About

Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) Program

The College of Engineering, in recognizing that American industries would require an ever increasing number of people in high technology areas and at the same time demanding diversity, initiated the Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) Program (formerly known as Minority Retention Program) in January 1990.

The IDEAs program is committed to

  • Increasing diversity and inclusive excellence in the fields of engineering;
  • Enhancing enrollment, retention and graduation of engineering students – particularly students from underrepresented groups (African-American, Hispanics and American Indian).

We are a partner of National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and a member of National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates, Inc. (NAMEPA).

The IDEAs Brochure

‘The Big Idea’

Get tips from students and keep up with news and events in the IDEAs newsletter.

Student Success:

The success of the IDEAs Program relies and only relies on the success of its students. Here are their stories.

Jane Bell
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, 1996
Product Manager, Laird Technologies, Cleveland OH

 

 

Erica Bronner Erica Bronner
 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2008
 Minor in Applied Mathematics, 2008
 FirstEnergy, OH

 

 

 

 Andrew Richlen
 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 2009
 GPD, OH 

 

 

                                  

 Osama Elbuluk
 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 2010
 Medical School, UCLA



                    

Moussa Sane
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, 2010
Electrical Engineer, Gyrus ACMI, Bartlett, Tennessee

 

 

 

Anny Gao
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, 2011
G. Stephens Inc.

 

 

Tanya Miracle
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, 2012
Lincoln Electric

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The University of Akron
College of Engineering
Auburn Science & Engineering Center
Akron, OH 44325-3901

Tel: 330-972-6978
Fax: 330-972-5162

Contact

Dr. Julie Zhao, Director
Shrank Hall North 360

Tel: 330-972-2823
Fax: 330-972-5162
E-mail: zhao1@uakron.edu

Engineering programs

The University of Akron

Akron, OH 44325
Phone: 330-972-7111
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