Lecturer and Assistant Research Professor Erin McCave has been selected as the director for the Jerry E. Stoneking engage Engineering Fundamentals program after having served in the interim role since August 1, 2023.
McCave replaced Senior Lecturer and Research Assistant Professor Rachel Ellestad, who stepped down as director to take the position of Associate Dean for Student Success in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
“Getting the director’s position has enabled me to really kind of step up and take charge and lead the unit in a new direction, which is needed with the increased enrollment that we have seen lately, which we are super excited about,” McCave said. “But it does pose a challenge to the unit, and I really look forward to meeting those challenges and hopefully finding unique ways of dealing with those challenges and finding opportunities to really make great changes with Engineering Fundamentals.”
McCave, who arrived at UT three years ago, earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technology University in biomedical engineering in 2003 followed by a PhD in Bioengineering from Clemson in 2014. She is an expert in engineering education research focusing on underrepresented students’ identity development, faculty agency, and student success and wellbeing.
McCave is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education. Along with Lecturer Darren Maczka, she was awarded funding from the Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Success in the fall of 2022 to support a grant targeted at increasing student’s scholars’ self-efficacy regarding math and physics and developing students’ skills related to academic stress management and self-regulated learning strategies.
“Erin’s unwavering commitment to ensuring operational stability and excellence of our EF program during a period of remarkable growth in freshmen enrollment is commendable,” said Professor Michael Danquah, the Tickle College of Engineering associate dean for academic and student affairs. “I look forward to working with her on the transformative endeavors she will lead in this new capacity.