Dean's Community Message

March 30, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

I hope your week is off to a good start and you are staying healthy. Today’s quote comes from Stephanie Velegol, associate professor of chemical engineering, who shared this anecdote with her submission: “Many of us thought we could not teach remotely. Could not teach classes and help students and do research while caring for those around us. But we can and we must.” I hope you, too, are figuring out new and innovative ways to navigate in this environment and discovering new things about yourself.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt

Here are today’s updates:

Penn State Developing Solutions for Health Provider Safety

In case you have not already seen, I am excited to share how Penn State is working to aid the medical community in the fight against this pandemic. An interdisciplinary team of more than 100 faculty, staff, and students has mobilized to create fast and scalable solutions for sterilizing and manufacturing personal protective equipment. Our own Tim Simpson, Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design and Manufacturing, is coordinating this Manufacturing and Sterilization for COVID-19 (MASC) initiative, which includes others from the college, the Applied Research Lab, the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and the Smeal College of Business. This is moving fast and changing by the day, and I will be sure to share more in the weeks to come.

Career Resources

Students seeking internship, co-op, or entry-level full-time positions should continue to use Nittany Lion Careers to look for jobs, professional development opportunities, and virtual employer networking activities. On its website, Engineering Career Resources & Employer Relations provides guidance to help with résumés, cover letters, interview preparation, and much more. If you’re seeking career advice, please reach out via email (career@engr.psu.edu) to get connected to a staff member or peer mentor. Career Resources & Employer Relations is also monitoring changes to students’ prior workplans due to COVID-19. Please update your status via this short survey.

Faculty/Staff Mail Delivery

Penn State Mail Services has discontinued the delivery of mail, and will distribute all mail to the Hostetter Business Services Building on the University Park campus. The college’s department and units are responsible for picking up their mail at Hotstetter, which is now open between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Dean’s Office mailroom staff will collect and distribute mail for units and departments in Hammond, Sackett, and the Engineering Units.

Please stay connected. Additional information is available on the University’s informational site as well as the College of Engineering resources site. Connect directly with me LinkedIn and follow the college on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Continue to email questions and comments to L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu.

Take care!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering