Developing leaders through educational enrichment
summer 2022 News
Dean’s Message Developing Leaders Student and alumni recognitions and achievements are important measures of education quality, so I was proud to see our undergraduates recognized with national, highly competitive and prestigious awards this past spring. For example, Mckenzie Ferrari, our Women in Engineering residential peer mentor, dean’s student advisory council member, and undergraduate scholar in astrophysics, was recognized as a Goldwater Scholar. She is UMass Dartmouth’s first winner of the award. Read on to learn more about Mckenzie’s achievements and her service to our college. Students like Mckenzie excel not only because they are exceptional students, but also because they take advantage of other opportunities a comprehensive research university like UMass Dartmouth has to offer. I remember the opportunities I was encouraged to take advantage of when I was an undergraduate, including participating in student organizations and undergraduate research and working as an engineer during the summer. These opportunities led me on a path to a career I love. And they are the reason our college invests in opportunities for undergraduate research and student clubs, advises students on internships, and recognizes students for their leadership.
Dean Jean VanderGheynst Cover image: Physics Professor Robert Fisher along with student and Goldwater Scholar Mckenzie Ferrari
Contents Student success
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Student engagement & enrichment activities
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Preparing next-generation leaders
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Alumni spotlight
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writer Adrienne N. Wartts
PHOTOgraphers Kindra Clineff Karl Dominey
I am also proud of our faculty who secured funding to support the development of students. In this newsletter, we highlight an award from the National Science Foundation to support $900,000 in scholarships for students participating in our accelerated bachelors-masters programs. The award leverages faculty research and offers engagement activities to build leadership and entrepreneurship skills in our graduates. We also see the impact of engagement in activities outside academics on our alumni. You can learn about Kevin Thibault ‘85, the recently appointed CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. His active participation in the American Society of Civil Engineers as an undergraduate student set him on a path to leadership. So, this newsletter highlights the engineering and science enrichment opportunities available to our students and the impact participation has on their success. I look forward to getting new and continuing students involved this fall.
Designers Liana DePillo Kevin DeAquair Jean VanderGheynst
Facts & Figures Best Undergraduate Engineering Program U.S. News & World Report, 2022 College Rankings
Top 1%
in engineering of institutions nationwide awarding doctoral degrees to women – ASEE (2021)
84%
of full-time undergraduates who apply for financial aid receive it
96%
of 2021 graduates from the College of Engineering are either employed or attending graduate school
>$66,000 average entry-level salary for 2021 graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering
160 #1
internships completed by 2021 engineering seniors at companies such as Titleist, Bose Corporation, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, National Grid, and Pratt & Whitney
for social mobility among universities in New England with a nationally ranked college of engineering - 2022 U.S. News & World Report
$106M
UMass Dartmouth students receive approximately $106 million total in scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans
15 Ranked in the top 15 schools nationwide for master’s degrees in physics among institutions granting the MS – American Physical Society
#4
as a best value Massachusetts college for in-state students – Payscale
180+
student organizations, including numerous engineering-specific clubs that connect students with science and engineering professionals umassd.edu/engineering
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Participation in undergraduate research leads to
student recognition
Physics Professor Robert Fisher along with student and Goldwater Scholar Mckenzie Ferrari.
As a national research university, UMass Dartmouth encourages undergraduate students to pursue research activities. The College of Engineering and Office of Undergraduate Research work closely to provide students with a high-quality academic experience by pairing students with faculty mentors, promoting publication and presentation opportunities, and providing the necessary funding to support projects. Our partnerships with agencies, professional societies, and private foundations also provide generous funding to help support students like physics major Mckenzie Ferrari ’23. Mckenzie was recently named a Goldwater Scholar, becoming the first recipient of the prestigious recognition in UMass Dartmouth’s history. The highly competitive scholarship was established by Congress in 1986 to
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support college students who show exceptional promise in becoming the nation’s next generation of natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering research leaders. “I am tremendously proud that the Goldwater Scholarship program has named Mckenzie a 2022 scholar. Mckenzie richly deserves this recognition on the basis of her ground-breaking astrophysical research accomplishments and her stellar academic record,” said Dr. Robert Fisher, physics professor and graduate program director at UMass Dartmouth’s College of Engineering. “I hope that other UMass Dartmouth students both in the sciences and engineering and in other disciplines will look to Mckenzie’s trailblazing achievements and realize that their personal aspirations and dreams are also within their reach.”
Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research online at:
umassd.edu/our
Student success
Mckenzie is also one of 60 students selected nationwide to participate in the Council on Undergraduate Research “Posters on the Hill” event. This past April, she presented her project “Synthetic Spectroscopy of Near-Chandrasekhar Mass Type Ia Supernovae from the Double-Degenerate Channel,” which sheds light on the structure of the universe. She was recently accepted to the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, one of the most prestigious astrophysics REU programs in the nation. “I am grateful to my advisor Dr. Robert Fisher and the entire physics department for all of their support over the past few years,” said Mckenzie. “Being named a Goldwater Scholar has already connected me with thousands of previous scholars, all of whom are willing to share advice about their careers and provide support to younger students. I hope to take what I learn from them and give back to the UMassD community.”
Women in Engineering community supports first-year students The College of Engineering has established the Women in Engineering (WiE) community to assist students in successfully adapting to campus life. The residential and learning community is open to all first-year engineering students. A WiE peer mentor works alongside a faculty advisor to help provide first-year students with a highquality academic and social experience. The peer mentor provides academic, social, and professional support for its members in the form of monthly social activities, office hours, hosting study sessions, and one-on-one support.
Learn more: umassd.edu/engineering/women-engineers
Peer mentor Mckenzie Ferrari guides first-year civil engineering student Momoko Kudara on a hovercraft activity as part of the WiE residential community experience.
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Global competition builds entrepreneurship skills in students Team Gateway Snow earned second place for their design of a new style of snowboard binding that incorporates many preexisting styles of bindings to create a product that is safer and simpler to use than those on the market. Team ScubNav won third place for their self-titled project ScubNav, a GPS system connected to a dive float to enhance divers’ security and enable them to pin popular dive sites, points of interest, as well as places with pollution and areas known to be safe for divers.
Team Gateway Snow members (left to right): Nathan Lozada, Kyle Sylvia, Joshua Letizia, and Cameron R Nataly.
UMass Dartmouth graduates will play a significant role in the development of new industries that will create job opportunities in New England and beyond. The college recently invested in a program to develop entrepreneurship skills in students led by Dr. Hamed Samandari in mechanical engineering and Dr. Adnan El-Nasan in computer and information science. The culminating event in the program is Startup Weekend–a three-day, global competition sponsored by Techstars. Student teams form a business idea, create a prototype of it, pitch their idea in 30 seconds, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs. Teams then present to a panel of judges, and the best startups receive awards that may consist of support from companies. Two teams of engineering students placed second and third in this year’s competition, which focused on sustainable solutions. Participants were tasked with developing ventures that address issues relating to poverty, inequality, climate change, and/or environmental degradation, four of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals listed by the United Nations.
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“These students joined our College of Engineering entrepreneurship initiative and worked with other individuals on their ideas. We are very proud of our engineering students who are pursuing their ideas and becoming the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Samandari. More than 500 startups and 15,000 entrepreneurs across 150 countries have been inspired by the competition.
Team Gateway Snow
Cameron Nataly (mechanical engineering) Kyle Sylvia (mechanical engineering) Nathan Lozada (mechanical engineering) Joshua Letizia (mechanical engineering) Jami Ocasio (marketing) Elizabeth West (marketing) Team ScubNav
Keira Ahern (mechanical engineering) Michael Bisbano (electrical & computer engineering) Avani Ganatra (marketing) Emily Berger (general attendee) Cleber Figueredo (general attendee)
Learn more: umassd.edu/engineering/student-success/student-organizations
Student engagement & enrichment activities
Student clubs and organizations develop design, teamwork and networking skills in students Joining a student organization is a great way to apply your classroom learning, develop your soft skills and leadership abilities, and build your professional network. The College of Engineering has a wide variety of engineering-specific student organizations and clubs designed to complement many of the majors and concentrations within the college. One student organization is the UMass Dartmouth chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE hosts an annual Concrete Canoe Competition involving 24 teams from around the world. This elite competition provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience while testing their skills with concrete mix designs and project management challenges. Students gain exposure to a combination of engineering excellence, hydrodynamic design, and racing techniques, which the ASCE defines as the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.”
Engineering-specific student clubs and organizations American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers Association for Computer Machinery Big Data Club Biomedical Engineering Society Cyber Security Education Club Engineers Without Borders Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering National Society of Black Engineers oSTEM Robotics Club Society of Manufacturing Engineers Society of Physics Students
“The ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition is an opportunity for students to work collaboratively, get hands-on design experience, and think creatively,” said Ryan Beemer, assistant professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. “The students are always very excited to build the canoe and compete in the regional competition. It also looks great on the résumé.”
Society of Women Engineers Solidworks Club Synthetic Biology Club UMass Dartmouth I.D.E.A. Club
In addition to participating in the annual race, student members of the UMass Dartmouth chapter of ASCE gain the opportunity to meet students from other schools, as well as local practicing engineers and professionals involved in the national organization.
umassd.edu/engineering
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Internship paves the way for a
versatile career path Ersen’S Joseph discusses the value of supplementing his undergraduate studies with an internship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and faculty-guided research at UMassD’s School for Marine Science & Technology. “I chose to attend UMass Dartmouth because of its mechanical engineering program,” says Ersen’S Joseph, who earned his BS degree this past May. “I always knew that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer. I am just following my dreams.” Now that his undergraduate studies have concluded, Ersen’S has had time to reflect on his academic journey. And he says it’s been exactly what he expected and much more. During the spring ‘22 semester, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) offered internships to undergraduate students at UMassD.
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Participating in research exposed me to opportunities beyond my area of study, and I’ve been shown it is a versatile field for a career." Ersen’S Joseph ‘22
Mechanical Engineering
Student engagement & enrichment activities
study abroad broadens students’ worlds
Ersen’S is one of four UMassD students accepted for this internship. During the program, he spent a few weeks at WHOI where he took classes on oceanographic-related topics and marine engineering and participated in different practice activities related to his research project.
One of the major benefits of the college experience is the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships with students from all areas of life. Through peer-to-peer interactions in the classroom, extracurricular activities, and engaging events, the university setting is the most accessible place in the world to make connections with individuals from all over the globe.
“Participating in research exposed me to opportunities beyond my area of study, and I’ve been shown it is a versatile field for a career,” he says. During his final semester as an undergraduate student, Ersen’S continued his relationship with WHOI by working alongside faculty members to conduct remote sensing work using Python to understand the dynamics in the Bay of Bengal (India) and other regions. He has also worked with his mentors Dr. Amit Tandon from the Mechanical Engineering department and Siddhant Kerhalkar, a PhD student at UMassD’s School for Marine Science & Technology. “Conducting research helped me realize that oceanography is a vast and exciting field. Understanding some of the challenges that our world faces as related to the ocean interested me as a future engineer to apply my knowledge and bring my contribution. It gave me a better understanding of how I can apply engineering in everyday life.” Ersen’S is currently completing UMassD’s accelerated BS/MS mechanical engineering program, and will earn his master’s degree in 2023. He plans to work in the field of marine engineering.
Learn more:
umassd.edu/engineering/support/enrich
Attending college is also the ideal time to explore ways to broaden perspectives of the world. The College of Engineering partners with the International Programs Office to offer study abroad opportunities in semester, summer and winter programs to sophomoreand junior-level students. As a study abroad participant, students enroll in an international university and earn academic credit toward their degrees from UMass Dartmouth. Benefits include enhancing cross-cultural communication skills, strengthening global perspectives, becoming a more dynamic problem-solver, and expanding your employment opportunities. Bioengineering major Erin Steele participated in the program during her sophomore year. “Studying abroad at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus was by far the best decision I have ever made. Not only does this experience make my résumé stand out, but it also has changed my life forever.”
Erin Steele ‘20 Bioengineering
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Student organization leader
shares her keys to professional success Saheedat Bello, who will earn her bachelor’s degree in computer science in August, shares how serving as a leader in the UMassD chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, completing an internship with Dell Technologies, & networking has prepared her for career success.
When I attended my very first National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) meeting, I found a family and support system. When the opportunity arose to take on a leadership position within the organization, I jumped at it." Saheedat Bello ‘22
Computer Science
Saheedat has accepted an offer with Microsoft Corporation as an Engineer within the Azure Cloud Service Technology team.
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Preparing nextgeneration leaders
Saheedat, can you tell us what you appreciate most about your journey as a student? SB: “The people. I have met so many people at UMassD who have opened the doors of opportunities and helped me along on my career path. They are a big part of my academic and future career success.” What activities did you pursue that benefited your academic experience? SB: “When I attended my very first National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) meeting, I found a family and support system. When the opportunity arose to take on a leadership position within the organization, I jumped at it. I wanted to pay back the support that I had received and help other students thrive. Now as vice president of the NSBE UMassD chapter, I work alongside our president and e-board to mentor our members. We constantly curate weekly workshops on professional development skills such as résumé building, interviewing 101, how to network & the importance of networking and elevator pitches. Being a NSBE leader, I was learning all these skills myself despite being the one hosting the workshops for other students. This experience helped me to learn to put these skills into practice.”
How has attending UMassD shaped your career path? SB: “Participating in Dell Technologies’ “Changing the Face of Tech STEM Leadership Experience” during my second year really put me on the trajectory for success. I gained knowledge about the value of interpersonal communication skills, importance of personal branding, and the power of having an online presence on platforms like LinkedIn. Last year, I continued my relationship with Dell Technologies remotely as a program/project management intern. In addition to learning how to problem-solve in a fast-paced environment, I learned the importance of adaptability and networking. Because I networked during my internship, I received four offers, ranging from a software engineering rotational program to systems engineer, from different teams within the company.” Once you have earned your BS degree in computer science, what are your plans? SB: “I will join Microsoft Corporation as an Engineer under their Azure Cloud Service Technology team.”
Learn more about engineering-specific student organizations: umassd.edu/engineering/student-success/student-organizations
umassd.edu/engineering
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Student participants in accelerated BS/MS programs
have access to new scholarship program
Professor Tracie Ferreira instructing bioengineering students.
With the expansion of New England’s South Coast economy, there is a critical need to develop leaders skilled in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation to build and support the region’s growing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) workforce. A new project titled “Scholarships to Accelerate Engineering Leadership and Identity in Graduate Students,” addresses an urgent need to develop initiatives that support the graduation of diverse populations of students in STEM to
fulfill workforce demands and prepare graduate students to advance research discoveries into practice. The project, led by Associate Professor and Department Chairperson of Bioengineering Dr. Tracie Ferreira, will help fill the gap in knowledge generation on the role of selfefficacy and engineering identity among undergraduate students who continue to pursue engineering through graduate degree attainment.
Learn more about the College of Engineering’s accelerated degree programs umassd.edu/engineering/bs-ms-programs
Preparing nextgeneration leaders
Our students are invested in their community and have the skills to advance discoveries here on the South Coast." Tracie Ferreira
Associate Professor & Department Chairperson of Bioengineering
Accelerated BS/MS degree programs Bioengineering Civil & Environmental Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Data Science Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering
“Our students are invested in their community and have the skills to advance discoveries here on the South Coast,” Ferreira says.
Physics
“The program is designed to provide a coordinated program for high-achieving, low-income undergraduate student recruitment, and workforce development strategies to prepare and graduate MS-level students to address challenges in biotechnology, marine renewable energy, added value recyclable products, marine artificial intelligence and robotics, cybersecurity, marine restoration, and water resources and protection.” Additionally, the $1.49M in funding from the National Science Foundation to support the effort will support $900,000 in scholarships for full-time students pursuing accelerated graduate BS/MS degrees in college of engineering programs. Scholars will receive one-year scholarships in the master’s year of study.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Kevin Thibault ‘85 named CEO for Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
UMass Dartmouth alum Kevin Thibault has been named CEO for Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Orlando International (MCO) and Executive (ORL) Airports. As CEO, Thibault is responsible for the operation and management of both Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in the State of Florida and is building for the future through a $4.13 billion Capital Improvement Program, which includes the new South Terminal C. Prior to joining the Aviation Authority, he served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), where he served in various roles for more than 18 years, including coordinating the planning and development of a safe, viable, and balanced transportation system, project management,
executive leadership and building partnerships to deliver the transportation needs of the state. He has spent half of his professional career in the private sector providing transportation engineering services for a number of states, from as far west as California, through the New England states and the southeast, as well as several Canadian transportation entities. Thibault earned his BS in civil engineering in 1985, and we recently had the opportunity to connect with him about his career path and experience as a student at UMass Dartmouth. Kevin, please tell us what sparked your interest in the field of engineering.
I was shaped by the education and instructors provided by the college. I am a big proponent, and I have had the fortunate opportunity to receive excellent mentoring from instructors at Diman, BCC and UMassD." Kevin Thibault ‘85
CEO, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
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Alumni spotlight
KT: “It really started with my initial education at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. I had an initial aspiration to be an architect, and my parents encouraged me to attend Diman to gain instruction and experience in that field. At the time of my graduation, the architecture field was very challenging, especially in the New England region, so I followed the engineering path to pursue that career.” I know your pathway to UMassD was from Diman to Bristol Community College to UMass Dartmouth. Can you describe the value of taking this path? KT: “Coming from a vocational high school can normally be a challenge, particularly back then when the curriculum was not geared for college level coursework (especially in the math and science fields). Through consultation with guidance, they suggested the Bristol Community College to UMassD route to better acclimate me to that environment. I will note that there were several of us in the Drafting Program that pursued higher education after graduating from Diman, some via the path we discussed and others direct to the university. It is my understanding that all achieved their goals.” How did attending UMass Dartmouth shape your career trajectory? KT: “I was shaped by the education and instructors provided by the college. I am a big proponent, and I have had the fortunate opportunity to receive excellent mentoring from instructors at Diman, BCC and UMassD.
All of them provided ‘life lessons’ that shaped my professional career, with the prominent mentor being the Civil Engineering Department Chair – Dr. Thomas Jackivicz. As I was considering my specialty in civil engineering, I actually had gravitated to environmental engineering partly because of Dr. Jackivicz, who engaged me in lab assignments and assisted me in my final years at UMassD. It was also Dr. Jackivicz who connected me to my first employer, Pare Engineering in Rhode Island, which led me into the transportation field. And the rest is history. Were there any activities that you participated in during your time at UMassD that helped support your career success? KT: “I was very active in the American Society of Civil Engineers chapter, and have kept my membership in the organization all these years. I am a proud Fellow of that organization! That connection allowed me to learn what others are doing in the transportation field, and more importantly led me to Florida. I responded to a career opportunity in Orlando, and moved here in 1988.” With a passion for mentorship and building a diverse workforce for the future of Florida, Thibault has continued to expand his community outreach. His community involvement includes serving on the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, UF Transportation Institute’s External Advisory Board, and USF Center for Urban Transportation Research. He also serves on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Engineering.
umassd.edu/engineering
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