Recent Accomplishments

With partial funding from NSF Alliances for Graduate Education in the Professoriate (AGEP) and NAE CASEE, the PURPOSE Institute held 5 national Think Tank meetings in 2005. The importance of the PURPOSE Institute Think Tanks of 2004 and 2005 as a foundation has been recognized by a group of nationally distinguished individuals. Dr. Ansley Abraham, Director of Southern Regional Education Board (SREB); Dr. Frank Huband, Executive Director of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE); Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Dr. James Johnson, Dean of Howard University College of Engineering; Dr. Eloy Rodriguez, James A. Perkins Endowed Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Cornell University; Dr. David Wormley, Dean of Engineering at Pennsylvania State University; and Dr. William Wulf, President of the National Academy of Engineering have all agreed to serve as members of the PURPOSE Institute Advisory Group. These distinguished science and engineering leaders support the Institute's mission and its' potential impact on engineering diversification.

A number of entities have identified a potential synergy with the PURPOSE Institute based on the uniqueness of our approach. The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Executive Dean's Council also agreed in 2005 not only to facilitate and to initiate active dialogue with the PURPOSE Institute, but also to present vital information to engineering deans across the country (this occurred in 2007). This communication channel also provides an implementation pathway for the Institute programs. Another important connection has been made with The PURPOSE Institute and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - Center for Advancing Science & Engineering Capacity. First, the two groups will cosponsor a Think Tank strategy meeting in 2006. Second, Daryl Chubin, director of the AAAS Center for Advancing Science & Engineering Capacity, has offered (1) resource information and (2) to develop a possible delivery mechanism with the Capacity Center. In a similar vein, there are current discussions for a webinar with WEPAN in 2007. In addition to the interagency partnerships designed to maximize the delivery of PURPOSE Institute programs, organizations such as SREB and NSF funded AGEP Centers have expressed interest in utilizing the PURPOSE Institute knowledge base (and our close connections with URM faculty)to inform their current diversity programs.