Overview
Worked closely with key collaborator Prof. P. Brodsky to build Colorado School of Mines’ automotive engineering track from inception to 252 declared students in under three years. Developed 8 new courses across 3 departments, established industry partnerships, and created the experiential curriculum framework connecting classroom instruction to competition-based and employer-sponsored projects. The program ranks 2nd within ME by enrollment (behind only Aerospace) with a 126:1 student-to-faculty ratio and only two core faculty.
Key Accomplishments
- 252 declared students in the automotive engineering track within three years of program launch (17% of ME track-declared students)
- 8 new courses developed across Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science
- Estimated $365K-$827K in annual tuition generated for the university
- Established partnerships with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and DOE national laboratories
- Created experiential curriculum framework connecting coursework to real-world projects
- Designed the program to be self-sustaining through industry sponsorship and competition funding
Approach
The program was designed around three pillars: technical depth through rigorous coursework, hands-on experience through competition teams and industry projects, and professional development through mentorship and career preparation. Every course in the track includes an experiential component where students work on real systems with real constraints.
Competition Teams
The program supports flagship student competition teams including Formula SAE, Shell Eco-marathon, the DOE Battery Workforce Challenge, and the DOE EcoCAR Innovation Challenge. These teams give students authentic end-to-end engineering experience from requirements through design, build, test, and competition.
