Academic Affairs Spring 2011 commencement includes STEM grads
The day was filled with tradition and pageantry as 281 students received their college degrees at Central State University on Saturday, May 7, 2011. This commencement represented the largest graduating classes in more than five years. Proud families, faculty and staff celebrated as students received their diplomas from CSU President John W. Garland, in the 124th
annual University commencement.
But the day rich in history also gave an indication of Central State’s strong future. The graduates included STEM scholars, including students in Manufacturing Engineering and the
first class of students who majored in Environmental Engineering.
The STEM areas – science, technology, engineering and math – represent growing needs in the global marketplace, a need Central State is fulfilling. Often the STEM disciplines have a disproportionate number of African Americans, especially males, so the opportunities for deserving scholars are abundant.
“Our students are receiving excellent preparation in STEM fields, including the opportunity to participate in research and work with industry partners,” says Dr. Augustus
Morris Jr., Chair, Department of Manufacturing Engineering, “For instance, in Manufacturing Engineering, we keep students up- to-date with the rapid technological advances and emerging new materials. We’re as cutting edge as can be.”
Dr. Morris talks about another plus every Manufacturing Engineering CSU graduate received. “Each graduate benefited from our low student-to-faculty ratio,” he points out. “They received personalized instruction in a truly nurturing environment. STEM scholars, and all students, have a powerful advantage at Central State University.”
STEM scholar heads to graduate school
As a young boy interested in the sciences, Kamau Mbalia was able to travel from his Milwaukee home to Africa. There he saw the incredible need for water resources management and knew that would be his career path.
the advantages of an HBCU, I visited the campus and talked to Dr. Sri (Dr. Subramania Sritharan) about what Central State was offering in this field, both on campus and off,” Mbalia says. “That cinched my decision.”
Now graduating with a degree in Environmental Engineering and deciding which graduate school offer to take, Kamau is convinced he made the right undergraduate decision.
Kamau Mbalia has a goal of preserving the water quality in Africa.
When it was time to choose a univer- sity to train him in this emerging field, this scholarship student chose Central State University.
“Because my parents instilled in me 6 CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY
“The dedicated faculty at Central State are incredible,” he says. “I received excellent instruction on up-to-the-minute technology in this field, especially from Dr. Sri and Dr. Kumar (Krishnakumar V. Nedunuri).”
“The professors even gave me their cell phone numbers. If I was working at the lab on Saturday morning and needed help, not only would they an- swer a question, they’d offer to come
to the lab and help. That’s what you get at CSU. I know I wouldn’t have had that at any other university.”
Kamau also cites the many projects and organizations he was involved with as extremely important to his education. “Plus, I had four intern- ships over the years at Central State: with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Associa- tion (NOAA) in Maryland and in Michigan, and in Cleveland with the Northeastern Ohio Regional Sewer District.”
After graduate school, Mbalia’s ultimate goal is to help preserve the water quality of Africa and other places around the globe.
CSU’s International Center for Water Resources Management (ICWRM) contains four interrelated academic programs: Water Resources Manage- ment, Environmental Engineering, Geology, and Earth Science.
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