WSE NEWS, Aug 26
The Whiting School of Engineering kicked off the academic year last week with its inaugural “Meet the Flock” orientation program, welcoming 499 incoming first-year and transfer students to the Hopkins Engineering community.
Designed to introduce new students to their “WSE Flock”—faculty mentors, academic advisors, and life design educators, as well as peers—the new program aims to provide students with a robust support network that will serve them throughout their time at JHU. More than 75 faculty members from across the Engineering School participated in the program, exemplifying WSE’s commitment to mentorship.
“An invitation to join our community of engineers, ‘Meet the Flock’ provides our students with connections with our faculty who will serve as their mentors as they navigate their college journey and beyond,” said Michael Falk, vice dean for undergraduate academic affairs and professor of materials science and engineering.
“Students join us from every corner of the world, bringing with them a variety of life experiences. We know they need guidance navigating our institution and the complex professional world of engineering. This event is the starting point for 499 individual journeys.”
Falk and Ed Schlesinger, Benjamin T. Rome Dean of the Whiting School, welcomed students during a morning plenary session at Shriver Hall.
One highlight of the day was the “Hat’s Off!” engineering design challenge, inspired by the “low-waste/no-waste/recycle” ethos of The New Norm, a company founded by Lauren Choi ’20 that recycles plastic party cups into sustainable fabrics. In this activity, teams of students designed and created hats using only 14-ounce blue plastic party cups, rubber bands, and binder clips.
“When the students spontaneously got out of their seats, sat on the floor, and began to work together on their designs, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, these students came to play,’ and we all know playing together builds trust, promotes communication, and cultivates community. Watching them begin to build community—in real time—was absolutely wonderful,” said Kimberley B. Zing, associate dean for undergraduate academic advising.
The orientation also featured “Your Life Project” sessions, developed by Constanza Miranda, assistant dean for faculty undergraduate mentoring and an associate teaching professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in collaboration with colleagues in the Center for Leadership Education and the Life Design Lab. These sessions invited incoming students to bring their “authentic selves” to JHU, disrupting the narrative thatthey need to assimilate and lose parts of their identity to fit in. Students were also encouraged to explore the kinds of learning that happen outside the classroom.
“We want them to bring their whole selves—their passion, their innovations, and their sense of purpose—to our university,” said Miranda.
Students enjoyed lunch with their faculty members and both parties got to know each other better through a “Meet the Flock” card game developed by Miranda.
Melanie Herrera, a first-year computer science major from Oklahoma City, said what she most enjoyed about the event was the opportunity to meet other computer science students—especially women in the field.
“Hopkins gave us a whole mentor group, and it was just girls!” Herrera said. “That is very exciting.”
Sarah Fleming, a civil and systems engineering major from Northern Virginia, said she appreciated learning about all of the engineering programs and resources available to students, including those at the Life Design Lab.
“The Life Design Lab also sounds like it would be very helpful for building a resume and cover letter,” she said.
Full Article Here: https://engineering.jhu.edu/news/johns-hopkins-engineering-welcomes-new-students-with-meet-the-flock/
