FROM THE WEBB
FALL 2023
I. DEAN’S INTRODUCTION
From the Dean…
Welcome to the Fall 2023 newsletter. It has been a busy and exciting time in the Webb School of Engineering. You’ll learn about some of our recent accomplishments and activities in this newsletter. As always, our students and faculty continue to do amazing things.
Over the coming few newsletters you’ll learn more about some new programs that we are launching. Starting in August 2024, we will be taking in our first students into our new Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and General Engineering programs. Interest in these new programs is very strong and we are looking forward to expanding into these areas.
Enjoy the newsletter and feel free to reach out to department chairs and myself if you have feedback, or simply want to make our students aware of internship opportunities.
Michael Oudshoorn Dean, Webb School of Engineering
II. DEPARTMENTAL NEWS: ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Message from the Chair
by Dr. Claire McCullough
Welcome to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at High Point! This is a very exciting time for our department. This past May, we had our first two computer engineering graduates, and in May 2024, we’ll have our first in electrical engineering, which will enable us to pursue ABET accreditation. This will open many doors for both our students and our graduates, so preparing for that evaluation will be our main focus for the year. Both of our graduates from last year are still doing great, and when Emily came back to visit us this fall, she told us how very well she felt our program had prepared her, compared to students at other programs—look for an interview with Emily later in the newsletter. The other graduate has decided to pursue a master’s degree part time while he works at Aqua America, and has been admitted to Villanova for the spring. Our Industrial Advisory Board will be meeting in December to help us prepare as we go through the ABET accreditation process, as their insights into the needs of the business community, in High Point and beyond, are a critical part of our programs.
We are in the process of setting up a new Power laboratory for the program with state-of-the-art educational equipment, and are excited about the possibilities this will open up to our students.
In the fall we were joined by one new faculty member, Dr. Geraldine Shirley Nicholas, whose specialty is computer engineering. In January, we will be welcoming Dr. Douglas Isenberg, an electrical engineer with experience in controls and robotics: This will give us a total of five faculty members, and will enable us to fully implement both electrical and computer engineering curricula.
Our faculty are actively engaged in interesting research. In summer 2023, Dr. Eve Klopf participated in the 2023 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program, where she spent the summer at the NASA Glenn Research Center modeling microwave signal propagation on the lunar surface—see an interview with her on this experience in this issue. Dr. Sean Johnson was very active in research with undergraduate students; more details of his multiple projects are included in the newsletter, also.
If you would like to talk to us about our engineering programs, please email me at cmccullo@highpoint.edu. We would love to hear from you!
Dr. Claire McCullough
Dr. Claire McCullough Professor and Chair, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Engineering Students Participate in the Summer Research Program in the Sciences
by Dr. Sean Johnson
In the summer of 2023, Dr. Johnson led a team of undergraduates, Taylor Cox, Levi Wenger and Brett Sykes, investigating design parameters and performance of GaAsSb near-infrared core-shell nanowire photodetectors for optoelectronic applications as part of the Summer Research Program in the Sciences at High Point University. The research resulted in an oral presentation “Investigating design parameters and performance of GaAsSb near-infrared core-shell nanowire photodetectors,” and poster presentations titled “Effects of substrate and structure on performance of GaAsSb near-infrared core-shell nanowire photodetectors” by Taylor Cox, “Using COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate Photodetector Nanowires to obtain IV Curves, Electric Field, and Carrier Concentration” by Levi Wenger, and “Using MATLAB to optimize the energy bands and electric fields of a n-i-p-i-p nanowire structure” by Brett Sykes.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Welcomes New Assistant Professor Dr. Geraldine Nicholas
Dr. Geraldine Shirley Nicholas teaches courses such as Embedded Systems, Real Time Operating Systems, Computer Architecture and Digital Logic. She has a passion for teaching and her research interest includes Hardware Security and Trust as it motivates her for new challenges and problem-solving opportunities. She actively supports student involvement in extracurricular activities as it prepares the students for the challenges they may encounter in their future careers.
by Emily Lattanzio
How High Point University Helped Me Succeed in Grad School
I am beginning my second semester of graduate study in the College of Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences (CECAS) at Clemson University. While graduate school is very different from undergrad, I have found that my undergraduate experience has more than prepared me for this challenge. I’d like to share a few of the ways in which HPU has equipped me with the skills necessary for graduate school.
Each engineering class at HPU has an accompanying lab component. This is not common at most universities. I feel this extensive hands-on experience has given me an edge in graduate school. I am used to working on extensive projects and running into issues and troubleshooting different ways to fix those problems. I am used to transferring content I learn in the classroom to real world applications. I clearly see connections between what I learn and how I can implement that material. Additionally, the skills I have learned through my lab experiences have allowed me to be more confident in my ability to use different equipment and teach my students how to do so.
In grad school, my classes are relatively small. Even in a school as big as Clemson, my classes generally do not reach over twenty people. I am already familiar with operating in a small classroom environment due to the small classes from High Point. I can comfortably ask questions and contribute to discussions because those are skills that I have already implemented for years.
While at High Point I had many opportunities to be a teacher’s assistant and tutor students where I got to realize what it was like to be on the other side of the student/teacher divide. High Point provided a smaller scale in which I could learn to communicate difficult concepts effectively to other students who may think in different ways than I do. Now that I teach multiple lab classes at Clemson by myself, that work experience has proved invaluable to me.
Lastly, the professors at High Point are really the ones who set me up on a pathway for success. They always allowed me to ask my endless questions and gladly set up appointments outside their office hours when I needed help. They found internship experiences for me that allowed me to get undergraduate research experience and wrote letters of recommendation that allowed me to get into those summer programs. They saw potential in me and constantly pushed me to be my best. They were some of my biggest supporters and were cheering for me when I finally crossed that stage. It is hard for me to describe how much the engineering program at HPU has done for me. I will forever be grateful for the close community of students that made me feel like I belonged and the environment that inspired me to learn.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS: COMPUTER SCIENCE
Message from the Chair
by Dr. Michael Oudshoorn
As the Spring 2023 semester came to a close, we saw the Chair of Computer Science, Will Suchan, retire. Dr. Suchan will now be found travelling, spending time with family, and fine tuning his golf game. We wish Dr. Suchan all the very best in his retirement and thank him for many years of service. I am sure many alumni and current students will fondly reflect on their time in classes with Dr. Suchan. The software engineering students particularly remember Dr. Suchan’s standard answer to their questions: “it depends”. He reminded students that software engineering is not just a technical field, but also required us to develop software systems that meet the needs of clients.
The programs in the Department of Computer Science continue to enjoy strong interest with potential students. The Computer Science program is one of the top programs on campus in terms of student interest. This growth has led to the need for more faculty and searches are underway for 2 new faculty to join us at HPU. Exciting times!
The newsletter highlights some of the faculty and student activities over the past semester. One achievement worth highlighting here is the ranking of the HPU cybersecurity program in the National Cyber League rankings. Based on individual and team performances in competitions, HPU is ranked 73 in the nation — an outstanding result for such a young program, especially when you realize that over 500 institutions participated in the competitions. It is indeed testimony to the strength of the program, the quality of our students, and the incredible mentorship of the faculty.
Michael Oudshoorn Dean, Webb School of Engineering
Computer Science Welcomes New Associate Professor Dr. Luis Cueva-Parra
Dr. Luis A. Cueva Parra expertise is in Scientific Computing, Data Science, and Computational Science and Engineering. He has taught a variety of Computer Science courses such as Programming, Analysis of Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and High Performance Computing. Currently, he teaches courses such as Data Visualization, Database Systems, and Website Development.
He is interested in the implementation of researchbased high impact practices in Computer Science Education and in the involment of undergraduate students in research projects.
Computer Science Students Participate in National Cyber League
by Gio Centofanti, Cole Apke
Cyber competitions have become a competitive pastime for a few students in the computer science department. A few students have competed in the last few semesters in the National Cyber League (NCL) against over 6000 students nationwide. Gio Centofanti (2025), Cole Apke (2025), and Anthony Cox (2024) are veterans of the competition. In the last few years, each has scored in the top 5% percent in the country and often within the top 3%. While together, they have competed to be in the top 150 or top 3%. As of the most recent competition, Gio ranked 165th, and Cole ranked 255th nationally. Together, Anthony Cox, Cole Apke, and Gio Centofanti ranked 138th nationally, a huge achievement from a small team of 3. Historically, these 3 have scored within the top 100 as seen from last year where they scored 76th and 73rd nationally together in the fall and spring, respectively. High Point as a school has ranked in the top 100 power rankings in the past 3 competitions with the most recent High Point placed 73rd in the nation ahead of schools such as UCONN, BYU, and University of Cincinnati. They look to remain at the top of the competition in the spring and do even better than this fall. They look to remain on top in the competition in the spring and look to improve upon the scores they had this fall.
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS: MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Message from the Chair
by Dr. Rob Harger
Welcome to the Department of Mathematical Sciences! This year the department welcomed two new members of the department, both statisticians, Dr. Jakub Michel and Dr. Pujita Sapra. Dr. Michel comes to the department after finishing his PhD at the University of New Hampshire and Dr. Sapra is a bit more local, having recently completed her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. We look forward to their leadership and student mentoring in our growing major of Data Analytics and Statistics.
This current academic year the department is conducting three faculty searches, one for a new department chair and two new assistant or associate professors. One of these positions is replacing Dr. Lisa Carnell who is retiring in December 2023 after 34.5 years of splendid service to High Point University and thousands of mathematics and statistics students. Our department continues to focus on recruiting students for our four programs of study: Actuarial Science, Data Analytics and Statistics, Mathematical Economics, and Mathematics. We look forward to opportunities where we can visit high schools, math clubs, and math events to share information about our department, programs, and our students’ opportunities and successes.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Dr. Rob Harger Professor of Mathematics Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Drs. Pujita Sapra and Jakub Michel Join Faculty of Department of Mathematical Sciences
The Department of Mathematical Sciences welcomes two new members to its ranks.
Dr. Jakub Michel teaches course in statistical literacy, data mining and predictive analytics and mathematics with business applications. He is part of the Mathematical Association of America(MAA) Project NExT 2023/2024 cohort and serves as a trustee on the Wat Lao American Buddhist board. He has a passion for teaching students and assisting them in developing their understand in statistics. His current research interests include increasing statistical literacy in media, non-parametric trend estimation and the development of machine learning and AI tools.
Dr Pujita Sapra teaches courses in Data Analytics and Statistics at HPU’s Department of Mathematical Sciences. She has a research background in sensitive question survey methods. She has published work in the area of Randomized response Technique (RRT) and has also brought in homomorphic encryption techniques for sensitive data collection. She enjoys consulting and collaborating with quantitative researchers in health, human and behavioral sciences. She has immense passion for teaching and research mentoring for undergraduate students. She is currently working on more projects in RRT and is also venturing into research in the area of Biostatistics.
Dr. Pujita Sapra Dr. Jakub Michel
My Mathematics and Statistics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Acceptance
by Mr. Julian Bennett
I am excited to say I was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of the UNC Charlotte Math REU Program for this summer. This program will be a 10-week program in which I will be working on a specific research project with faculty, and for me personally, I will be working on the study of COVID-19 via time-delayed differential equation. I think this is a good opportunity because currently I am leaning towards a career in applied mathematics so being able to get this hands-on experience is something I really wanted to do early on in college. I want to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Furthermore, in addition to working alongside faculty, I will also be able to enhance my professional development as I partake in presentations, training, and networking with alumni and local industry partners. Through this program, not only will I acquire professional growth and grow in my mathematical knowledge, but I will also be granted free on-campus housing as well as a 6k stipend, which are both financial benefits that any college student will happily accept.
In terms of how I plan to use this to guide my college decisions in Actuarial Science and Mathematics, I plan to use this opportunity to narrow down a specific career I might want to pursue in the future. What I mean by this is that I have always enjoyed math, and I have known from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career involving math, analysis, and/or statistics. At this point, I do not have enough experience to know exactly which area I want to pursue. Mathematics and
Statistics make up a large variety of different courses and an even larger variety of careers, so taking advantage of this opportunity after my freshman year will help me gain experience in these different areas of Math to give me a better idea of which I want to focus on. This program will expose me to several different research topics, and I want to learn as much as possible, as well as gain real work experience.
While I am only a freshman and I have plenty of time to figure out what I want to do, as an opportunist I saw this program as a great way to get this hands-on experience early on so I can have my future and career figured out early on as well.
III. FACULTY FEATURE
Dr. Geraldine Nicholas
Dr. Geraldine Shirley Nicholas teaches courses such as Embedded Systems, Real Time Operating Systems, Computer Architecture and Digital Logic. She has a passion for teaching and her research interest includes Hardware Security and Trust as it motivates her for new challenges and problem-solving opportunities. She actively supports student involvement in extracurricular activities as it prepares the students for the challenges they may encounter in their future careers.
1. What motivated you to choose your field of practice and what do you enjoy about it?
I have a passion for the field of Hardware Security and Embedded Systems due to my interest in controlling hardware systems in real-time using software. In addition, my proactive nature of looking for new challenges and problem-solving opportunities motivated me to choose this field. The growing market for Embedded Systems and IoT has given rise to solutions that were once unimaginable, especially with recent technological advancements in computing power. Furthermore, the critical role of security has drawn me to the challenge of developing robust security measures to protect hardware systems from potential threats and vulnerabilities.
2. What are your current research interests?
My current research interests include IoT, Embedded systems, and Hardware Security and Trust. With the rapid increase in connected smart devices, these areas of research will be critical to ensure safe, secure, and robust systems are developed and deployed.
3. What are you most excited about in regards to the upcoming semester?
I am most excited about the upcoming semester for the opportunity to engage with students, inspire a passion for Electrical and Computer Engineering, and conduct innovative research in Embedded Systems and
Hardware Security. Staying current with advancements in the field and integrating them into the curriculum adds an extra layer of enthusiasm for the semester ahead.
4. Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work that you would like to share?
I have a passion for mentoring and investing in young engineers. Therefore, I use my expertise in Electrical and Computer Engineering to help students and young professionals with their professional growth. I volunteer for professional organizations such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). During other times, I engage in creative home projects such as arts and crafts.
5. If you could go back in time, what, if anything, would you do differently as a student?
I believe in the saying ’Your network is your net worth’. If I get a chance to go back in time and be a student, I will enhance my networking skills by actively participating in professional organizations and attending conferences. I would actively seek mentoring opportunities and internships to connect with mentors that align with my interests while gaining valuable experience in the field. And, who knows, maybe I’d also invent a time-traveling device to make my networking journey even more efficient!
Dr. Niloofar Ghorbani
Dr. Niloofar Ghorbani teaches courses in actuarial science, data analytics, and statistics. In addition to math and other Webb School of Engineering majors, Dr. Ghorbani’s courses are essential for any major that works with data such as business, chemistry, finance, and psychology — a trend that many other majors will undoubtedly follow. Dr. Ghorbani’s research has analyzed image processing data to improve MRI technology for detecting brain tumors as well as created models useful in the financial sectors. She is currently investigating the intersection of computer science (including artificial intelligence and neural networks) and the business/financial sectors.
1. What motivated you to choose your field of practice and what do you enjoy about it?
I always excelled in subjects that involved formulas — math and physics for example. You could say that Mathematics and Statistics always “spoke” to me. Growing up, I learned about Maryam Mirzakhani who won a Mathematics Field Medal — the first of only two women to ever win this most prestigious award in mathematics. She is Persian like me, and she passed away a month or so after I began my PhD. She is definitely a role model, and I hope in some small way that I echo her legacy.
2. What are your current research interests?
Stochastic processes, financial mathematics, actuarial science, and artificial intelligence.
3. What are you most excited about in regards to the upcoming semester?
I have spent the 2022-2023 academic year conducting some research and foundational materials that I aim to turn into a research project. I’m excited about (hopefully) collaborating with students and faculty from other departments as my project develops.
4. Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work that you would like to share?
I know I have found the right field because I’m often reading and researching math, finance, and artificial intelligence
5. If you could go back in time, what, if anything, would you do differently as a student?
I would be more open to opportunities and collaboration with other students and faculty. Every opportunity is a chance to learn and grow.
IV. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
1. What are you studying at HPU?
2. Why did you choose HPU?
B.S (Computer Science with Cybersecurity concentration), 2024
I am pursuing my dual degree: B.S. in Computer Science with Cybersecurity concentration and a B.S. in Exercise Science.
Though I came to High Point Univeristy as an undecided major, I knew I wanted to be in STEM. Right before and during the time I have been here, HPU has been putting much money towards this area. Additionally, HPU is a smaller school. Because of these factors of HPU, I choose HPU because of its student access to advanced STEM equipment.
3. What interests do you have outside of your major? Outside of my majors, my interests include working out, spending time with friends, baking, and traveling
4. What are some of the challenges that you have faced or overcome this semester?
The last few semesters, I have had maximum full time of credits on top of my electives, so being able to balance my academics, involvement, personal life, and self-care was difficult, but manageable. However, this last semester, I had a great number of graduate applications, including many essays, in addition to all these other factors. Unfortunately, my self-care took a little bit of a toll. Because of this challenge, I have learned to make sure that at school, even though being a student is my job, my priority is my physical and mental health.
5. What do you hope to do with your degree when you graduate?
I plan on attending graduate school to pursue my masters of artificial intelligence, allowing me to go into a career in medical AI.
6. Are you involved in any activities on campus? In what capacity?
I am very involved in activities on campus, ranging in capacity of being an active member to president. My biggest leadership is President of HPU Minds, a club mentored under Steve Wozniak. Between a collaboration in my two degrees’ departments, I am engaged in research as a medical device mobile app development researcher. My involvement also includes volunteering for the Willed Body program within the Congdon School of Health Sciences as a Human Cadaveric Laboratories Assistant. Within Greek life, I engage much as a sister in my sorority, Kappa Delta Sorority, and have been in roles contributing to our technology, recruitment, sisterhood, and philanthropy. Within the computer science department, I work as the Student Instructor for the Computer Systems course. Finally, I am a member of the Senior Leadership Cabinet 2024, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, The National Society of Leadership and Success, and Alpha Lambda Delta.
7. What advice would you like to share with your peers or with future students?
• Don’t let one tough class take away from the big picture of what major you are passionate about pursuing.
• Ensure you always find time for yourself to ensure you have a break and rest, even if it 5 minutes or 5 hours.
• Become friends with other students in your classes and major.
• Focus on your grades as much as possible during the first half of the semester, so when it comes time for finals, you do not have to be as stressed about raising your grade or having it all ride on one exam or project.
• Enjoy your time in college, it goes by faster than one could ever imagine.
Hanna Zelis
1. What are you studying at HPU? Electrical Engineering
2. Why did you choose HPU?
Elijah Trutt B.S (Electrical Engineering), 2024
The smaller class sizes really appealed to me. I knew I would be able to ask more questions and have more access to professors.
3. What interests do you have outside of your major? I enjoy weightlifting and chess.
4. What are some of the challenges that you have faced or overcome this semester?
Senior year is a busy time, trying to juggle senior capstone, applying for jobs, and the rest of my coursework is a lot.
5. What do you hope to do with your degree when you graduate?
I hope to join the workforce right away.
6. Are you involved in any activities on campus? In what capacity?
I’m involved with Mercy Hill church on campus
7. What advice would you like to share with your peers or with future students? It might seem obvious, but going to office/tutoring hours really helped me to get through tough material in my classes.
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