Inaugural director of School of Engineering hopes to expand impact

Joseph Mahoney joined the ranks at Alvernia University in August of 2022 as the first director of the John R. Post School of Engineering, also established in 2022, and he came with a mission: to make it easier for graduating high school students to transition into college careers as engineering majors and to make earning an engineering degree a goal achievable in four years. 

“Many incoming students graduate behind in math, and I want to build a stronger preparation platform for them through a summer bridge program," Mahoney said. "Ideally, they could take [at no charge as supported by a sponsorship or grant program] a pre-calculus class and feel more confident moving into coursework in the fall.” 

It’s a work in progress, not terribly unlike the research Mahoney finds himself troubleshooting. This summer, with the help of an Alvernia engineering student, he studied the effects of stroller running on the pusher of the device, asking such questions as ‘How do gait mechanics change?’ and ‘Is the risk for injury increased?’"

Students in Mahoney’s Engineering Design II class are hard at work on accessibility design projects that determine how adaptive technology could benefit individuals that are blind or deaf.  

“Our experiential learning work [at Alvernia] keeps students engaged, even in just their second year,” he explained. “They see how the pieces fit together and understand why we sequence the classwork in a particular way. It’s a cohesive experience.” 

Mahoney plays an integral part in shaping the engineering curriculum, recruiting and hiring new professors, and also building programming and outreach opportunities for local middle and high school students in Berks County that might see a career in STEAM and engineering in their future. In February 2023, during Engineering Week, Alvernia played host to its first-ever Hack-a-thon, a day of engineering for prospective students to enjoy.

“I’m really hoping to expand our impact,” Mahoney asserted. “I want to grow the school and do things to creatively engage the greater community. CollegeTowne being in the center of Reading allows us to include and build up the city and its residents. I’d love to be able to build a bridge and to reach out to bring in more underserved populations – to give them a seat at the engineering table.”