The spring 2024 meeting of SUNY Oswego’s Engineering Advisory Board discussed key strategic objectives and program initiatives to serve the university’s engineering and computer science programs and the greater community.
Created in 2009, the Engineering Advisory Board was formed as the central stakeholder to the undergraduate engineering program. Comprised of industry experts and leaders, the partnership between higher education and industry has proven successful, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Kristin Croyle explained.
“The engineering and computer science programs are unique at SUNY Oswego,” Croyle said. “Our students gain high-level experience and work alongside faculty on research and capstone projects. Not only do our faculty want to work with students, but our external partners as well. They influence the type of research and projects students are involved in. This level of preparation and practical knowledge yields student success. It is not uncommon for our students to have multiple job offers prior to graduation.”
As Central New York prepares for significant economic and population growth over the next decades, SUNY Oswego leaders are excited for the impact the institution will have on the region through the vision of President Peter O. Nwosu.
“President Nwosu’s Vision 4040 sets the framework of targeted growth and transformational social economic change,” said Provost Scott Furlong. “Under Vision 4040, SUNY Oswego will not just focus on undergraduate and graduate preparation, but also ongoing professional development in high-demand sectors. Strengthening external partnerships and collaborating with industry leaders through advisory boards will be critical to our mission going forward.”
Engineering Advisory Board Chair and SRC Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Joe Lauko agreed.
“Partnerships with institutions like SUNY Oswego are a solid investment,” Lauko said. “In our field, the demand for engineers and employees with technical backgrounds is growing at a rapid pace. Being involved with the Engineering Advisory Board and working with faculty and leadership, we are actively recruiting the next generation of forward-thinking engineers and talented workforce.”
At the April meeting, students showcased their talents and presented their capstone projects which are conceptually designed, built and then tested. Board members also received updates on enrollment growth in the engineering and computer science programs, new transfer student agreements with local community colleges and local collaboration with the CiTi BOCES P-Tech program.
In addition to discussing strategic objectives and initiatives, Dean Croyle announced the newly appointed board members and thanked them for their commitment to the institution at the April 19 meeting. The new board members from the 2023-24 are:
- Senior Director of the Front-End U.S. Expansion for Micron Technology Carson Henry is responsible for leading the strategic expansion of manufacturing sites in Idaho and New York. Henry is a semiconductor industry professional and has worked for Micron in various leadership roles over the last two decades.
- Manager, Design Engineering Lead at Constellation’s Nine Mile Unit I and II Denise Wolniak has held various management and leadership positions throughout her career at Nine Mile, including regulatory assurance engineer and manager and operations support and performance improvement director.
- National Grid Associate Engineer Alexandria Delfino, a 2023 graduate of SUNY Oswego, works in electricity network control engineering and participates in the Graduate Development Program, which prepares early professionals for future leadership in the organization. Delfino previously served on the Engineering Advisory Board as a student representative and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering.
- President and Chief Operating Officer of the C&S Companies John Camp leads the operation of all of the C&S Companies and manages the collaboration between the operations, engineering and construction companies. Camp has experience in large-scale projects and programs, and is expertise in technical work related to hydrology.
The board will convene again in September in conjunction with President Nwosu’s inauguration and Founder’s Weekend activities.
-- Submitted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences