Diverse Engineering

Podcast host EbaNee Bond is a 2018 graduate of UA, a changemaker, rhetorician, customer development and start-up consultant, and a “30 for the Future” award winner. In this final farewell episode, Diverse Engineering podcast host, EbaNee explains how she lives life authentically curious and creative, and explores the importance of being different while recognizing her contributions as a human from the perspective of a young, powerful, and intelligent black woman. She dedicates this episode to her peers who challenged her, enriched her, and were in the trenches with her!

Dr. McKenzie is no stranger to asking “why?” His curiosity about the world around him led to his career as a polymer engineering professor and researcher. His path was anything but a straight line. Listen to what he has learned from his winding journey and his hopes for the future.

As the recipient of the UA College of Engineering and Polymer Science 2022 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, would you believe that biomedical engineering was not Dr. Nguyen's first choice? Hear how her plan B has given her remarkable opportunities in the classroom and has inspired her to develop the next generation of engineers.

As a child, Dr. Elbuluk lived in a small village in rural Africa. He rose to become one of the top students in his country through hard work and practice and succeeded in becoming the first person from Sudan to attend M.I.T. Learn about his path to The University of Akron and how his life's work has earned him recognition as one of the top 2% of researchers in the world.

Dr. Hoo Fatt faced adversity as a minority engineering student while attending M.I.T. Learn how she used this experience to become a world-renowned mechanical engineering researcher and how her research will help the navy during this period of climate change.

Originating from humble beginnings in Venezuela as one of the youngest of 10 children, electrical engineering professor Dr. De Abreu-Garcia has a fascinating story to tell. Hear how his father's work ethic fueled Dr. De Abreu-Garcia's passion in engineering education and how his innovative ideas in electrical control systems are making the world a better place.

Dr. Guo-Xiang Wang, associate mechanical engineering professor, explores the differences in educational culture between students from the world's eastern universities versus those from the west. Listeners will hear about his amazing journey as an internationally known researcher and his passion for teaching the next generation of engineers, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

Do you need to have it all figured out by the time you graduate? Debroah Falokun thought so. This episode features Deborah, B.S. Biomedical Engineering '20, and her journey from depressed college graduate to a sustaining engineer at Cook Medical in Bloomington, Indiana.

Chevonne Anderson, B.S. Biomedical Engineering '17; Nicole Lee, Electrical Engineering '17; and Tayler LeGrair B.S. Electrical Engineering '18 talk about sisterhood and the power of lifting other women up.

Featuring interviews from AlRitia Gore, B.S. Biomedical Engineering '17; Melisha Vaughn, B.S. Biomedical Engineering '19; and Autumn Barkley, B.S. Mechanical Engineering '18. Hear their perspectives on being understood and how black girl magic is the perfect recipe for success.

From engineer to data analyst, Connie Griffis '13 is uniquely equipped to handle the toughest business analytical challenges, thanks to her start as a UA engineer. Learn about her unique path and how her skills make her in-demand to big companies. 

You are more qualified for that job than you think. We spoke with Brandy Moorhead, B.S. Mechanical Engineering '01, and Sr. Director Product Development - Global Off Highway at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. When opportunities came her way to explore new roles, she took them on and figured it out along the way. 

This episode features an engineer whose passion bridges and urban planning led to a 21-year career in civil engineering. Shelly Kendrick, B.S. Civil Engineering '99, M.S. Civil Engineering '02, believes in the importance of communication between planners and engineers in meeting the true purpose and need of a project and community. 

Barbara Aichinger, B.S. Electrical Engineering '83 and VP/co-founder of FuturePlus Systems, tells the story of starting her own company with her husband and the successes and setbacks along the way.  

Hear how purchasing her own company in her 30s prepared Cynthia Slezak for running her father's company after his unexpected death. Cynthia, B.S. Chemical Engineering, is the CEO of the RJS Corporation in Akron. 

Lessons from the top featuring Halle Jones Capers '90 P.E., senior vice president of operations and manager of transportation at G. Stephens, Inc.

Featuring Tanya Miracle '12, chemical engineering, who is currently working as a portfolio and strategy specialist at Bridgestone Americas. She talks about how zero gravity helped her see her potential as an underrepresented engineer. 

Featuring Philip Steele '13, electrical engineering, who is a senior systems engineer at General Motors. Philip talks about how underrepresented engineers can make a difference. 

Featuring Nuwoo Smith '05, electrical engineering, who is a commercial and industrial project manager (and Six Sigma Black Belt) at CLEAResult. Hear Nuwoo's remarkable story of how his life was changed by simple acts of kindness from one particular professor.Brought to you by The University of Akron College of Engineering and Polymer Science. 

Our first episode features a history of black engineers in Akron and history of the minority retention program at The University of Akron which eventually became the Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) program.  We interview Jane Lacey '96, chemical engineering, one of the first graduates of the program.