Director of Engineering Technology at SPC To Receive Educator of the Year Award

July 20, 2012 - PRLog -- Brad Jenkins, professor and director of engineering technology at St. Petersburg College (SPC) in St. Petersburg, Fla., has been named HI-TEC Educator of the year. Jenkins will receive the Educator of the Year Award on July 25, 2012 at the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) in Denver, CO. This national award recognizes a community college educator’s outstanding contributions to advanced technological education. Nominees for the award must also have demonstrated impact on technology education on a local and national level.

Jenkins has been a faculty member and director of engineering technology at SPC for over 25 years. He is co-chair of the Florida Forum on Engineering Technology, a major vehicle for college faculty professional development in Florida, and has worked closely with the Florida Department of Education on restructuring the state common course numbering prefixes for all engineering technologies. Jenkins also has served on both SACS and TAC ABET visiting teams and the engineering technology leadership committee for the American Society of Engineering Education.

Dr. Marilyn Barger, executive director of FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education), the National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon says “Brad’s quest to introduce innovative strategies into engineering technology related programs/courses have reshaped statewide technology education in Florida.” In addition to his role as an educator, Jenkins currently serves as co-PI of FLATE. He has served in this capacity since 2002, and is on the Center’s leadership team. Under this role, he heads up curriculum and professional development initiatives for college faculty throughout Florida. He also works with local and statewide industry organizations, economic and workforce development agencies to ensure alignment of academic programs with industry needs.  

For more information on HI-TEC Educator Award contact Brad Jenkins at (727) 341-4378, or jenkins@fl-ate.org. For information on FLATE contact Dr. Marilyn Barger at 813.259.6578/barger@fl-ate.org.