Master of Engineering degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia. She received her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1998, where she concentrated on Industrial Engineering and Management.
Registration Policy:
Payment is necessary at the time of reservations. Due to catering requirements we must charge for reservations not canceled three days prior to the event. Unclaimed reservations during the event will be relinquished at noon. Walk-in customers will be seated based on space availability.