Shana Shaw of Texas A&M University and Austin Community College

The Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Austin Community College gives students a path to success at a quality engineering school while starting close to home. The Engineering Academy program is the first engineering transition program of its kind in the United States. Engineering academies students are co-enrolled with Texas A&M and partner community colleges across the state. After one to two years, students transition to Texas A&M to complete their bachelor's degree in any of the 22 majors offered in the College of Engineering.   

The Texas Workforce Commission projects the need for engineers in the central Texas region to grow by 25% in the next decade. The rising costs of education and limited family resources cause a need for many students to start at a community college before moving to a university. However, access to a premier university and getting accepted into an engineering school is a daunting task. 

The Engineering Academy model addresses these affordability, access, and inclusion problems head-on and provides qualified students with an organized and affordable pathway to success as an engineering student. This talk will give an overview of the program and the success that has been achieved in the first few years of this new and innovative program.

Biography:

Shana Shaw is one of the most social and artistic engineers you may ever meet. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Purdue University.  Work experience in education, automotive, petroleum, and satellite communications rounds out her diverse industry experience of over twenty years.  She has held technical engineering positions in manufacturing and product design, as well as engineering and program management positions in her various industry assignments.  In the education arena, Shana has taught in kindergarten through master’s level classes over the years.  She has served as an academic and life coach, helping students with skills such as time management, note taking, goal setting, study skills, and learning styles.  Shana currently teaches at Texas A&M University and Austin Community College.  Her goal is to inspire her students and children to look at the world in a different way while emphasizing the practical application of learning.  Her hobbies include acting, music, and sports.

Email:

Address:Austin, Texas, United States