Rowan College Explores Curriculum In New Podcast

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — A new podcast that provides insight about the programs that Rowan College at Burlington County offers launches on Thursday.

The inaugural episode that covers engineering and technology will launch on Thursday at rcbc.edu/podcast.

Engineering and Technology Instructor Dave Wilson will join Electrical Engineering Technology alum Justin Schoopachevich and President and CEO of Denton Vacuum Frank Cumbo. Each participant will address the topic from a different angle.

Each episode will include firsthand perspectives from a student, a faculty member and an employer. Each episode contains insights to help prospective students to narrow their focus, learn about potential careers, and see what the college has to offer. They’ll also unpack some great student stories along the way.

In the first episode, Wilson will emphasize how Rowan College at Burlington County takes a student-first approach to education and will highlight engineering projects students complete as part of their coursework. He will also describe how the college maintains relationships with regional employers and prioritizes student job placement.

“When I hire an instructor, I like to know that their focus is on the students,” Wilson said. “I get to know my students, and I do it quickly. But we also need to continue to create relationships with community employers and allow students to have direct connections with companies. One of the things that I like to do is invite guest engineers to the classroom to take over the lectures. I also plan to bring student projects to engineering societies and conventions to increase their exposure.”

Schoopachevich will speak to his unique experiences overcoming addiction and finding his purpose at Rowan College at Burlington County. His journey involves rehabilitation, working at a Domino's Pizza franchise and earning his degree in electrical engineering technology before securing his dream job as an engineering technician at Lockheed Martin.

Cumbo, who’s fostered a relationship with the college for five years, including a recent position as chairman of the college’s engineering advisory board, will discuss his unique needs as an employer and how Rowan College at Burlington County students come well-equipped to meet them.

“I represent a group of industrial members, and we’re trying to work more closely on finding positions for interns,” Cumbo said. “We’re starting new projects, including undergraduate research. We’re a small company of about 60 people, but we’re growing fast and have some great opportunities. Demand for engineers is going to grow tremendously. You can’t get away from it -- from applications and software to robotics and machinery. Everything is proliferating at an astounding rate. The programs at RCBC, with their hands-on approach to learning, are very well-tailored to the current industry.”