Melanie Ford, M.Ed.

Melanie Ford is an associate teaching professor in Computer Science and Software Engineering at Penn State Behrend. She has been a faculty member in the department since 2000 and also serves as the Director of Youth Education Outreach and the Engineering K-12 Outreach Centers. Her passion for outreach focuses on career exploration for kids of all ages particularly in the STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) fields.

Melanie won the 2010 Penn State Women in the Sciences and Engineering (WISE) Institute Faculty Recognition Award for her work in helping women and girls excel in engineering and the sciences. In an interview following the award, Melanie was quoted as saying: “Our goal for K-12 outreach is to interest all students in the different careers of engineering. Research shows that many kids, including girls and minorities, do not pursue engineering as a career because they do not know what engineers do, or how they can help people. We want to keep students engaged in learning, as well as pique their interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.” Melanie has been an active supporter of Women in Engineering, Math Options, and other engineering outreach programs for many years.

Melanie was the recipient of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award in 2011, the School of Engineering Excellence in Outreach in 2009, and the 2013 Math Options Vision and Passion Award.

She received a B.A. in Computer Science and Mathematics from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 1987 and her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Penn State University in 2015. She has over thirteen years of industry experience at Day-Timers Inc., Chronologic Corporation, and Caldor Inc. prior to her hire at Penn State Behrend.

Courses Taught

• Programming for Engineers with MATLAB
• Programming for Engineers with C++
• First Year Seminar
• Behrend Engineering Ambassadors
• NSF S-STEM Scholars

Research

Professional Membership

• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Reviewer

• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) – K-12 Division
• Engineering Problem Solving with C++ by Etter & Ingber (book reviewer)

Honors and Awards

• 2022-2023: Penn State Behrend School of Engineering Excellence in Outreach Award
• 2015-2016: Penn State Behrend School of Engineering Excellence in Outreach Award
• 2013: Math Options Vision and Passion Award
• 2010-2011: Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award
• 2010: Penn State Women in the Sciences and Engineering (WISE) Institute Faculty Recognition Award
• 2008-2009: Penn State Behrend School of Engineering Excellence in Outreach Award

Service to the University

• Behrend College Faculty Council and Organization
  • Secretary, 8/2011-5/2012.
  • Part-Time Representative, 2003-2010.

Service to Student Organizations

• Co-Adviser, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)