YSU’s STEM gets in spotlight

Staff report

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The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Youngstown State University took center stage at the recent American Society of Engineering Education meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

YSU’s STEM program was selected as one of only 25 universities’ programs to be featured in a video presentation.

The five-minute video, which can be viewed under “2012 Featured Films” on the ASEE website at www.asee.org/, highlights YSU’s unique relationships with area businesses, including Fireline Inc. and General Motors.

“STEM is the future of society in America,” Martin Abraham, dean of YSU’s College of STEM, says in the video.

“It’s the areas that create new technologies and the opportunities to develop and create new products and devices.”

Martin Cala, professor and coordinator of Industrial and Systems Engineering at YSU, talks in the video about STEM’s relationship with Fireline.

“My students are able to go down there and look at their process and get some practice in looking for process improvement opportunities,” he said.

Mark Peters, general manager of the TCON division of Fireline Inc., says in the video that YSU has the equipment as well as experienced students and faculty to help carry out the research that the company needs to be successful.

“What makes it attractive to hire a graduate from YSU is the hands-on experience and the real-world experience that these students bring with them,” he said. “That’s something you don’t always see from other universities.”

Founded in 1893, ASEE is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology.

The organization’s membership includes more than 12,000 deans, department heads, faculty members, students and government and industry representatives.