Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology

𝗗𝗿. 𝗩𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟳 𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄
Vukica Jovanovic, Ph.D., professor and chair of Old Dominion University’s Department of Engineering Technology, has been selected as a Fellow in the 2026–27 class of the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program at Drexel University.

Dr. Jovanovic is one of 39 senior faculty leaders from universities across the United States and Canada selected for this year’s program.

ELATES is a yearlong leadership development program for senior faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program helps Fellows develop skills in strategic planning, organizational leadership, resource management and working with diverse groups.

“I am honored to have been selected for the ELATES program,” Dr. Jovanovic said. “This is an opportunity to grow as a leader, learn from fellow department chairs at other universities and bring new ideas back to Old Dominion University and the Department of Engineering Technology.”

Dr. Jovanovic served as interim chair of the engineering technology department from 2021–2022 and in 2022 was named the college’s first permanent female chair. She joined the University’s faculty in 2012.

Her expertise and areas of teaching include smart and digital manufacturing, digital twins, robotics, mechatronics and engineering education.

As an ELATES Fellow, Dr. Jovanovic will participate in leadership training, mentoring and an institutional project focused on a challenge at her home institution. She will also join a national network of STEM faculty leaders. More than 300 faculty members have completed the program since it began in 2012.

Dr. Jovanovic’s selection builds on her leadership in engineering education. She has served in national professional organizations, participated in ABET accreditation activities and led federally funded research and education projects focused on advanced manufacturing, STEM pathways and workforce development.

ODU - Engineering Technology Department

ODU Engineering students will soon use virtual reality and digital engineering tools to explore materials, manufacturing and structural mechanics, thanks to new funding from La Fondation Dassault Systèmes.

Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Oleksandr Kravchenko with Co-PIs Dr. Dalya Ismael and Dr. Michel Audette, the project, “Introducing VR Digital Twins for Structural Mechanics and Materials into the Classroom,” brings physical lab experiences directly into a virtual environment.

By combining physical material testing, micro-CT imaging, and digital simulations, the team is building interactive digital twins that let students see firsthand how materials respond to stress, damage, and material failure.

Beyond giving ODU students hands-on experience with industry-standard digital tools used in aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing, the project aims to develop a model for integrating VR and digital twins into engineering education.

Learn more about ongoing research in structural materials in advanced manufacturing: https://www.odu.edu/mechanical-aerospace-engineering/research/cmml

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘴: Omid Ravangard, Ray Domena, Andrew Coddington and Dr. Oleksandr Kravchenko test Virtual Reality (VR) equipment in the Solid Mechanics Lab.

ODU - Engineering Technology Department, Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Batten College of Engineering and Technology welcomed dozens of ninth- and 10th-grade students participating in the Virginia Space Grant Consortium's BLAST (Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology) program. Throughout the day, students explored a variety of engineering topics, including fluid mechanics, toured engineering labs and completed hands-on activities focused on logic gates, circuits and satellites.

Today, they're heading to the ODU College of Sciences for more STEM experiences.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the program a success!

Meet two ODU Engineering students gaining hands-on experience this summer as interns with Gallo Mechanical, LLC.

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀, a mechanical engineering major, and 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲, a physics and electrical engineering major, are among many students spending the summer building skills, making connections and exploring career paths through internships.

Headquartered in New Orleans, the company recently opened an office in Norfolk, creating new opportunities for students in our region.

A big thank you to Gallo Mechanical and all of our industry partners for providing internship opportunities that help prepare our students for successful careers.

ODU Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office, Old Dominion University, Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Valkyrie Enterprises is partnering with Old Dominion University’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology to establish the Valkyrie Defense Lab through a $500,000 investment.

Led by Katie Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor in the ODU - Engineering Technology Department, the lab will provide students with opportunities to work on real-world challenges alongside industry partners while gaining experience in artificial intelligence, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and defense technologies.

The partnership will also provide access to advanced simulation tools and help prepare students for careers in defense and national security.
Learn more: https://www.odu.edu/engineering/article/valkyrie-enterprises-partners-old-dominion-university-to-launch-digital

Congratulations to Dr. Jiang Li, from the Old Dominion University - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for receiving a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission Funding Award. His project, "Physics-Aware Guardrails for Real-Time Integrity Protection of AI-Driven Scientific Workflows," will help advance trustworthy AI for scientific research.

Learn more: https://www.jlab.org/AI/genesis/RFAPhaseIgrants

𝗘𝗘𝗔𝗣 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀
The Early Engineering Advantage Program (EEAP) at Old Dominion University marked its 25th anniversary by welcoming back Jessica Weiss and Jennifer Masis, members of the program's inaugural 2001 cohort.

During a panel discussion, the alumnae shared college and career advice with current EEAP students. Weiss, a 2005 mechanical engineering graduate, works as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Masis, who shifted from engineering to accounting and finance while at ODU, now leads workplace analytics and financial forecasting for Loudoun County Public Schools.

The women reflected on their experiences at ODU and emphasized the importance of building and maintaining a strong support network.

“I think connections are the most important thing that you can hold on to,” Weiss said. “I mean, we've seriously been best friends since 2001.”

Weiss and Masis encouraged the students to ask for help, build relationships with faculty and mentors, pursue internships and get involved on campus. Those experiences, they said, build confidence and stand out to future employers.

The panelists also encouraged students to be open to change and new opportunities throughout their careers.

“It's okay to change jobs. It's okay to try something new,” said Masis. “If you do the same thing for too long, you're not growing or learning.”

The Batten College of Engineering and Technology established EEAP in 2001 to attract and retain women in the traditionally male-majority field of engineering.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium has been a financial partner since the program's inception. More than 200 students have participated in EEAP.

This year's EEAP participants spent the week getting a head start on college life and exploring engineering through hands-on activities.

Beyond touring campus and locating their classrooms, the students tackled interactive projects, including creating a bat signal, writing code inspired by “Hidden Figures” and operating laser measuring equipment. They also toured STIHL USA in Virginia Beach and attended a dining etiquette workshop hosted by the University's Center for Career and Leadership Development.

The students concluded the program by presenting what they learned during the week.

“It was an amazing opportunity just to be in EEAP and see all these amazing, female engineers and just being around people who really are interested and truly want to do this,” said incoming freshman Destiny Johnson.

Kristin Eden, Ed.S., assistant teaching professor at the Batten College and director of the EEAP program, commended the students after their presentations.

“Seeing you apply engineering concepts you didn't even realize you were learning was really cool,” she said. “You were already thinking like an engineer, using the engineering design process, setting goals and solving problems—you just didn't know it yet.”

Old Dominion University Alumni Association

𝗗𝗿. 𝗢𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗔𝘆𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄
Orlando Ayala, Ph.D., director of Undergraduate Research and the Ray Ferrari Endowed Professor in the ODU - Engineering Technology Department at Old Dominion University, has been named a 2026 Engineering Unleashed Fellow by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN).

Dr. Ayala is one of just 30 engineering faculty members nationwide selected for the honor this year, representing 23 institutions across the United States.

The fellowship recognizes educators who demonstrate outstanding innovation in engineering education and seek to foster an entrepreneurial mindset in undergraduate engineering students.

To be considered, participants must complete a yearlong project through the Engineering Unleashed Faculty Development program. They are then nominated by peer coaches and reviewed by a committee of past Fellows. Fewer than 10% of program participants are ultimately selected for the fellowship.

Dr. Ayala’s project focuses on bringing faculty together to enhance student learning through undergraduate research. The initiative will develop teaching materials, mentoring programs, and other resources designed to help students ask critical questions, connect ideas across disciplines, and solve real-world problems.

"Some of the most meaningful learning happens when students tackle authentic problems that don't have textbook answers,” Dr. Ayala said. “Through the Vertically Integrated Program for Undergraduate Research (VIPUR), we're helping advance Old Dominion University's goal of ensuring every student participates in a work-based learning experience before graduation by creating opportunities for students to grow as researchers while developing the curiosity, collaborative mindset, and problem-solving skills that define outstanding engineers.”

During the year, Fellows will share ideas and learn about one another's projects through in-person and virtual events. Each Fellow will also receive a $10,000 grant to advance their project.

Engineering Unleashed is a community of more than 6,000 faculty members at 400-plus institutions, powered by KEEN, a 70-partner collaborative focused on graduating engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset.

https://engineeringunleashed.com

Congratulations to Dr. Oleksandr Kravchenko on receiving a $400,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to advance research in 3D-printed composite materials.

Over the next three years, Dr. Kravchenko, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will further develop a patented manufacturing technology created at ODU to make 3D-printed composite parts stronger, more reliable and more efficient to produce. The research could improve high-performance components used in aerospace, transportation, defense, energy and other demanding industries while reducing waste and production costs.

"Our goal is to develop a scalable manufacturing process that combines the flexibility of 3D printing with the strength and reliability of traditional manufacturing," said Kravchenko. "This technology has the potential to expand access to high-performance manufacturing and support rapid production of critical components for aerospace, defense, transportation and other demanding applications."

The project will also provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on research experience in advanced manufacturing and materials engineering.