W i n t e r 2 0 0 3 Building Career Pathways September, 2003 ENGINEERING/PHYSICS/TECHNOLOGY AT NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE What’s the first thing that you do when you’re ready to build a building? That’s right: you lay the foundation. Over the years, many students have successfully laid the foundation of a career in engineering at Nassau Community College. Engineering is one of the largest professions in the United States today, employing 1.2 million people. But ‘engineering’ is an umbrella word that encompasses a wide range of occupations. Basically, engineers research theories and principles of science and mathematics to Baker Photography William © develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and commercial applications. Types of engineers include architectural, chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical. Engineers design bridges and medical equipment, as well as processes for cleaning up toxic spills and systems for Prof. Chee Meng Lee assists students from an electrical engineering technology electronics course with measuring signal levels from a digital communication circuit. (L-R: Louis Guillaume, Jenny mass transit. Chen, Edgar Garay-Reyes and Prof. Meng.) NASSAU OFFERS MANY project management team. This certificate of individual courses offered also reflects ENGINEERING OPTIONS program will also benefit current the complexities of the engineering field: construction workers, many of whom Structural Drawing, the Science of As part of its continuing effort to either seek advancement within their Electronics, Calculus and Microcomputer develop curriculum to meet the needs of present company or wish to start their own Hardware and Software are but a few of students, this fall NCC introduced two new contracting businesses. Computer Repair those available. “Because the department programs in the area of civil engineering: Technology, meanwhile, delves into the offers engineering education at different an associates degree in computer repair ‘nuts and bolts’ of computers. Students who levels, students have the opportunity to technology and a certificate program in pursue this degree are looking to develop move from one area to another,” Prof. construction management, one of the careers in computer repair, network Cangelosi noted. hottest career paths in civil engineering, maintenance and telecommunications. Nassau’s Engineering/Physics/ according to Engineering/Physics/ In addition to these newest offerings, Technology alumni have gone on from the Technology Department Chair Prof. said Prof. Cangelosi, engineering students College to such four-year institutions as Anthony Cangelosi. The one-year at the College may concentrate in several Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Construction Management program was other areas. Among them are Engineering Columbia University and Cornell designed for students who wish to develop Science, Electrical Engineering Technology, University, as well as to Hofstra University the skills necessary to work in Telecommunications Technology, Physics and SUNY Stonybrook. In addition to construction-related positions as part of a and General Science Studies. A sampling continued - page 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Nassau Community College and Its Impact On Long Island’s Economy By Dr. Sean A. Fanelli Since each dollar of spending turns over When people think of Nassau several times in Nassau County—an Community College, low cost, small effect known as a “multiplier”—this class sizes and a quality education resulted in an induced spending figure provided by a dedicated faculty all of $196 million. Thus, the total come to mind. However, with over economic impact of Nassau 21,000 students and more than 3,260 Community College on the County for faculty and staff, Nassau Community that period of time was conservatively College is also a major contributor to calculated at $503 million. the health of the overall economy of Nassau County. Dr. Sean A. Fanelli NCC has been cited as one of the best institutions of higher learning in In the course of pursuing its the nation, in terms of the number of we also recognize that by our very primary educational and cultural degrees offered, the number of presence we form a significant goals, NCC provides Nassau County graduates who successfully transfer to partnership with all of the students, with a substantial extra dividend of four-year institutions and the other citizens, taxpayers and vendors in jobs and income. The direct local exceptional quality and depth of our the county of Nassau. purchases of the College amounted to faculty. As a major component of the $19 million for the 2002-2003 Nassau County economy, the College Our school motto, “Where Success academic year and the payroll totaled represents an essential and vital Starts . And Continues” speaks not $119 million. Faculty and staff spent resource for the County’s social and only to the nature of our academic $62 million in the local economy while employment infrastructure. While enterprise, but also to the ongoing the amount spent by students was $226 providing an excellent education may contribution Nassau Community million. Direct spending from all three be the primary mission of the College, College makes to the economic stability sources amounted to $307 million. as well as a task we take very seriously, of the County. NCC Names Dr. Eugene Henderson, Jr. Dean of Students Nassau Community College Consultant and Ombudsman for the Michigan Department of has named Dr. Eugene Education; and director of several residence halls at Michigan State Henderson, Jr. Dean of Students. University. Dr. Henderson began working in In addition to his professional service, Dr. Henderson is a his position August 4. “Dr. member of several associations involving higher education. Henderson brings to the College Among them are: the National Association of Student Personnel a wealth of experience in student Administrators; the National Orientation Directors Association; affairs administration,” said and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Kenneth Saunders, Vice New Jersey. President of Student Affairs. “As Dr. Henderson obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Dean of Students, he the College of Education and a Master of Arts degree from the provides the office with a level of ethics and professionalism that Department of Administration and Higher Education, both at reflects his student-centered philosophy.” Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He acquired Dr. Henderson comes to NCC with over 20 years of higher a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Department of Social Science education experience. In his most recent position, he was Acting at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Michigan. Dean of Students at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, Dr. Henderson is excited about working at Nassau. “I love New Jersey. Among the other positions Dr. Henderson has held the enthusiasm of all the people I’ve met,” he said. I feel like Nassau have been Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund is the Harvard of community colleges.” Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University; Higher Education 2 Nassau Community College - Nexus Winter 2003 Building Career Pathways continued from page 1 starting students on the road to further science and mathematics education and an eventual career, classes at Nassau also provide an affordable refresher program for those engineers already in the work force who seek to maintain and improve their skills. There are several engineering-related clubs and associations at NCC. Among them are the Civil Tech Club, the Gamma Tau engineering society, WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), SWE (Society of Women Engineers), the Concrete Canoe Baker Photography William © Club and the Superhighway Club (for those with an interest in computers). Each of these clubs has an advisor from the Engineering/ Physics/Technology department and each holds various activities each semester. ENGINEERING/PHYSICS/TECHNOLOGY REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY (L - R:) Engineering and technology students Sal Cicotto, Gladwin Geevarghese and Alba Talhami receive To support members of the Long Island instruction on the use of a computer-based total surveying station for route-surveying assignment from community seeking professional growth, the Prof. Kathleen Gallagher (third from left) outside of Cluster D on the NCC campus. Eng i ne ering/Phy sics/Te chnolog y department offers continuing education Computer Aided Design engineering and ways in which Nassau Community College can (known as AutoCAD) courses at beginner and advanced levels on help them to succeed in these careers. weekends. These courses are taught by a professionally registered Life in the 21st century is complex and technology driven. With civil engineer who has substantial AutoCAD experience . curiosity, resolve and an excellent education, future generations of In another outreach effort, Prof. Cangelosi developed an engineers—many of whom will begin their higher education at engineering and technology seminar, which he takes to middle Nassau Community College—will help make that life more schools and high schools to tell students about careers in manageable and convenient. FACULTY/STAFF Highlights Dr. Betty Borowsky, Biology, presented a conference of the North American Society for University of Michigan. Dr. Fiegelman and paper on asthma prevalence in children on the Study of Romanticism last summer. Bernard Gorman, Psychology, delivered a Long Island