Mary Anne Wassel is Aligning Curricula with the Latest Developments in Manufacturing – Posted 3/26/15
Mary Anne Wassel, professor of Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science at County College of Morris (CCM), has been selected to help revitalize community college engineering programs across the nation.
Wassel, of Wayne, was recently selected to participate in the Leadership Capacity Building project, a year-long fellowship that assists instructional leaders to develop strategies and execution plans to revitalize engineering technology programs. The project will also assist in revising curricula to be aligned with the latest developments in manufacturing to attract more students and provide a greater value to them.
“I am honored have been selected to help enhance engineering programs, both here at CCM and at other community colleges,” Wassel said. “It is important to make sure that curricula reflect what is, and what will be, taking place in real-world manufacturing.”
According to its website, the Leadership Capacity Building project is based on up-to-date research on teaching and learning, and the problems experienced by U.S. community college manufacturing technology programs, as well as studies by the Society for Manufacturing Engineers. The project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and Sinclair Community College and is run by the National Center for Manufacturing Education.
Wassel was selected after she filled out an online application regarding her background and the status of the CCM engineering technology programs. The individuals selected for the project met over the course of a number of days to identify ways to improve their respective manufacturing programs, as well as to evaluate themselves and hone their skills as leaders to implement the improvements. The group has since met via webinar and will be holding a final workshop during mid-June in Seattle.
This is the latest instance of female science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) faculty at CCM being selected for leadership roles in national programs. Both Jenifer Martin, assistant professor of biology, and Keri Flanagan, assistant professor of chemistry, will be joining a select group of teachers from across the nation this July at the 2015 Project Kaleidoscope Summer Leadership Institute II at Claggett Center in Adamstown, MD.
“These impressive leadership roles are a credit to the strength of our female STEM faculty at CCM,” said Patrick Enright, dean of the Division of Business, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology at CCM. “They take their role as teachers and mentors very seriously and have done an exceptional job of supporting and promoting the Women in STEM initiative at CCM.”
Find out more about the Leadership Capacity Building project at http://www.ncmeresource.org/lcbp/course_information.php.
# # #
Photo: Mary Anne Wassel, professor of Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science at County College of Morris, was recently selected to participate in the Leadership Capacity Building project, a year-long fellowship that assists instructional leaders to develop strategies and execution plans to revitalize engineering technology programs.