Penn State Behrend
School of Engineering
5101 Jordan Road
Erie, PA  16563-1701

Office: REDC 242C
Phone: (814) 898-6153
Fax: (814) 898-6125
Email: ralph.ford@psu.edu

Ralph M. Ford
Service and the Scholarship of Service

• Director-Elect of Region 2 of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). IEEE is the largest technical professional society in the world with over 380,000 members, while Region 2 has over 30,000 members. Also serve as a member of the IEEE Board of Directors.
• Fulbright Scholar Review Committee. Review Fulbright Scholar grant applications in Central Europe, 2007-2009.
• ABET (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology) Program Evaluator. Evaluated engineering programs for ABET accreditation agency, 2003-2008.
• Central Tech High School Advisory Committee, 2005-present.
• Entrepreneurial Advisory Board for the Sam and Irene Black School of Business, 2006-present.
• Great Lakes Industrial Technology Summit Advisory Committee, 2009.
• Virginia Military Institute Engineering Dean’s Advisory Committee, 2005-2008.
• School of Engineering Promotion and Tenure Committee, 2000-2001, 2002-2004.
• School of Engineering Teaching Peer Reviewer, 2000-2004. Conducted developmental and evaluative peer reviews for faculty.
• Chair of the Behrend College Faculty Council and Organization, 2002-2003. Issues addressed included student advising and student ratings in the annual reviews.
• Campus Executive Officer and Dean Search Committee, 2002-2003. Reviewed candidates, conducted interviews, and served as liaison with committee members at University Park.  Provided final recommendations to the University Provost.
• Vice-Chair of the Behrend Faculty Council and Organization, 2001-2002.
• College Promotion and Tenure Committee, 2001-2002.
• Administrative Evaluation Review Committee of the Provost’s Office (AD14), 2000. Conducted a review of Penn State Behrend Provost’s office and provided recommendations to the University Provost.
• College Academic Computing Committee, 1997-2000.
• World Wide Web Development Committee, 1996.
• Faculty Advisor for the Society of Women Engineers, 1995-2000.
• School Representative to the Faculty Council, 1995-1997.
• MATH Options, Developed interactive projects to introduce 7th and 8th grade female students to engineering, 1997-1999.
• School Computer Committee, 1994-1999.

Honors and Awards

• Fulbright Scholar to the Czech Republic, Spring 2005.
• IEEE Senior Member, 2002.
• IEEE Erie Section Person of the Year Award for service to the Erie Section, 2002.
• School nominee for the Behrend Council of Fellows Excellence in Research Award, 2001.
• Nominated for the Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award, 1996 and 1997.
• Behrend Student Government Association Best Advisor Award, 1996. Awarded for service to the Society of Women Engineers.
• Provost’s Award for Collaborative Instruction and Curricular Innovation, 1995. Awarded for introduction to engineering design course with Kathryn Holliday-Darr, Jack Young, William Lasher, and Edward Evans.