Six months before he was set to defend his dissertation, Pratheesh Jakkala experimented with another feat of endurance. This time, it was physical.
The stringent athletic and nutrition demands of preparing for an Ironman triathlon event turned out to be a welcome distraction to the mental gymnastics of a Ph.D. program in its final stretch.
鈥淓verybody was shocked that I decided to train and compete during crunch time,鈥 said Jakkala, an assistant professor in residence at the 性视界传媒 College of Engineering.
But, with Jakkala鈥檚 record for setting his mind on goals and following through with determination to achieve them, his friends and family shouldn鈥檛 have been that surprised.
Jakkala, who has experience in both materials engineering and experimental physics, is one of several new faculty in residence to join the College of Engineering within the last couple of years in order to support increased student retention, progression, and completion. He teaches physics courses to engineering students as part of a yearslong effort by the college to rethink how math and physics are taught.
Tapping into his materials engineering background, he also joined the college to help lead the creation of a new program 鈥 the bachelor鈥檚 in engineering technology 鈥 which debuted this fall and was formed with student success at the center. The program, coupled with increased 1:1 faculty support, comes at just the right time. This fall, the college welcomed its largest-ever incoming class.
鈥淲e want employers to look at the graduates of our new engineering technology program and say, 鈥楾his is exactly what we want from an employee,鈥欌 Jakkala said. 鈥淲e want our students to become whole students with a strong blend of technical and soft skills, ready to enter the workforce on day 1.鈥
Building a program from the ground up requires a bit of Ironman-esque endurance, which is what makes Jakkala perfect for the job.
Can you give us a primer on the new bachelor鈥檚 in engineering technology program and why it was created?
The bachelor鈥檚 in engineering technology program was created with our students at the forefront 鈥 they were our motivation and drove our philosophy forward. We have a lot of students in our college who possess the engineering mindset and are good at working with their hands to solve problems, but sometimes, they get afraid of the advanced calculus requirements. So, we wanted to find a path forward for them.
The engineering technology program is focused deeply on career readiness and applied engineering technology skills. We have three main tracks: Mechatronics, IT, and construction management and technology. Every course is a mini-workshop and involves hands-on projects. Students are required to complete three internships over the course of the program, and we鈥檙e working with our employer partners to ensure our courses are aligned with industry needs, with a big emphasis on AI integration.
What is your favorite place on campus?
I鈥檝e been to almost every part of the campus. But for me, I keep coming back to my classroom. That is the best place. I forget about the outside world when I鈥檓 in the classroom; it鈥檚 almost a sort of meditation for me. And, even if I teach back-to-back classes, I don鈥檛 feel tired. I come out of the classroom feeling reinvigorated.
What's one collaboration you're hoping to build with other departments/colleagues on campus?
Just after I arrived on campus, I began working with electrical engineering and education faculty on a National Science Foundation grant proposal to get high school students interested in semiconductor manufacturing. Funding was approved this past summer for $1.3 million. This semester, we鈥檙e building the curriculum and recruiting participants, and next semester, high school students will be on campus.
I also want to seek research collaborations with education faculty to reinvent and rethink classroom learning. I try to inject new teaching methods into my classes every year. When I find a creative idea about teaching 鈥 and if it鈥檚 something that could make the student experience better 鈥 I鈥檒l more than likely give it a try. Flexibility and adaptability is my strength.
I鈥檓 currently experimenting with a new teaching method 鈥 what I call a fusion classroom 鈥 and implementing it in almost all of my classes. Students seem to love it. But, it would be great to partner with education researchers on a focused project or research study to expand on what I鈥檓 already doing.
What鈥檚 the most Vegas thing you鈥檝e done since you moved to the desert?
I love Red Rock Canyon. I go there every week. I鈥檝e probably finished half of the trails already. My favorites are Calico Tanks, Gene鈥檚 Trail, and Turtlehead Peak. Turtlehead is particularly challenging but I still love it. Hiking gives me peace.
What鈥檚 your ideal vacation?
This past summer, I actually took a road trip throughout Utah and hit up almost all of the national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Arches. I brought a tent, but it was actually most comfortable for me to sleep in the back of my car. I鈥檇 love to do something like that again.
What鈥檚 one surprising thing you鈥檝e learned from students?
Students are more adaptable and flexible than we often give them credit for.
