New York State Professional Development Collaborative

NATIONAL VISITING COMMITTEE

The people in this photo are, from left to right: Bob Simoneau, Monte Monteith, Judy Thomason, Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Joanne Trombley, and Jeremy Spraggs.

According to the National Science Foundation, the National Visiting Committee was expected to serve three primary functions: (1) provided advice to the project staff; (2) prepared annual reports to NSF and the project team which assessed the project's progress and plans; and (3) advocated for the project and helped disseminate the project's achievements. For more information, visit http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/ate/adv-comm.html.

The distinguished committee for NYSPDC includes NVC Chair Robert Simoneau; and Monte Monteith, Jeremy Spraggs, Judy Thomason, Joanne Trombley, and Karen Wosczyna-Birch.

ROBERT SIMONEAU

Robert Simoneau has 31 years of academic and industry experience in manufacturing related disciplines and expertise in plastics engineering and precision machining as well as adult learning. He is currently an Associate Professor at Keene State College in New Hampshire in the Management Department. He recently served for two years as a Program Director in the Division of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation. Prior to Keene State College, he taught in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology department at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He gained considerable experience in vocational education as a Master Teacher in the Plastics Technology program at Minuteman Regional Technical High School. He has been a consultant to educational institutions and industry for over 30 years.

MONTE MONTEITH

Monte Monteith is Project Management and Technology Education Specialist at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this position, he serves as the technical point of contact for information coordination, and advisement specialist for computer-assisted multimedia, distance learning, remote sensing, telecommunications and global positioning activities. He is also an instructor of GIS/GPS, microcomputer applications, and economics at SIPI. From 1993 until 1995, he served as computer specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and from 1984 until 1993, he was computer operations supervisor at White Sands Missile Range. Monte received his MA in Economics from New Mexico State University; and has BS degrees in both Economics and Government from NMSU.

JEREMY SPRAGGS

Jeremy Spraggs is the Plant Engineer at Top-Flite Golf Company's Gloversville, NY manufacturing facility. He provides support to equipment and facilities with upgrades, troubleshooting, maintenance and special projects. In the past fifteen years the plant has doubled in size and nearly quadrupled in output. The facility uses significant automation to produce well over half a million golf balls daily, 7 days a week. Formerly called Spalding Sports Worldwide, it is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf Company. Prior to this, he worked for five years at St. Lawrence Explosives, a company near Watertown, NY that manufactures and distributes blasting agents and explosives. There he assisted with the design, construction, and startup of a new manufacturing facility. Jeremy graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. He is interested in improving the connections between potential engineering students, current engineering students, educators, and industry professionals. He was a partner on the National Science Foundation-funded project New York State Curriculum for Advanced Technological Education (NYSCATE) that provides curricular modules for technology and engineering students.

JUDY THOMASON

Judy Thomason is Chair and Professor of Technical Studies at the College of Southern Maryland. She also serves as Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation grant "Preparing Engineering Technicians for Southern Maryland." Since 1999, she has been Project Director for the Microsoft/American Association of Community Colleges Working Connections grant at CSM. As part of that project, Judy designed, developed and implemented a Student Help Desk (the SHeD) at CSM that is operated by students as a project based learning application. Judy received her Masters Degree from Bowie State University in Computer Science and Management Information Systems. She holds a BS degree in Computer Science and MIS from the University of Maryland.

JOANNE TROMBLEY

Joanne Trombley is an industrial arts/technology education teacher with the West Chester Area School District outside of Philadelphia, PA. She is responsible for teaching all aspects of the Middle School Technology Education Curriculum including tools, machines, problem solving, and introduction to CAD. She is the Immediate Past President of the Technology Education Association of Pennsylvania and is the first woman to hold this position. Joanne received her M.A. degree in Education from Gratz College and has a B.S. degree in Education from Cheyney State College. For an inspiring story about Joanne, visit National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science (IWITTS).

KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH

Karen Wosczyna-Birch is the State Director of Connecticut's College of Technology, and Professor of Applied Science and Technology and program coordinator of Technology and Engineering Science at Tunxis Community College. Since 1995, she has provided the leadership for the implementation and growth of the CT College of Technology, from a curriculum concept to two A.S. degree and certificate programs with 12 industry driven technology concentrations. From 1980 to 1995, Karen was a Professor and Chair of the Chemical Engineering Technology and Fire Technology Departments at Hartford State Technical College (HSTC) is now Capital Community College. Karen currently serves on a number of state committees, including the Community College Technical Advisory Council of which she is also the Chair, the Office of Workplace Competitiveness CT Career Council, and the State Department of Education Technology Curriculum committee. She has received two NSF ATE grants for the College of Technology for program development and currently is Principal Investigator of a CSEMS scholarship grant awarded to the College of Technology. She holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physics/Biology, a Masters of Science Degree in Physiology Neurochemistry and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Modules

Automated Control Systems
Drying by Design
Introduction to Networking: Getting Wired
Introduction to PC: Help Desk
Introduction to Polymers
Liquid Crystals