On Saturday, January 23 The School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) collaborated with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to host the 1st annual SECS Day. The cooperative experience was a huge success with nearly 200 future students and their parents participating in the Saturday program. Future students interested in Engineering and Computer Science arrived on campus to dialogue with the School’s Professors, alumni, leaders, and current students.
The new SECS Dean, Dr. Louay Charma, opened the day in Dodge Hall with a warm welcome. Students and their parent’s toured labs and heard first hand from faculty’s expertise at each lab stop. These future students and their parents then toured the campus before lunch that was held in the Banquet Rooms. There, students and parents dined with a faculty member at each of the 26 tables. A panel of SECS Alumni Admissions Ambassadors then shared their OU experience. Around the perimeter of the Banquet Rooms future students talked with numerous SECS student organizations and all Engineering Departments.
The panel shared their OU experience and answered several questions from the audience.For example, Priscilla Stephan, who designs Battery Systems for Hybrid cars, gave advice on getting involved while a student. Stephan was the Secretary for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and attended their National Conference multiple times as an undergraduate student. “I credit my current job to a fellow classmate and member of the SWE who referred me to my current position. You are able to make great connections at Oakland University because of the class sizes and opportunities that are here, just look around you” Stephan stated.
After Dean Charma presented gifts and made closing remarks, students and parents connected with student organizations, viewed current student projects, and began valuable relationships with current students, alumni, and faculty.
Six Oakland University Alumni Admissions Ambassadors comprised the panel. Active AAAP ambassador and SECS Associate Professor Darrin Hanna moderated the panel and fielded questions from the audience. Priscilla Stephan, SECS ‘03, Software Engineer at Cobasys LLC, Tom Kondrat, SECS ’98 and ’01, Manager, Customer Modeling and Analytics at Urban Science, Tom Schramski, SECS ’78, Ford Product Development Resident Engineer/Sterling Axle Plant, Jason Gorski, SECS ‘09, Electrical Engineer at RHK Technology, Dr. Doug Templeton, SECS ‘76 and ’79, and ‘86, Senior Technology Expert - Survivability (acting) at US Army Tank-Automotive RDE Center, and Bill Mattingly, SECS ’86, Vice President Business Development Automotive System Integrators (ASI) and also sits on the SECS Advisory Board.