Dr. Claire McCullough has worked at HPU since 2019 as founding chair of electrical and computer engineering. In this role, she works with founding dean of the Webb School of Engineering, Dr. Michael Oudshoorn, to establish and deliver the full engineering curriculum. This includes developing courses and labs, guiding physical renovation of lab spaces, purchasing lab equipment, hiring faculty and guiding the accreditation process. In addition to overseeing the curriculum, she also teaches and guides students, including an inaugural freshman class of five students in 2019 and 15 for the 2020 academic year. She believes that the quality of the courses and equipment HPU provides to students, in addition to the strong life skills emphasis, give HPU students an advantage in their professional lives that most engineering students will not have—to be able to speak well, to write well, to understand the entrepreneurial aspects of the practice of engineering, and to understand the historical, ethical and societal context of their professional work.
- What is a creative way you’ve adjusted to support students during this time?
When classes transitioned online last spring, I sought to make things for the students seem as normal as possible, because their lives had already been disrupted in so many ways. To this end, I taught the classes synchronously, at the usual time and kept (virtual) office hours as usual.
- What are you most excited about now that students are back on campus?
I really enjoy the personal interactions with students. When teaching in person, an experienced teacher can tell which students are understanding and which are not, based on body language and facial expressions. Without those visual cues, it’s harder to know who needs extra help before tests, etc.
- What’s one thing you want students and parents to know?
We are laser focused on the success of our students. Larger state schools must emphasize other areas such as research funding in order to be successful, but our sole concern is students becoming the best versions of themselves. To me, that is a large part of what makes HPU extraordinary!
- What’s one way you generate creativity or productivity?
Creativity is a large part of engineering, especially in the design aspects. To encourage this, in addition to engineering labs, we are developing a makerspace to support our student design projects from the freshman design class to the senior capstone. Some of the things we have included are a computer controlled router, a laser cutter, a drill press, a bench grinder, multiple 3-D printers, soldering stations and even a sewing machine capable of computer-programmed embroidery. The first project the freshmen will be doing this fall is a Rube Goldberg machine of at least 12 steps—student designs last year included one that began with the student firing a nerf gun at a target and ended with a stylus dropping on the phone to call his mother. We’ll also be doing a COVID-19 project—asking students to think about all the things they’ve had to learn about due to the virus—masks, screens, cleaning methods, protective equipment, distancing—and design something better in some way—smaller, cheaper, more comfortable, more convenient. I’m really excited to see what they will come up with.
- What’s a song that motivates you?
One I’ve found really helpful in the last few months is “Move (Keep Walking)” by Christian artist TobyMac. It isn’t grammatical, but the message seems appropriate for the COVID-19 era:
I know your heart’s been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feelin’ like you’ve got nothing left
Well, lift your head– it ain’t over yet.
Get up and move, keep walking…
Hold on, hold on,
The Lord ain’t finished yet…
He’ll get you through this…
These are the promises I never will forget.
- What is your favorite quote?
There are many, but one is, “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1
- What is your favorite place on campus?
I really love the Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens! On nice days, I like to take my lunch out to one of the gardens. My office window looks out over the meditation garden by the chapel, which is one of my favorites.
- What do you love most about working at HPU?
I really love the emphasis on the students! I’ve worked in a variety of areas (for example the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command) and have done research and publication, but for me, the most important thing I can do with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering is teach and guide students. For engineers, it’s very rare to have the opportunity to focus on that, but it’s what I feel called to do.