Bios

SANDRA MIKOLASKI

Sandra Mikolaski, PhD, serves NCAT, along with Manjari Wijenaike, PhD, as external co-evaluators. She has over 25 years with NSF ATE Centers, grants, and programs. She previously served as PI, Co-PI, and Senior Personnel at the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (Bellevue WA), one of the first NSF ATE Centers of Excellence ever funded […]

SANDRA MIKOLASKI Read More »

MANJARI WIJENAIKE

Manjari Wijenaike specializes in grant evaluation, development, strategic planning, and research for technician education programs. She has worked with National Science Foundation grants and STEM programs at community colleges and universities across the nation for over two decades. Manjari currently evaluates NSF Projects, NSF ATE Centers, and a Department of Defense Grant.

MANJARI WIJENAIKE Read More »

ANDREW DAHLEN

Before entering higher education, Andrew Dahlen worked as a manufacturing engineer designing automated machinery for the manufacturing of composite window and door components. Andrew also developed and improved processes for the manufacturing of computer hard drive components and medical devices. As an instructor at Northland, Andrew teaches a variety of automation and electronic topics including;

ANDREW DAHLEN Read More »

DR. LUIS ESTEVEZ

Dr. Estevez is the Director of the School of Public Affairs Research Institute (SOPARI) and professor in the Department of Geography & Planning at St. Cloud State University. His research and experience focuses on survey research in the field of planning and urban economics. Apart from his research and academic endeavors, Dr. Estevez is a

DR. LUIS ESTEVEZ Read More »

AARON SYKES

Aaron is a community leader and advocate for unmanned aircraft systems technology. He earned a degree from the University of North Dakota in Airport Management. Aaron has a private pilots license, 107 certificate, and has been involved in sUAS since 2010. He was the co-founder of MAVMeetup, a community group focused on sUAS education, safety,

AARON SYKES Read More »

VINCENT DINOTOR, JR.

Vincent A. DiNoto, Jr., GISP, holds a MA and BS from Indiana State University in Physics and is currently Dean of College and Systemic Initiatives and a full Professor of Physics, Astronomy and GIS at Jefferson Community and Technical College. He is the Director/ PI of the National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence (GeoTech Center).

VINCENT DINOTOR, JR. Read More »

BEN CRUZ

Benigno (Ben) Cruz is Director of the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT) at Macomb Community College (MCC). Prior to joining CAAT on July 1, 2019, Ben was a Senior Engineering Group Manager responsible for the GM Climatic Wind Tunnels and the HVAC Laboratories. He was responsible for vehicle development and validation testing in wind

BEN CRUZ Read More »

ZACKARY NICKLIN

Zackary Nicklin joined the US Army in 2003. He began his career as an Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Maintainer/Integrator and moved into the UAS space in 2005. His career has involved fielding and maintaining state of the art intelligence collection and dissemination systems, both airborne and ground based. Zack is currently the primary UAS instructor

ZACKARY NICKLIN Read More »

JILL ZANDE

Jill Zande is the associate director and co-principal investigator for the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in Monterey, California. In addition, she is president and executive director of MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II), a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the MATE ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) competition and its other programs that inspire and

JILL ZANDE Read More »

CHRIS HADFIELD

Chris is a master and advanced level ASE certified technician along with numerous EPA, Subaru, Ford, Chrysler, and GM certifications and aftermarket training. Before teaching he worked as an automotive technician for a GM dealership, an independent, a retail store, and he owned his own business focusing on Hybrid Electric Vehicle diagnostics. Chris has written

CHRIS HADFIELD Read More »

Skip to content