First Impressions: Evaluating Student Performance in Demonstrating Engineering Leadership

Abstract

professional experiences and research interests range from mechanical engineering facilities design to research that applied engineering and molecular biology approaches to the study of the skeletal response to mechanical loading. As a Mechanical Engineer, she worked on facility design projects involving mechanical systems that included heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and energy conservation systems, as well as R&D of air conditioning equipment for Navy ships. Additional research interests have included the investigation of relationships among components of the indoor environment, occupants, and energy usage. Specifically, the effects of the indoor environment on occupant health and well-being and in parallel, how socially-mediated energy-saving strategies can increase awareness of energy use and/or increase energy saving behaviors. Dr. Lang's current research interests focus on identifying, assessing, and developing key skills, knowledge, attitudes, and other intrinsic and extrinsic factors required for engineers to effectively lead others, particularly other engineers and across cultures.

Pedagogical approaches for facilitating engineering leadership development

“…Students create a short pitch and deliver it to a recruiter. The recruiter provides feedback, the student refines the pitch, and then delivers the pitch to another recruiter (Handley et al, 2017). Third, the Gordon EL Program at Northeastern University has students conduct informational interviews with industry professionals after lessons on networking and developing an "elevator pitch."…”

“…Students create a short pitch and deliver it to a recruiter. The recruiter provides feedback, the student refines the pitch, and then delivers the pitch to another recruiter (Handley et al., 2017). Third, the Gordon EL Program at Northeastern University has students conduct informational interviews with industry professionals after lessons on networking and developing an “elevator pitch.” In post‐program surveys, students identified this exercise as the most significant experience because it expanded their personal network, improved their understanding of company operations, and grew their technical and industry awareness (Klosterman, 2016).…”

Case Study #4: Pennsylvania State University

“…For example, to close a gap between engineering education and industry requirements, ELD researchers investigated corporate recruiters' perspectives on industry‐required engineering leadership skills during a career fair. Results showed that communication, connection and confidence are key leadership skills that students should demonstrate in the workplace (Handley et al., 2017) and were used to improve instructional strategies and curriculum development aligning with industry needs.…”

“…Throughout the ELD program lifetime, we have used assessments of individual courses to ensure that the program has met its learning objectives (Hochstedt et al., 2013; Handley et al., 2017; Lang et al., 2018; Park et al., 2019). Currently, the program is evaluating its impact on the ELD program alumni's career placement and progression and whether the program is meeting workforce needs to provide feedback for continuous program improvement.…”

An Evaluation of an Engineering Leadership Development Program on Alumni Job Placement and Career Progression

“…To date, the program has previously reported outcomes from assessments of 'learning' and 'transfer of learning' that occurred in our gateway to minor entry course, on Leadership Principles (Handley et al, 2017;Handley et al, 2019;Hochstedt et al, 2013;Lang et al, 2018; as well as our International Leadership of Engineering and Development course (Gordon, et al, 2014).…”