Herff College of Engineering
Herff College of Engineering hosts ASEE-SE 2026 Conference
The Herff College of Engineering proudly hosted the American Society for Engineering Education Southeastern Conference (ASEE-SE) March 8-10 at the University of Memphis.
"This conference is a much more intimate and relational alternative to the huge annual conference hosted by the ASEE national organization," said Dr. Steve Strain, Associate Professor of Teaching in Herff's Department of Biomedical Engineering and host site coordinator for the conference. "Both are focused on the mission of ASEE, which is ultimately about supporting students, but the intensity of the national conference is much less suitable for organic relationship building and fellowship. Both conferences are important, but the Southeastern section, of which we are a part, has a wonderful model for sectional conferences that makes a strong basis for regional support of the national organization's goals."
Around 160 people attended the conference, including nearly 60 who participated in a Sunday night dinner accompanied by a jazz trio. Herff College of Engineering Dean Okenwa Okoli welcomed attendees, telling them, in part, “The engineer of the future must be someone who can bridge that gap. Someone who can connect technology and the people, innovation with responsibility and ideas with real-world impact. That vision aligns closely with what we strive to do here at the Herff College of Engineering. As one of only three public R1 universities here in the State of Tennessee, our mission is to create successful engineers, conduct impactful research and help build the workforce that drives innovation and economic growth across our state and our nation.”
The conference kicked into high gear on Monday with a full slate of activities. It began with a speech from keynote speaker and University of Memphis Provost Dr. David J. Russomanno, who described the college's history with artificial intelligence and its significance in the Mid-South in his presentation "Anchoring the Digital Delta: The University of Memphis as Tennessee's AI University."
The Undergraduate Poster Competition followed, coinciding with technical sessions, roundtables and workshops on various topics. David Adaway, a senior in computer engineering, won second place in the individual competition, followed by senior Gerrell Dabbs, also a senior in computer engineering, who won third place.
Dr. Amy Dejongh Curry, Associate Professor in Herff's Department of Biomedical Engineering and host-site chair of operations for the conference, said the work of those undergraduates, along with the University of Memphis facilities used to host the conference, helped showcase the academic achievements happening at the Herff College of Engineering and the college's impact on engineering, particularly in the southeast region.
"Hosting the ASEE‑SE conference was a great way to share who we are at the Herff College of Engineering. We welcomed attendees into two of our signature spaces—the Edwards Research and Innovation Center and the FedEx Institute of Technology—which naturally encouraged collaboration, conversation and learning. These spaces gave colleagues from across the southeastern United States an opportunity to connect and exchange ideas in a setting that reflects how we work every day. It was also especially rewarding to see the impact our undergraduate students had; their work and professionalism made a strong impression and truly reflected the quality of our academic community," Dr. Curry said.
Olaf Schulz, Director of Venture Development & Zeroto510 and of Epicenter Memphis, concluded Monday's activities with his speech "Stuff I Wish I Learned in Engineering School." In his speech, Schulz, a biomedical engineer with over 28 years of experience in the medical industry, examined formative lessons - direction, failure, curiosity, and communication - that provide practical tools for navigating real-world engineering careers.
Dr. Strain said the impact of the speeches by Dr. Russomanno and Schulz was rivaled only by the community atmosphere of the southeastern conference.
"Our keynote speakers were amazing," Dr. Strain said. "Our Provost, Dr. David Russomanno, gave an exciting presentation about UM's history and future with regards to AI leadership for higher education in Tennessee on Monday morning. That evening, Olaf Schulz, Director of Zeroto510 MedTech Programs here in Memphis, gave an inspiring talk from his experience directing an entrepreneurial incubator and accelerator to bring biomedical device ideas to market. For me, these talks were the highlight of the conference events. However, underneath all of it is something that I can't ignore—the community that the Southeastern section has created with the annual ASEE-SE conference. I have to put this community experience, this space where meaningful connections between conference attendees emerge organically, on an equal level with our keynotes."
Several members of the Herff College of Engineering will continue their service to ASEE-SE, including Dr. Strain as ASEE-SE Bio and Chemical Engineering Division Vice-Chair, Logan Sirbaugh as Pre-College Engineering Education Division Vice-Chair, and Dr. Pegah Farshadmanesh as Professional Skills Division Chair.
Dr. Curry said the passion for engineering shown during the conference and the exchange of ideas that the conference allowed made every day of the two-year planning process worth it.
"Planning for the conference started over 2 years ago and ultimately the planning committee involved over 15 people, all contributing in ways that leveraged their strengths and expertise," Dr. Curry said. "Hosting this conference was a meaningful way to give back to the engineering education community, and it was truly rewarding to create a space where attendees could connect with colleagues who share our passion for shaping the future of engineering education."