Dr. Srikanth B. Pidugu, chair of the Department of Engineering Technology at University of Arkansas at Little Rock and program coordinator for the Mechanical Engineering Technology program, recently visited with legislators to advocate for engineering technology education while attending the Engineering Technology Leadership Institute Oct. 11-12 in Arlington, Va.

The Engineering Technology Leadership Institute is a part of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), which serves as the networking center among engineering colleges. Pidugu, who serves as the ASEE’s campus representative at UA Little Rock, teaches Fluid Power and Mechanics, Applied Thermal Sciences, Thermal System Design, and Computer Aided Design at UA Little Rock. He received a Lockheed Martin grant to participate in the event and promote engineering technology education.

“One of the important things we did was to visit legislators to advocate for engineering technology education and share our concerns,” Pidugu said. “The broader goal was to potentially help influence policy and expand the awareness of engineering technology programs and our graduates.”

Pidugu was teamed with three other professors who met with the staffs of three senators and three members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Pidugu took the lead when the group met with U.S. Rep. French Hill’s legislative assistant, Lesley Hill.

“We used the opportunity to educate them about engineering technology programs and educational concerns from the educators’ point of view,” he said.

In the top right photo, Dr. Srikanth B. Pidugu, chair of the Department of Engineering Technology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, stands outside U.S. Rep. French Hill’s office in Washington, D.C.