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How has the workplace changed due to the Pandemic?

The ground has shifted. The pandemic forced many changes not only in academia but also the wider working world. Many were quick pivots that will go back to pre-pandemic practices, while others were acceleration of existing trends that are here to stay. This session will explore how the workplace has changed, which changes are expected to be permanent, and which will likely fade away. This is not about fall 2022 but will look to 2026 and beyond. We will explore how corporate world expects to be working, and how we can prepare our students - the future workforce - for a redefined and quickly evolving workplace. Breakout sessions will include preparing students for; future success as skills-based metrics replace or supplement credential based metrics, futures successful mentoring and collaboration, and work/life balance in a more remote based working world.

Todd Hamrick

Todd Hamrick

Teaching Associate Professor

Dr. Todd Hamrick, PhD is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Freshman Engineering Program at West Virginia University's Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, a position he has held since 2011. He received his PhD that same year from WVU in Mechanical Engineering, with studies in efficiency improvement in well drilling and organic solar cells. Dr. Hamrick received undergraduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering and German in 1987, and returned to academia after a 22 year engineering career in industry. During his career he served in a broad range of positions including design, product development, tool and die, manufacturing, efficiencies, sales, and management.

Dr. Hamrick’s teaching style brings practical, innovative, experience based learning to the classroom. He has innovated fundamental courses by adding hands-on projects that reflect real world applications. Examples include a unique method of teaching fundamental programming using robotics, as well as a wide array of projects and labs. He is a leader in study abroad, creating annual international opportunities for students to visit Germany. He was as also a founder of the Community Engagement of Science Through Art (CESTA) at WVU, which married chemistry, engineering, and art to create collaborative, interactive, educational sculptures.

Dr. Hamrick has won the Statler Educator of the Year award, the Statler Outstanding Teaching Award, and the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. He has served as a mentor for youth organizations including Boy Scouts and 4-H, and has been a mentor since 2009 for the award winning FIRST Robotics Team Mountaineer Area Robotics (MARS). He has served since 2014 as a Morgantown Goodwill City Ambassador.