J. Murray Gibson, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, announced the appointment of a group of leading industry and alumni engineering professionals to a new Dean’s Advisory Council. These 15 individuals represent a broad array of backgrounds and technical expertise, yet they share the goal of enhancing the education and investment in diverse engineers that embodies the joint college’s mission.
The 2021-2023 Advisory Board members are:
David Blanding, Retired, Belton SC
Cordell Hardy, Ph.D., 3M Company, St. Paul MN
Lakiesha Hawkins, NASA, Huntsville AL
Eunice Heath, M.B.A., Dow, Bryn Mawr PA
Jacquay Henderson, Square Peg Technologies, Washington DC
Tameika Hollis, Illuminate Mission Solutions, Washington DC
Jason Maxwell, KaMin, Sandersville GA
Tom McCormick, Primoris Services Corporation, Bartonville TX
Nancy McKay, Business Strategist, New York NY (liaison role as current chair of the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees)
Hubie Payne, Texas Instruments, Dallas TX
Ricardo Schneider, Danfoss Turbocorp, Tallahassee FL
Levasseur Tellis, Ford Motor Company, Detroit MI
Kevin Thibault, Florida Dept of Transportation, Orlando FL
Keevin Williams, Space Florida, Titusville FL
Ed Zoiss, L3 Harris, Satellite Beach FL
A major role of the council will be to enhance the reputation and resources of the joint college, which is the engineering education and research institution for Florida A&M and Florida State universities. The joint college is in a unique position as the nexus of the nation’s #1 HBCU and a Top-20, Tier-1 research university.
Key elements of the council’s charge include:
- Assisting the dean in obtaining financial support from industry, government entities, alumni of the college and friends of the college.
- Serving as a constituency support organization in accordance with the expertise represented by the members of the council.
- Promoting and encouraging the advancement of the college through interactions and communication with alumni, organizations, particularly those of industry; and friends and individuals with interest in the College of Engineering.
- Improving and promoting plans to help the college gain national recognition for the diversity in students and faculty population, the high-impact research, and our state-of-the-art research facilities.
The Dean’s Advisory Council supersedes the former College Advisory Board with an enhanced focus on assisting the college in seeking corporate partnerships and external funding. Each department within the college maintains an industrial advisory board which is vital to sustaining an intimate connection to industry of our engineering disciplines and our students.
Board members serve for two-year renewable terms. Additional members may be added as the need or opportunities arise.