Faculty

Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh
Assistant Professor, Physics and Civil Engineering Technology
Springfield Technical Community College

A graduate of Springfield Technical Community College, Beth returned to school some years ago as a non-traditional student in the Engineering Transfer program at STCC, eventually transferring to the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she majored in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering and Mechanics.

She is currently an Assistant Professor at STCC teaching both introductory physics and statics for Engineering and Engineering Technology students, and is developing a strong interest in good teaching and learning practices in these fields along with the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students in these areas.

Beth is a lifelong resident of Springfield, the wife of a Springfield Police Officer, and the mother of a daughter and a son. She enjoys traveling, reading, and watching her children compete and coach in both crew and squash.

Glenn Ellis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Engineering
Smith College

Glenn Ellis is a civil engineer with a strong interest in reforming engineering education. He feels that engineers must be educated—not trained—and that Smith's Picker Engineering Program is an ideal venue to affect change. To support this effort, Ellis has developed Smith's Engineering Education Partnership. Through this organization Ellis works with engineering and education faculty to develop undergraduate engineering curricula that are consistent with the research on learning, integrate engineering into the education of pre-service teachers, and develop curricula and outreach programs that bring engineering into the K-12 classroom.

In 2007 Glenn Ellis received the Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)—the only national award for excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.

During the course of his career, Ellis has increasingly focused his research on engineering education and related gender issues. At the college level Ellis taught previously at Clarkson University, where he won numerous teaching awards. His research focused on using stochastic processes and artificial neural networks to model a variety of mechanical and environmental systems. He also has taught at the United States Air Force Academy and conducted research at the Kajima Corporation in Japan. At the secondary school level, Ellis has experience in administration, teaching and curriculum development that includes positions at St. Paul's School and Brunswick School.

Ellis graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University, where he worked on research in soil dynamics and soil testing. Ellis earned a M.A. (1985) and a Ph.D. (1987) from Princeton University in Civil Engineering and Operations Research. At Princeton Ellis used ARIMA processes to model earthquake strong ground motion.

Ellis and his wife, Sonia (a writer), have two sons and are enjoying the beauty, ideals and culture of the Pioneer Valley. Ellis believes strongly in the ethical treatment of animals. He likes to spend time outdoors, draw, collect art and antiques, and play with his dogs in his spare time.