The College of Engineering announces three new appointments for existing faculty members. In addition to the new appointment, each faculty member will continue with their current role. These new positions will enhance student learning and overall experience.
Senior Design Coordinator, Yah-el Har-el, PhD
Yah-el Har-el, PhD is now senior design coordinator for the College of Engineering. As senior design coordinator, Har-el will oversee the end-to-end management of the College-level senior design program. In this role she will collaborate with students, faculty, administration and external partners to facilitate a meaningful capstone experience for students.
The senior design program showcases students solving real-world problems through creativity, teamwork and technical expertise. Throughout the year Har-el will work with faculty and external partners to develop projects, form student teams, manage workspaces, and execute poster and podium days. She has previously served as a senior design instructor and will continue with her role as an associate professor of instruction in the Bioengineering Department.
Har-el states, “Teaching the senior design courses has shown me how much students grow when they understand not just what to improve, but why it matters. As senior design capstone coordinator, I’m excited to strengthen how we teach design thinking and to help students carry that mindset into their careers — using it to communicate clearly, solve problems creatively, and make a real impact.”
Director of Assessment and Evaluation, Ruth Ochia, PhD
Ruth Ochia, PhD now serves as the director of assessment and evaluation for the College in addition to her role as a professor of instruction in the Bioengineering Department. In this role, she will oversee the assessment processes of all engineering programs, ensuring that student learning outcomes are aligned with industry standards and accreditation requirements. Ochia will also work with faculty to continually analyze and improve assessment strategies.
Ochia is also a bioengineering program evaluator and commissioner for the Engineering Accreditation Commission at ABET. In 2024, she was inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows “for outstanding contributions to engineering education through course and curricular innovations and service to bioengineering via accreditation and leadership roles.” Ochia also received a Fulbright Specialist Program Award to complete a project in the engineering education field at the University of Guyana, providing them with guidance on meeting ABET accreditation standards.
Looking forward to her new appointment, Ochia states, “I have been working on assessment in Bioengineering for my entire time at Temple. I am glad that I can take a larger role in assessment and bring my expertise in assessment to the entire College of Engineering.”
First Year Course Coordinator and Pre-College Director, Eve Walters, PhD
Eve Walters, PhD, takes on an additional role as first year course coordinator and pre-college director. Through this role, Walters will facilitate program development, build partnerships, and enhance engagement with pre-college students to promote awareness and interest in engineering fields. This includes activities such as campus visits, mentoring programs and the facilitation of existing summer programs for pre-college students. She has led the College’s summer programs for the past four years.
Alongside pre-college programs, Walters will continue to support first year engineering students through the college’s Engineering 1101 and 1102 courses for students entering the program. She will continue with this new role alongside her current role as associate professor of instruction in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.