Each week, the College of Engineering features an outstanding member of the engineering community to be part of our spotlight campaign. This week, we are highlighting Dr. Nicole Johnson-Glauch, General Engineering Program Director and Materials Engineering Department Assistant Professor.
What is your hometown?
I was born and raised in Thornton, Colorado.
How long have you been teaching at Cal Poly?
I have been teaching at Cal Poly since 2019 as a lecturer in the Materials Engineering Department. It was my first job after earning my Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
Tell me about your research interests and why you are passionate about this topic.
A college education profoundly impacts the lives of our students and those they go on to help in their careers. In my research, I aim to make sure what we do at Cal Poly sets them up for success no matter what they want to do. Specifically, I study how professional development activities and authentic assessments in engineering courses can help increase graduation rates for students from different backgrounds.
What do you want others to know about your research?
I want others to know that a key part of my research is including people on the research team who are from the communities that my work is trying to help. There’s a phrase in the disability advocacy community: “Nothing about us, without us.” While I have many life experiences, I know I have much to learn when it comes to supporting students from different backgrounds. I want to help as many people as I can, and what better way than working with and learning from the very people my work is trying to support?
What are some of the upcoming projects or publications you’re working on?
I am part of a recent program called EPIC+SURP. College of Engineering students in this program serve as both EPIC counselors and SURP student researchers studying the effectiveness of the EPIC program. They both positively impact their community and develop professional skills valuable to industry and graduate school.
What do you want to accomplish in your role as General Engineering director?
First and foremost, I want to create a supportive and thriving community for general engineering students. It’s important to have a support system throughout their time at college. While the flexibility of the general engineering degree is amazing, I do think students miss out on developing relationships with others in the major. I plan to host social and professional events throughout the year to build the GENE community.
Second, I want to showcase the power of a multidisciplinary engineering degree. Many societal problems require skills from a variety of STEM and non-STEM disciplines. I plan to establish concentrations that prepare students to be leaders in California’s major industries, such as computing infrastructure, sustainability and health care.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Oh, definitely the students. Their energy and excitement are infectious. They give me a lot of hope for our future. Also, sometimes they ask a question I don’t know the answer to, and then I get to spend an hour learning something new.
What is your favorite place in San Luis Obispo County and why?
As a Colorado native, I love hiking. One of my favorite trails is Broderson Peak Lookout Trail in Los Osos. There’s a part of the trail that reminds me of Shelob’s Lair from “The Lord of the Rings.” Plus, there’s an incredible view of the ocean at the top.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Reading and gardening! I have read 62 books so far this year, a mix of fiction (fantasy) and nonfiction (STEM-focused). My favorite books include “Babel” by R.F. Kuang and “Chip War” by Chris Miller.
What is the most helpful advice you’ve received?
That’s a tough one. Probably these two:
- As much as you might want to or feel you have to, you cannot do everything by yourself. Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
- Engage in fierce self-care. Eat at least one hot meal a day. Get seven to nine hours of restful sleep a night. Engage in fun exercise. Surround yourself with something that makes you happy and/or calm.
How does engineering apply to your daily life?
My husband and I bought a solar array for our house with a battery backup, and I now drive an electric car. My background is in electronic materials, so it’s really cool to use them in my day-to-day life. I can download data from my solar array so I can keep an eye on its efficiency in different weather conditions and months of the year.
How do you encourage engineering students to make an impact on the community?
I incorporate empathy-building into my course assignments. For example, every homework assignment has one problem asking students to explain how people are impacted by products based on the concepts in the course. Then I ask students to propose a way to use what we learned in class to positively impact a different group of people.
How do you support the college’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion?
I run community-building activities for materials engineering students. One of these events is a MATE Department book club. The books I choose are written by a diverse range of authors and the stories contain themes related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We meet once a week with coffee, tea and snacks. Having that dedicated time really lets us develop the close relationships MATE is known for. Several students cited the book club as one reason why they feel more a part of the department. Books we have read include “Babel” by R.F. Kuang, “Chip War” by Chris Miller and “A Memory Called Empire” by Arkady Martine.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m thrilled and honored to be the director of General Engineering!
By Taylor Villanueva
