What I Love About Teaching Tech at Onondaga Community College: Colleen Stevens

Throughout the year, we are introducing you to several of our outstanding technology teachers who are preparing students for rewarding careers. Today, we introduce you to Professor Colleen Stevens.

What Professor Stevens Teaches

• Electromechanical Technology and Math.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Physics from Georgetown University.
• Master's degree in Optical Engineering from the University of Rochester.
• Master's degree in Mathematics for Educators from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Industry Experience

• Professor Stevens started her career as an Optical Engineer for a German company called Agfa that made laser-based pre-press equipment.
• Fun fact: "I worked on designing a piece of equipment that integrated a blue diode, which was cutting edge at the time (way before Blu-ray players)! I then went to work for CVI Laser, a company that fabricated optical components for laser systems (think lenses, beam splitters, filters). I started working more with customers (the same companies that make the equipment in the cleanroom - AMAT, ASML, etc.) and started realizing that I really love teaching."

What Professor Stevens Loves about Teaching at OCC

• "The students are serious about school and also fun to get to know. And I have the flexibility to be involved in other rewarding things like teaching young learners in Micron-related camps, assisting fellow instructors in our College Credit Now program who teach Electromechanical Technology, and working on an EASEL (Education Alliance for Semiconductor Experiential Learning) grant that helps get our students valuable internship opportunities."