College of Engineering and Science News

Keep updated on the latest that is happening in the College of Engineering and Science!

Faculty and Student Accomplishments

https://www.sru.edu/news/050123b

Wounded veteran earning computer science degree at SRU

SRU names Mohammad Kazemi director of SRU’s School of Engineering  4/24/2023

Slippery Rock University Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Zieg today announced that Mohammad Kazemi has been appointed director of SRU’s School of Engineering, effective immediately. In this role, Kazemi will be responsible for leading both the day-to-day operations and development activities of SRU’s four engineering programs.

SRU names Nicole Dafoe as dean of the College of Engineering and Science  4/18/2023

Slippery Rock University today announced the appointment of Nicole Dafoe as the dean of the College of Engineering and Science, effective this summer. Dafoe, who has worked at SRU since 2012, has served as an interim dean since January 2022. Following a nationwide search and recommendation from a University search committee, Dafoe’s appointment was approved by the administration.

Asher and Shotwell organize AAAS panel
Two Slippery Rock University professors organized a panel at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, last month in Washington, D.C. Jana Asher, an instructor of mathematics and statistics, and Mark Shotwell, an associate professor of biology, co-organized a panel titled “Reconciling Ourselves to the Effect of Eugenics on Science,” which discussed connection between the eugenics movement and modern scientific practice.

The AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary science society, and its annual meeting is attended by thousands of scientists, educators, policymakers and journalists to discuss cutting-edge developments in science, technology and policy.

Thomas co-authors research article in geoscience education journal

Becky Thomas, a Slippery Rock University associate professor of biology, recently co-authored an article that was published in the Journal of Geoscience Education. Thomas and 19 other contributors wrote the article titled “Alignment among environmental programs in higher education: What Food-Energy-Water Nexus concepts are covered in introductory courses?” The researchers conducted a content analysis of college-level introductory environmental course syllabi and course materials to identify common concepts taught in introductory interdisciplinary environmental and sustainability courses related to the intersections and interdependencies of the food, energy and water sectors.

The JGE is a peer-reviewed publication of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, a non-profit, member-driven organization that supports a diverse, inclusive and thriving community of educators and education researchers to improve teaching and learning about the Earth.

Reott receives student civil engineering award from ASCE Pittsburgh

Josephine Reott, a Slippery Rock University senior civil engineering major from Butler, was presented the Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Pittsburgh Section Student Awards Foundation. This award, presented at the ASCE Pittsburgh’s Engineers Week Awards Banquet, Feb. 18, in Pittsburgh, recognizes outstanding civil engineering students preparing to be future leaders of the profession.

Kriley and Wells present posters at State Capitol Building

Two Slippery Rock University students presented their research at the Undergraduate Research at the Capitol – Pennsylvania Poster Conference, March 7, at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. URC-PA is an educational event hosted by the Pennsylvania State Senate for undergraduate students enrolled in Pennsylvania colleges and universities to showcase their research talents to the commonwealth’s key decision-makers.

Jenna Kriley, a senior biology major from Butler, presented a poster titled “Determining the Binding Interaction between Cat 1 and ANY1 by Mutational Analysis.” Kriley’s faculty adviser is Evan Guiney, assistant professor of biology.

Reese Wells, a senior psychology major from New Castle, presented a posted titled “Exploring Self-Compassion & Body Image in Non-Binary & Genderqueer Individuals.” Wells’ faculty adviser is Catherine Massey, professor of psychology.

McDermott’s article published in Journal of Group Theory 

Kirk McDermott, a Slippery Rock University assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, wrote a paper that was published in the Journal of Group Theory, a peer-reviewed mathematics journal that publishes original research articles in all areas of group theory.

McDermott’s paper, titled “Shift dynamics of the groups of Fibonacci type,” investigates the periodic symmetry of a family of groups that were first introduced by John Conway in 1967. Group theory uses abstract algebra to study symmetries that arise naturally in number theory and geometry, and has applications to chemistry, physics and cryptography. 

SRU engineering alumnus has a successful start to her career in the natural gas industry

SRU student and ‘soccer mom’ poised to become civil engineer thanks to new program