Chair / Professor — Engineering & Technology
As a fairly young kid I decided I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, surprisingly, never really changed my mind. I took all the math and physical sciences I could in my small, rural high school. Then, I went to the University of Missouri at Rolla to complete a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. While there, I took the opportunity to do 3 different internships/co-ops: one at an electric power cooperative and two at different motor manufacturing facilities. These gave me a real appreciation for the applications of the material I was learning in college. Also at this time, I had an advisor that convinced me to do some undergraduate research. This gave me a glimpse into the job of a professor and the sense of satisfaction that comes from doing things that haven't been done before. I followed this advisor to Purdue University and worked on research projects there towards a PhD. While I was in West Lafayette, I worked as an engineer for a small company that typically worked on military and government contracts. I did that for several years, but realized that teaching was a better fit for me. Fortunately, a position at SEMO opened up and here I am. SEMO is a return to 'home' for me since I'm from the region and even lived in Cape for a short time growing up.
Southeast Missouri State University and Ameren Missouri say the Neighborhood Solar Program is on schedule. The two gave an update on the program on Thursday, March 10 at the Show Me Center. The Neighborhood Solar Program is part of Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan to build small-scale solar operations at nonprofits, schools and other community partners. While the solar panels will provide a cleaner and stronger energy grid, the chair of Southeast Missouri State’s Department of Engineering also called it an amazing opportunity for students.
Southeast launched the industrial and systems engineering program in fall 2017 after receiving input from alumni of Southeast’s Department of Engineering and Technology that many were entering into this growing role.
Students take part in FIRST LEGO League robotics competition
The campus of Southeast Missouri State University is quiet right now with students taking classes online and employees working from home. But if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of 3D printers and a laser cutter hard at work in the Seabaugh Polytechnic Building producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the local healthcare community.
“ I think students get a deeper learning when they are trying things out. In my "crazy" younger days I spent years building games, going through help files, and trying out every command that I could in programs like QBasic and Microsoft Access. Today, we have too much to learn for that to work efficiently. That's why we spend time in a classroom learning the basics, the theories, and the applications. Whether we are programming a robot or analyzing a circuit diagram, I try to give students a challenge and let them apply what they've been taught to come to a solution. While that trial and error can be frustrating, I think a deeper learning comes from that frustration. ”