This endowed fund supports a permanent faculty member who ensures the department’s curriculum includes applications in fire protection engineering, and that the department continues to conduct applied research for the industry.
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Clinical Professor Ken Isman and students.
Since its inception in 1956, the Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) at the University of Maryland (UMD) has remained the undisputed leader in undergraduate Fire Protection Engineering.
As the only ABET-accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program in the world and one of three graduate programs in the U.S., the continued strength of this program is crucial to the ability to continue to supply engineers to the field.
As the University has evolved into a top-tier research institution, the Department previously relied upon adjunct faculty to teach the applied content of the curriculum. While the FPE program remains a leader in the field, a fall 2011 visit by the ABET accrediting committee noted the limited connection to the profession among the current full time faculty.
The intent of the James A. Milke, Ph.D. Endowed Professorship of Practice in Fire Protection Engineering (formerly known as the Legacy Campaign) – initiated by a group of visionary alumni, department members, and Clark School leaders – is to bolster an endowed fund that will support a permanent faculty member who ensures the department’s curriculum includes applications in FPE, and that the department continues to conduct applied research for the industry.
It is a hallmark of this program and a feature of our status as an accredited academic department that we graduate students prepared to add value on their first day on the job. But the accreditation of this department has a much broader impact on the profession – it is what allows for the continued licensure of fire protection engineers, regardless of the school they attended. Without a professor of the practice, our accreditation (and the continued licensure of fire protection engineers) is threatened.
In November 2022, our milestone of $3M was achieved! Many thanks to all who helped us achieve this goal!!
The mission of our program is to educate graduates to save lives and Clinical Professor Ken Isman is the epitomy of impact! Prof. Isman updates course content to reflect current practices in the field and spends considerable time mentoring students both inside and outside the classroom, in addition to his many other activities that benefit the department, college and university as a whole.
We appreciate all contributions to this program that does so much to keep us safe. Giving options include one-time gifts, multi-year pledges, and making a gift online.
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Leslie Borak Brett Drucker |