POTSDAM — Clarkson University will welcome its Class of 2028 to campus this week for new student orientation as the fall semester approaches.

All returning students will be back on Aug. 25 with the first day of classes beginning Aug. 26.

This fall, Clarkson will begin to offer several new programs that align to Clarkson’s STEM core, said a press release from the university.

The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare program will seek to prepare students for careers in the healthcare field -- from patient care to public health and policy. As part of the Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences, the new healthcare major is designed for students who are interested in any facet of healthcare including pre-clinical, business, data analytics, public health policy, research, and bioethics as well as going on to graduate school for careers in health professions.

“Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors and the world of healthcare is changing rapidly,” said  Lennart Johns, Founding Dean of the Lewis School of Health & Life Sciences. “We have designed a curriculum with foundational knowledge, but also the flexibility to adapt to student interests and our changing world.”

Two new graduate programs — an MBA in Global Supply Chain Management and a Masters in Cybersecurity — are both STEM Designated programs, and the Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics degree also received a STEM Designation.

Clarkson is among a small cadre of higher education institutions that offer degrees recognized by the U.S. government as STEM-designated programs, the press release said.

This designation indicates an advantageous impact on both students and U.S. industry and an increased level of rigor and quantitative skill development in the curriculum, said the college.

Another new program to the Reh School of Business is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Program.

This new program will offer students the opportunity to build more flexibility into their degree program and allow them to take courses that interest them or are applicable to their chosen career path, the press release said.

Clarkson will also begin offering a 3+1 Business Administration BS/MBA Accelerated Program, which will fast track students’ business career and empower them to complete both their bachelor's in business administration and master's in Clarkson’s Top 100 MBA program, all within four years.

"I am thrilled about our new program offerings this fall, which join our robust lineup of business programs. The expansion of STEM designation across multiple programs underscores our dedication to excellence in education, ensuring our students are equipped with the essential skills for success in a technology-driven world," said Bebonchu Atems, Dean of the Reh School of Business.

Clarkson has also added a trio of new faculty to its Coulter School of Engineering all in its very popular and expanding Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering programs.

Nick Tepylo has been appointed Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Tepylo was a postdoctoral fellow in the Mechanical Engineering Department at École de technologie supérieure in Montreal. He is presently working on developing support systems for drones including drone docking stations and understanding the cognitive workload of drone pilots.

Chamara Herath has been appointed a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Herath specializes in computational solid mechanics and its implications in additive manufacturing (AM). He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and completed his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Clarkson University. His doctoral research focused on advancing the understanding of hierarchical microstructure-property relationships in AM metals through computational methods.

Thor Jodoin has been appointed Adjunct Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Instructor. From 2002 to 2007, he worked at the National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Aerospace Research, in the Structures and Materials Performance Laboratory pursuing research in advanced aircraft materials and structures; predominantly in mechanical testing of fibre-metal laminates, and single-walled nanotube additives to aerospace-grade resins and composites.  From 2007 to 2012, he worked for BMT Fleet Technology Ltd. with their Fatigue and Fracture Laboratory, helping to run mechanical testing on various materials for marine, offshore, and pipeline industries. Since then, he has worked with Carleton University assisting in the research of composite materials, and in instructing and tutoring engineering students.

"I am eager for our students to return to campus and meet the new faculty waiting to lead their education in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering," said Dean of the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering William Jemison. "Our new faculty come to Clarkson with unique and dynamic experiences that will help prepare students to face the challenges of industry head-on."

Clarkson provides the equipment, resources and friendly rivalry through which all students can learn, lead and launch their ideas, the press release from the university said.

Clarkson Ignite – a student innovation hub and set of related initiatives – drives innovation in and outside the classroom.

The Dorf Makerspace is a hub for hands-on, physical creation. It features state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, a vinyl heat press machine, a glass fusing and soldering station, sewing and embroidery machines, laser engravers and more.

The Cube, a student business accelerator backed by the Shipley Center for Innovation, provides enhanced support to Clarkson’s most motivated entrepreneurs. Teams apply and pitch to secure a spot in this program that offers startup capital for student ventures.

The Media Production Center provides resources for producing and editing visual and audio content, including photos, videos, music, podcasts and additional forms of digital media.  

Driving Clarkson’s push into the future is the Solinsky Engineering Leadership Challenge that intersects with all programs, the college claims. The Solinsky Challenge introduces experiential enhancements to courses, labs, capstone projects and popular minors, microcredentialing and deeper industry collaborations, Clarkson is striving to deliver the highest-impact engineering and STEM-focused education in the country.

“Clarkson is a national research university with STEM at its core. We are the destination of choice for enterprising learners and doers who will go on to be tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, business people, health professionals and imaginative leaders. Through more than 75 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in engineering, business, sciences and health professions, we educate 4,000+ students and pursue boundary spanning research, scholarship and innovation,” said the press release from the college.