Winter ’19 Newsletter: Online Engineering Management Program
Faculty Spotlight
Prof. Rachel Hansen
What classes do you teach?
I teach Intellectual Property Law for Engineers and Management Law.
What do you like most about teaching in the engineering management program?
What I like most about teaching in this program is the relationships I build with students. It may sound unlikely to hear that in an online program, but through our communications we really get to know one another. I have helped students with law school applications, written numerous letters of recommendations, and even gotten into hilarious debates about college football!
What brought you to start teaching engineers in law topics?
I was brought into the EM program in 2013 by my dad, who had recently retired as Dean of Speed School of Engineering. The EM program needed someone to teach Business Law, and my dad knew that was one of the courses I teach at a college near my home. He told me about the opportunity, I applied, and the rest is history. That original Business Law class has transformed into the Management Law course I now teach, and I added the Intellectual Property Law course a couple of years later.
Where would you like to travel to next?
My current dream travel destination is Iceland to see the Blue Lagoon.
What is your favorite TV show?
My favorite TV show is College Game Day.
Student Spotlight
David Langner
What is your favorite EM class?
I have enjoyed Engineering Statistics II because it has taught me the mathematical concepts behind process variation, which I really wanted before being able to take on process related projects at work. I also had a lot of fun in Marketing and the Engineer. The entire class was a cool exercise in thinking about WHY companies do what they do, and how engineers play a part in that. Sometimes, it’s fun to step away from the math to explore the psychology and politics behind a company’s directives.
How are you using EM in your work?
There are two big things I’m working on now. On a technical level, I’m working on a regression algorithm that could help our Software Quality Assurance Engineering group predict how long certain test requests will take to complete. This is fun because I can wear my Electrical Engineering hat AND my Engineering Management hat in the same day. In terms of softer skills, I am really working on something that was taught in Effective Leadership…information delivery. So many times, engineers give an overwhelming level of detail when presenting to leadership. Meanwhile, leadership is thinking, “umm…ok. So does it work?” I’m trying to recognize when I need to simplify results, and when I need to get into the low-level detail.
What made you choose the UofL EM program?
First, I wanted to start making full-time money as soon as possible after my undergrad was done. (It’s criminal what it costs to take a baby to the doctor!) Also, I believed that a Master’s in EM would supplement my pre-engineering school experience quite well. I figured it would help me put math behind the things I had experienced in the workplace years ago.
ARTICLE: The Rise of the Master of Engineering Management Degree
This ASME article describes the versatility of the EM degree, detailing how all engineers can benefit from the knowledge and skills gained.
Program Registration Dates
Registration for Summer and Fall Classes starts in a few months. If you have any questions, please reach out to us. We would be happy to hear from you!
Dr. Liz Gentry
EM Director
elizabeth.gentry@louisville.edu
Leigh Ann Elles
Graduate Academic Counselor
leigh.elles@louisville.edu
Know
someone who’d excel at the online Engineering Management program?
We’re always looking for new engineers who we can help take their career to the
next level. Refer a friend by emailing elizabeth.gentry@louisville.edu and receive a small prize.
