UC S-PAC 2009

The University of Cincinnati IEEE is proud to present the UC Student Professional Awareness Conference (S-PAC) sponsored by the Proctor & Gamble Company (P&G). Professionals and students from all over the region will come together to discuss management, networking and business growth. Students may be proficient in the technicals of their field, however here you are given a chance to learn the non-technical aspects of engineering, which can prove a valuable lesson for the future. Not limited to only computer and electrical engineers, all aspiring professionals can benefit greatly from attending. We hope to see you there.

Information

• When: October 24, 2009 10am - 2 pm
• Where: 427 Engineering Research Center
• Cost: $3 Students; Free for Faculty

Schedule

10am: Jim Watson - In Search of Diamonds

            The secret of success as a student and in a life-long career               can be summarized in one word, networking.

11am: Dr. Jason Heikenfeld - Entrepreneurship

12pm: Lunch

1pm: Dr. Charles Alexander - Engineering in the 21st Century

            How can you prepare for a 30- to 50- year career? What will             your working environment be like?

Speakers

Jim Watson, P.E.

Jim received a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer, a Senior and Life Member of IEEE, Region 2 IEEE-USA SPAC Support Coordinator, and a national S-PAC and S-PAVe speaker.

Following a 36-year career with Ohio Edison Company, an electric utility company in which he held numerous engineering and management positions, Jim took an early retirement to devote full-time to his consulting activities. Founded in 1989, Watson Associates provides consulting services in career management activities. He is the author of the WRITETALK© and ProSkills© programs designed to incorporate communication and other career development skills and exercises within the university engineering technical curriculum. Watson Associates has directed the use of this program for more than 22,000 students at 13 major Universities.

Jim has received numerous awards in recognition for his volunteer activities associated with professionalism including the IEEE Third Millennium Medal and IEEE-USA 2001 Citation of Honor for his outstanding contribution to student career development activities. He has also published several articles on this topic in IEEE Antennas & Propagation, IEEE Potentials, HKN Bridge, and Wireless Systems Design.

As an international speaker, Jim has provided more than 1,800 presentations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia to a total audience of over 86,000. This includes presentations at 255 Student Professional Awareness Conferences (S-PACs), 13 Student Professional Awareness Ventures (S-PAVes), and 830 other student meetings involving more than 50,000 students at 152 universities.

Jason Heikenfeld, Ph.D.

Dr. Heikenfeld is an Associate Professor here at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is currently the director of Novel Devices Laboratory as well as Principal Scientist and Founder of Gamma Dynamics. Dr. Heikenfeld recieved both his Bachelors and his Ph.D. here at the University of Cincinnati.

Charles K. Alexander, Ph.D., P.E.

Charles K. Alexander is Stocker Visiting Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Ohio University. From 1994-96 he was Dean of Engineering and Computer Science at California State University, Northridge. From 1989-94 he was Acting Dean of the College of Engineering at Temple University, and from 1986-89 he was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Temple. From 1980-86 he held the same positions at Tennessee Technological University. He was an Associate Professor and a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Youngstown State University from 1972-80, where he was named Distinguished Professor in 1977 in recognition of "outstanding teaching and research." He was assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Ohio University in 1971-72. He received the PhD (1971) and MSEE (1967) from Ohio University and the BSEE (1965) from Ohio Northern University.

Dr. Alexander has been a consultant to 23 companies and governmental organizations, including the Air Force and Navy and several law firms. He has received over $1 million in research and development funds for projects ranging from solar energy to software engineering. He has authored 39 publications, including a workbook and a videotape lecture series, and is co-author of an engineering textbook on circuits scheduled for release in fall 1999. He has made more than 200 paper, professional, and technical presentations.

Dr. Alexander is a Fellow of the IEEE and its immediate Past President, having served as President in 1997. In 1993 and 1994 he was IEEE Vice President, Professional Activities, and Chair of the United States Activities Board (USAB). In 1991-92 he was Region 2 Director, serving on the Regional Activities Board (RAB) and USAB. He has also been a member of the Educational Activities Board. He served as Chair of the USAB Member Activities Council and Vice Chair of the USAB Professional Activities Council for Engineers, and he chaired the RAB Student Activities Committee and the USAB Student Professional Awareness Committee. In 1998 he received the "Distinguished Engineering Education Achievement Award" from the Engineering Council, and in 1996 he received the "Distinguished Engineering Education Leadership Award" from the same group. When he became a Fellow of the IEEE in 1994, the citation read "for leadership in the field of engineering education and the professional development of engineering students." In 1984 he received the IEEE Centennial Medal, and in 1983 he received the IEEE/RAB Innovation Award, given to the IEEE member who best contributes to RAB's goals and objectives.

Special Thanks

• The Proctor & Gamble Company
• Jim Burns
• University of Cincinnati College of Engineering