TxEEE Doing Big Things, Making Bold Moves and Following the Energy
Unleashing Conventions - Expanding the Reach and Impact of the Cockrell School of Engineering
By Woodrow W. Winchester, III, PhD, CPEM
I had the privilege of attending the ProEd Director’s Summit August 19-21, 2024. This event provided a unique and invaluable opportunity to connect with passionate leaders across the country who are deeply committed to transforming the future of continuing education, professional development and executive education. Among the many powerful insights shared, one message stood out to me above all: “Do big things, make bold moves and follow the energy.”
As I reflect on my two years as TxEEE’s executive director, this sentiment resonates deeply. It serves not only as a rallying cry for courageous action, but also as a strategic framework for envisioning the future. This mantra captures the essence of how we plan to innovate, unleash conventions and shape the next chapter of growth for TxEEE.
Do Big Things: Advancing the Cockrell School of Engineering’s semiconductor engineering workforce development footprint
As a follow up to last year's update, I’m thrilled to share that we are making significant strides in advancing our Semiconductor Engineering (SE) programming. In Fall 2025, we will officially launch our online stackable graduate certificate in Semiconductor Science and Engineering: Semiconductor Processes and Devices. This initiative represents a transformative step for the Cockrell School of Engineering as we take on the challenge of addressing the widening talent gap in the U.S. semiconductor sector.
Moving forward, our focus will be on gaining a deeper understanding of the evolving talent needs within the SE sector, particularly at regional and post-baccalaureate levels. We have two primary objectives: (1) pinpoint existing gaps and new opportunities—identifying which workforce demands we are meeting and where further efforts are needed, and (2) strategically align TxEEE’s contributions with targeted workforce development goals.
This approach will help us tailor our semiconductor programming and workforce development efforts to align more closely with industry needs, ensuring we develop (e.g. up and/or re-skill) the needed talent to meet the demands of this rapidly evolving field.
Make Bold Moves: Aligning operations with strategy to amplify impact
To better respond to the evolving demands of our industry and markets, we need a more holistic and integrative approach to program development and execution. To support this transition, we are pleased to welcome Edgardo Irizarry back to TxEEE as our inaugural assistant director of Continuing Engineering Education (CEE). In this new role, Edgardo will provide operational oversight for our credit and non-credit programs, including PETEX branded offerings. His leadership will help us refine our operational structure, enhancing our efficiency and effectiveness by maximizing resources. This bold move is designed to ensure we remain agile and aligned with strategy, driving both innovation and success.
Along with enhancing our strategic alignment, we remain focused on bolstering our organizational health and overall effectiveness. Following our participation in the 2024 "Change Starts with Us" UT employee survey, we are prioritizing a thorough analysis of the feedback received. This critical evaluation will help us pinpoint key opportunities for organizational development and improvement, enabling us to better support our staff and foster a more dynamic and responsive work environment. Our goal is to translate this valuable input into actionable strategies that create and foster a more engaged and empowered organization.
Follow the Energy: The Future is Custom Programming
Under the leadership of Konavis Smith, director of Strategic Partnerships and Programs, our efforts to create and deliver custom Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) programs are gaining impressive momentum. Building on our success in this area, such as our Advanced Petrophysics course, developed in collaboration with Petrobras and the UT Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, and our growing relationship with UT Austin Portugal, our custom initiatives are expanding. We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Cockrell School Construction Industry Institute (CII) to develop a specialized program aimed at training future construction industry leaders in CII best practices. Slated for launch in Spring 2025, this course will initially be held in-person in Austin, with plans to extend offerings to Houston in subsequent iterations.
It is important to note that these developments are augmented by our ongoing PETEX-branded custom efforts, which remain core to our custom programming strategy. As we continue to grow this portfolio, our focus on proactive industry outreach and engagement will drive our ability to meet current and emerging needs.
Unleashing Conventions: Expanding the reach and impact of the Cockrell School of Engineering
I am more excited and energized than ever about TxEEE’s future. Now, truly, is the time for “doing big things, making bold moves and following the energy”. This year, as we proudly celebrate the 25th anniversary of our signature Master of Science in Engineering Management program, I am reminded of our legacy of breaking boundaries and “unleashing conventions”. This spirit of innovation, which has underpinned our success for decades, will continue to drive us forward.
Whether through pioneering Research 2 Practice (R2P) initiatives or transformative outreach programs that extend disciplinary boundaries, TxEEE is playing a critical role in shaping the next era of growth for the Cockrell School of Engineering. Together, we are positioning ourselves to fully realize the vision of the courageous engineer, coalescing an accessible lifelong learning ecosystem that equips this new type of engineer to tackle the important problems facing society and improve the lives of future generations.
