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Powell revved up about Engineering Technology program
EngineerTremainePowellforeseesanexcitingfutureforthenewEngineeringTechnologyprogramatAthensTechnicalCollegeandfor
thebusinesscommunityitserves.
“Ithinkthatwewillbeabletofillmuch­neededengineeringtechpositionsinlocalandstatewideindustry,”saidDr.Powell,whobegan
workasprogramchairforEngineeringTechnologyinJanuary2013.“Ihopethatoutsideindustrywillseethatwehaveacompetentand
skilledengineeringtechnologyworkforcecomingoutoftheprogram,andthattheywillwanttomoveorexpandtothelocalarea,knowing
thattheywillbeabletoobtainthepersonneltheyneedtomaketheirbusinesssucceed.”
Dr.Powell’soptimismandseveralotherfactorspromptedhimtojointhecollegetodirectthenewEngineeringTechnologyprogram
thatkickedoffinthefall.
HealsoisenthusiasticaboutaFebruary19openhouseandcareerfairthecollegewillhosttohighlighttheEngineeringTechnology
program.
“WewillofferanopportunityforpotentialstudentsandcommunitymemberstotourtheEngineeringTechnologydepartmentandview
thestate­of­the­artequipmentpurchasedthroughafederalgranttosupporttheprogram,”Dr.Powellsaid.“Also,acareer explorationevent
involvingareacompanieswillaffordachancefortheemployerstotalkwithcommunitymembersaboutcareeropportunitiesand
expectations.”
WhenDr.PowellfirstsawtheEngineeringTechnologyprogramchairjobposting,hefeltconfidentthathisbackgroundandexperience
wouldmakehimagoodfitforoverseeingthenewprogramatAthensTechnicalCollege.
“Ilookedattheprogramdescriptionandfeltthatitwastailor­madeforme,”saidDr.Powell,whoforfouryearspriortojoiningthe
collegeworkedasanenvironmentalengineerwiththeUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency’sresearchfacilityinAthens.
Dr.Powellwantedtomovefromaresearchroleintheengineeringfieldtoamoreappliedrole,andtogainadministrativeexperiencein
whichhecouldmakekeydecisionsthatwouldshapehisworkenvironment,hesaid.
Healsolikedtheprospectofexploringotherengineeringpractices,especiallyapplied,hands­onengineering,andhehasalwayswanted
toteach.
“Allofthoseareaswereincludedinthejobdescription,andwithmydiversebackgroundofengineering,agriculture,nanotechnology,
sensors,andenvironmentalareas,IfeltlikeIwastheperfectpersonforthejob,”hesaid.
AthensTechnicalCollegeofficialsdevelopedtheEngineeringTechnologyProgramthroughaTradeAdjustmentAssistanceCommunity
CollegeandCareerTraininggrantawardedbytheU.S.DepartmentofLabor­ EmploymentandTrainingAdministration.Thenew
EngineeringTechnologyprogramisfocusingonnanotechnology,environmental,electromechanical,andmechanicalengineeringpathways
andlastfallbeganofferingseveraltechnicalcertificatesandtwoassociatedegreeprograms— EngineeringScienceTechnology,witha
specializationinEnvironmentalEngineering;andNanotechnology.Twenty­fivestudentsaretakingengineeringcoursesthisspring
semester.
http://www.athenstech.edu/Spotlight.cfm?i=493
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ThecollegeshouldbeginofferingtheMechanicalEngineeringassociatedegreeprogramfallsemester2014,andplanningcontinuesfor
introducingtheElectromechanicalEngineeringassociatedegreeprograminthefuture,Dr.Powellsaid.
Inhisroleaschairoftheprogram,Dr.Powellwillfocusmainlyonnanotechnology,astudyinwhichheuseshisexperiencesasa
postdoctoralresearcheratSt.JudeChildren’sResearchHospitalandhismorerecentworkasapostdoctoralresearchscientistattheEPAto
developthenanotechnologyprogramatAthensTechnicalCollege.
Dr.Powellemploysateachingstylethatemphasizesstudent­centeredlearningandhands­ontrainingbydevelopingpartnershipswith
localindustryandcollaboratingwithotherGeorgiacollegesanduniversities.Hiscurrentpassionswithinengineeringandnanotechnology
areintheareaofbiomimetics.
Educationally,Dr.PowellearnedhisPh.D.inAgriculturalandBiosystemsEngineeringfromtheUniversityofArizona,inTucson,in2008.
HecompletedhismasterofsciencedegreeinAgriculturalandBiologicalEngineeringatPennsylvaniaStateUniversityin2003,andhe
obtainedhisbachelorofsciencedegreeinBiologicalandAgriculturalSystemsEngineeringfromFloridaAgriculturalandMechanical
UniversityinTallahasseein2001.
Dr.PowellandotherstaffmembersassociatedwiththeEngineeringTechnologyprogramatthecollegedecidedtohosttheupcoming
openhouseandcareerfaireventtohighlighttheprogramduringNationalEngineersWeek,February16­21.TheFebruary19openhouse
andcareerfairwillrunfrom10a.m.to2p.m.intheStudentCenter(BuildingH)ontheAthensCampus.Areaemployersinengineeringand
relatedtradeswillbeonhandtoshowcasetheircompaniesanddiscusscareerexpectations.TourswillbeofferedofthenewEngineering
Technologyclassroomsandequipment.Additionally,thecollegewillhostarecyclingeventbyservingasadrop­offlocationforrecycling
materialssuchascomputersandsimilarelectronics.ThedroppointwillbeatBuildingR,acrossU.S.Highway29Northfromthemain
collegeentrance.
Formoreinformation,callRobinFayat(706)227­[email protected].
Don Nelson
706 355-5011
Athens Technical College * 800 US Hwy 29 North * Athens, Ga * 30601 * 706-355-5000 * A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia
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706/355-5140, [email protected], and Andrea Daniel, Vice President of Student Affairs, Title IX Coordinator (Students), Office H-774, 706/355-5029, [email protected],
800 U.S. Highway 29 North, Athens, GA 30601.
http://www.athenstech.edu/Spotlight.cfm?i=493
2/10/2014
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