Workforce Development

�鶹��Ƶ engineering professor awarded Office of Naval Research grant to launch 'NEXT' mechatronics workforce program

Martha Bushong — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:45:35 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ engineering professor awarded Office of Naval Research grant to launch 'NEXT' mechatronics workforce program Martha Bushong Fri, 03/20/2026 - 08:45

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Ningshi Yao

�鶹��Ƶ faculty member Ningshi Yao received a $750k grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to establish a hands-on mechatronics training program aimed at building the next generation of high-tech engineering technologists.

The three-year funding will support the creation of the Natural EXTension (NEXT) program. As emerging technologies like autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing continue to expand, the NEXT program will serve the national interest by providing students with rigorous, experiential learning opportunities directly aligned with defense and industry workforce needs.

Ningshi Yao. Photo provided.

"Traditional classroom learning is essential, but engineering is ultimately about building systems that work reliably in the real world," said Yao, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, director of the Control, Intelligent Autonomy, and Optimization Lab, and the sole principal investigator on the project. "With the NEXT program, we are implementing a 'flipped classroom' model. Students will review video lectures and technical instructions as their homework, allowing us to dedicate our entire class time to building and testing the mechatronic vehicles. This highly dynamic 'learning-by-doing' approach prepares students for the complex problem-solving required in today's high-tech workforce."

The program, which will welcome its pilot class in fall 2026, moves beyond standard laboratory exercises. A centerpiece of the NEXT curriculum is a high-stakes endurance mechatronics competition. Student teams will be challenged to design, build, and deploy autonomous mechatronic vehicles during a 72-hour rapid prototyping sprint, followed by a live, 90-minute competitive match on an outdoor field.

This intense environment forces participants to manage limited resources, modify hardware, program the systems on the fly, and ensure their systems can handle unpredictable real-world elements like uneven terrain and weather.

"We want to push students' engineering creativity and strategic thinking to the absolute limit," said Yao. "By bridging the gap between academic theory and rigorous physical deployment, we are ensuring our graduates are job-ready for defense and tech industry roles from day one."

George �鶹��Ƶ is already known as one of the commonwealth's largest producers of tech talent. The NEXT program will further support the university’s efforts in building Virginia’s high-tech workforce by creating a regional talent pipeline.

"Relationships between universities and industry are common, but integrating direct, hands-on challenges that mirror the complexities of defense operations makes this initiative unique," Yao added.

This project is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research under award number N00014-26-1-2153.

Topics

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Workforce Development

CEC faculty research

Research

Defense and Security

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative NoVa Node nurtures next-gen cyber sleuths

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:38:00 +0000

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative NoVa Node nurtures next-gen cyber sleuths Nathan Kahl Wed, 10/08/2025 - 14:38

In This Story

Liza Wilson Durant

This is the first of a three-part series about the NoVa Node’s three foci: workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and research.

A cyber-physical systems testbed, cutting-edge research projects across AI and next-gen networks, a cybersecurity apprenticeship program, and a cybersecurity accelerator are just a sampling of the outcomes from �鶹��Ƶ’s role as the NoVa Node headquarters of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), Virginia’s main access point for workforce development cybersecurity innovation, and research.
According to Jordan �鶹��Ƶ, NoVa Node program manager, all programs in the node check at least two of those boxes, but he emphasized that NoVa Node is particularly strong in workforce development. From traineeships to internships for different ages, the NoVa Node has opportunities for people interested in learning more.

“There are more than 50,000 cybersecurity job openings in Virginia and the existing pipeline of cybersecurity-related degree-seeking candidates is not enough to fill the demand,” said Liza Wilson Durant, CCI NoVa Node director and associate provost for strategic initiatives at George �鶹��Ƶ. “CCI NoVa Node programs widen the pipeline and present new sources of talent, including those with degrees outside of the typical cybersecurity pathway, but with hands-on skills developed in the field. Our programs have touched thousands, and we know we are having an impact.”

The node features a cybersecurity traineeship targeting people who, at the end of the program, will be ready for full-time, entry-level cybersecurity positions. The traineeship builds a bridge for people with non-technical or non-cybersecurity backgrounds, typically either recent grads or career transitioners looking to enter the field.

�鶹��Ƶ said, “We pay them to go through a seven-week, full-time cyber fundamentals boot camp. And then we work to place them in 12-week apprenticeships. CCI trainees have been placed with Peraton, one of the first adopters of the program, as well as other government contractors and some small businesses. One graduate from our program landed a position with TikTok and another with Amazon Web Services.”

"The node also runs a subsidized internship program," said �鶹��Ƶ, with a sliding scale determining level of support based on company size. “Small and start-up companies have limited resources to support interns and yet they are excellent training ground, providing roles with significant responsibility and opportunities for technical training,” said Durant. NoVa Node’s support of startups and early-stage companies provides secondary reinforcement of the innovation and entrepreneurship foci.

NoVa Node interns participate in "Tech Duels." Photo courtesy CCI.

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins stressed the need for a skilled technical workforce in the region. “We have five times the data center capacity of Silicon Valley. We have three times the data center capacity of Singapore. So, when you look at what our global competitors would be, we are way ahead of them in terms of their infrastructure capacity. And when you get ahead in the infrastructure, you also must have the talent to run it.”

Recognizing the importance of filling the pipeline when the talent is still deciding on a career path, NoVa Node runs a summer high school internship program partnering with the Children's Science Center, part of the Northern Virginia Science Foundation. The competitive application process yielded 45 students in a recent cohort. �鶹��Ƶ said, “The candidate interns go through a two-week professional skills boot camp and are then placed in a five-week paid internship.”

Xin-Wen Wu, an associate professor at the University of Mary Washington, said CCI was instrumental in the university’s growth in cybersecurity education and research. "We have hosted summer camps for high school students, funded faculty-led research involving undergraduate CCI Scholars, and provided students with access to paid internships and experiential learning opportunities. These initiatives have significantly advanced UMW’s research capabilities and contributed to the development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce.”

Coming up next: Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Topics

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)

Workforce Development

internships

Students

A collaborative solution to culinary career challenges

Sarah Holland — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:29:31 +0000

A collaborative solution to culinary career challenges Sarah Holland Tue, 03/25/2025 - 10:29

One of the best parts of any town is its local food. But in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, keeping local restaurants alive and thriving requires a new approach.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

In partnership with the City of Fairfax, Town of Vienna, and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association Foundation (VRLTAF), George �鶹��Ƶ is working on a solution: the Culinary Careers Collaborative (CCC) is a workforce development project to get restaurant workers the foundational skills they need to succeed.

Jai Girard, director of education and workforce development for the VRLTAF, explained that the restaurant industry has often struggled with recruitment and retention. “The challenge has intensified in recent years,” she said. Hospitality employees who were laid off during the lockdowns found jobs in other industries. Business travelers, who were a significant market for Northern Virginia restaurants, have not returned to the pre-2020 numbers. And with growing competition from the gig economy, restaurants are struggling to recruit and retain their staff.

As restaurants face growing challenges, the City of Fairfax and Town of Vienna wanted to find a solution.

“This is a challenge that transcends jurisdictional borders,” said Ashley Curtis, marketing and business engagement specialist for the Town of Vienna. "Hungry diners aren’t thinking about where the city starts and the town begins: They’re just enjoying the food. We have a shared goal to support the places our residents and visitors love to eat.”

“We knew we needed partners who could bring expertise in hospitality and restaurant management, so we looked to George �鶹��Ƶ and VRLTAF,” said Tara Borwey, assistant director of programs for Fairfax City Economic Development. George �鶹��Ƶ has one of the only hospitality degree programs in the area.

“We’re all in such close proximity to one another, and therefore we all have a vested interest in maintaining a strong relationship and improving our shared community,” she said.

Using feedback from restaurant owners around Fairfax City and Town of Vienna, the team developed three tracks: beginning culinary skills, beverage skills, and advanced management. Each track totals 24 credit hours taken over four days. Fairfax City and the Town of Vienna fully funded the programs so they are completely free for participants.

Students practice during the beverage skills track. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“Partnerships between universities and local communities are essential for creating meaningful workforce development,” said Min Park, associate professor in the Tourism and Events Management program in the College of Education and Human Development. “These partnerships ensure that training programs are academically sound and aligned with workforce demands.”

The beginning culinary skills track and beverage skills track are designed to build foundational skills for industry newcomers. Culinary students learn fundamental cooking techniques and knife skills; beverage students learned how to mix cocktails and pair wines; both tracks include instruction in hygiene and sanitation protocols, service management skills, regulation compliance, and operational strategies.

Students learn skills that will put them in a stronger starting position and get the chance to see if this industry is the right fit without risk for either the student or the restaurant losing a job or an employee.

“Retention is just as important as recruitment,” said Girard. “These tracks remove some of that steep learning curve barrier of these entry-level positions that could scare some people away. They can see if the industry is a good fit for them, while gaining skills that will make them more confident in what can be a stressful environment for someone new and untrained.”

George �鶹��Ƶ alumna Sophia Tran, BS Tourism and Events Management ’22, a current graduate student pursuing a master's in management with a certificate in human resources in the Costello College of Business, took the beverage track and earned the ServSafe certificate and the Beverage Arts certificate. The ServSafe certificate, administered by the National Restaurant Administration, demonstrates an individual’s knowledge of food safety protocols and procedures. “I would highly recommend the track. I learned a lot about the wine and cocktail industries,” she said.

Advanced management track participants and instructors. Photo provided.

The third track—advanced management—is the only track specifically for current industry employees, designed to upskill current or potential leaders with instruction on managerial theories and practices. The inaugural module ran in July 2024 with 13 participants, taught through a collaboration between a professor of the Tourism and Events Management program and leading industry practitioners.

“Many of our restaurants are locally owned small businesses, and they don’t usually have resources like this. It’s a DIY mentality, training people on the job,” said Curtis. “But small business is the heartbeat of our region, so being able to support them makes this really special.”

The locations of the tracks vary based on the needs of the curriculum. Dolce Vita Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar in Fairfax City hosted the beverage class, which concluded its first session in January. The beginning culinary track, which will run its inaugural session in June 2025, will use the College of Public Health Nutrition Kitchen in Peterson Hall.

Said Curtis, “Collaborations like this make this region a great place to work, play, learn, and live.”

To register for upcoming tracks, visit the CCC website.

Explore the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management

Topics

College of Education and Human Development

Recreation and Tourism Management

Costello College of Business

Workforce Development

Costello College of Business News

Groundswell partners with �鶹��Ƶ LIFE providing scholarships, internships, and career services

ckearney — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:46:30 +0000

Groundswell partners with �鶹��Ƶ LIFE providing scholarships, internships, and career services ckearney Thu, 09/12/2024 - 15:46

As with most internships, information technology consultant Groundswell aims to provide an experience that gives �鶹��Ƶ students a chance to learn about the company, delve into new areas and discover more about the industry.

Photo provided

Over the 2023-24 school year, �鶹��Ƶ LIFE student Mohammad Nadeem did just that through his internship with McLean-based Groundswell, learning about data analytics, software development, and physical hardware.

“We wanted to ensure that we maximized his opportunities to grow as an individual,” said Tim Kelly, vice president for operational excellence for the People Services team at Groundswell. “We wanted meaningful work for him. We wanted him to try different things.”

Like destroying a laptop.

Nadeem strapped on safety goggles, wielded a hammer, and broke open laptops. Kelly said Nadeem was educated on the intricacies of removing critical components for recycling and security purposes. Over time Nadeem discovered patterns, learned how to make repairs and extract components in different devices.

“He absolutely loved it,” �鶹��Ƶ LIFE Employment and Adult Services Coordinator Chris Williams said. “He was exposed to different things, and it offered professional building. He really enjoyed the atmosphere. Just working with others and just being treated as part of the team was valuable for him.”

“I made some friends over there,” said Nadeem of his time at Groundswell. “I would like to go back and work there. The boss is very nice.”

Nadeem will graduate next spring from the College of Education and Human Development’s (CEHD) �鶹��Ƶ LIFE program, a four-year post-secondary comprehensive transition program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who desire a university experience in a supportive academic environment. �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students regularly complete internships, working in a wide range of settings, including at software companies, George �鶹��Ƶ rec centers, Fairfax County Public Schools, and animal care facilities.

Williams said Nadeem’s experience with Groundswell boosted his confidence and independence. He drove independently from his parents’ home in Alexandria to McLean twice a week for the internship. �鶹��Ƶ LIFE also provided support staff in to be on-site at Groundswell with Nadeem, but Kelly said as the internship progressed, “it became far less, less of them guiding him.”

“It has a huge impact. The internship experiences are critical,” Williams said. “The students are learning the importance of going to work on time. Knowing they have duties and responsibilities assigned to them that they have to complete. Working with others. Receiving feedback from their employers. Students are also learning what they like, what they don’t like.

“They were thrilled to have Mohammad. They enjoyed that they pushed him. They really appreciated that whatever they assigned Mohammad he gave 100% effort and he tried his best.”

One of those assignments, Kelly said, contributed to Groundswell winning a major environmental award. Nadeem performed analysis over several weeks to calculate the environmental impact Groundswell employees had made due to a company-wide emphasis on telecommuting.

Through the Groundswell TTRIP (Transit and Telework Resources, Impactful Practices) Program, Nadeem found that Groundswell employees in 2023 saved 49,918 gallons of gas and 24,312 trips to the office, among other notable data points.

“He became an integral part of our team,” Kelly said. “I was really proud of him. To see his confidence, see his joy, seeing him understanding the impact of the work for the company and really add value and do meaningful work.”

Kelly has been so impressed with the partnership with �鶹��Ƶ LIFE that Groundswell recently announced the creation of scholarships for �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students.

In addition, Groundswell wants to continue helping �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students in their career development. This past April, Kelly and several Groundswell employees visited CEHD and facilitated an “Introduction to Work 101” workshop.

A photographer took headshots of each of the 16 �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students who attended. Kelly and his team helped the students set up LinkedIn accounts, creating their bios and providing dos and don’ts for social media. Williams and Kelly both hope to make the workshop a semiannual career development event for �鶹��Ƶ LIFE students.

Williams said it was truly a really great day. “To be able to hear from a professional workplace outside of the �鶹��Ƶ community was really impactful and resonated with the students.”

Topics

Students

internships

�鶹��Ƶ LIFE Program

Workforce Development

Just-in-Time Hiring Fair is one of many ways �鶹��Ƶ supports students and alumni

Shayla Brown — Thu, 23 May 2024 18:17:18 +0000

Just-in-Time Hiring Fair is one of many ways �鶹��Ƶ supports students and alumni Shayla Brown Thu, 05/23/2024 - 14:17

Nearly 11,000 degree and certificate earners, from 114 countries and 50 states graduated on May 9 from �鶹��Ƶ. Some of those graduates attended the university's “Just-in-Time Hiring Fair” on May 13 where employers seeking to fill immediate roles recruit current students and recent graduates.

This event is one of many career resources provided by the university that gives students an opportunity to make connections with various companies and experienced professionals, promoting employment and social mobility for students and alumni.

A graphic of �鶹��Ƶ alumni career statistics. Graphic by Career Services.

George �鶹��Ƶ University Career Services hosts many fairs during the academic year, connecting students with internships, part-time, and full-time roles. Saskia Campbell, executive director of University Career Services, said �鶹��Ƶ career fairs consistently fill to capacity. “The comments that we get back [from employers] say they are very impressed by how much effort students put in and how serious they are,” she said.

Other career resources include more than 140 career programs and hiring events, more than 480 members of the Career Influencers Network faculty and staff, more than 650 employees at Recruit at �鶹��Ƶ, as well as a lifetime of career support.

Based on the Career Plans Survey, which gathered data from graduates from the class of 2023, 87% of George �鶹��Ƶ students have a positive career outcome at or within six months of graduation and 69% of are employed full-time. Graduates are employed across 10 countries and 37 states, while 83% are employed in the Washington metropolitan area.

According to the survey, 88% of George �鶹��Ƶ alumni are employed in positions related to their career goals. Top industries for George �鶹��Ƶ alumni include education, technology, government/military, and health care, and graduates start with an average salary of $74,000.

George �鶹��Ƶ’s many programs helped to shape our “future leaders who these past few years have lived, learned, and engaged in one of the most diverse environments you will find,” President Gregory Washington said at this year’s Spring Commencement.

The top five majors among the 6,138 undergraduates in the Class of 2024 are business; information technology; psychology; computer science; and criminology, law and society.

Learn more about how George �鶹��Ƶ prepares students for the workforce in the following Campus Quick Takes video, where Shayla Brown, communications officer, speaks with students at the fair about their goals and experiences.

Explore University Career Services

Topics

Students

Alumni

Career Services

Workforce Development

Art history students learn how to mount an exhibition

Shayla Brown — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:07:44 +0000

Art history students learn how to mount an exhibition Shayla Brown Wed, 05/01/2024 - 13:07

�鶹��Ƶ students taking Art History 495/595 Curating an Exhibition worked together to take an exhibit of South African art from conception to completion this spring.

Students putting the exhibition up at the Gillespie Gallery in the Art and Design Building. Photo provided.

The class of undergraduate, graduate students, and professional artists were split into four groups: research, installation, design, and marketing/outreach, and worked with a faculty member from �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions to co-curate Faces and Figures: Identity through Printmaking in South Africa, which ran from March 24 to April 19 in Gillespie Gallery of the Art and Design Building on George �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus.

The artwork in the exhibit was from student and professional artists associated with Artist Proof Studio in South Africa. The course was taught by LaNitra Berger, an associate professor of history and art history and director of African and African American Studies Program.

“It's such an honor that we get to work with real artists from South Africa,” said art history graduate student and chief curator of the exhibition Irena Jansen, who is from Croatia. “I was really struck by the connection that it makes across countries. It spoke of my time growing up in the communist country, but here it speaks in their context.”

Chief curator, Irena Jansen. Photo provided.

Senior art history major Esther Perez-Rosales was in charge of the installation group.

“I printed small versions of the artwork and made an initial draft of what the curatorial flow would be like, which was really fun to do,” said Perez-Rosales. “It was really good to kickstart the process because it taught me a lot about curatorial work and how different aspects of it can make or break the vision.”

The themes of migration, family and community, and gender roles were emphasized using theme texts mounted alongside the artwork.

“We felt that identity was the overarching theme as the artists try to figure out who they are personally,” said Jansen.

George �鶹��Ƶ graduate student Nicola Macdonald, who is from Durban, South Africa, was part of the research team.

“Being a part of the culture and from contemporary South Africa, I knew I could bring that to the table, so when we divided into groups, I [wanted] to be in the research group to bring this historical background to aid in putting the exhibition together,” said Macdonald, who worked with family members throughout the creative process to ensure authenticity to the South African culture.

“We got to choose most of the works that were shipped to us,” said Jansen. “Some of the works that arrived were a little bit of a surprise, but that was a great challenge for us because that's what happens in real world sometimes.”

The students hope to do more work with Artist Proof Studio in the future and potentially reinstall the exhibition at �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions Arlington, said Jansen.

“Our goal was to highlight South African art as elevated and sophisticated, and I hope we’ve done that,” Jansen said.

Students from the course, �鶹��Ƶ Exhibition faculty members, and Professor Berger (far right). Photo provided.

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Students

Workforce Development

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

�鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions

Department of History and Art History

innovative classes

Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here

ckearney — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:54:09 +0000

Opportunity Starts Here, Partnerships Grow Here ckearney Fri, 04/12/2024 - 10:54

When Shrishti Singh, PhD Bioengineering ’22, came to �鶹��Ƶ for her doctoral studies, she had a goal in mind: developing a new technology that would allow the visualization of cancer in deep tissue and perhaps enable earlier diagnoses.

Entrepreneur Shristi Singh in her lab on �鶹��Ƶ's Science and Technology Campus.

Read more about Singh's research. >>

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Using a combination of FDA-approved dyes and photoacoustic imaging, Singh created an injectable dye that attaches to tumor cells and increases the contrast of those cells against the background tissue.

During her time at �鶹��Ƶ, Singh used all the tools the university provided to bring her discovery to the marketplace. In April 2023, Singh was on one of the 15 teams that competed for $40,000 in prizes at the Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition. She took home first place and the �鶹��Ƶ’s Choice Award in the competition’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) track.

In November 2023, Singh was at �鶹��Ƶ Square pitching her technology at �鶹��Ƶ’s annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which attracts more than 400 entrepreneurs, investors, students, and members of the Washington, D.C., entrepreneurial ecosystem. She was also awarded $75,000 by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Commonwealth Commercialization Fund.

Singh, now a postdoctoral fellow at �鶹��Ƶ, co-founded her company NIRView Biosciences with her bioengineering faculty mentors Remi Veneziano and Parag Chitnis. Singh and NIRView Biosciences have been designated a 2023 Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Success Story.

Growing Small Businesses

The Virginia SBDC, a part of �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise, is an organization of 25 offices across Virginia providing professional advising and resources to help businesses grow. Singh participated in its Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a no-cost incubator that helps technology start-ups from ideation to initial funding and beyond.

NIRView Biosciences worked with ICAP’s life science business mentors over the course of a year to position their technology for successful commercialization, and in 2023 they were accepted into the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, which provides financial support and experiential education to help university researchers commercialize scientific discoveries.

Singh was one of 30,000 entrepreneurs who participated in a Virginia SBDC workshop, seminar, or training in 2023. Through its 16 programs, the Virginia SBDC helped 10,000 businesses, provided 40,000 hours of one-on-one counseling, offered 1,600 training programs, and incubated more than 550 companies with an impact of $3.36 billion. Of the businesses they served, 61 percent were woman- owned, 46 percent were minority-owned, and 15 percent were veteran-owned.

Paula Sorrell, associate vice president of innovation and economic development, leads �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise. This university-based economic development organization focuses the energy, skills, and intellectual capital of Virginians on lab-to-market expansion of university research, new company creation, and small business expansion. Virginia Business magazine recently named Sorrell to its list of 100 Virginians to Meet in 2024: Innovators.

“�鶹��Ƶ has used its university position to develop a powerhouse of interwoven federal, state, and local programs,” says Sorrell. “But even more critical are the partnerships among the private and public organizations that help support and codevelop the programs and mentor innovators.”

Through a broad array of activities that include business counseling, workshops, training, and connections to �鶹��Ƶ assets—faculty research, classes, and potential interns—�鶹��Ƶ Enterprise strengthens the strategy development and operations of businesses, governments, and other institutions throughout Virginia and the region. The Virginia APEX Accelerator (DoD) helps small businesses compete for government contracts, which total more than $1.5 billion annually.

The Virginia SBDC is also part of the larger �鶹��Ƶ Virginia Promise, which offers a pathway to a bachelor’s degree or help starting a small business to any Virginian who wants one.

In 2023, �鶹��Ƶ also expanded its small business incubator programs to the Town of Herndon, with the aim of empowering more Northern Virginia businesses with high growth potential. Herndon becomes the fifth Northern Virginia locale to partner with �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise, joining Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier County, and Springfield.

And the Virginia SBDC is also going global. Its International Business Development Program was a stage one and a stage two winner in the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition from the U.S. Small Business Administration. It received $50,000 and then $150,000 to build strategic partnerships that will support the launch, growth, and scale of STEM and research and development-focused small businesses that target international markets.

Research Impacting Society

�鶹��Ƶ Enterprise operates two federal programs in support of all Virginia universities: the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, designed to guide researchers and students on the first steps toward commercializing a technical discovery, and the National Institutes of Health’s REACH program, which funds proof-of-concept research for promising biohealth technologies.

Sorrell and her team are also mentoring entrepreneurs through the annual Accelerate Investor Conference, which is an investor event and start-up business competition held at �鶹��Ƶ Square that showcases the mid-Atlantic region as a powerhouse for innovation and business opportunity.

The competition fuels innovation-based business growth by showcasing the best and brightest new tech start-ups to potential investors to foster their development within the region.

Among those angel investors and companies supplying prize money to Accelerate entrepreneurs was �鶹��Ƶ alum Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94. A leader in the government IT industry, Shrivastava recently launched the Shrivastava Family Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) Program, which focuses on mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and immigrant back-grounds. Nanomaterial research and development company NanoBioFAB received the Shrivastava Family RISE Program prize at last fall’s conference.

�鶹��Ƶ’s Costello College of Business Patriot Pitch Competition offers support and resources to student-led start-ups. Now in its 23rd year, the competition is open to all �鶹��Ƶ students and recent alumni and attracted 50 teams from across the university last year. Powering the success of the student and alumni pitch teams were more than a dozen mentors who are CEOs, consultants, entrepreneurs, start-up coaches, �鶹��Ƶ faculty, and alumni. By sharing their real-world experience in launching and managing start-ups, mentors were incredibly valuable to the teams.

The finalists, including Singh, pitched to judging panels of local business leaders whose professional experience included consulting, derivatives exchange, energy consulting, food technology, nonprofits, and venture capital.

The �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange, also known as the MIX, is also part of �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise and helps student entrepreneurs. With its makerspace and fabrication lab, a digital media lab, and a start-up incubator, the MIX offers creative thinkers everything from metal fabrication to business mentoring. It is open to all members of the �鶹��Ƶ community regardless of their major or affiliation. Currently, there are six student start-ups in the MIX’s incubator. Mentors meet individually with student entrepreneurs and provide a range of business advice.

In 2023, the Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) recognized Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation programs at �鶹��Ƶ, with an Impact Award for her work with its cyber-security start-up internship program.

“From envisioning the internship program to building out the structure of the Commonwealth Cyber Incubator and Accelerator Program cohort programming, few people within the CCI network have had such a widespread impact as Gisele,” says Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement at �鶹��Ƶ and director of the CCI Northern Virginia Node.

Under Stolz’s stewardship, the internship program attracted more than 700 applicants, placing 83 �鶹��Ƶ undergraduates with more than 50 companies. Of the students placed, 73 percent received offers for follow-up positions with their host company, including full-time employment.

Beyond this internship program, the CCI Northern Virginia Node, led by �鶹��Ƶ and headquartered at �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, supported experiential learning opportunities for more than 3,000 students, including more than 100 internships and apprenticeships in cybersecurity.

The MIX's makerspace enables �鶹��Ƶ students to create prototypes of their inventions. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Talent Development = Workforce Development

All these �鶹��Ƶ opportunities align with the university’s vision of graduating students who can power Northern Virginia’s economic engine and serve in areas of critical need, while also providing a pathway of opportunity to all Virginians.

“�鶹��Ƶ is committed to providing novel and varied experiential learning opportunities for our students, preparing our workforce for the future and readying them to compete on a global scale,” says Andre Marshall, vice president of research, innovation, and economic impact at �鶹��Ƶ.

The need for well-trained health professionals, across disciplines and among fields, is one of the most critical issues facing communities in Virginia and throughout the nation. The �鶹��Ƶ Center for the Health Workforce was established in 2022 to help address the shortage in Virginia. The center supports the development and delivery of public-private strategies to optimize physical and behavioral health career education and postgraduate skill training. It also serves as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, and planning and analysis for government agencies, academic entities, and professional organizations.

�鶹��Ƶ’s Center for Community Mental Health in Fairfax is unique in its dual function as both a working clinic and a training facility. Last year, the center helped train 77 undergraduates and 57 graduate students while providing more than 2,100 therapy sessions to the community.

In 2019, �鶹��Ƶ joined the commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP). The top TTIP goal is to build and sustain a diverse tech talent pathway, and �鶹��Ƶ, as the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, and the largest producer of technology talent among four-year institutions in the state, is poised to lead.

At that time, �鶹��Ƶ agreed to educate about 30 percent of the 25,000 additional graduates in tech fields over the next two decades to serve regional and state employers, including Amazon and its HQ2. �鶹��Ƶ continues to exceed its goals. In 2023, �鶹��Ƶ was 281 percent over its bachelor of science target and 192 percent over its master of science target in terms of graduating students in computing and computing-related majors.

�鶹��Ƶ is also working to add faculty members in computer science and related fields to teach and mentor these students. The College of Engineering and Computing will soon expand into Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. The college is already working to build robust curricula for students in Arlington and provides ample opportunities to explore skills through research opportunities, state-of-the-art labs, hackathons and competitions, and student organizations.

Computer science student Quang Vo demonstrated virtual reality applications that will be part of the visualization labs at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

If You Build It…

From �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington to the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, �鶹��Ƶ is building a new economic corridor along Route 66 in Northern Virginia.

Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square, the university’s LEED Platinum building opening this summer, is a digital innovation center that will house research and development labs, corporate centers, incubators, accelerators, and convening spaces, alongside classrooms and retail spaces.

The SciTech Campus is home to the new outdoor Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory—or “body farm,” one of only eight in the country—and the Biomedical Research Lab, one of 12 biosafety level-3 labs in the nation.

New to this campus is the Nanofabrication Facility, which is the only cleanroom facility and resource of its kind for partners in Northern Virginia and offers hands-on nanofabrication workforce training in research applications that will accelerate the growth of high-tech companies.

“The most powerful asset we offer is opportunity,” says Marshall. “Only through providing opportunity can we educate, inspire, and equip the next generation of leaders to solve the grand challenges of our day.”

Jennifer Anzaldi, Sarah Holland, John Hollis, Katie Maney, and Ryley McGinnis contributed to this feature.

As Virginia's largest public research university, �鶹��Ƶ is an economic driver in the region and the state.

Learn more about Tech Talent at �鶹��Ƶ

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New graduate certificate focuses on microfabrication

ckearney — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 18:51:33 +0000

New graduate certificate focuses on microfabrication ckearney Tue, 03/12/2024 - 14:51

In response to the evolving demands of the engineering industry, �鶹��Ƶ's College of Engineering and Computing is launching four new graduate certificate programs, offering specialized training in burgeoning areas in engineering and computer science.

�鶹��Ƶ researcher Pei Dong in the lab. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

One of the new programs is the Microfabrication Graduate Certificate program, designed to address the growing demand for multidisciplinary training in the manufacturing sector.

Led by �鶹��Ƶ mechanical engineering professor Pei Dong, this program will focus on practical training opportunities and is facilitated by �鶹��Ƶ's new cleanroom facility, the Nanofabrication Facility on �鶹��Ƶ’s Science and Technology Campus.

“�鶹��Ƶ has demonstrated extensive expertise in this field for an extended period,” said Dong, whose research interests include the design and synthesis of advanced materials, as well as their applications in energy, water, and biomedical areas. “The new research facility now offers hands-on training opportunities for students, marking an exciting development. We believe the timing is perfect to launch the program.”

The space is the only cleanroom facility and resource for partners in Northern Virginia and offers interactive nanofabrication workforce training in groundbreaking research and emerging research applications that will accelerate growth of high-tech companies.

While the certificate program is designed to benefit �鶹��Ƶ graduate students in engineering and science, Dong noted, those with a bachelor’s in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field from outside of the university can also enroll.

The program began in spring 2023, and it comprises four courses: Introduction to Nano-Materials, Nano Bio Sensors, Semiconductor Device Fundamentals, and Solid State Physics and Applications.

“I am thrilled about the four courses currently available to students,” said Dong. “The tremendous support from the Mechanical Engineering Department, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, the Physics and Astronomy Department, and the cleanroom team, ensures that these courses offer comprehensive training from both engineering and science perspectives.”

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�鶹��Ƶ, AWS partner on renewable energy lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration

Martha Bushong — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:00:41 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ, AWS partner on renewable energy lab and Sustainable Data Center Engineering concentration Martha Bushong Fri, 03/01/2024 - 14:00

The significant demand for data centers and their impact on global energy requires new models for renewable and sustainable energy systems. Working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), �鶹��Ƶ will unveil a renewable energy lab within Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square and launch a companion curriculum concentration in sustainable data center engineering this fall 2024.

“We are very appreciative of our continuing partnership with AWS,” �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington said. “Because of their support, we are providing our students and faculty with cutting-edge technology and tools that unite our researchers across many disciplines to further their knowledge about data centers. With this level of education and experience, our students are well-prepared to enter the tech workforce.”

“Investing in expanded laboratory experiences for students is critical,” Nicholas Lee-Romagnolo, program lead of workforce and economic development at AWS, said. “George �鶹��Ƶ students from all disciplines will have access to real-world technologies and hands-on simulations. This type of immersive learning complements the breadth of new programs offered to students and helps ensure they have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to fill high-demand jobs across the region.”

The new concentration in sustainable data center engineering will focus on renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution training and hands-on experience. The course builds upon the Data Center Engineering course launched last year that develops student expertise in data center infrastructure design, operations, efficiency, cooling, and decarbonization.

President Gregory Washington (right) visits student demonstrations at Fuse Topping Out event. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

With advanced equipment and software tools funded by AWS, �鶹��Ƶ’s new Renewable Energy Lab will allow students to explore, analyze, and simulate data related to renewable energy sources as well as the complex design and operation of microgrids. The lab will replicate real-world equipment such as power grids, wind power plants, and other renewable energy sources.

“AWS’s investment in the renewable energy lab provides another critical piece to �鶹��Ƶ’s experiential ecosystem designed to prepare the next generation of engineers for roles that did not exist 10 years ago. �鶹��Ƶ will now expand the number of students in our power engineering and data center engineering programs with hands-on skills development, which is essential to bridge between the classroom and industry practice,” said Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement.

The new lab will be based at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square and is part of a broad partnership with Amazon. This project also strengthens �鶹��Ƶ’s participation in the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a statewide program that aims to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students completing degrees in the fields of computer science, applied computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering.

Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director for the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) adds, “�鶹��Ƶ consistently delivers on its promise to foster collaboration across disciplines and industries not only to deliver the best student experience but also to advance critical solutions to the nation’s grandest challenges.”

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�鶹��Ƶ students connect with alumni, employers at Spring 2024 Career Fair

ckearney — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:04:24 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ students connect with alumni, employers at Spring 2024 Career Fair ckearney Fri, 03/01/2024 - 13:04

On Feb. 21-22, more than 4,000 students made their way through the Johnson Center’s Dewberry Hall, speaking to 240 potential employers. Over the two days, �鶹��Ƶ’s Spring Career Fair 2024 gave students and alumni opportunities to further their career aspirations. The first day focused on science, technology, engineering, and math-related fields, and the second focused on business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

More than 4,000 students met with 240 potential employers at the Spring Career Fair. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

According to Bernadette Davey, career fairs manager in University Career Services since 2005, �鶹��Ƶ is known for its strong brand and great career fairs. “We are known for the diversity and quality of our students,” Davey said.

Saskia Campbell, executive director of University Career Services, said a lot of colleges struggle to keep their career fairs going, but �鶹��Ƶ career fairs consistently fill to capacity. “The comments that we get back [from employers] say they are very impressed by how much effort students put in and how serious they are,” she said.

More than 100 alumni employer representatives, identified with green “alumnus” ribbons, attended, eager to connect with �鶹��Ƶ students.

“We have been able to see how [�鶹��Ƶ alumni] are able to come in and do well,” said Kate Desai, MBA '12, representing career fair sponsor FORVIS. “�鶹��Ƶ students are really amazing cultural fits for our teams, and we have yet to have a bad experience.”

Mark, Marketing '01, representing the Central Intelligence Agency, said he is “happy to be back [as an alumnus] and feel a connection.” The CIA has a strong relationship with �鶹��Ƶ and often looks to recruit students from the career fairs.

Altaf Patel, a 2021 MBA graduate representing the U.S. Postal Service, said, “It’s great to come back and help other future alumni. I like to be a part of the alumni team that helps students further their career goals.”

Students and alumni alike credited the career fair for helping them find their current positions.

Art history major Emma Paskey said a career fair helped her get an internship as an explainer at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She wants to continue working for Smithsonian after graduation and said her internship has set her up for success. “My main impression of the career fair is how helpful everyone was. Everyone I interacted with wanted to help me find what was best for me, and the employers I talked to were more than happy to answer any questions I had.”

“It’s nice to be back and help students enter the field,” said Vanessa Adu, BA Psychology ’20. She found her current position at Birch, Stewart, Kolasch, & Birch, an internationally recognized intellectual property law firm, from attending the career fair as a student.

Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Services representative Melanie Zissios, a 2004 �鶹��Ƶ graduate, got her first job with school-age child care from the career fair. She wants to give �鶹��Ƶ psychology students similar opportunities.

Many students attended the career fair to find full- or part-time positions, but many came just to learn more about the job market.

“I wanted to see what companies are hiring,” said senior Elizabeth Boakye, who is graduating in May with a degree in Business. She was also hoping to find a full-time position.

Honors College student Juliet Reyes, who is majoring in government and conflict resolution, plans to graduate in May and attend law school. She went to the career fair to look for internships with federal government or private security companies. She also wants to learn more about the types of backgrounds these companies are looking for in candidates.

Senior Ethan Thomas, a government and international politics major, attended the career fair to practice talking to employers and get “practical job search experience.”

Many students were taking notes for the future. Computer science major Madison Sellers is a sophomore and attended the career fair to get an idea of what the job market looks like. “I want to see what the career fair looks like for when I want to come back later,” she said.

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