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Dr. Hitesh D. Vora is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He received his Ph.D. and Masters’ from the University of North Texas in Materials Science & Engineering (in 2013) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (in 2008), respectively. Dr. Vora is a Director of the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at Oklahoma State University, which is funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) for the year 2016-2021 with total funding of $1.8 million. For those not familiar, the Industrial Assessment Centers help small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste by providing no-cost technical assessments conducted by university-based teams of engineering students and faculty. He is actively teaching several courses and pursuing research in advanced (smart/cyber) manufacturing and energy management to improve energy efficiency (reduced energy, cost, and throughput) for small to medium-sized manufacturers.
In addition, he is a Matrixed Professor in the ENDEAVOR Digital Manufacturing Maker Space located in the new ENDEAVOR building, which is a 72,000-square-foot and $30 million building. This maker space provides additive manufacturing support for design courses, laboratory courses, and entrepreneur initiatives. This facility houses several different technology 3D printers that capable of printing parts from polymers, fibers, composites, and metals as well as 3D scanning and subtractive manufacturing equipment. His research focuses on machining and manufacturing with a specific concentration on the use of additive manufacturing processes for advanced materials. He emphasis on design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), topology optimization, lightweight applications, and finite element analysis in additive manufacturing processes. Dr. Vora extensively teaches the additive manufacturing technology through the dedicated undergraduate (MET 4173) class as well as through the hands-on training sessions and certification (level 1 to 4) in the Endeavor Digital Manufacturing Maker Space.

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Dr. Rowland has extensive military experience that includes military acquisition; research and development related to test and evaluation of military equipment; management of high risk technical programs and advanced application of statistical designs. He served as the Chief Scientist for the Chemical Test Division at the Dugway Proving Ground, as well as the Director of Research for NitroLift Inc. Currently, Brad is the ENDEAVOR Operations Manager who helped design the facility, developed and implemented new facility operations, coach design teams, and design and implement new applied laboratory courses with collaboration across the departments of CEAT.

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JOSEPH P. CONNER JR
Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Matrixed Professor in ENDEAVOR
CEAT North Campus manufacturing and design Labs Operations Manager
Asset Manager for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

DEGREES
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 2009
MS, Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 2000
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1995

PUBLICATIONS
• Hitesh D. Vora, Brad Rowland, Joseph Conner, Qinang Hu, Brian Norton, and Tony Ivey, “Oklahoma State University’s ENDEAVOR: Transformation of Undergraduate Engineering Education through the Experience-based learning.” 2020 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. June 21-24, 2020. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Abstract submitted on Oct 14, 2019. Abstract accepted on October 28, 2019. Draft paper submitted on Jan 31, 2020.
• Lead Author: B. Smyser, Reviewer and contributor: J. Conner, “Measurements and Analysis for Mechanical Engineers”, 2nd Edition TopHat Publishing [ISBN: 978-1-77330- 957-6] 2019
• Lee, S., Conner, J. Arena, A. “Aspects of Autonomous Recovery System for High Altitude Payloads by Using a Parafoil” AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition 2014, Atlanta, GA, 2014.
• Lee, S., Conner, J. Arena, A. “Two-Dimensional Optimum Path Navigation for Autonomous Parafoil Vehicles in High Altitude Ballooning”, AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2015, (Accepted). –
• Lee, S., Conner, J. Arena, A. “Using Dynamic Programming for Optimized Navigation of Autonomous Parafoils” IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2015 (Accepted)
• Conner, J.P. and Arena, Jr. A.S., “Near-Space Balloon Performance Predictions”, 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2010-37, 2010
• Conner, J.P. “Development of a Real-Time Performance Predictor and an Investigation of a Return to Point Vehicle for High Altitude Ballooning”, PhD Dissertation, Oklahoma State University, 2009

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Brian Norton received his B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University. After spending a few years in industry he matriculated to Washington State University (Richland Campus) to pursue graduate studies where he received his MSEE. At the completion of his graduate work, Brian joined Blue Mountain Community College (Pendleton, OR) as an instructor in Electrical Engineering Technology. Subsequently, he went to various engineering positions associated with the Hanford Reserve in Richland WA. Brian accepted a position with Oklahoma State Universiry as a professor of Electrical Engineering Technology in 2007. Was promoted and tenured to Associate Professor in 2012. He was awarded the horror of “Outstanding Faculty” by the students of the College in 2015. In 2018 he accepted the additional responsibility of Electrical Lab coordinator for the colleges Endeavor lab. He has interest in student education and specifically how engineering students may gain hands on skills while in school. He has regularly taught undergraduate student level courses in Electronic Fabrication, Circuit Analysis, Communications and C Programming. In his current position as an Endeavor Lab Coordinator Brian organizes, coordinates Electrical and Electronic Lab courses for the college.

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Dr. Hu is an assistant professor of practice at Oklahoma State University. He is responsible for instructing hands-on lab courses in material sciences and solid mechanics. His areas of interest include concrete durability, X-ray microanalysis, and cement hydration mechanism. He has published peer-review articles in Concrete and Cement Research, Construction and Building Material, Fuel, Acta Materia, ACI structural Journal and etc. He is a member of American Concrete Institute and American Ceramic Society. He also serves as a reviewer in Construction and Building Material.

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Dr. Toni Ivey is an Associate Professor of Science Education in the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences at Oklahoma State University. She serves as the Associate Director for the Center for Research on STEM Teaching and Learning, the graduate coordinator for the Science Education program, and the Co-executive Director for the School Science and Mathematics Association. Her research interests include science teacher professional development, science teacher preparation, engineering education, and geoscience education.

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