Impact of Student Tours of Manufacturing Facilities

Dr. Marilyn Barger is the principal investigator and executive director of FLATE, the Florida Regional Center of Excellence for Advanced Technological Education. FLATE is funded by the National Science Foundation and has been housed at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida since 2004. FLATE serves the state of Florida and is involved in outreach and recruitment of students into technical career pathway; has produced award-winning curriculum design and reform for secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs; and provides a variety of professional development for STEM and technical educators focused on advanced technologies. She earned a B.A. in Chemistry at Agnes Scott College. She earned both a B.S. in Engineering Science and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environmental) from the University of South Florida, where her research focused on membrane separation science and technologies for water purification. She has over 20 years of experience in developing curricula for engineering and engineering technology for elementary, middle, high school, and post-secondary institutions, including colleges of engineering. Dr. Barger serves on several national panels and advisory boards for technical programs, curriculum and workforce initiatives, including the National Association of Manufacturers Educators’ Council. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education, a member of Tau Beta Pi and Epsilon Pi Tau honor societies. She is a charter member of both the National Academy and the University of South Florida’s Academy of Inventors. Dr. Barger holds a licensed patent and is a licensed professional engineer in Florida.