Academics

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology establishes advisory board

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- The School of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SSET) at Penn State Harrisburg has established an advisory board, which includes leaders in business, industry, and academe, many of whom are also alumni of the school.

The Advisory Board will help the school establish, achieve and assess its goals. It will provide a link between the school, the industry, and the community, and offer advisement on current and future needs of the science and technical fields in which SSET graduates are employed. The board will lead initiatives in support of the school’s strategic direction and assist in securing the financial resources to achieve the school’s long-term goals.

Barry Schoch, senior vice president at KCI Technologies, will serve as chair of the board for the next two years and Rich Marando, founder and CEO of Marando Industries, will be serving as vice chair. Entities currently represented on the board include Skelley and Loy, HACC, CommScope, Phoenix Contact, The Hershey Company, Marando Industries, Reynolds Construction, KCI Technologies, Gannett Fleming, and ArcelorMittal.

Board members include:

Industry representatives: Daniel Aungst, construction project manager, Skelly and Loy, Inc.; Jennie Baar, dean of academic affairs, Harrisburg Area Community College; Michael Gurreri, optical connectivity development manager, Commscope; David Katz, senior engineering manager, Phoenix Contact; Wade Latz, The Hershey Company (retired); Richard Marando, president at Marando Industries; Jeff Merritt, president, Reynolds Construction; Barry Schoch, senior vice president, KCI Technologies, Inc.; William Stout, consultant (former CEO/chairman), Gannett Fleming; and Dave Wirick, ArcelorMittal (retired).

Program Advisory Board chairs: Larry Brown, GHD Engineering (retired); Bob Bylone, president, executive director and GTAC chair, PA Recycling Markets Center, Inc.; Andrew Seidel, research engineer, AmstedRail; Matt Runyon, principal, Newcomer Associates; and Todd Smeltz, principal associate, Erdman Anthony.

Penn State Harrisburg School of Science, Engineering, and Technology faculty: Ray Bachnak, director, SSET; Issam Abu-Mahfouz, program chair, mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology; Thang Bui, associate director, SSET and program chair, computer science and math; Seroj Mackertich, program chair, civil engineering and structural/construction engineering technology; Sairam Rudrabhatla, program chair, biology and science; and AB Shafaye, program chair, electrical engineering and electrical engineering technology.    

Last Updated November 21, 2019