Message from the Dean
Greetings from the Beautiful Campus at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga!
As we reflect on the 2020-2021 academic year, I take a moment to commend our UTC community for its resilience and excellence during a challenging year. Our students, faculty, alumni, and staff have continued to break barriers and make an impact regardless of the obstacles they faced. This was a year of new experiences as students placed themselves in novel situations and exceeded expectations. Participating in their very first competition, our very own Solar Splash team made waves in the world championship. Our students represented the college on campus and nationally as they pitched innovative startup ideas at an entrepreneurial competition, earned honors at a national competition for water management solutions, and ranked highly at a national collegiate student construction competition. 2
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Just as our students have served the community through their many projects and shined at a variety of national and regional competitions, our faculty have also created a climate of community service here at the college. From designing prosthetics and biomechatronic tools for therapy to leading groundbreaking research on testing electrical power networks, our faculty have earned recognition for their work both in Chattanooga and world-wide. We are fortunate to have faculty who not only exemplify community leadership but also allocate time to mentor students and work with them to conduct impactful research. In this review, you will also find stories of our alumni who continue to succeed in their careers and give back to the college. Read about several alumnae who serve as
role models for women in STEM and are recognized for their contributions. We are grateful for the continued support of our alumni as they not only give back to the community but also promote our college’s reputation of excellence. Looking back on this year, I am immensely proud of the college and the strides we have made as a community. I am excited to be a part of the college as we continue to grow and flourish I look forward to sharing all that we will accomplish. Go MOCS! Gratefully,
Dean
CONTENTS Enriching the Student Experience..................... 4 Research.....................................................................12 Cultivating Excellence in Teaching...................14 Outreach and Community Engagement....... 22 Alumni and Partnerships..................................... 32 College Data............................................................ 35
College of Engineering and Computer Science ADVISORY BOARD
EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD: Joe Ferguson Mack McCarley Mike McGauley Daniel Pack Jim Vaughn
Chairman, Electric Power Board (retired) President, PDM Associates Chairman, Fidelity Trust Company Dean, UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science Market President, Truist
ADVISORY BOARD: Editor: Sara Jackson Art Director: Bryan Wootan Contributing Writers: Gina Stafford, Shawn Ryan, Chuck Wasserstrom, Sara Jackson, Paul Baggett, Bryan Wootan Photography: Angela Foster, Laura Wootan, Sara Jackson
utc.edu/cecs
UTC is a comprehensive, community-engaged campus of the UT System. UTC is an EEO/AA/Titles VI & IX Section 504/ADA/ ADEA institution. E041301-001-22
Rowena Belcher Joe Brown Larry Buie Richard Clark Jeff Cornett Nick Coussoule Sr.
Steven Douglas Bo Drake Todd Gardenhire Leslie Gower Tom Griscom Patsy Hazlewood Jimmy Lail John Loudermilk John McNeely Tremaine Powell Bill Raines Elaine Swafford Tim Rausch Roger Tuder David Wade Charles Wood Albert Woodard
Tennessee Valley Authority Executive (retired) Vice President, Engineering and Quality Education, Miller Industries Regional Director and Chairman, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, Chattanooga Gas Alumnus, SVP and President, Gulf of Mexico, Kosmos Energy Alumnus, Industry Partnerships and Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business & Technology Solutions, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Vice President, Operations Support, Tennessee Valley Authority VP Economic and Workforce Development, Chattanooga State Community College Alumnus, Tennessee Senate District 10, Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Executive Director, Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee Alumnus, former Executive Editor and Publisher, former White House Strategist, Q Strategies Member, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 27 Vice President, Raines Brothers Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Birla Carbon Senior Vice President, Avertium Dean of Engineering and IT, Chattanooga State Community College President and CEO, The Raines Group Director, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Chief Nuclear Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority Past President and CEO, Associate General Contractor President, Electric Power Board VP Economic Development, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Alumnus, Founder and Chairman, Kazee, Inc., Healthcare Software and Technology Firm << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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UTC CECS Student Construction Competition Team 2021 by Paul Baggett
UTC Student Construction Team Members (Pictured above): Gavin Chambers, Bradley Whymer, Jordan Fryer, Corbin Brooksbank, and Zach Fain. Faculty Advisor: Paul Baggett
The UTC Student Construction Competition Team placed 4th with only fractions of points separating 1st and 4th. The team participated in the Commercial Division. The ASC Region 2 Competition this year was a virtual challenge, which meant the teams from each university stayed on their campuses and communicated only by daily “touch-point” phone calls, email and Zoom meetings. The commercial category included problem solving a 15,000-square-feet interior buildout of a completely new law firm space on the 15th floor of an existing high-rise office building. The law firm wanted all high-end interior finishes according to plans given each team. The project was based on an actual project recently completed in downtown Atlanta. Some of the problems involved only one elevator available for construction crews and supplies, and 13 other interior construction projects were simultaneously going on in the same building. The porcelain tile was to be imported from Italy and would be delayed. The project had only a two-month schedule. The team had to put together an estimate, safety plan, project schedule, and logistics plan for
the project located in busy downtown Atlanta. The project was given to the UTC Competition Team on a Friday with a project proposal due on Tuesday morning and a virtual team PowerPoint presentation Wednesday morning in front of the panel of judges. The categories were commercial, design build, heavy civil, concrete, risk and finance. The other universities in the competition were Florida, Auburn, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Kennesaw State, North Carolina at Charlotte, Western Carolina, among others. Ten of the largest construction companies in the Southeastern U.S. sponsored the competition. During the competition, the students from each university uploaded their resumes to the sponsors. The UTC Student Construction Competition Team represented UTC admirably and professionally under pressure of time and project issues during the virtual challenge and the UTC Team solved each problem successfully presented to them. They worked over 40 hours on the project. Normally, the project would require over 80 hours to complete the proposal. Their dedication and hard work were exemplary as they represented UTC.
Student Engineering Team Earns Honor in National Competition Two student teams from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have won honors at national competitions focused on water management. One team won second place in one of the six categories in the WERC Design Contest. Their project—hosted by the Waste-management Education Research Center at New Mexico State University—examined methods of mitigating combined sewer overflows by smart management stormwater around the Chattanooga Zoo. Their project was entered in the competition’s Open Task category in which teams identify their own real-world environmental challenge and address it through research, design and development of a fully operational demonstration of the solution. WERC Design Project Team Members (Pictured left): Carmen Harvey, Beau Neidich, Adam Belton, Riley Ellis, and Deimer Ordones Gomez Faculty Advisor: Jejal Bathi
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UTC Solar Splash Team’s First-ever Entry to a Competition
Congratulation to the Solar Splash Team’s first-ever entry to a competition! SOLAR SPLASH® is the World Championship of Collegiate Solar Boating, and it takes place over five days. Technical inspections are done on the first day, and the remainder of the time is occupied by five on-the-water competitive events. Points are earned in 7 categories starting with technical reports that are submitted before teams arrive at the competition. On-site competitions include Visual Displays and Workmanship. On-the-water events begin with a Sprint and Endurance qualifier. This is followed by an event called the Slalom, which is a combination of speed and maneuverability. The final days are spent in the Sprint and Endurance events. The competition serves as an opportunity for students to compete and showcase their accomplishments. Students learn to use solar energy for transportation purposes and get hands-on experience with sustainable energy, energy management, and the importance of efficiency and good design. During this first event for the UTC Solar Splash Team, they came in 8th place overall which is a great showing for a firsttime event. We are really proud of our team. Go Mocs! Solar Splash Team members are: Brianna Wise, Tyler Jones, Mitchell Thomas, Leo James, and Kristie Williams Faculty Advisor: Abdul Ofoli
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COMPETITION >>
Hatch It!: CECS Represents in Creative Business Competition by Sara Jackson
Kalen Berry with First Place Team Certificate for the 2020 Hatch It! Competition. Kalen Berry is majoring in mechatronics at UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science. Also pictured, Libby Santin, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
CECS students dominated “Hatch It: The Mocs Big Business Idea Competition,” a Gary Rollins College of Business-supported opportunity for students to pitch business ideas in exchange for start up funding or support for their small businesses. The competition is sponsored by the Downtown Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, EPB, the Clarence E. Harris Chair of Excellence in Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. This year, the live competition, held safely in person and viewable over Zoom on November 4th, yielded a number of ideas from six teams of CECS students. Among the six teams were electrical engineering majors Hope Hunnicut and Brook McCurdy of “Mochi Mama,” which is a developed and delicious option for gluten-free ice cream, and chemical engineering majors Dell Zimmerman and Gitapun Jur, along with their teammate Syed Tareq, a computational engineering major, who together represented S&J NanoChemical, and specifically the initiative to develop a fertilizer line that encourages plant growth while also being less costly to both the environment and the wallet. Along with their selected competitors, the presented their proposals to judges David Paschall of Ntracts Inc., Amy Donahue of River City Company, and Chattanooga-area entrepreneur Monty Bruell. To present before the panel was in itself an accomplishment, as to do so, students had to successfully apply and prove that their ideas had a market and chance for success. Congratulations to all participants on their innovation, and to CECS students particularly on t heir integration of major skills into entrepreneurship! SCAN TO LEARN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HATCH IT COMPETITION >>
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Growing Field Creates Growing Interest in Students
by Shawn Ryan
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McKenzie Mack enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to pursue a graphic design degree. She’s graduating with a degree in cybersecurity.
Nothing at all against graphic design, she quickly said, but the digital world grabbed her attention, and she switched majors in her freshman year. “It’s an emerging field with a lot of jobs in it. There’s a lot of different niches that you can get into,” said Mack, who graduates in December 2021. In late 2020, news of the Russian-linked “SolarWinds” hack of 18,000 private and U.S. government computers brought a deluge of attention to cybersecurity and its importance. But the field has been vital and vibrant for decades, ever since computers became a near-indispensable part of daily life. “Within the computer science department, we’re trying to train the students so they’re able to apply the skill sets for security at a company, something that is core technology,” said Chang Phuong, a lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering at UTC. On this particular day, Mack and three other cybersecurity students are working on a semester-long project in Phuong’s Biometrics and Cryptography class. Students form teams to design a case about the size of a pack of cigarettes that will hold tiny computer parts—including a fully
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operational computer and a camera—to read fingerprints, a security measure known as biometrics. As she talks, a 3D printer behind her is zzzz’ing back and forth, building the case she and her team designed. Biometrics is the use of technology to confirm identity through a human biological characteristic unique to every individual such as fingerprints, facial or voice recognition or retinal scans, an approach experts consider far more secure than passwords. “If it’s something with a biometric device component, then it’s going to make it a bit more difficult for somebody to steal that from you to be able to use it for access,” Chang said. But hackers are still trying. “The hackers really stay on top of things, but it just makes me more excited,” said Adolfo Villalona, a senior who graduated in May with a double major in service security and computer engineering. “Biometrics is definitely the future, so the passwords are going to be obsolete.” Even with biometrics making hacking harder, those known as black-hats in the industry still try to find weaknesses in computer systems, so they can get inside and create chaos or steal valuable information, Chang said. “There are people that try to fake biometrics, like creating a fake fingerprint,” he said. On the other side of the keyboard, white-hats are cybersecurity experts trying to prevent hacking by locating weaknesses first and putting up defenses. Cybersecurity isn’t contained just to keeping outside hackers from getting inside, Mack said. Some hackers already are inside, and companies need to make sure employees are not trying to steal secrets or abusing the company’s computer systems in other ways. Sometimes illegal or unethical ways.
“Biometrics is definitely the future, so passwords are going to be obsolete.”
“Let’s say somebody in the company has inappropriate use in the email system. I would look at the email servers and its email logs to build a case for the company in the event they go to court.”
Major External Awards: Fiscal Year 2021 Awards totaling at least $600k as primary investigator Mina Sartipi, Computer Science and Engineering Anthony Skjellum, Computer Science and Engineering Mengjun Xie, Computer Science and Engineering Awards totaling at least $250k as primary investigator Yingfeng Wang, Computer Science and Engineering Ignatius Fomunung, Civil and Chemical Engineering Bradley Harris, Civil and Chemical Engineering James Newman, Mechanical Engineering Daniel Loveless, Electrical Engineering Donald Reising, Electrical Engineering
Adolfo Villalona, a student in Chang Phuong’s cybersecurity class, works with a 3D printer to build a device to recognize fingerprints.
Awards totaling at least $100k as primary investigator Donald Reising, Electrical Engineering Li Yang, Computer Science and Engineering Mengjun Xie, Computer Science and Engineering
2021 Technology Symposium a Success Each year, UTC, and regional community colleges, high schools and middle schools unite to put on the Technology Symposium. Due to COVID-19, the event which is usually held in person was moved to an online format with presenters and participants able to continue to communicate and show off their research through an online platform and ZOOM meeting rooms. The 2021 virtual Technology Symposium featured 117 student projects from across the region. More than 740 people attended the virtual event on April 16, and our students had 5,873 unique views of their presentations. Thank you to the faculty and staff who helped make this event a success! << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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From College of Business to College of Engineering and Computer Science Irene Hillman is the new director of student success in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her role includes developing and managing career and internships programs for students, working with local industries that partner with the college and job recruitment. Her prior position at UTC was manager of career services in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, where she worked on many of the same types of programs she will administer at the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Among her responsibilities at the College of Business were increasing student participation in career development events, working with the Joseph F. Decosimo Success Center and implementing student programs such as mock interviews, resume workshops and the Night of Networking. She also taught a required business course that focused on professional and career development. Hillman has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from New College of Florida, a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and is currently completing a Ph.D. in Learning and Leadership at UTC.
New Faculty
Mariana Kamel
Electrical Engineering
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Chang Phuong
Computer Science and Engineering
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New Staff
Wolday Abrha
Engineering Management and Technology
Eisa Mohamed
Computer Science and Engineering
Irene J Hillman
Director, Center for Student Success
Amber Noblit
Advisor, Center for Student Success
Sara Jackson Chief of Staff
Yaritza Moore
First-year Experience Coordinator, Center for Student Success
Christopher Frishcosy Civil Engineering Labs Director
NSBE: Success through Service UTC’s chapter of the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) has a powerful presence on campus, and one of its longstanding outreach events is the bi-annual ACT Workshop. This is a free workshop open to all students, and college professors lead different sections of practice tests, help answer difficult questions, and share test-taking tips. Even during the pandemic, NSBE persevered, offering the workshop online for students interested in getting an extra edge to increase ACT scores. Many students have reported back to NSBE about increased scores, and one parent wrote, “We are all smiles! This is beyond awesome that this is available and it is free!” Visit utc.edu/cecs-act for regular updates on the next scheduled workshop. In addition to the ACT Workshop, NSBE has collaborated with the STEM High School Chattanooga to create a mentor program targeting high school males of color. Data shows these young men are the least-supported high school demographic, which impacts the rates in which they continue on to higher educational opportunities. NSBE is part of the solution, encouraging recognition from the next generation of students that a future in engineering, computer science, or engineering technology is readily achievable.
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Through the agreement, students completing the associate of applied science in mechatronics degree at the Alabama Aviation College, a unit of Enterprise State, will be able to transfer all Enterprise State credits to UTC and continue training to complete the bachelor of applied science in mechatronics. Instrumental in establishing this partnership was Enterprise State mechatronics instructor Aubri Hanson, who reached out to UTC while searching for transfer options for students. “Looking at the curriculum for UTC’s BAS in mechatronics, I knew this would be a great match and path for our students,” she said. “Completing the two-year degree in mechatronics qualifies students for many jobs in a variety of fields that command a high wage. Going on and completing the four-year degree will allow students to move into engineering and management level positions in mechatronics. Either path a student chooses will lead to a wealth of opportunities in a broad range of industry.” Enterprise State Community College mechatronics students who transfer to UTC will
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Mechatronics Agreement first-of-its-kind with an Alabama Institution
During a virtual meeting on Dec. 1, 2020, a new mechatronics-focused articulation agreement was made official between the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Enterprise State Community College located in Enterprise, Alabama.
continue their training in automation, robotics and other areas, which can lead to more employment opportunities in a broad range of industry. The transfer agreement between the two institutions guarantees UTC admission to Enterprise State students completing the associate degree in Mechatronics who graduate with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Hanson said this agreement would have students completing 67 credits at Enterprise State and the final 62 credits required for the bachelor’s degree at UTC. “We are excited about this transfer articulation agreement for the Mechatronics program and welcoming ESCC students to UTC to complete their four-year Bachelor of Applied Science degree,” said Daniel Pack, UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, “With the new border state tuition discount, UTC is a smart choice for students in Alabama. We look forward to working with ESCC to develop pathways for other programs in engineering, technology, and computer science.” According to Ahad Nasab, Engineering Management and Technology Department
Head and Burkett Miller Chair of Excellence, the program at UTC is a natural next step for regional mechatronics students looking to further their education. “The BAS Mechatronics program at UTC is designed to provide the knowledge and skill set demanded by the transition of manufacturing to Industry 4.0.,” Nasab said. “We hope to serve as a unique conduit for community college students to advance in the exciting field of automation, robotics and mechatronics.” Enterprise State Vice President and Dean of Instruction Danny Long said the agreement with UTC is exceptional and that Enterprise State is excited about the opportunities students would have available to them. “It’s rare to have all courses for an entire program, especially a career technical program, transfer to a four-year institution,” Long said. Although this is the first articulation agreement to be signed between the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science and any institution in Alabama, similar agreements already exist with institutions in Tennessee and Georgia.
2020-2021 Top researchers and industry leaders shared their ideas and experiences at the annual Speaker Series. Launched in 2016 to inspire innovation and collaboration, the series is free and open to the public. While on campus, speakers are invited to tour the college and meet one-on-one with faculty and students. Build with Strength: Innovative Materials for Concrete Applications
Dr. Heather J. Brown, Professor, School of Concrete and Construction Management – Middle Tennessee State University
Aligning Societal Health based on Systems Engineering Design
Dr. Rupy Sawhney, Distinguished Professor and Heath Fellow in Business and Engineering at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the founder of Sawhney Solutions
Dr. Heather Brown
Dr. Rupey Sawhney
Dr. Karl Zelik
Dr. Eric Jacuzzi
Michael Bradley
The New Normal – Beginning your Engineering Career in a Post COVID-19 World
Michael Bradley, resource manager for Westinghouse Electric Company
Researching, Developing & Translating Wearable Assistive Tech for Sweaty, Squishy, Quirky Humans Dr. Karl Zelik, Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University
Aerodynamics in NASCAR
Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, Sr. Director of Aerodynamics for NASCAR R&D
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G20 Alliance Will Conduct ‘Smart City’ Research Around the World by Shawn Ryan
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Mina Sartipi is director of CUIP and a UC Foundation professor in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science. Chattanooga is one of two U.S. cities invited to join the 2020 G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, a group of 36 cities from 22 countries. Work organized through the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) at UTC is the main reason the city was selected, according to the alliance. San Jose, California, is the other U.S. city invited to join. Created in June 2019, the alliance brings together cities that are pioneers exploring
solutions on issues of energy, transportation, health care, education and others with the ultimate goals of, among others, improving quality of life, environmental sustainability and financial transparency in each city. Members of the alliance trade successful ideas that address these dilemmas, designing a “roadmap” of policies that everyone can use. Chattanooga’s Smart City initiative examines and tests everything from traffic flow and electricity delivery to air quality and safety issues. The research is centered at CUIP and its partners. “At UTC, we are excited about being part of the Chattanooga team that was given the opportunity
by the World Economic Forum to pioneer smartcity technologies,” said Reinhold Mann, the University’s deputy vice chancellor for research. The city began its Smart City work in 2010 with the creation of EPB’s fiber-optic internet system, making Chattanooga the first U.S. city to offer high-speed internet access to every resident. After CUIP was created in 2018, its research projects include improving traffic flow to lower the amount of automobile pollution in the city, reduce the number of vehicle accidents and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Working with grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation, CUIP has partnered with Vanderbilt University and the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) to examine ways to bring public transportation to underserved neighborhoods and address other public transportation issues. CUIP also established a Smart Community Collaborative that focuses on initiatives in health, transportation and energy. “This is an opportunity for Chattanooga to share its thoughts on Smart City Governance, but it also provides us the benefit of global thought leaders on the subject. We’ll be learning and collaborating with some of the best Smart City programs in the world,” said the city’s Smart City Director Kevin Comstock. “Chattanooga continues to be a city on the move. Participation in this group lets us know we are moving in the right direction. In Smart City programming there is not a well-defined path or roadmap,” he said. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan predicts that global smart cities may encourage $2.46 trillion in business opportunities by 2025 as long as cities have the capabilities and policies to implement those ideas. << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science Recognized Nationally Li Yang, a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected to receive a prestigious award from the National Science Foundation. A Guerry professor, she was selected for the 2021 Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment in National Spectrum Collaboration Group (NSCG). The award recognizes outstanding accomplishment and strategic collaboration in the research and use of radio waves, which are widely used in many technologies, including telecommunications. “I am honored to work with dedicated colleagues on this important initiative and be selected for the Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment,” Yang said. Yang’s research in cybersecurity, computer science, artificial intelligence and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has attracted more than $4 million funding to UTC from the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies over the years. She contributes to the NSF’s efforts and initiatives to advance the nation’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development to create new sectors of the economy and revitalize industries. The National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute’s program is a joint effort between various industries and the NSF, the Science and Technology Directorate and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security and Transportation. She also manages the NSF Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier program, which supports research to sustain economic competitiveness, promote worker well-being and the pursuit of lifelong learning and quality of life. In 2019, she was chosen as a Program Director for NSF’s Division of Graduate Education. In the role, she is responsible for programs that manage STEM proposals and awards in areas of cybersecurity artificial intelligence, future of the work, computer science, cyber-infrastructure and education research.
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Forward Motion, a College of Engineering and Computer Science outreach initiative, is aimed toward supporting middle-school females in their engineering and computer science pursuits. In the project introduction, the video states, “UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is committed to supporting females in STEM fields and STEM education! By honoring times those who have failed or faced roadblocks yet have persevered and overcome, we honor the true essence of STEM: Failing Forward (because an object in motion stays in motion).” “In an effort to motivate young women, we must show them that STEM fields approach problems differently. You don’t have to be right the first time! You just have to alter your approach,” Evonne Hackett, teacher at Lakeview Middle School, explains. In the Girls Preparatory School (GPS) segment of the series, one of the students featured, Mary Stuart, is now a CECS freshman. Mary Stuart describes her STEM capabilities eloquently, “harder projects are more challenging, but also more engaging.” One very cool impact of the series—the Catoosa County Technology Director used their episode to leverage funds for a Summer STEM Camp. Forward Motion has certainly affected the Chattanooga community in positive and lasting ways.
In March 2020, Trevor Elliott works in his UTC Racing Mocs trailer, using 3D printers to make parts for face shields that were used by health care and emergency workers to protect them from COVID-19.
Trevor Elliott, National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Award Winner
by Shawn Ryan
The award from the Faculty Early Career Development Program of NSF is the agency’s most prestigious and is designed “in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.” According to NSF, “Activities pursued by earlycareer faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.” “I’m particularly proud for the department, the college and the University that this is the first ever Career award to originate within the college and be awarded,” Elliott said. Entered for consideration in NSF’s Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation category, Elliott’s proposal focuses on 3D printing and developing a deeper understanding of how 3D printing as a manufacturing process works and ways to make it more efficient.
Industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, chemical, energy and health care use 3D printing and would benefit from further research into it, Elliott explained in his proposal. He also said data from the research can be incorporated into undergraduate courses at the university level as well as being used in outreach to middle-school students. While he wants to do more research, Elliott is already familiar with 3D printing. In early 2020, he and about 30 UTC mechanical engineering students used 3D printers to manufacture pieces of the transparent face shields used by health care workers fighting the coronavirus. At the same time, he and his students also were finding creative ways to make respirators and ventilators using off-the-shelf products, Elliott said. They also are working on designing a version of filtration devices like the N95 mask to fit smaller faces, he added.
“This award is very meaningful for many reasons, one of which is the fact that our mechanical engineering students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science have done such a great job,” Elliott said. “They have won the first national title and broken the first world record for the college. The relationship to this award is twofold: It is heavily tied with students and outreach, and it is the first ever ‘homegrown Career’ award for the college. It matches the great work our students have done breaking through in new areas and in big ways!” This award is not the first national recognition for Elliott’s work. In 2020, he was selected as one of 132 people nationwide to be 2021 Associate Fellows in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The title of Associate Fellow recognizes individuals “who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done original work of outstanding merit, or who have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics,” according to the organization.
AIAA Class of 2021 Associate Fellows Honoree Trevor Elliott
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) recently had the pleasure of announcing its Class of 2021 Associate Fellows. UTC’s own Trevor Sterling Elliott is among the honorees. The Associate Fellows recognizes individuals who “have done original work of outstanding merit.” To be selected as an Associate Fellow, an individual must be an AIAA Senior Member in good standing; with at least twelve years of professional experience, and be recommended by a minimum of three current Associate Fellows. << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Industries Desperately Need Microelectronics Engineers by Shawn Ryan
Microelectronics are in everything from smartphones to spacecraft, from enormous computer systems to automobiles. Matt Joplin had a job before he even graduated. The company, BAE Systems, essentially came to him. “I’d never even heard of BAE Systems,” he said. In 2018, a few months before Joplin earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, representatives from the company approached Daniel Loveless, UC Foundation associate professor in engineering, asking if he had any students graduating soon. If he did, the company would like to chat with them. “I get calls every few days asking, ‘Hey, can we get one of your students?’” Loveless said. The people on the other end of the call are looking for students well-versed in microelectronics, which has exploded in the past few years.
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Microelectronics are in everything from smartphones to spacecraft, from enormous computer systems to automobiles. There are tons of jobs out there in the field, but not enough people to fill them. “It’s a niche area and, while it’s small, it is absolutely critical and there’s nowhere near the right level of workforce right now,” Loveless said. “We’re seeing people being hired in rapid-fire succession.” Joplin is a testament to the desperate need, having landed jobs with two different employers— BAE and NASA—in the past two years. “I think that any student who’s got a microelectronics background is going to be able to find a job in one place or another,” said Joplin, who also earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at UTC. When Loveless came to UTC six years ago, one of the areas he wanted to expand was microelectronics. People in the industry now see UTC as one of the prime universities to approach when they need microelectronic engineers. “It’s hard to actually keep people in school to focus on this stuff,” Loveless said. One of the major projects UTC students are working on now is the Scalable Asymmetric Life Cycle Engagement Consortium, or SCALE. Funded by a $400,000 grant from the Strategic Radiation Hardened Electronics Council (SRHEC), part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the project is aimed at creating a pipeline of new
engineers researching the effects of radiation on microelectronics used in spacecraft. BAE Systems is a multinational defense, security and aerospace company headquartered in the United Kingdom and operating in the U.S. and worldwide. A solution for eliminating—or at least lessening—those effects is critical for companies involved in the commercialization of space and programs to improve modern defense systems. SCALE is beneficial on several levels, said Michael McKenna, a radiation systems engineer at MDA supporting SRHEC and SCALE. Students can pursue research on areas of interest to the agency and, at the same time, get an inside look at microelectronics that might nudge them into choosing it for a career, he explained. “It allows us to not only work on problems that are important to us and get actual usable solutions,” McKenna said, “but it’s a way that we can actively engage students when they’re still at a point where maybe they’re deciding what they would like their career field to be.” In doing so, SCALE also may help develop a larger available workforce for industries that use microelectronics, Loveless said. “In general, the commercial sector of electronics targets very high performance, but reliability is sacrificed,” he said. “People don’t care if their cellphone doesn’t work after two years because they care about the latest feature and they’ll buy a new one. “Spacecraft and these sorts of missions
fundamentally depend on the reliability of the components, and that’s all that we focus on,” he continued. “At the end of the day, students who know how to design within this extra set of constraints— meaning they design systems that can operate hot or very cold, in a vacuum, under extreme pressures and under exposure to radiation—they’re well-equipped to tackle just about any design problem in engineering.” Along with DoD, UTC graduates can tackle jobs at, among others, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and Goddard Space Flight Center, the U.S Army, Air Force and Navy, the British spaceflight company Virgin Galactic and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. “It’s what I try to tell the students,” McKenna said. ”It’s very nice in the sense that there’s a huge demand, and it spans so many different industries, and it’s so global. There are lots of opportunities.” Joplin stepped directly into that global need. After working at BAE Systems in Virginia for a couple of years, he took a job at Goddard Space Flight Center—also in Virginia. Staying at one job for an entire career is not a typical path in the microelectronic industry, he said. “What I’ve been seeing is there’s quite a lot of movement in people who are early on in their career,” he said. “They don’t tend to stay in the same job, at least not their first job. They’re constantly looking to find something that is better suited to them and experiment with the work they’re doing. Possibly the shortage is what allows them to do that.” And there’s another advantage: Money. “The workers gets to set their own terms and have the advantage in a negotiation. There are jobs out there, for sure.”
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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AKRAM SAAD Akram Saad, a graduate of the Master’s of Electrical Engineering program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has received the General Robert Neyland Young Engineer of the Year Award. Saad, who graduated from UTC in 2018, is being recognized for making outstanding contributions to engineering, public welfare and the community during the early portion of his career. A native of Sudan, he currently works as a protection and design consultant at Patterson Power Engineers. He also won the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy’s Chattanooga Chapter Outstanding Young Engineer award this year. The Neyland Award is part of Chattanooga Engineers’ Week and is selected by a committee made up of representatives from 16 engineering companies and organizations in the region.
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Electrical Engineering Graduate Chosen as Young Engineer of the Year The engineering award is named after Robert R. Neyland (1892-1962), head coach of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville football team from 1926 to 1934, 1936 to 1940 and 1946 to 1952. Over his tenure, the team had six undefeated seasons, nine undefeated regular seasons, seven conference championships and four national championships. The stadium at University of Tennessee in Knoxville is named for him. Among them are EPB, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Chattanooga Engineers Club and the Society of Women Engineers. Saad recently sat down for an interview: Why did you choose the College of Engineering and Computer Science at UTC? When I was offered a full assistantship from the Department of Electrical Engineering at UTC, I was already considering a Ph.D. offer from another university in Ohio. The deciding factor was my brother, who graduated from UTC with a master’s in electrical engineering in 2014. He informed me how the program will equip me with the skills necessary for my career as a power systems engineer. How has the Master of Electrical Engineering program helped you with your career ambition and where you are today? It has always been a goal of mine that my career should have a tangible impact on my community. As part of my current full-time job, I prepare design packages for power system substations that deliver electric power to thousands of
customers. Also, the master’s program has allowed me to build a strong professional network, which has allowed me to have a seat on several of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ subcommittees. My work with those committees has resulted in positive changes to industry standards. Finally, the program effectively prepared me to pass the Fundamental Engineering exam. I now am on the verge of becoming a licensed professional engineer in power systems. What have you liked about the Master of Electrical Engineering program? I have benefited from the superior quality of the course catalog, faculty members and adjunct faculty members. Specifically, I enjoyed the program’s Smart Distribution Network course, a partnership between the industry and academia. Every week, a guest speaker is invited to educate the class on his or her area of expertise. This exposure to the industry through the eyes of top-notch engineers, consultants and managers provides students with the opportunity to build their professional network and explore career paths.
Chattanooga is one of few cities in the world that offers fiber-optics in their distribution system. Many UTC professors are conducting research to utilize this state-of-the-art infrastructure. I was lucky to be involved in one such research opportunity during my master’s studies at UTC. What area did you focus on or were there specific projects/goals you had while in the program? Chattanooga is one of few cities in the world that offers fiber-optics in their distribution system. Many UTC professors are conducting research to utilize this state-of-the-art infrastructure. I was lucky to be involved in one such research opportunity during my master’s studies at UTC. The focus of the research project was to utilize data collected from smart meters deployed all across the city and identify anomalous consumption. The algorithm I designed will be adopted by EPB within the next two years. In my second year, my focus was shifted toward bulk generation and power system stability. During that time, I worked within a research team led by Dr. Abdelrahman Karrar to help TVA nuclear group validate a certain behavior recorded in their system. What were some of your other accomplishments? During my time at UTC, I published two papers and was recognized as the outstanding graduate student in electrical engineering for 2018. I was also able to apply to patent my thesis work that presented a more efficient design alternative for power system stabilizers with the help of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. Have you had support from College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty/staff? Has there been one or two in particular who have positively influenced your studies? I am going to break the support I received into three categories: personal, academic and professional. While I received tremendous support
from all faculty members, Dr. Ahmed Eltom and Dr. Nurhidajat Sisworahardjo were my go-to [individuals] for personal advice. Dr. Karrar has helped me a lot in all academic endeavors. Finally, Dr. Raga Ahmed and Professor Gary Kobet had my back and gave the best career advice I could have ever received. I am glad to have a platform to express my deep gratitude for these and all UTC electrical engineering faculty members. What has been the best part of your experience while you were in the Master of Electrical Engineering program? One of my favorite parts of the experience by far was the opportunity to attend the National Society of Black Engineers Career Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Do you have any advice for future Master of Electrical Engineering graduates? I would say no matter what your focus is, you will find a faculty member who shares your passion and helps you achieve your personal and professional goals. Be sure you utilize all the resources UTC has to offer. Get to know your faculty and administrative staff. These are good people and will do everything in their power to support you. They work with and for you, not against you. Pursuing graduate school is not an easy choice to make. If you approach the experience with clear goals, the benefits of the program will last forever.
Online Construction Management Program Among Nation’s Best The online construction management program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been ranked among the Top 20 in the country by a national education website. Intelligent.com examined 139 schools with such programs and ranked UTC at No. 18 out of the Top 50 for 2021. “Our top picks for the best construction management degrees are a good value, wellrespected, and flexible,” the website says. Each program was evaluated “on the basis of reputation, course strength, cost, flexibility, and faculty,” it says. According to the website, more than 46,000 graduates in construction management will be needed in the U.S. by 2028. SCAN TO SEE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT RANKINGS. >>
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Electrical Engineering Professor Joins Prestigious Industry Publication
Graduate student Babikir Mohamed Ahmed, left, and Abdelrahman Karrar, interim head of the Department of Electrical Engineering.
Worldwide Expert Asks to Use Research Findings of UTC Professor and Student by Shawn Ryan
After almost an entire year of writing and editing complex mathematical equations on techniques for testing electrical power networks and nine months of writing and editing a research paper of the techniques, Dr. Abdel Karrar, interim head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and three graduate students, Babikir Mohamed Ahmed, Amira Abdelgadir, and Noman A. Saied published their research in a major scholarly journal. Decoupling, the focus of the many hours of research, is a process that keeps electrical distribution networks working smoothly, but it has limitations. The research suggests ways to get around limitations. Three weeks post-publication, a worldwide expert on decoupling, Christian Dufour, contacted the research team and requested to test the equations in his own work. “He’s actually one of the most cited sources in the paper,” explains Dr. Karrar. Christian Dufour is a senior simulation specialist in power systems and motor drives at Opal-RT, a Canada-based global developer of power grids and electronics for various industries, including autos, trains, and aircraft. Dufour says the research may make it possible for Opal-RT computer simulators to test large electrical distribution grids at the same speed the grids will use when put into real-world operations. Lab testing power grids of this size is typically a daunting task. Dufour says that “engineers will use the simulator to find issues in the lab before commissioning to avoid the high costs of correcting problems in the field after deployment.” Ahmed, who came to UTC after studying at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, reflects on the experience, “It feels good. I never thought at the beginning, it can go this far.”
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Daniel Loveless, UC Foundation associate professor of electrical engineering, has been chosen to serve as an associate editor on the Transactions on Nuclear Science (TNS), a publication from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). “It is my honor to have been selected and to serve as an associate editor for the IEEE TNS journal. The IEEE TNS is one of the top journals that publishes articles on theory and application of nuclear science and engineering, including radiation effects in microelectronics, my particular field of interest.” At UTC, Loveless established a microelectronics research program, a highly competitive industry in desperate need of employees with knowledge in the field. The program has helped students land jobs in microelectronics months before they graduate. Loveless also created the UTChattSat program focused on undergraduate research and workforce development in space systems engineering and radiation effects, and he leads the Extreme Environments Systems research thrust at the UTC SimCenter. He has published about 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is a senior member of IEEE.
Student Spotlight: Diego Amaro SCAN TO WATCH
ON YOUTUBE
Diego Amaro, a May ’21 graduate in Electrical Engineering, is originally from Venezuela. When he was three years old, his family moved to Nashville, where his family sought a better life and more opportunities for Diego. He is the first person in his family to attend any educational institution in the United States. As far as UTC goes, Diego describes his experiences as a student as “Great! I’ve met a lot of cool people, and I’ve had so many interesting opportunities!” One of the most memorable experiences was the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) led by Dr. Daniel Loveless. The REU focused on space systems, and Diego’s team worked specifically on a cube sat that could reorient itself. The project, “An Interactive CubeSat Testbed,” aimed to provide a resource for education, training, and rapid deployment of small satellite spacecraft. One of the many takeaways from the REU was the ability to work with a team to accomplish goals and achieve an end result, whether it be for research or for industry. “I learned to trust people, to put faith in people that they are accomplishing their part of the mission so you can focus on your part,” said Diego, “and working remotely due to the pandemic, you have to place even more faith in people and communicate effectively!” When asked for words of wisdom for other firstgeneration college students, Diego is quick to point out that asking for help is one of the most important things to do, “Put yourself out there. This may seem scary, but you can do it.”
Professor’s Research Advances Biopharmaceuticals, Biofuels and Environmental Clean-up The associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science has been named among the top 2 percent of research scientists in the world. Michael Danquah, a UC Foundation professor and director of the department of chemical engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, uses biomolecular engineering principles to develop, emerging biopharmaceuticals, methods for delivering drugs to their specific targets without alerting the body’s defense mechanisms, biofuels and systems that help clean up environmental pollution. The designation is the result of a study, conducted by Stanford University, listing scientists in the top 100,000 of all fields and the top 2 percent in specific fields. Those various fields include engineering, business, humanities and medicine. The study ranks scientists based in part on personal citations and writings, presenting both single-year and career-long impacts. Danquah’s research findings have resulted in about 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly book chapters, conference proceedings and presentations and technical reports. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. “I feel deeply honored to have been recognized in this way, and I wish to celebrate this recognition with the many students and collaborators who have worked with me over the years,” Danquah said. “I am proud to contribute this way in building UTC’s research reputation in the national and global fronts and this already speaks to UTC’s efforts in research rigor and flourishing academic environment.” One of his goals, he said, is to advance cutting-edge bioengineering research at UTC. Working with others, the research can address the health care challenges of the 21st century, he said.
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Tech for Health: Engineering Better Solutions for Mobility and Strength
by Sarah Joyner
Horseback riding as a form of physical therapy for cerebral palsy patients has been well-respected and used for decades. Known as hippotherapy, it can
improve coordination, balance and strength as the patient responds to the horse’s motions. But horses are not accessible for everyone. They’re expensive. They require food and shelter. They need space. Some patients are scared of them. Electronic hippotherapy simulation devices— part of a field called biomechatronics—have been created in recent years to take the place of horses. But the devices have drawbacks. They don’t feel authentic. There’s no interaction between horse and riders, no feeling the moving muscles of a horse underneath. In the end, they’re a machine, not a living animal. “They use electrical motors or some kind of mechanical system. It’s sometimes noisy,” explained Erkan Kaplanoglu, associate professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. But Kaplanoglu is trying to change that. An expert in biomechatronics, he uses technology—like a mechanical horse—to solve physiological issues such as making rehabilitation and exercise accessible for everyone. At the eighth International Cerebral Palsy and Development Disorder Conference, Kaplanoglu will introduce some of these technological solutions.
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A patient demonstrates the MarHippo system, sitting atop the simulation device and playing its game. Working with health sciences faculty members at Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey, Kaplanoglu has helped design a better simulation device— the MarHippo. Its pneumatic muscles don’t feel so robotic. “They feel like a real horse,” he said. Created specifically for children, MarHippo is designed to keep its younger users’ attention. Instead of just riding on a device that mimics a horse, it’s set up like a game with a screen out front providing visuals such as meandering down a trail. It has a saddle—sort of like an electric bull—a handlebar to hold and stirrups for feet. MarHippos also are programmable for each patient, catering to the child’s individual needs. Through Bluetooth sensors, a patient’s muscles are monitored for the movements in real time.
Biomechatronics at UTC
UTC students are getting experience with biomechatronics designs through an oncampus lab dedicated to the technology. In the Biomechatronics and Assistive Technology Lab, better known as the BioAstLab, undergraduate and graduate students led by Kaplanoglu are tackling smart prosthetics and orthotic systems—braces, alignment, support—an electromyography (EMG)-controlled balance board and other biomechatronics projects designed to assist the human body.
Although it’s housed in the Department of Engineering Management and Technology, BioAstLab is collaborative in nature, working with biomedical and medical faculty at UTC, as well as other higher education institutions. “Our lab seeks to advance the science of smart prosthesis/orthosis and rehabilitation robotics research to address health and lifestyle issues affecting individuals with physical disabilities and develop the next generation of mechatronics engineers,” Kaplanoglu explained. For Kaplanoglu, biomechatronics is personal. About 10 years ago, a veteran friend lost his hand, and it was replaced with a prosthetic. But the hand’s functions were limited. It could open and close, providing the ability to grip items between thumb and fingers. That was about it.“He deserved better,” Kaplanoglu said. “I told myself that I need to design more, a smarter one.” At the time, “smart prosthetics,” as he calls them, had some serious hurdles to overcome. Most were too heavy, too noisy or their batteries did not last long enough for practical use. “You can design good, multifunctional hands, but they’re going to be heavy, and people cannot wear them,” Kaplanoglu explained. “And if your battery dies in the middle of the day, that’s not good. So, you have to make sure that your design is lightweight, noiseless and has a good battery management system.”
Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu Keynote Speaker for 8th International Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disorders Congress The 8th International Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disorders Congress will feature engineering management and technology associate professor Erkan Kaplanoglu as the keynote speaker. This scientific meeting, named after Prof. Hıfzı Özcan, is of great importance for Cerebral Palsy in Turkey. Prof. Hıfzı Özcan stressed the importance of conducting research, of discussing Cerebral Palsy in scientific environments, training young people, and encouraged everyone in this direction.
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Joe Dumas
Going the Distance by Sara Jackson
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Dr. Joe Dumas, UC Foundation Professor in Computer Science and Engineering, is in his 28th year as a faculty member at UTC. The son of a
firefighter and homemaker from Mobile, Alabama, he and his sisters constantly heard about the importance of education as a tool for upward mobility. A self-proclaimed “quintessential nerd”, Dr. Dumas enjoyed being a part of his high school’s chess team and quiz bowl team. When he began attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he was uncertain what coursework would most pique his interests. He happened to take an electrical engineering technology class, and he enjoyed it so much that he ended up majoring in it. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree, he worked briefly in Texas before deciding to pursue a career in academia. He obtained a master’s degree at Mississippi State University, and moved to Orlando, Florida to begin working on a Ph.D. at the University of Central Florida. Since arriving at UTC, Signal Mountain has been his home, where he lives with his wife, Chereé. Their two sons are grown and have families of their own. Dr. Dumas makes the assertion that spoiling grandkids and then sending them back to their parents is way more fun than raising children full-time. Dr. Dumas fondly remembers his professor and mentor, Ted Boggart, as someone who truly influenced his career choice. “Professor Boggart wore a leather jacket. . .and we were all terrified to disappoint him. He looked like a biker, and he knew everything!” Reminiscing about his time at UTC, Dr. Dumas is proud of his achievements. He was instrumental in creating UTC’s Computer Engineering degree and accreditation. Besides conference and journal papers, he has published two editions of a textbook for Computer Architecture. His peers have recognized Dr. Dumas for his contributions to the college and university. As he considers his time at UTC, Dr.
Dumas credits the invaluable help he has received from his departmental administrative assistants as part of his successful career. When asked about memorable students, he immediately credits the McPhersons as the quintessential family of computer science and engineering students to walk the halls of EMCS. “The move to EMCS from Grote was a big deal,” Dr. Dumas states. “I’m not sure how many faculty remember our old offices in Grote. Dr. Kizza and I are the old-timers in the department now!” Through all of his milestones, Dr. Dumas maintains his youthful attitude through his various hobbies, such as long distance running. He ran
Joe Dumas and running partner Tony Grossi in the 2013 Boston Maraton.
his first marathon in November 2010, and since then, he has completed 63 races of marathon distance or longer. He typically completes 6-8 per year. His goal, is “to complete at least 100 lifetime marathons and, eventually, at least one in every U.S. state. The most amazing place I have run was the Big Sur Marathon in California. It starts in a redwood forest and then you get miles of scenic vistas along the Pacific coast, including the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge at the halfway point. They also have a guy in full tux and tails playing the piano to entertain the runners as they go by.” Looking ahead at his retirement in the next few years, Dr. Dumas has big plans. Besides skiing, tennis, and running, he is an experienced home brewer and a certified beer judge. He used to play chess frequently and wishes to get back into the hobby. He is a U.S. Chess Federation certified Senior Tournament Director. He would also like to travel more around this amazing country, preferably with his “lovely bride.” Dr. Dumas says, “We try to take a significant vacation every summer while I am not teaching classes. The pandemic denied us that opportunity last year, so we’re really looking forward to resuming summer travels!” Dr. Dumas has infectious energy and an enthusiasm for life and learning. Referring to his upbringing, he mentions that someone with a Ph.D. in computer science, he is not even the most educated person in his family. Between him and his two sisters, they hold eight degrees, with one sister being an actual NASA rocket scientist. The lessons his parents emphasized about the value of education have truly given his life direction. Dr. Dumas, ever grateful for his health, his family, and his friends, will no doubt continue to influence all who have contact with him well after his future retirement, as he runs full steam ahead. << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Watson Refused to Let Roadblocks Stop Her From Reaching Her Goals by Sarah Joyner
When Erin Watson walked across the commencement stage, the steps signified more than just earning a bachelor’s degree.
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Earning a degree in mechatronics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, her process was a years’ long feat of earning multiple degrees while working 30 to 35 hours a week, volunteering and, well, having a life. But when she talks about the work it took to get where she is today, she’s not self-promoting. She’s humble and almost shrugs it off. It’s like you’re talking to her about what she had for dinner yesterday. It’s no big deal. While earning an associate’s degree in engineering from Chattanooga State Community College, she was the only woman in her class from beginning to end. She started the program with a class of 12 people. By the end of it there were only five. But once she graduated as a certified technician and was working full-time in the field, she started hitting some bumps, especially when she would voice concerns to higher-ups about inconveniences or less-effective processes. She was always met with the same responses: “What are your credentials?” “Are you an engineer?” In the face of that frustrating process, she decided that, if no one else was going to help, she would be the solution. “I figured if I went back to college and got an actual engineering degree from a university, maybe I could put myself in that position and I could fix problems for someone else,” Watson explained. With her cool demeanor, she makes it sound easy. Watson admitted the process was anything but.
“Outreach is also education about what engineering is and what engineering could be. Because of her, we have the ability to tell our story to the community, a story that needs to be told because education is the great equalizer.” “I would probably just try to give myself more encouragement. I went through a period where I was depressed and discouraged and I felt like I was never going to make a difference. “I had a lot of support from my family, but as a female in a male-dominated career path, you just want encouragement from someone who understands. Someone who can tell you it will get better. Because It has gotten better.”
‘Powered through’
Eventually, she found a way to be that voice of encouragement and education for local students through the College of Engineering and Computer Science ambassador program. Her involvement began with the encouragement of her manager, Nicci Brewer, while interning at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Brewer was heavily involved in outreach and introducing young female students to engineering concepts. Watson said Brewer’s commitment was inspiring. “My manager was very supportive and she said, ‘If you have an opportunity to get involved on campus and volunteer, definitely do that.’” Watson applied for the ambassador program, giving her the opportunity to visit local students from kindergarten through community college, introducing them to engineering and computer science programs. UTC Outreach Coordinator Sara Jackson said when Watson interviewed for the position, she obviously ticked all the boxes. But she was going to have some huge shoes to fill. “It took some gumption to actually apply because we have former ambassadors at Stanford. We have ambassadors who have won National Science Foundation grants to go to any graduate school they want. “When Erin came in, she checked boxes. She was female. She was in mechatronics. She was
non-traditional. I could use all those things,” Jackson explained. “Her personality didn’t really shine, though. So I hired her because she checked boxes, not because of who she was.” Jackson later learned that, during the interview, Watson was so sick she had to go straight to the emergency room after they spoke. “She powered through and didn’t tell me,” Jackson added.
SCAN TO WATCH
The great equalizer
Later, Jackson would see just how much personality Watson had, and how she would step up and deliver even at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when student outreach seemed impossible. Watson would personally call prospective students and host telephone chats so they could dial in and hear the ambassadors talk about their college experiences. “Erin was instrumental in leading those charges and really came through for me at a very dark time,” Jackson said. In addition to leadership, Watson has added new depth to the college’s outreach program. “Because we have her, outreach is not just recruitment,” Jackson said. “Outreach is also education about what engineering is and what engineering could be. Because of her, we have the ability to tell our story to the community, a story that needs to be
ON YOUTUBE
told because education is the great equalizer. “And that’s what she exemplifies. The equalization of education and how she can have the same credentials as a man and be considered the same level in the engineering world. “Her word should carry equal weight. I think that’s amazing because that’s very difficult in mechatronics, which is still extremely heavy on the male side. So, I’m very proud of her.”
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Father and son Greg and Mitchell Jones
Greg and Mitchell Jones Both Earned Computer Science Degrees from UTC by Chuck Wasserstrom
Forty years ago in May 1981, Greg Jones received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Forty years later in May 2021, Mitchell Jones—the youngest of Greg’s four children—received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UTC. Father and son. Same degree. But in the world of computer science, that’s where the similarities end. Comparing computer science circa 1981 and computer science today is akin to comparing dinosaurs to the Geico gecko. The degree isn’t even offered within the same division anymore. When Greg went to UTC, his major lived in the College of Arts and Sciences. Today, computer science is a pillar of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Since most people today don’t know the history of computing, they would probably be surprised that the technology has gone full circle in about 40 years, unlike a lot of other fields,” said Greg, chief information officer with the Chattanooga-based Airnet Group. “As a result, all the computer science classes have changed due to the technology enhancements made over that time.” Mitchell participated in commencement ceremonies on April 25 in McKenzie Arena. The son—like his father—calls himself a UTC alumnus with a degree in computer science. “Graduating with the same degree as my dad has a lot of meaning to me, honestly,” Mitchell said. “We talk all the time about how much computer science has changed over the past 40 years.” “I’m excited to see what this field will be like 40 years from now. If either my son or daughter jumps into tech, I’ll be fascinated to share their stories of how different it has become.”
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Greg and Mitchell have compared notes many times while Mitchell was pursuing his degree. While a few of their UTC courses were the same, they were general education or business. Not surprisingly due to the length of time between their college days, they have had no shared professors. “We always talk about the codes he had to deal with and hoping you got your results back in a few hours. I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore,” Mitchell said. “It’s pretty amazing just how different it has become. With programming, there is always a constant state of learning; you’re always learning newer technologies and trying to stay ahead of the game. “It’s neat to talk to him about it and see the advancements in technology comparatively to back then. Even though I probably know a few different languages than he does, he can keep up and we can talk about it.” Greg admitted it was a “cool thing” whenever Mitchell showed an interest in computer science. “Mitchell has loved computers from early on. If I ever did anything, he’d always ask me about it,” Greg said. “Fifteen to 20 years ago, it was hard to show my kids stuff on a computer because they didn’t seem to get it, but he was always intrigued by it, which I thought was pretty cool. I could say to him, ‘If I do this right here, then this right here will work.’” Greg began working for TVA in college and was with the public power company for 13 years. Over that period, he also received a master’s in business administration from UTC in 1983. For his master’s thesis, Greg had to run a computer program overnight. Because of the size of the program, the job couldn’t be run during regular business hours. “I would get one three-hour window each night to run my statistical models on the University’s
mainframe, and then the next night I would try it again. It was a labor-intensive, very slow process. “Now, it’s so advanced that the same program can be run in minutes or less,” he said. Greg said he grew up in a blue-collar household in Hixson and was the first college-educated person in his family. Most of his family members were tradesmen, and “My dad used to try to teach me mechanics and all that kind of stuff.
Greg Jones when he graduated from UTC in 1981.
“One day he told me, ‘You need to go to talk to your mom about college because you’re not getting this mechanic stuff,’” Greg said with a laugh. “I started as a math major, then I took a computer class and really got into it. The rest is history. As my dad says, I became an intellectual mechanic instead of a physical mechanic.” Mitchell took a different route to UTC. He was home-schooled before enrolling in a program at Chattanooga State Community College that offered two years of free tuition. “But my goal was to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and I wanted to go to UTC,” he said. “Knowing my dad went there and knowing it was a good school, there wasn’t anywhere else where I wanted to go.” Mitchell is interning at Coyote Logistics while he completes his studies. He has accepted an offer from the global logistics provider to begin working for the company full-time. “I’m proud of Mitchell for finishing his degree because technology is hard. I mean, all degrees are hard, but I would always tell my kids: Get a degree in something you can make a living at,” Greg said. “And what I found out during my career is that the computer science path was in high demand then, and 40 years later, it’s still in high demand. So that says Mitchell is going to have a lifelong career of employment opportunity and a decent lifestyle.”
“It’s pretty amazing just how different it has become. With programming, there is always a constant state of learning; you’re always learning newer technologies and trying to stay ahead of the game.” << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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2020 STEP Ahead Emerging Leaders, UTC Alumna Amanda Hodges
When students leave the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, they do so with more than just a diploma in hand. Take Amanda Hodges, a 2016 UTC graduate who, upon her entrance into a college education, never would have guessed the direction of her career or the achievements it would reap. She had succeeded in STEM in high school, and envisioned for herself work in a lab one day. Though craftsmanship was an influential generational given in her family, the possibility of a career in the manufacturing industry was the furthest thing from her mind. Her acceptance of an adventitious manufacturing internship marked for her the completion of an unconscious puzzle. Now, having received the honor of being chosen as one of the 2020 STEP Ahead Emerging
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Leaders, Hodges is certain that she chose one of the most fulfilling careers possible. Her day-to-day involves critical thinking and problem solving that produces tangible effects. “Manufacturing,” she says, “is a place where ideas become reality. I thrive in an environment where creativity is encouraged, and the results are very tangible. Every day is different and filled with new challenges. I am honored to be part of an industry which continues to change our world.” Of her company in particular, she says that “BASF has been a really great steward for me in taking those steps to become an emerging leader.” The result of this initiative is clear: reception of a STEP Ahead Award, which is granted annually to women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields who have exhibited leadership within their organizations.
For Hodges, the willingness to lead has been easy to muster given the stimulating career in which she takes pride. She gets a taste of a wide variety of projects and products, making her path well-suited to the “jack of all trades” worker who seeks to positively affect those around them. Hodges’ interest in what would become her livelihood was cultivated by the craftsmanship of her father and grandfathers. They impacted her. In turn, she seeks to impact others, and her role at BASF allows her to see the results of her efforts on a daily basis. Additionally, she takes an active role in impressing the value of craft and manufacturing in turn as her models did for her. Her work with local STEM Days and as a volunteer with BASF’s Kids’ Lab during National Chemistry Week at local Orchard Knob Elementary School is beneficial to a host of young students, and particularly young girls, as they are exposed to a whole host of career paths they might have thought unexplorable. STEM paths are worth exploration in the lives of women and girls both worldwide and in Chattanooga, where Hodges proves herself an adept leader at BASF and is recognized, through the 2020 STEP Ahead Awards, for her achievements. To women and girls interested in adding their footsteps to the manufacturing mix Hodges would say “expect it to be super rewarding” as you come to realize exactly “how you can impact your community.” Congratulations to Amanda Hodges on this accomplishment!
SCAN TO LEARN MORE >>
UTC Engineering Grads Discuss Life in the Real World by Shawn Ryan
Tammy Womack
Electrical Engineering - Class of 08
Marjorie Parsons
Tammy Womack had planned to be a high school math teacher … until she started talking about becoming an engineer. Maybe. “Somebody told me that I couldn’t do that,” she said. “Many people who know me know that my personality does not mix very well with being told ‘No,’ and that I don’t have the ability to do something.” She enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1998 and a master’s degree in engineering in 2008. Marjorie Parsons, meanwhile, graduated from UTC with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1999. Both now work at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Womack for 10, Parsons for 33 years. Both are proof that women can be very successful engineers, despite some people’s perception that they aren’t. Parsons shot that belief out of the water in 2019 when she was selected for the O.J. “Ike” Zeringue Award as TVA Engineer of the Year, the organization’s highest honor for an engineer. She is the first woman chosen for the award, which is named after the former TVA president, chief operating officer and chief nuclear officer. “I’m very honored to be chosen as TVA’s Engineer of the Year. I am even more excited about being the first woman to receive this award and, with engineering becoming more diverse, I’m confident that there will be many more women to follow,” she said when she received the award. That same year, she was selected as one of the top 10 professional engineers in federal government by the National Society of Professional Engineers. The two awards are not only personally gratifying, she said, they also show that the glass ceiling for women in engineering is cracking.
“I’m very happy about that,” said Parsons, now senior program manager in TVA’s Transmission Planning Department, which focuses on new and more efficient ways for the utility’s vast electrical power networks. As an engineer—be it electrical, chemical, civil, industrial, whatever—you must be willing to work hard, sometimes switching companies in order to move up the chain of experience, Parsons said. “Just remember, engineering is not easy. It’s not meant to be easy.” Now a nuclear program manager in electrical engineering projects, Womack analyzes “anything and everything” about power coming from electric transmission networks into TVA’s nuclear power plants. Dealing with those who look down their noses at her is a pain, but she just goes on with her job and pretty much ignores the naysayers. She admitted that it’s a good feeling to prove she’s as good an engineer as anyone. “There’s people you run into that you sort of want to pinch their heads off and not deal with it, but you don’t remember it as much as you remember the triumph. You don’t remember it as much as you remember winning the fight. Sometimes you just like a good fight,” she said.
Electrical Engineering - Class of 99 << 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Professors at UTC Were Her Life’s Mentors, Stephanie Fraley Says by Chuck Wasserstrom
Stephanie Fraley is a cancer researcher. Imagine the countless people she will help in her career.
Photo by Katherine Connor
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Now imagine if she never had the opportunity to launch that career because no one was there to help her when she needed it most. “I almost had to drop out of college for financial and family reasons,” said Fraley, a 2006 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “There were a lot of family struggles going on. I was working nights and I had a job off-campus, but it was to the point where to be able to sustain, I was going to have to take on more fulltime work and not be able to take full-time classes. The late Gavin Townsend, a professor in the UTC Honors College who passed away in 2018, changed her life’s trajectory. “Dr. Townsend helped save me from that,” she continued. “Through his efforts, he found scholarship money that was left over or hiding out somewhere and was able to divert it to me. I was able to stay in school and live on campus. So yes, he really saved my career. After receiving a chemical engineering degree, she earned a Ph.D. in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Johns Hopkins University, but she’s never forgotten Townsend’s commitment to her success. Nor has she forgotten the contributions of the late Frank Jones, a UTC chemical engineering professor, who stoked her research interest. He passed away in 2017. “I had always wanted to go into scientific research, and he was key to my going in that direction,” Fraley said. “Dr. Jones was teaching one of my senior year classes and realized what I was interested in, and he was doing some computational research. He brought me on and allowed me to focus all my efforts on research, which is the only way I could have ever gotten into the graduate school that I got into. He was just instrumental in helping me grow.
“So we really feel indebted to the school and to the professors for where we’re at now.” San Diego is where Stephanie and her husband, Dustin, are now. She is an associate professor of bioengineering at the University of California San Diego, where her research involves understanding the factors that drive cell behavior in cancer and sepsis. Dustin—a 2006 alumnus of the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science, graduating magna cum laude in mechanical engineering— is a senior utilities engineer for Risk Mitigation Consulting, Inc. He’s project manager for the U.S. Navy’s Mission Assurance Program on the West Coast, performing energy security assessments and utility risk assessments. The Fraleys also find themselves in a position to give back. Despite being in their mid-30s, the couple decided now was the time to say thanks to the University that brought them together— they first met in an engineering class—and launched their careers.
“We looked back on our educational careers and found that UTC provided us with some of those strong building blocks to excel in what we’ve done throughout our careers.” “We looked back on our educational careers and found that UTC provided us with some of those strong building blocks to excel in what we’ve done throughout our careers,” said Dustin, who later earned an MBA at Johns Hopkins. “The building blocks that we learned at UTC through the professors that we had, through the interactions with the students and the all-around curriculum, we felt it was just very strong. We wanted to support that in some way. “Having professors there to talk to, and having those one-on-one personal conversations which are sometimes difficult to do in bigger universities, was important to me and helped me progress throughout my career. They helped me
understand what I wanted to do with my life.” The Fraleys worked with the UTC Office of Development and Alumni Affairs in creating a pair of endowed scholarships to assist current and future students. Stephanie said the timing was right. “We’ve been throwing this idea around for a long time,” she said. “Ever since we graduated, we felt really, really grateful to have gotten scholarships ourselves and to have the help that we had. We’re doing this because we hope it encourages other people to donate and give back.”
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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Techniques Learned in Lab are Used by Industries Worldwide
by Shawn Ryan
In fall semester 2018, five students enrolled when the mechatronics program started at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Now there are 86 students. “We’re hoping to increase every semester,” said Ahad Nasab, head of the Department of Engineering Management and Technology and creator of the mechatronics program. Today, the program took a huge step into its future when it opened a new lab filled with equipment now being used in the manufacturing industry worldwide. “We are going to show our students the exact technologies being used today and in the near future,” Nasab said. Located on the second floor of the Engineering and Computer Science building, the lab is a bustling array of stainless-steel and metallic machines. Robotic arms lift tiny plastic pieces, swing around, then drop the pieces neatly into small, square boxes. Nearby machines are a production line that mimics the same job as bigger cousins in factories. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, UTC Chancellor Steve Angle described the lab as “incredible.” “It makes me want to go back to school and figure out how to learn all these things,” he said. The lab and the mechatronics program are giving students the knowledge they need to succeed after they graduate, he said. “It’s important to our campus to put our students on the cutting edge, so they’re ready to go into the workforce with the skills the businesses want,” Angle said. The mechatronics lab does that, Nasab said, because the same machines and processes are used across the manufacturing spectrum, from pharmaceuticals to cars, from cosmetics to airplanes. “Any industry—cookies or cars—to us it’s all the same,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what the machine does as long as you know how to control it.”
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College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Daniel Pack, from left, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Steve Angle, Chairman of the College of Engineering and Computer Science Advisory Board Joe Ferguson and Ahad Nasab, head of the Department of Engineering Management and Technology, cut a ribbon, to officially open the new Mechatronics Lab. SCAN TO WATCH
ON YOUTUBE
By the Numbers
Degrees Offered
0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
1,608
Million
1,627
$1
1,606
Million
1,584
Million
$2
1,535
$3
$7,102,762
Million
$5,156,220
Million
$4
$4,354,188
Million
$5
$4,516,728
$6
$1,852,242
Million
$1,106,583
Per Faculty Average: $92,075 $7
Engineering
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
1,436
TOTAL AWARD DOLLARS RECEIVED
2021
60% of CECS students receive financial assistance. NUMBER OF FACULTY AND STAFF 2020-2021 55 Faculty 29 Staff
STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO
(Undergraduate and Graduate)
29:1
Bachelor of Science n Chemical Engineering (B.S.Ch.E.) n Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.) n Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.) n Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) Master of Science (M.S.) n Engineering: Automotive Systems n Engineering: Chemical n Engineering: Civil n Engineering: Electrical n Engineering: Mechanical Ph.D. Programs n Computational Science with concentrations in - Computational and Applied Mathematics - Computational Engineering - Computer Science
Computer Science and Engineering Bachelor of Science
DEGREES AWARDED 2021
GRAD TO UNDERGRAD FALL 2021 Undergrad 87.38%
Bachelors 292 Masters 59
Grad 12.62%
n
Computer Science (B.S.), with concentrations in:
- Computer Engineering - Cyber Security - Data Science - Software Systems - STEM Education
n
Computer Engineering (B.S.)
Minor n Computer Science
MALE TO FEMALE FALL 2021 Male 83.4%
Female 16.6%
STUDENT DIVERSITY FALL 2021 White 70.77% (non-Hispanic)
Black, Asian, American Indian, Hispanic 29.23%
Master of Science (M.S.) n
Computer Science with concentrations in
- Computer Science - Data Science - Information Security and Assurance n Data Analytics - jointly administered with Rollins College of Business
Engineering Management and Technology Bachelor of Science n
Engineering Technology Management (B.S.), with concentrations in
- Construction Management - Engineering Management
Mechatronics Engineering Technology (B.A.S.)
n
Minor n n
Construction Management Engineering Management
Master of Science (M.S.) n
Engineering Management with concentrations in
- Construction Management - Engineering Management
Certificate Programs Post-Baccalaureate Certificates n Engineering: Power System Protection Smart Grid Smart Power Distribution Sustainable Electric Energy n Engineering Management:
Construction Management
Fundamentals of Engineering Management Leadership and Ethics Logistics and Supply Chain Management Power Systems Management Project and Technology Management Quality Management
Undergraduate Certificates n Advanced Information Systems Security n Information Systems Security
<< 2020-2021 YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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