Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi prepares for engineering growth with new college
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi celebrated launching a new standalone College of Engineering on Wednesday, preparing for growth in the engineering field in Texas.
The university officially split its College of Science and Engineering into two entities — a College of Science, housing science and mathematics, and a College of Engineering, to cover engineering and computer science, this summer.
"There's going to be increased need for engineers in general, and we want to make sure that need gets met here in the Coastal Bend," university President Kelly Miller said. "One of the best ways to do that is to find local folks who want to study engineering and provide them that opportunity."
The university has been expanding and investing in engineering programs for years. In 2009, the university welcomed its first cohort of mechanical engineering students. An electrical engineering program was added in 2015, and in 2018, a new engineering building was dedicated on campus. In 2020, civil and industrial engineering programs were established.
"The launch of this college is a culmination of years of growth," Miller said. "More than that, it is a culmination of years of support from our community and partners and friends."
David Ma became the new dean of the College of Engineering in August. Miller said the university will soon announce a new College of Science dean, as well.
Ma said there is demand for engineers across the state and country as well as in the Coastal Bend, noting recent and potential investments from Exxon-Mobil, SpaceX and Tesla in South Texas.
Not only is there a robust oil and gas industry, but there are also opportunities for renewable energy, Ma said.
"The world sees the need for a stable energy source, which Texas is," Ma said. "I think Texas will play a greater, more important role in that sector, and Corpus Christi and of course the port are incredibly important to that."
Not only is there industry demand, students are also interested in pursuing careers in science and engineering, Ma said. This year, the computer science program received about 1,900 applications to fill just under 500 spots.
"There's huge room for growth in that area," Ma said.
Ma has experience in multiple engineering disciplines.
He earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing. He completed a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering at the University of California-Santa Barbara, as well as a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. For the past 17 years, he has taught in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's civil and environmental engineering department.
During the event Wednesday, Ma told the crowd that his family experienced the effects of the political turmoil in China. Though the family had once been wealthy before the Chinese Revolution, Ma grew up in a rural area of Sichuan province, and his parents had not finished elementary school.
Ma shared his story Wednesday with supporters of the college and university, saying he understands the importance of relating to and supporting students of all backgrounds.
"I experienced firsthand how detrimental it can be to a student if she or he is being constantly rejected, excluded or underprivileged," Ma said. "It's my job — it's our job — to ensure everyone within the college has a strong sense of belonging. The dream college I have in my mind is a place that builds people. We build community by building people."
Before the event, Ma said the college is dedicated to supporting its high population of first-generation Hispanic students.
Ma said the college is also working on creating pathways for summer internships and programs that will allow students lab experience.
Several universities within the Texas A&M University System, including campuses in College Station and Kingsville, already have engineering colleges.
"We don't want to be another College Station," Ma said. "We can distinguish ourselves by having a focus on the Gulf of Mexico. Research programs and educational programs, we all have a flavor of coastal infrastructure, sustainability and resilience."
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: A&M-Corpus Christi prepares for engineering growth with new college
