Dr. Nikos Kiritsis

Dr. Nikos Kiritsis Dean

The McNeese initiative will support a significant collaboration between McNeese and Sowela Technical Community College, according to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college of engineering and engineering technology at McNeese who will coordinate the grant.Both institutions will receive funding for personnel and equipment.McNeese will receive $1.5 million while Sowela will receive $1.2 million.

"This is McNeese's first opportunity to partner with Sowela in a competitive grant process since the formation of the state's community college system,"said Kiritsis, "We look forward to this strategic partnership."

The recommendations by the Board of Regents' panel of experts supported projects that addressed the recovery needs of institutions affected by the 2005 storms and for innovative initiatives that focused on collaborations among local academic institutions, faculty recruitment and retention, student development and support, development of facilities and research commercialization.

For Southwest Louisiana, Kiritsis said the initiative will address faculty, students, facilities, equipment and research commercialization issues (funds to defray the costs of research such as applying for patents and marketing new products) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Technology areas.In addition, Kiritsis said funding will enable STEM disciplines at McNeese and Sowela to meet the needs of the local engineering and process plant technology industry.

"This proposal will have a significant impact on the education of these engineers and technicians at both of the institutions," Kiritsis stated."This in turn creates more qualified employees for the area industries in Southwest Louisiana."

Kiritsis said Sowela's funding will also be used to assist its efforts to achieve accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools."Once Sowela is accredited by SACS, the transition of students who want to continue their education at McNeese would be much smoother."In addition to Kiritsis, the team of investigators who worked on the proposal included: Dr. George Mead, dean of the college of science, Dr. Harold Stevenson, professor of environmental science, Dr. Jonathan Sullivan, interim head of the department of engineering, all from McNeese; and Dr. Clarence Hughes, vice chancellor for academic affairs, Randal Esters, industrial coordinator, Stephanie Smith, interim dean of instruction, and Desiree Devereaux, e-learning coordinator, all from Sowela.
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"This program is a significant effort to replace the depleted ranks of technically competent members of the Southwest Louisiana workforce while promoting long-term recovery and economic expansion," said Kiritsis.

-- Nikos Kiritsis of McNeese State University, $2.7 million for educational and economic development in southwest Louisiana.

"The goal of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is to provide excellent learning opportunities through a hands-on approach with state-of-the-art equipment and labs," said Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college.

More than 300 students from 16 high schools in Louisiana and Texas will attend an open house 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, geared specifically for high school juniors and seniors. Activities will include tours of departmental and campus facilities and demonstrations of McNeese student projects in the areas of civil, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as engineering technology disciplines.

At the open houses, the community will have the chance to see more than $500,000 in new equipment and improvements to laboratories, according to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college.
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Kiritsis said that at 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Feb. 18, the college is planning student enrichment activities for its engineering and engineering technology students in the Business Conference Center. Lunch will follow.

For more information, call Kiritsis at 337-475-5857.

Pat Brown, from left, president of Sasol North America, presents the donation to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the college of engineering and engineering technology, Dr. Weijin Dong, assistant professor of environmenta science, and Dr. Ron Darbeau, head of the chemistry department.

Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McNeese State University addressed the Sulphur Kiwanis Club yesterday with a great opportunity for science, engineering, and technology majors for local students.

Once the counselor completes the high school section of the form, the application should be faxed to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, Dean, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at (337) 475-5237. A one-time application fee of $20 is required and will be charged to the student's University account. Questions regarding the program or application process should be directed to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis at (337) 475-5857 or nikosk@mcneese.edu .
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To be considered for an extreme need scholarship, interested students should complete the McNeese Scholarship Application and fax it to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, Dean, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology at (337) 475-5237.

Student who transfer to McNeese with a recommendation from LSUE will be eligible for $500 scholarships awarded on a competitive basis, and they can join the Academic Excellence Reward Program, which offers additional incentives based on their accomplishments, said Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, associate professor of mechanical engineering at McNeese.

The program offers a pathway for students to enroll at LSUE for at least two years, earn an associate of science degree, and then know they can continue on the path toward a bachelor's degree at McNeese, he explained.

LSUE students in Com-STEM still will have the option to transfer to a university other than McNeese, he added.

By collaborating with LSUE and with Lamar State College-Orange, another two-year campus, Kiritsis believes McNeese can go further in achieving the Com-STEM goals than by developing a stand-alone program.

A state-of-the-art engineering measurements laboratory has been established with grants totaling more than $95 , 000 received by Dr. Nikos Kiritsis , assistant professor of mechanical engineering at McNeese State University.

Kiritsis received a Board of Regents' Support Fund Grant of $70 , 229 and $25 , 000 through the MSU Engineering Department to fund the lab.We used the funds to establish the engineering measurements laboratory , which will be used to teach the junior level engineering measurements course , said Kiritsis.

Engineering students will use state-of-the-art instruments and software to measure mechanical strain , vibration , acceleration , velocity , displacement , temperature , pressure and frequency , he added.The lab has four stations , with each station equipped with a computer , an oscilloscope , a function generator , a power supply and an interface module used to connect experiments to the computer.

The engineering measurements lab provides hands-on experience with industrial grade equipment for our students , said Kiritsis.This gives our engineering graduates an edge when recruited for jobs after graduation..All measurements are taken by the computer using Virtual Instruments written in Labview 6i.Labview is a graphics-based software that allows users to build their own instrumentation systems with standard computers and cost effective hardware , said Kiritsis.

He said the engineering measurements lab is also available to local industry for collaborative efforts.This includes helping local industries solve instrumentation problems or working with engineering faculty on research projects or students with a capstone project , said Kiritsis.He said the lab is open for tours to area schools and appointments can be made by calling him at 475-5857.Also , Kiritsis has been notified that he will receive another Board of Regents' Support Fund Grant of $82 , 000 this fall for the development of a Controls Systems Laboratory.This lab will be used to teach the senior level control systems course to mechanical and electrical engineering students , he said.

Diving InCARLYSS - Global Divers Division of Global Industries Offshore , LLC has been awarded a project by the U.S. Navy to utilize Global's 1500' saturation diving system and personnel to support Navy diver salvage of the engine and turret of the USS Monitor.Upon completion of this project , Global's saturation system will be the only U.S. Navy approved civilian saturation diving system.

The Monitor , a 987-ton armored turret gunboat , sank on New Year's Eve 1862 during a fierce storm 16 miles south of Cape Hatteras in 240 feet of water.

Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McNeese State University addressed the Sulphur Kiwanis Club yesterday with a great opportunity for science, engineering, and technology majors for local students.O'Connor set up a Baton Rouge home business in 1985, relocating to his wife's former home when he left New York and his position as chief of IMC Global's international shipping division.