Wednesday, May 31, 2017

CETA Students Award Professor of the Year at Commencement



Dr. Hassan Salehi, Visiting Assistant Professor of the Samuel I. Ward Electrical Computer Engineering Department

 
Dominick Lauria, Adjunct Faculty for the Samuel I. Ward Electrical Computer Engineering Department
Every year the CETA student clubs and organizations invite the students to vote for the Professor of the Year award. The students award both a part-time and full-time faculty member at the commencement ceremony. What makes the Professor of the Year award so unique is that the students are truly the only ones involved in the process of selecting the winners of the award.
This year the students awarded Dr. Hassan Salehi, Visiting Assistant Professor of the Samuel I. Ward Electrical and Computer Engineering, with the Full-Time Professor of the Year and Dominick Lauria with the Part-Time Professor of the Year.
Professor Salehi joined the CETA faculty in 2015 and instructs both undergraduate and graduate level courses. Hassan has left an imprint on the 2017 graduating class after only two years in CETA. Hassan Salehi, himself, had earned his M.Eng from CETA and Ph.D. from UCONN.
Dominick Lauria is lab instructor for the Samuel I. Ward Electrical Computer Engineering Department. He earned a BS degree in Audio Engineering Technology from CETA and has industry experience in audio and electronic equipment repair.
CETA congratulates both of them on their success!
UNOTEs - 5/31/17
 
 

Monday, May 22, 2017

CETA Faculty Lauria, Lamb, and Abu-aisheh Publish in International Journal of Engineering Research and Innovation


Sarah Lamb

 
Dominic Lauria

CETA part-time faculty members Dominic Lauria, Sarah Lamb, and Associate Professor of the Samuel I. Ward Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Akram Abu-aisheh published their recent research in the 2016 Fall/Winter issue of the International Journal of Engineering Research and Innovation. The Article is entitled “Designing Standalone Microgrid and Grid-Connected Smartgrid Hybrid Solar/Wind Energy Systems.”

Their research focused on the design and simulation of a 48V standalone microgrid that was powered primarily by the photvoltaic (PV) panels and a wind turbine, but also has the ability to hook up to the main electrical grid. The PV panels convert solar energy into DC voltage output. The wind turbines convert mechanical energy of a spinning rotor into an AC Voltage output.

The results yielded by their research was conclusive meaning that both the wind turbines and the PV panels were tested alone and were found to have similar energy outputs as the standalone systems.

In addition to this prestigious publication, Sarah Lamb will be graduating with her Master of Science in Engineering degree from CETA this May 2017.

CETA would like to congratulate Dominic Lauria, Sarah Lamb and Dr. Akram Abu-aisheh on their accomplishments!

If you would like to read the full article click the link below:
http://ijeri.org/IJERI-Archives/issues/fall2016/X__IJERI%20fall%202016%20v8%20n2%20(PDW-2).pdf#page=85

UNOTEs - 5/22/17

Architecture Students Wow Connecticut Science Center





AET 485 students presented their final projects at the Connecticut Science Center on Friday, May 5. The four students were asked to design supergraphic proposals for the Connecticut Science Center. The students had met with the CT Science Center Marketing Director and the Exhibit Director, Tracy Shirer and Richard Thomas, to discuss the needs of the Center prior to the design process.

AET 485:Graphic Applications for Architecture is designed to have the students explore the historical roots of contemporary architectural thought and the possible future directions of the profession. The students have implemented the skills they learned during the course in their design proposals with attention to the needs expressed by the directors of the Center.

The Connecticut Science Center Marketing Director and the Exhibit Director were both present for the reviews, along with other Science Center staff.

Overall, the feedback to the students was gratifying. “They were very impressed with the work the students have accomplished, and will take inspiration from it," Adjunct Instructor Julie Chen, the course’s instructor, commented.

CETA is undeniably proud of the hard work our students have put together and would like to congratulate them on their success!

UNOTES - 5/22/17

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Charles E. Pagano Jr. ’84, M’07 to Receive Distinguished Alumni Award at Commencement



Charles “Chuck” Pagano ’84, M’07 joined ESPN a month before it actually signed onto the air in 1979—and long before it became the global sports multimedia juggernaut it is today. Starting as a technical director, Pagano spent 35 years at ESPN, retiring in Feb. 2015 as its executive vice president and chief technology officer. Pagano guided ESPN to become a leader in sports television technology and expanded its technological footprint across the globe.

Pagano’s contributions made ESPN the leader in marrying cutting-edge technology to unparalleled content across a variety of media platforms. He was the key driver in the creation of ESPN’s Digital Center in Bristol, Conn., one of the most technically sophisticated TV production facilities in the world. Outfitted as an all-encompassing digital resource, the building contains over 7 million feet of cable and four HDTV studios.

Pagano’s culminating effort was delivery of the Digital Center 2 facility. In this 194,000-square foot building, the sports media company is prepared to handle the next wave of technology, whether that be producing content in 8K resolution or adapting shows to be interactive with social media.

In January 2016, Pagano was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 67th Annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards, held in Las Vegas. He has been inducted into both the Consumer Technology Association Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Throughout the industry, Pagano became known as a collaborative partner, an early adopter of new ideas, and a leader who always recognized that technology starts with people.

Pagano is also praised for his loyalty, a trait that is clearly illustrated through his long-standing association with the University of Hartford. He has received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in organizational psychology from UHart, is a former member of the University’s Board of Regents, and currently serves on the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture’s Board of Visitors.

Active in the community, Pagano is a Commissioner for the Waterbury (Conn.) Board of Education and president of Holy Land Waterbury, whose mission is to preserve the historic city landmark that the nonprofit is named for. He previously was chairman of the Connecticut Technology Council.

Unotes - 5/18/17

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Faculty Members to Be Honored at Commencement: Part 1

Professors Recognized for Teaching, Research, and Service to the University.

Seven of our most outstanding faculty members will receive awards during this year's Undergraduate Commencement ceremony. Professors Catherine Certo and Cy Yavuzturk and Associate Professors Warren Haston and Jane Horvath are profiled below. Professor David Macbride and Assistant Professors Daphne Berry and Michael Horwitz will be featured on this website on Friday, May 12.
The professors will receive their awards during the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21.

WARREN HASTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EDUCATION, the Hartt School: Roy E. Larsen award for excellence in teaching



Student evaluations of Warren Haston, PhD, are consistently among the highest in The Hartt School. He is known for his high standards, preparation, and constructive feedback. But it is his dedication to his students outside of the classroom that music education graduates praise just as often. This combination earned him the Roy E. Larsen Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors full-time University of Hartford faculty members for excellence in teaching and contributions to University life.
“Professor Haston truly taught me how to teach,” Vanessa Wudyka, band director at Leonard J. Tyl Middle School in Oakdale, Conn., wrote in her nomination letter. “Some of the things I remember the most were his precise and constructive feedback, discussions about my teaching reflections, lesson plans and experiences, and the genuine feeling that he cared about me and my success.”
Haston’s Hartt School colleagues agree that he truly cares about his students. They note that he attends nearly every band and orchestra concert, many of which are held on nights and weekends, to send a message to his students that musicianship matters.
“Often, music education professors and students get so wrapped up in the pedagogy of teaching music that they forget that mastery of the subject they are teaching is essential,” Glen Adsit, Hartt School director of bands wrote. “This, in part, is what makes Warren so special.”
Haston actively seeks out ways to contribute to University life through leadership positions. He is chair of the undergraduate music education program and director of Summerterm at The Hartt School. He holds workshops for local music teachers, and frequently helps former students who reach out to him for advice and mentorship. These alumni are now sharing his lessons with their own students, extending Haston’s positive influence far beyond campus.
Haston, who joined the University in 2007, earned his bachelor’s degree in music education and his master’s in performance-conducting from the University of Texas at El Paso, and his PhD in music education from Northwestern University.

Cy YaVUZTURK, PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, AND ARCHITECTURE: Roy E. Larsen award for excellence in teaching



Many students have been known to “flock” to mechanical engineering courses taught by Cy Yavuzturk, PhD, but even more seek him out for advice. As chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and one of the University’s most dedicated academic advisors, he seems to have a near-infinite capacity for guiding students and preparing them for the demands of a professional career. The Roy E. Larsen Award recognizes Yavuzturk’s excellence in teaching and contributions to University life.
“I owe the start of my career to Professor Yavuzturk, who helped me find a paid co-op position that landed me my first job before I even graduated,” says Austen Williams ’14, application engineer at Clarcor, which is based in East Hartford, Conn. “My ability to solve problems, teach others, and care about my actions is directly related to the passion he put into his work and into my education. I worked harder than I ever did under his guidance.”
During his nearly 10 years teaching at the University of Hartford, Yavuzturk has earned some of the most consistent and highest student course evaluations within the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA). “He has a special talent for making his topics come alive for students so they become active learners and participants,” says Louis Manzione, dean of CETA. “His lectures are engaging and full of important insights into the material.”
Yavuzturk’s work with students extends beyond the classroom. He has given many undergraduate and graduate students hands-on learning opportunities by overseeing externally funded research programs for organizations like the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Yavuzturk is the founder and faculty advisor for the University chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which consistently attracts dozens of students.
Yavuzturk has also applied his expertise and experience to many scholarly publications focused on topics related to thermo-fluids. As student success remains one of his highest priorities, his research has translated into the development of new mechanical engineering courses and concentrations, opening up career opportunities in areas like sustainable energy and conservation, and solar energy design.

CATHERINE CERTO, PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS: OSCAR AND SHOSHANA TRACHTENBERG AWARD FOR SUSTAINED SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY



Dedicated to her work and to the University, effective in what she does, and always willing to go the extra mile, Catherine Certo, PT, ScD, FAPTA, is a deserving winner of the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award, which honors full-time faculty members for their sustained service to the University.
Certo, who joined the University in 1997, is chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP) and director of the physical therapy program. Under her leadership, the department grew from one undergraduate program with approximately 50 students to four different degree programs serving about 245 undergraduate and 192 graduate students. Certo added the Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics, the Transitional Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. This growth has been a tremendous benefit to the University as well as the health care community.
Not only has Certo done a remarkable job in her department, she has also made a huge difference on campus chairing numerous committees including the President’s Commission on Compensation, the University Athletics Council, and the University’s Strategic Planning Initiative. As co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee’s Solution Team V, Certo developed recommendations on how to create a sustainable economic model for the University. With her leadership and creativity, the team identified several innovative tools, including the Student Success Collaborative, a web-based tool that identifies at-risk students and allows advisors to review data.
In addition to her expansive and ongoing record of service to the University, Certo has also been an active leader in the community. She has held numerous elected positions in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Connecticut Chapter of Physical Therapy Association.
“She is a joy to work with—energetic, creative, respectful of her colleagues, ready to lead, and above all, she is a superb representative of the University of Hartford to the community around us,” says University of Hartford President Emeritus Humphrey Tonkin.

JANE HORVATH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AND HILLYER COLLEGE: OSCAR AND SHOSHANA TRACHTENBERG AWARD FOR SUSTAINED SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY



To quote from the University Values Statement she helped create, Jane Horvath, PhD, is truly “committed to community.” Known across campus for collaborating and consensus building, Horvath is an ideal recipient of the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award for her sustained service to the University.
Horvath joined the University in 1985 and has been teaching economics ever since. While her academic contributions are extensive, her dedication to the University extends far beyond the classroom. She has held many leadership positions, including her current roles as director of the Bachelor of Arts in Economics program in the College of Arts and Sciences, chair of the University Pre-Law Advising program, and senior advisor to University President Walter Harrison.
Horvath is the founding director of the van Rooy Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis, an interdisciplinary initiative that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching, inquiry, and research. She is working with faculty across the University’s seven schools and colleges to develop a minor in complexity that will be open to any student, regardless of major.
Horvath chaired the University Values Committee, which was charged with establishing a set of shared values that represents the University community and with recommending ways to use it to strengthen a collective sense of community. Horvath and the Committee synthesized the input from more than 1,200 faculty, staff, and students into the University Values Statement and she coined the often-quoted slogan, “Committed to Community.”
“Jane helps us live our values daily,” Assistant VP for Student Affairs Suzanne Anderson McNeil wrote in her nomination letter. “She is always looking to give a helping hand, especially when it comes to improving the college experience for our students.”
Horvath has been an integral part of educating the community about bystander intervention and campus safety. As special assistant to the president on LGBT issues, Horvath supports LGBT students and their parents, trains Department of Athletics coaches and staff, informs campus policies, and advocates for the University to be inclusive and diverse.
Horvath earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State College (currently Eastern Connecticut State University), and her master’s and PhD from the University of Connecticut.

UH Website - 5/9/17

Monday, May 8, 2017

CETA Design Expo – Spring 2017: What a success!


 
 
On Friday, May 5, 2017 – The College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) celebrated the accomplishments of the sophomore ES / ME 242 – final projects and senior capstone design students with CETA Design Expo: Spring 2017 – event and poster competitions. The all-day event held again in the Sports Center, Intramural Gym was a day of competition, success and celebration. 

The ES 242 – Engineer by Design: An in-depth study of the design process to include problem solving methodologies, evaluation of alternate solutions, economic analysis, ethical constraints, group dynamics, and presentation techniques. Students undertake design projects specifically chosen to meet the objectives of this course. This spring’s Engineering by Design classes participated in a design challenge that focused on ways to improve educational and employment opportunities for people with visual impairments.

The goals of the Design Challenge were threefold:

-       Create well-designed, practical solutions that address education or employment issues associated with visual impairment.

-       Encourage a new generation of students to become knowledgeable about the challenges of the target population.

-       Provide promising designers with a path to drive change in the world.

ME 242: Acoustic Engineering by Design - The design challenge for this course is to propose acoustic treatments for a room with acoustic issues that affect speech intelligibility. Typically the room surfaces are highly reflective, causing unacceptably long reverberation times. Rooms used for the challenge are found on campus as well as out in the greater community. Student teams assigned to a project take reverberation and background noise measurements on-site, create an acoustic model of the room in a student-designed reverberation spreadsheet, determine acceptable reverberation times for the room, and then use the spreadsheet to test various treatment proposals, choosing Good, Better, and Best proposals that are presented to the client. The students make a public presentation of the proposals on campus, and issue a formal engineering report of the study which is sent to the client.

The winners of the ES / ME 242 – sophomore poster competition were as follows:

Sophomores: ES / ME 242 –
1st Place: Prof. Elifho Obopilwe – The Navigation Belt
Nick Ackley, Turki Almarri, Eric Sims, Ali Alsagoor

2nd Place: Prof. Ulrich Decher – Braille Teacher
Abdulla Albalali, Abdulrahman Alshammari, Jeff Fournier, Shaun Vasselin

2nd Place: Prof. Elifho Obopilwe – Vibrating Necklace
Griffin Shepherd, Alhassan Alyami, Uche Ulebor, Qahsan Almuammar, Ahmed Alwabari


Senior Design/Capstone courses are the culminating experience for students. Students work on projects in their field of study with faculty mentors or external project sponsors to design, fabricate, and/or test a device, process, or system. This is a major design experience based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work, and incorporating industry appropriate standards and realistic constraints. Students who participated are enrolled in:

AET 489 - Senior Capstone Project

BE 461 - Biomedical Engineering Design Project II

BE 485 - Biomedical Engineering Research

CE 460 - Civil Engineering Design Project

ECE 483 - Capstone Design II

ECT 481 - Senior Design Project II for Engineering Technology

ME 473 - Capstone Design Project II

ME 561 - Acoustics Capstone Design

MET 482 - Capstone for Engineering Technology

Design Evaluation Criteria:
The following criteria were used by judges to evaluate the projects and posters and to choose the winning designs/posters:

1. Clarity of the poster and oral presentations.

2. Student’s overall responses to the questions of the judges.

3. The completeness of the work.

4. Quality of the project.

The winners of the Senior Capstone Projects – poster competition were as follows:

Seniors: Capstone -
1st Place: Advisor: Hassan Salehi / Sponsor: iDevices
Rosemarie Day
Environmental Analyzer


2nd Place: Advisor: Eoin King; Andrea Kwaczala
Anna Elefante, Lucas Shearer, Jacqueline Maynard, Ahmad Arabiyat
Using Acoustic Waves as a Therapeutic Tool for Osteogenic Differentiation


2nd Place / CIO Award: Advisor: Claudio Campana / Sponsor: Andrew Hillberry
Jean Piard, Matthew Salvati
Cloud Enabled Irrigation Control System


Thank you to all who participated, coordinated, judged and attended.  The CETA Design Expo is an event held each semester and we look forward to the next event in the fall of 2017. 

Congratulations again to all our winners!

Student Award Winners and Speaker to Be Honored at Commencement

Congratulations to Janet Zapor ’17, Belle K. Ribicoff Prize awardee.

http://www.hartford.edu/success-stories/current/2017/may/student-award-winners.aspx

Janet is a senior in Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture. 

We, in CETA, are very proud.  Congrats again!

UNOTES: 5/8/17

Thursday, May 4, 2017

CT Space Grant Consortium Sponsored their 2nd Annual Community College Quadcopter Challenge on April 28, 2017


The Quinebaug Valley CC team collecting water with their quadcopter on the obstacle course.

On Friday, April 28, the University of Hartford hosted its second annual Community College Quadcopter Challenge at the Konover Great Room. Three teams from three different community colleges participated in the event: Housatonic CC, Quinebaug Valley CC, and Northwestern CC.

The teams built their own quadcopter, or drone, from a kit and were tested on their ability to fly them while completing various tasks. The drones were attached to a string, or leash, to keep the audience safe while attempting the various tasks on the obstacle course. For example, one of the tasks is to fly the quadcopter over a bucket of water and collect a sample. Each college was interviewed by the judges prior to completing the obstacle course.

Last year’s champion, Quinebaug Valley CC, reigned supreme on Friday. They came to the 2017 event prepared to defend their 2016 title and left as the two time champions of the Community College Quadcopter Challenge. CETA and the CT Space Grant Consortium would like to congratulate Quinebaug Valley CC on their win! Many thanks to all who visited to watch the quadcopters in action and we look forward to what next year will bring.

Below is a link to a video featuring the winning team!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y_iIU_c5Rw&feature=youtu.be

UNOTES - 5/3/17

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

CETA Wishes Good Luck to Formula SAE



Dean Louis Manzione spent Saturday, April 29, with the CETA FSAE Race Car Team during their trials at Lime Rock. Dean Manzione enjoyed his time with the team and is excited about their upcoming competition in Detroit, Michigan.

Formula SAE is a student design competition built around designing a prototype race car and evaluated for its potential as a production item. Every student team designs, builds and tests their race car based on various rules to ensure safety. Each race car is driven by the students themselves and is a testament to hands on learning.

The first Formula SAE competition was held in a parking lot on the University of Texas Campus in 1981. By 1982 the event became international.
Next week, CETA’s Formula SAE team will be heading off to the competition in Detroit. We wish them luck and as Dean Manzione said in his tweet on Saturday they “are all winners already”!

Unotes: 5/2/17