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James Mathias is an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes Department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Brigham Young University in 1994 and 1996; he received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 2001. He worked from 2001 to 2003 at Battelle Memorial Research Institute and Velocys Inc., a for-profit company associated with Battelle, designing and analyzing microchannel heat exchanger and reactors. In 2003 he joined SIUC and has researched microchannel heat exchangers, energy utilization, and energy processes. He teaches courses in thermodynamics and heat transfer.

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Jale Tezcan is an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). She received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Bogazici University, Turkey, in 1997 and 1999, respectively. She worked as a structural engineer between 1997 and 2000. She obtained a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in May 2005 from Rice University, Houston, TX and joined the SIUC in August 2005. Her research has focused on developing new algorithms for modeling structural behavior, particularly when subjected to earthquakes. She is also interested in increasing student retention in engineering programs by addressing the challenges faced by the students through developing innovative teaching methods and improving curriculum.

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Ronald Caffey is Director of the Minority Engineering Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He received a B.S. in Industrial technology and an MBA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Ron has five years of experience in manufacturing, with three years as a first–line supervisor. He joined the staff at SIUC in December of 2001 after spending two years as an independent contractor in the transportation industry. He is currently a doctoral candidate in educational administration and expects to defend his dissertation in April of 2007. Upon earning his doctorate, he expects to conduct research in the areas of college student retention and attrition, as well as educational attainment and pipeline programs for minorities in STEM disciplines.

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Bruce Chrisman is Coordinator of Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention in the College of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He received a B.S. degree in Ceramic Engineering and M.B.A. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in1974. In 1991, he received the Ph.D. in Higher Education from SIUC. Since joining SIUC in 1983, he has taken the lead in developing the Minority Engineering Program, the Summer Bridge Program, residential housing, freshmen orientation program, mathematics placement testing, and tutoring for College of Engineering students.

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Chris Pearson is the Coordinator of Cooperative Education and Placement for the College of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He received his B.S. from McKendree College in 1995 and M.S. from University of Central Missouri in 1997. He worked from 1990 to 1998 for the United States Air Force serving as Operations Controller, Functional Manager for computer applications, and, Communications Security Responsible Officer, respectively. Mr. Pearson joined SIUC in 1998 and has conducted student advisement and recruitment, developed off-campus programs for industry, and, cooperative education and placement opportunities for students. His interest is in increasing both recruitment and retention by providing real-world learning opportunities to students and employment opportunities to graduates.

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John Nicklow is the Interim Associate Dean of the College of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and is an Associate Professor in College’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Bucknell University in 1993. He worked as an environmental engineering officer with the U.S. Public Health Service between 1993 and 1997. He obtained a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1998 from Arizona State University and joined SIUC shortly thereafter. His research has focused on improved design and management of hydraulic and hydrologic systems and new approaches in the recruitment and retention of undergraduate and graduate engineering students.

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Rhonda Kowalchuk is an Assistant Professor of Educational Measurement and Statistics in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). She received her B.A. (Hons., 1990), M.A. (1993), and Ph.D. (2000) from the University of Manitoba, Canada. She joined SIUC in 2004 and prior to that she worked at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Her research interest focuses on the performance of statistical procedures when applied to data that do not satisfy the assumptions underlying these procedures. A goal of her research is to provide recommendations to improve the quality of data analyses. Other research related activities involve working as a statistical consultant. She teaches courses in Inferential Statistics, Multiple Regression, Experimental Design and Survey Methods.

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Dr. Hasan Sevim obtained the degree of B.S. in mining engineering in 1974 from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, as the valedictorian of his class. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in 1978 and 1984, respectively, from Columbia University, New York. He joined the College of Engineering at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale in 1984 as an assistant professor in the Department of Mining Engineering. He was promoted to associate and full professor ranks in 1988 and 1994, respectively. He served as the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering from 1998 to 2006. He became the Dean of School of Engineering at SIU Edwardsville in August 2006.

Dr. Sevim authored and co-authored several NSF proposals in the area of recruitment and retention. He was successful in securing funds for two of the proposals.

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