Episode 35 - What is a department chair?

In this episode, Paul tries to demystify the important, but often misunderstood, position of "department chair" by interviewing Dr. Berit Givens (Dept of Mathematics and Statistics) and Dr. Shokoufeh Mirzaei (Dept of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering), both of whom are department chairs at Cal Poly Pomona. During the conversation, Berit and Shokoufeh describe the role and responsibilities of a department chair, share their experiences of being a chair, and explain how a chair impacts students and faculty. Paul also shares his experiences of being the associate chair of his department, in which he assists his chair with various duties. Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode produced and edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on March 19, 2024 at Cal Poly Pomona. 

In this episode, Paul interviews Davy McDowell, who is the Chief Operating Officer of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). During the conversation, Davy provides an overview of the process engineers go through to become professionally licensed. He also discusses the types of engineering jobs that typically require professional licensure, what the professional licensure exams (FE and PE Exams) are like, when it’s recommended to take the exams, and tips for preparing for the exams. NCEES is an organization that assists states and territories in the professional licensure process: https://ncees.org/  Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode produced and edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on November 1, 2023 via Zoom.

In this episode, Paul interviews Dr. Victor Okhuysen who is a Professor in the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Department at Cal Poly Pomona. During the conversation, Dr. Okhuysen provides an overview of the field of manufacturing engineering. He compares manufacturing engineering with other engineering disciplines, discusses career paths available in manufacturing engineering, and gives various tips for all engineering students. You can read more about the Cal Poly Pomona's Industrial & Manufacturing Department here: https://www.cpp.edu/engineering/ime/index.shtml  National Association of College and Employers (NACE) website for career readiness competencies: https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/ American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) magazine breaks down mechanical engineering jobs by sector (about half of mechanical engineers work in manufacturing): https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/infographic-where-do-americas-mechanical-engineers-work Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on May 2, 2023 at Cal Poly Pomona.

In this episode, Paul interviews two Cal Poly Pomona engineering students, Elizabeth Sanchez (industrial engineering) and Esteban Alderete (aerospace engineering), who also are US Marine Corps veterans. During the interview, Elizabeth and Esteban share their experiences of active-duty service, transitioning back to civilian life, and being engineering students. They also provide advice for people who are thinking about joining the military, and advice for veterans who are considering pursuing an engineering degree one day. Cal Poly Pomona Veterans Resource Center: https://www.cpp.edu/veterans/index.shtml TELACU Veterans Upper Bound program: https://telacu.com/telacu-education-foundation/college-readiness-programs/veterans-upward-bound/ Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on March 22, 2023 at Cal Poly Pomona.

In this episode, Paul interviews two Cal Poly Pomona engineering students, Jared Changizian (mechanical engineering) and Michael Youssef (electrical engineering), who discuss a very common experience for engineering students -- having to repeat a course due to receiving a low grade. During the interview, Jared and Michael describe the emotions and thoughts they experienced when they found out they had to repeat engineering courses. They also discuss how they eventually overcame these difficulties and became stronger as a result. Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on March 21, 2023 via Zoom.

In this episode, Paul provides an overview of ABET, which is the agency responsible for accrediting engineering programs. He discusses why accreditation is important for students and what an engineering program must do to receive accreditation. During the episode, Paul mentions that all of his department's program educational objectives are listed on his department's website. You can view the program educational objectives, along with the seven student outcomes mandated by ABET, in the "ABET Accreditation" section of this website: https://www.cpp.edu/engineering/me/index.shtml More information about ABET can be found here: https://www.abet.org/accreditation/  Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on January 3, 2023.

In this episode, Paul explores the field of air pollution control (or air pollution abatement) with Anoosheh Oskouian and John Von Bargen from Ship & Shore Environmental, a company based in Signal Hill, CA that specializes in designing and constructing air pollution abatement systems. Anoosheh is President and CEO of the company, and John is the Vice President and Director of Engineering. During the interview, Anoosheh and John discuss the importance of air pollution abatement in our everyday lives, how Ship and Shore Environmental works with businesses and local air quality regulatory agencies to meet the air pollution abatement needs of businesses, the types of engineers who typically work in this field, the history of air pollution control in the US, and many other topics. About Ship & Shore Environmental: Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc. is a Long Beach, CA-based, woman-owned business specializing in the design, evolution, manufacture, and deployment of industrial air pollution capture and control systems. S&SE helps major manufacturers and other organizations around the world meet volatile organic compounds (VOC) abatement challenges by providing customized energy-efficient air pollution abatement systems across various applications, resulting in improved operational efficiency and tailored “green” solutions. Since 2000, S&SE has advised governmental groups and leaders on the full spectrum of environmental needs. Today, S&SE offers a host of innovative engineering and manufacturing capabilities and maintains multiple offices around the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. With over 100 specialized experts spread across the globe, the company remains dedicated to delivering tailored solutions for clients on both land and sea. For more information, visit www.shipandshore.com. Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on August 2, 2022 at Ship & Shore Environmental in Signal Hill, CA.

In this episode, Paul talks with Isabel Gutierrez to learn what it's like to create and grow a company. Isabel is the CEO and founder of Vistendo, and earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona in 2019. Vistendo is a company dedicated to ending the suffering related to untreated brain dysfunctions including brain injuries and mental health disorders. The technology developed by Vistendo helps to detect concussions right on-the-field and monitors those who are injured to prevent serious injury and long-term suffering. During the interview, Isabel describes her journey of having an idea for a product, forming a company while still in college, and growing the company for the past few years. She also discusses the time demands required to run a start-up company, the importance of people skills in the workplace and for finding investors and partners, the traits of successful leaders, and many other topics. Vistendo's website:  https://vistendo.com/ Isabel's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelguti/  Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on July 19, 2022 at Cal Poly Pomona. 

In this episode, Paul interviews two Cal Poly Pomona engineering students, Eric Belcastro (civil engineering) and John Hartman (electrical engineering), who started pursuing an engineering degrees later in life. Eric and John talk about their transition back to school, and describe their day-to-day experiences inside and outside the classroom as students who are significantly older than most of their classmates. They also provide advice for people who are older and thinking about returning to school to pursue an engineering degree. John Hartman's songs on Spotify  John Hartman's songs on Apple Music  Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on April 28, 2022 at Cal Poly Pomona.

In this episode, Paul explores the food retailing industry by interviewing Diego Wood and Michael Gillett, who work for the Hussmann Corporation. Hussmann designs, builds, and maintains display cases in many supermarkets, convenience stores, and other places that sell temperature-controlled food products. Diego is a Specialty Engineering Leader and Michael is a Principal Engineer at Hussmann’s facility in Chino, California (just 10 miles away from Cal Poly Pomoma). During the interview, Diego and Michael provide an overview of the food retailing industry and discuss the engineering behind display cases and refrigeration systems used in the industry. Additionally, they highlight the importance of communication with customers and in the workplace, share their thoughts on the future of the food retailing industry, and provide advice on how engineering students can succeed in any engineering workplace. About Hussmann Corporation:  https://www.hussmann.com/about-us/legacy-innovation Careers at Hussmann: https://www.hussmann.com/careers/job-openings  Have comments about this episode? Send your feedback to [email protected] and Paul will personally read your email. Episode edited by Paul Nissenson. Recorded on January 10, 2022 via Zoom.