Dr. Tim Shenk, assistant professor of engineering, was recognized by the Kern Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEEN) as a Community Catalyst in February, becoming the second School of Engineering professor to earn this recognition.
KEEN is a network of thousands of engineering faculty working to “unleash undergraduate engineers” so that they can create “personal, economic and societal value through the entrepreneurial mindset.” Community Catalysts are faculty across the country who support the KEEN network by engaging faculty with similar interests in teaching and learning.
“We are so pleased to have another of our Campbell Engineering faculty selected to serve as a KEEN Community Catalyst,” Founding Dean Dr. Jenna Carpenter said. “With our innovative project-based approach to engineering education, Dr. Shenk brings a great skill set to be able to mentor and coach other engineering faculty around the country who are working to infuse curiosity and connections into their classrooms and to help their students see how their engineering degree provides them with the opportunity to create value for themselves and our society.”
Prior to joining Campbell in 2019, Shenk was a research scientist whose post-doctorate work included exploring combining off-the-shelf technology to minimize energy consumption, followed by research that developed a better understanding of surface coating and safe handling of energetic material processing at the lab scale and small business scale-up. He received his Ph.D. in chemical and biological engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2016.
“Being a part of the KEEN network and working alongside other faculty interested in developing the Entrepreneurial Mindset has been a terrific growing experience,” he said. “Seeing what others have done helps improve my own teaching and has led to great professional development.”
Dr. Jacqueline Gartner became Campbell’s first KEEN Community Catalyst in 2020. Both Gartner and Shenk were named KEEN Faculty Fellows in 2021.