NSF-Funded Epicenter Appoints Higher Education Leaders to National Advisory Board
(April 1, 2014) — The National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter) announced the appointment of six new members to its National Advisory Board. The Board is now comprised of 14 leaders in academia and industry with expertise in engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation education. The Board members provide recommendations on how to address the opportunities and challenges in 21st century engineering education, connect engineering students and faculty with the evolving needs of industry, and scale Epicenter’s unique programming.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, Epicenter has taken on the mission to empower U.S. undergraduate engineering students to bring their ideas to life for the benefit of our economy and society.
“We believe that infusing entrepreneurship and innovation into undergraduate engineering education can attract more and better students to the field, retain them, and help young engineers gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to solve the complex problems of humanity,” said Tom Byers, Director of Epicenter.
“The members of our National Advisory Board are essential to help us connect with students, faculty, administrators and industry leaders to achieve this vision. We are thrilled to welcome these six leaders to our Board.”
The six new members of Epicenter’s National Advisory Board are:
- Cammy Abernathy - Dean, College of Engineering, University of Florida
- Steve Blank - author, entrepreneur and educator
- Susan Brennan - Chief Operations Officer, Bloom Energy
- Carlton Brown - President, Clark Atlanta University
- Richard K. Miller - President, Olin College of Engineering
- Beverly Daniel Tatum - President, Spelman College
These new members join the current Board:
- Jim Breyer - Partner at Accel Partners and Founder/CEO of Breyer Capital
- Shona Brown - independent startups and nonprofits adviser and former Senior Vice President, Google Inc.
- Leah Jamieson - Dean, College of Engineering, Purdue University
- Kristina Johnson - CEO, Enduring Hydro, and former Under Secretary of Energy
- Gary May - Dean, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- David Munson - Dean, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- James Plummer - Dean, School of Engineering, Stanford University
- Karan Watson - Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M University
The Board is co-chaired by Gary May and Kristina Johnson.
About Epicenter
The National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter) is funded by the National Science Foundation and directed by Stanford University and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA). Epicenter’s mission is to empower U.S. undergraduate engineering students to bring their ideas to life for the benefit of our economy and society. To do this, Epicenter helps students combine their technical skills, their ability to develop innovative technologies that solve important problems, and an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset. Learn more and get involved at epicenter.stanford.edu.
Media contact:
Laurie Moore
Communications Manager, Epicenter
(650) 561-6113
llhmoore@stanford.edu
