Early-Career Standouts
We can’t claim to have identified America’s top young engineering faculty members. Nor were our “20 Under 40” talents selected scientifically. But together they represent the variety—of region, discipline, type of institution, personal background, and strengths as researchers or instructors—of the engineering education enterprise. Many were chosen based on persuasive nominations from deans, department chairs, and faculty colleagues. Others were found using such recognized filters as presidential, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of `Health early career awards. The result is 20 extraordinary individuals whose stories we hope you’ll find interesting—plus a long list of superbly qualified individuals whom there just wasn’t room to include.
Elsewhere in this issue, Kenneth Burbank’s Another Angle column delivers a critique of what the engineering technology community has long considered to be unfair treatment of its graduates by the engineering profession. ET instructors argue that their students differ from peers in traditional engineering programs not in what they learn but in the way they learn—using more hands-on, active instruction—and should be able to compete on a level playing field. Since Another Angle was launched as the voice of the ET community, it’s appropriate that Burbank air this long-felt grievance in Prism. However, he directly criticizes leading engineering institutions, notably the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and ASEE. Prior to publication, the question arose of whether these institutions should be given the right to reply in this issue. ASEE’s Board of Directors decided in 2013 to leave questions of editorial content with the editor, in consultation with our Editorial Advisory Board, rather than with the executive director. The Editorial Board carefully weighed the matter of fairness alongside the right of columnists to express an opinion. We decided to publish Burbank’s column without any immediate response. However, anyone is welcome to reply. Responses will be published when this issue goes online a month from now, as well as in the September Prism.
Our expanded ASEE Today section features the final letter from this year’s ASEE President, Bevlee Watford, as well as highlights of the Society’s upcoming Annual Conference and Exposition in Salt Lake City. We hope to see you there.
Mark Matthews
m.matthews@asee.org