Atlanta

Young Women in Science and Technology

More than 400 high school girls and from all over the Atlanta region brought their love of technology, math and science to DeVry University's Atlanta campus for a "Young Women in Science and Technology" event. Part of DeVry's HerWorld program, the program was aimed at encouraging and reinforcing young women’s interest in technology involving careers in business-related fields. Speakers represented different careers in technology and business. According to Marilyn Savage, Manager of the Information Technology Department for DeVry University/Georgia, “These young women have a clear understanding of what industry will need in the future, whether the position is in technology, like mine, or in business, where technology is the key facilitator."

BMET Degree Program Accredited

The Biomedical Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree program at DeVry University’s Atlanta campus recently received accreditation by the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of ABET, Inc., the recognized accrediting agency of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. "TAC of ABET accreditation is extremely important to our students and the employers who hire them," said Keith D. Wright, Dean of the School of Technology for DeVry University/ Atlanta campus. "This is a stamp of approval that says our program meets criteria and we are delivering a quality program to our students.

Young Women in Science and Technology Event

Although the demand for professionals with mathematics, engineering and technology skills is on the rise, the number of women filling these positions is small in relation to the 50 percent of women in the workforce, according to the National Science Foundation. To address this issue, DeVry University's Decatur Campus hosted a "Young Women in Science and Technology" event, which includes DeVry's HerWorld® program aimed at encouraging and reinforcing young women's interest in technology involving careers in business-related fields. According to Georgia President for DeVry University, Jeff Moore, the "Young Women in Science and Technology" event is "an opportunity for us to dialog with young women interested in a broad range of careers and demonstrate the role technology plays in so many of these challenging and rewarding professions."

Facilities, IT Teams Recognized

WBS Radio celebrity Scott Slade and company, will visited the Decatur Campus to present the Facilities and IT Teams with a "biscuit break," a way of recognizing the staff members' extraordinary efforts over the past months in putting on a new face and email system to the campuses.

New Center Dean at Cobb/Galleria University Center

DeVry University announced the appointment of Penelope Law to Center Dean at the DeVry University Cobb/ Galleria University Center. In this role, Law is responsible for overseeing all center operations, including academics, career services, and student finance.

Law brings more than 15 years of experience as a Human Resources Manager with various Fortune 500 corporations, where she specialized in employee relations, diversity, college relations, leadership development, and training and education. She also dedicated much of her career to a variety of roles with non-profit organizations, which include serving as an educator, counselor, and mentor for disadvantage youth. Law currently teaches Human Resources and Leadership courses at DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management.

Law holds a Masters in Psychology degree in Counseling from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Management from Clayton State University in Morrow. Law is currently completing a Doctor of Education program at Argosy University in Sarasota, Fla.

DeVry University Introduces New Program in Web Graphic Design

DeVry University will introduce a new associate's degree program in Web Graphic Design, beginning with two locations in the Atlanta area (Alpharetta and Decatur) and Kansas City in September, 2007. Web Graphic Design applies basic graphic and design principles to web media using application software.

Students will learn to develop all types of graphic media - web pages, marketing collateral, advertising, instructional material and multimedia projects through a collaborative approach. By mastering key software applications, fundamental design principles, web content management and animation, students are prepared to design, illustrate, compile and produce visual solutions for communications, especially the Internet.

"With the dramatic growth of the Internet and advances in the design field related to advertising, video graphics, computer imagery, interactive Web and multimedia, the growth potential is enormous for those holding degrees in Web Graphic Design," said David J. Pauldine, President of DeVry University. "Some of today's most dynamic industries are based on graphic design. The fields of advertising, marketing, technical communications, publishing and training offer great opportunities for trained visual communicators, especially web graphic designers."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor 2006-2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook, demand for graphic design is expected to continue to increase from advertisers, and computer design firms through 2014. Among the five different design occupations, graphic designers will have the most new jobs.

DeVry University's Biomedical Engineering Technology Program is pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that will allow students the opportunity to apply their education within a professional environment. Through the affiliation, students will have access to specific internship positions at the hospital that will require relating classroom knowledge and interacting with professionals in the workplace. Dr. Jim McGinn, Dean of Technology Programs and the Chair of Biomedical Engineering Technology Programs at the Fort Washington campus, was responsible for initiating and finalizing the agreement between the two organizations.

Center Dean Appointed for Keller in Decatur

DeVry University announced the appointment of Christine Hoover, MBA., to Center Dean of the Decatur center of the Keller Graduate School of Management Hoover brings more than 10 years experience in higher education to her new position. She most recently was a professional in the enrollment management department at DeVry University Atlanta. Prior to joining DeVry University, Hoover held a position in Student Affairs for University Housing at Georgia State University.

Other past experience includes positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Kutztown University. Hoover earned her Master of Business Administration degree at the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University Atlanta, and received a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Oxford, OH.

Skills USA at DeVry University in Decatur

High School students who are a part of the Skills USA program in Electronics Applications, Electronics Technology, Internetworking, Computer Maintenance and Computer Programming competed at DeVry University's Decatur campus. Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

Stephenson High Graduate Pursues Goal to Enter Video Gaming

Evan Hairston of Stone Mountain, Georgia has known since middle school that he wanted to be a game designer. The Stephenson High School graduate did his research and found that the DeVry's Game and Simulation Programming degree program would meet his needs better than any other college or university. He also applied for and was awarded a prestigious DeVry Presidential Scholarship. Hairston was chosen based on his academic record, a personal essay, and teacher recommendations

Hairston, who will graduate with his bachelor's degree in the spring of 2009 from DeVry's Decatur campus, has a lofty goal. "I want to create at least one game that has a profound impact on the lives of my fellow gamers," he says, adding that he wants to ultimately own his own gaming studio.

Hairston knows that the gaming field is competitive and he plans to make the most of his education. "I have great instructors at DeVry including Robert Burnside, who undoubtedly has the most knowledge of the business," Hairston says. Burnside is the Associate Dean at Devry University's Decatur campus. "I can always ask him questions about the industry and how to go about making a name for myself and he keeps me up to date on upcoming projects and internships that helps further my knowledge and experience."

DeVry Day Features Gaming Tournament

DeVry Day at DeVry University's Alpharetta campus gave prospective students a preview of a DeVry education while also offering the opportunity to square off at some of today's most popular video games.

The event included informative orientation sessions with current students and faculty along with a gaming tournament that challenged teams of four players to compete at games such as Madden NFL 07 and Halo 2 on large screens. The event also featured a rock climbing wall and Hummer racing.

Senior Projects Offer Real-World Solutions to Biomedical Engineering Technology Challenges

At DeVry's Decatur campus, senior projects are sometimes about more than just a good grade and a great way to finish up a degree program - they can be about making a real contribution to positively impact the lives of others.

Senior projects are required in most DeVry degree programs. Student teams are challenged to complete their projects in fifteen weeks. Among the notable Senior Projects in the Biomedical Engineering Technology program at the DeVry University Decatur campus are:

SIDS and Security Monitor

Morris Whitton and team members Jean-Claude Momo and Tesfahun Gabremichael designed a SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and security monitor to monitor an infant's safety in the home or in a medical facility. According to Whitton, project manager for the team, "There are other SIDS monitors on the market, but none that monitor the baby's ECG and control the temperature of their surroundings." The difference, says Whitton, "is that by having the ECG monitoring already built into the system, a separate device is not needed to monitor the baby. In addition, the temperature control system is designed to keep the child's surroundings regulated at a specific temperature range."

Eye Movement Controlled Mini Wheelchair

For Serge Psarev and teammates Nyemady Toe and Muznah Zakai, creating a small scale Mini Wheelchair powered by optical control was a "gratifying challenge." The optical control of the Mini Wheelchair allows it to change direction with eye movements. "Using specific circuit amplifiers, circuitry filters, supporting software and electrodes attached to the eyes, the Mini Wheelchair records voltage that allows the chair to change direction depending on the movement/command given by the eyes. Says Psarev, "We created a Mini Wheelchair to stay within the scope of our senior project, but someday it would be great to test the technology on a full size wheelchair."

Adapted EEG

Working on his own, David Matz's project involved the adaptation of existing EEG (electroencephalography) technology to create an EEG unit that is smaller, lighter and almost entirely analog, as opposed to digital, making it less reliant on computers to function. The most significant difference between Matz's EEG and those currently in usage is that it can be programmed to drive a device when certain conditions in the brain wave patterns are met. The unit runs on 4 double-AA batteries and can be attached to a patient's head by an elastic hat with metal electrodes that need only to touch the skin on the head. An example of its practical application would be, says Matz, "if you are falling asleep at the wheel of your car, this machine can wake you up."

Passport2College Program in Atlanta

A diverse selection of college-level courses are available to local high school students through DeVry University's Passport2College summer program offered at the Alpharetta and Decatur campuses and the Henry County Center. The classes allow students the opportunity to experience a business or technologically-oriented environment while earning university credits at no tuition cost.

DeVry University Hosts High School Robotics Competition

Thirty-four teams made up of high school age students from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee competed in the Georgia FIRST Vex Challenge Championship Tournament and hosted by DeVry University Decatur campus.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology http://www.usfirst.org/ is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1989 that was founded to inspire and excite young people about science and technology. The FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST Robotics competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. The ultimate goal of FVC is to reach more young people with a lower-cost, more accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.

Teams competed for a series of awards honoring accomplishments in areas including engineering, design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities.

Lockheed Martin Executive Speaks at DeVry University Decatur Graduation

Karen Albrecht, Engineering Site Director-Marietta for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, addressed graduates of DeVry University Decatur (GA) Campus at undergraduate graduation ceremonies. Ms. Albrecht is a key player in the Peachtree Regional FIRST Competition of which Lockheed Martin is proud sponsor of a Judges Award, and the FIRST Championship. She is passionate about young people entering the field of engineering. In her current position with Lockheed Martin, she is charged with providing qualified trained personnel with the appropriate processes and tools to execute the requirement of the numerous aircraft programs in Marietta and ensure the technical integrity of the programs. She joined Martin Marietta in 1982 and after the merger with Lockheed, transferred to Marietta, GA and held a number of positions before assuming her current role in 2002.