Dawnelle Prince, director of recruitment for the School of Engineering, travels frequently to meet with potential engineering students and their parents.
CAMPUS CLOSEUPDawnelle Prince - Engineering recruitment: 'Best toys on campus'
Years at current job: Two.
Job duties: It is my job to scout, recruit and assist prospective engineering students (and parents) as they choose a university. The overall mission of my position is to increase the number and diversity of the incoming engineering freshman class.
What talents or attributes do you look for in potential engineering students? I seek to recruit students who have excelled both academically and in leadership roles and extracurricular activities. A high achieving, accomplished and well rounded student.
You coordinate the KU Survivor Engineering Outback Camp. What takes place at the camp? High school students become KU dorm residents for the week, during which time they attend faculty-taught learning sessions and complete a hands-on engineering project. They also participate in a GPS geo caching race across campus, attend industry field trips and test their projects on and off campus. An example is the aerospace students who built rockets and launched them at Clinton Lake with the assistance of Ronald Barrett-Gonzalez, associate professor of aerospace engineering.
What do you like most about your profession? I truly love working with students and empowering them to reach their education and career goals.
What methods do you use to sell the school of engineering to potential students? My favorite thing to share with students is that we have and work with the best toys on campus such as the formula SAE race car, rockets, robots, roller coasters etc. I also explain that a degree in engineering opens the door to many careers including medical school, law school, industry and/or graduate school.
The recruitment of athletes to colleges is highly publicized. How would you compare academic recruiting? It is a lot the same. We compete with other universities to attract the best and brightest into our program. However, with athletics, there is a risk of injury and other factors that may prevent a career in the sport. With engineering, I can guarantee that a dedicated, well-rounded student will be able to achieve his or her career goals.
What aspects of your job might others not realize you're involved with? I think most people do not realize the general time commitment involved. I spend a lot of time traveling across the country to meet with students and parents. When most people are leaving the office to go home, I am often leaving to go to an evening college fair, parent/student appointment or other recruitment engagement.
I am also very involved in professional organizations which monitor and lobby congress and leaders regarding education policy.
What, in your opinion, is the most valuable prospect/resource the school of engineering has to offer potential students? Ninety-five percent of our undergraduate classes are taught by faculty and students are advised by faculty from new student orientation through graduation. Our faculty are on the cutting edge of design, technology and research. In addition, they are engaged with students to share this knowledge. And last but not least, we offer the promise of an amazing future career!
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