Kenneth Reid, Ohio Northern University’s director of engineering education and first-year engineering, and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, has been awarded the 2013 IEEE-USA Professional Achievement Award for “pioneering undergraduate engineering education curriculum” for the development of ONU’s Bachelor of Science for engineering education program.
ONU’s degree program in engineering education is the first of its kind in Ohio and one of the first in the nation. The program directly addresses the need to develop a new generation of high school students who can contribute to solving our nation’s challenges through engineering and innovation. The four-year engineering degree will prepare graduates to become licensed secondary math teachers but with a more specialized perspective than teachers who have traditional education diplomas.

Teachers with engineering education degrees are front-line advocates for engineering careers, which, according to research, have not been adequately communicated to high school students. Ohio Northern’s program helps maintain America’s place as a global leader in science and technology by graduating educators who inspire young people to pursue higher education and careers in engineering.

The program combines a general engineering degree with the required education and math courses to earn a teaching certification, but it also offers opportunities beyond the high school classroom. Graduates can pursue job opportunities in corporate sales and training or even careers in science and technology museums. Graduates also are able to seek out traditional engineering careers or go on to graduate school.

IEEE is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. It has more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries. IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of 210,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE.