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Divine Designs for a Diverse World
By Jennifer Raynes (Class of 2006)
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According to Dr. Dominic Halsmer, chair of the Engineering, Physics and Physical Science department, one of the program's key objectives is "to prepare [students] to be missionaries to the scientific and engineering communities." Halsmer says that, upon graduation, ORU students will ideally be able to "not only provide answers technically, but provide answers when people ask them about science and faith issues."
Still Going Strong
Equipping students with this solid spiritual and ethical foundation is one of the unique components that sets ORU's program apart from those offered at other universities. This commitment to excellence certainly proved advantageous recently when the engineering major (with its three concentrations: computer, electrical, and mechanical) was approved once again by the prestigious Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). According to Halsmer, when ABET surveys a program, schools will "almost always get weaknesses, deficiencies, or concerns you need to work on. But praise God," Halsmer declared, "we didn't get any of those."
When ABET representatives came to ORU last November, they were quite impressed by the quality of interaction between professors and students. With an excellent student-faculty ratio (10:1), the small class sizes in the department are quite conducive to fostering strong mentoring relationships between students and faculty members, including the department's newest addition, physics professor Dr. Elena Gregg.
From Russia with Love
Dr. Gregg, who brings with her a unique perspective from her native Russia, has taught at four other universities in Oklahoma, but is hoping to make ORU her home. When considering various universities to teach at, Gregg asserts, "I was looking for a different quality of people." Gregg's first experience with ORU came last year when Halsmer invited her to present a seminar on some of her research. It was at that time, Gregg said, that she became impressed by the "moral quality...respect...and discipline" that ORU students demonstrated. "That," she asserts, "is why it's pleasant to work here."
For Gregg, ORU is already serving as that "home away from home" in terms of its sub-culture. "In Russia," she says, "team effort is [valued] above individual effort." Unlike the typical individualistic mindset present in much of America, Gregg says that "people here at ORU are much more team-oriented and student-oriented.... There is a spirit of unity in the school."
One of ORU's biggest draws for Gregg was the "mission-oriented" atmosphere of the university. Gregg, whose husband was a missionary in Russia for 14 years, has already sat down with Halsmer to discuss possible missions trips for students that would give them hands-on engineering experience in the context of a different culture.
This global perspective that Gregg wants to impart to students, however, is certainly not new to the program. ORU's engineering department boasts an incredibly diverse faculty, with professors representing five different nations. According to Halsmer, this diversity helps fulfill one of the criteria necessary for accreditation of the major: that students "understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context."
An Opportunity to Shine
Serving as a soapbox for diverse perspectives, ORU will be hosting the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) student design competition next spring. More than 400 students from universities all over the Southwest will gather on campus to participate in competitions ranging from public speaking to impromptu design. And as is ORU tradition, the department will also engage participants "spirit, mind, and body" by providing volleyball and soccer tournaments, as well as an optional prayer breakfast for students.
Always looking for opportunities to be a light to the scientific community, ORU students are poised to minister through their designs and worldwide influence. Senior engineering student Vijay Masillamoni Karlsson, who completed a highly competitive internship with General Electric last summer, says that as Christians in the scientific arena, "we just stand out. We're shining like the sun and people are drawn to us."
