Rafic Bachnak

Biography

Dr. Bachnak has more than 30 years of successful teaching and leadership experience, where he had the opportunity to develop new academic programs, implement student recruitment and retention activities, lead strategic planning initiatives, and build successful partnerships. He is committed to expanding access and opportunity to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to create a more inclusive and equitable STEM workforce and respond to the growing demand for STEM graduates.

Prior to joining Marymount University in July 2024, Bachnak was professor of electrical engineering at Penn State University-Harrisburg for almost 11 years.  During this period, he served in several leadership positions, including School Director, Graduate Program Head, and Director of the Smart Home Research Initiative. He also created the STEM-Summer Enrichment Program (STEM-SEP) and served as its director for 8 years. STEM-SEP was designed to improve student preparedness for college, while promoting STEM education through active learning experiences and activities.

Bachnak was a professor of electrical and computer engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) for six years.  During his tenure at TAMIU, he led the implementation of a new bachelor’s program in Systems Engineering and served as director of STEM-Minority Outreach and Retention Enhancement and director of STEM-Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation.  During the 2009-2010 academic year, Bachnak was a Fulbright Scholar at Notre Dame University, Lebanon, where he investigated the use of eddy-current for non-destructive evaluation.

Bachnak was also at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for nine years. His assignments during this time included interim chair of the Department of Computing Sciences, coordinator of Engineering Technology, and director of Furthering the Underrepresented in Science and Engineering. During the 2005-2006 academic year, he spent a year at Johnson Space Center as a NASA Administrator Fellow where he worked on research projects associated with the International Space Station. His other experiences include several summer fellowships with NASA and the Naval Air Systems Command, appointments at Northwestern State University and Franklin University, and work at Koch Industries.

Bachnak’s research has centered on sensor measurements, systems design and integration, and control system applications. He has supported his research and outreach activities with grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Education, the US Department of Agriculture, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Space Grant Consortium, and several private foundations.  He is a lead author on more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and a co-author on more than 60 other publications.  He has reviewed a number of technical books and has served as a reviewer for the IEEE Transactions on Education and the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.  He has also served on the International Review Board for the International Journal of Modern Engineering and the International Journal on Advances in Systems and Measurements.

Bachnak is a registered Professional Engineer and has been active in several professional organizations, including IEEE, ISA, and ASEE.  He is a senior member of IEEE and has served on the Board of Directors of the IEEE Corpus Christi Section in a variety of positions, including Chair. His ASEE service includes chair and program chair of the Instrumentation Division and chair and program chair of the Systems Engineering Division.  He also was active in the Gulf-Southwest Section of ASEE and served as chair for the 2005 Annual Conference and section chair in 2006.  Bachnak has been involved with ABET accreditation since 1991 and has served as an EAC and ETAC Program Evaluator on numerous accreditation visits.

Professor Bachnak received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Ohio University. […]

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Dr. Rafic Bachnak, Ph.D., P.E.

Bio:
Dr. Bachnak has more than 30 years of successful teaching and leadership experience, where he had the opportunity to develop new academic programs, implement student recruitment and retention activities, lead strategic planning initiatives, and build successful partnerships. He is committed to expanding access and opportunity to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to create a more inclusive and equitable STEM workforce and respond to the growing demand for STEM graduates.

Prior to joining Marymount University in July 2024, Bachnak was professor of electrical engineering at Penn State University-Harrisburg for almost 11 years. During this period, he served in several leadership positions, including School Director, Graduate Program Head, and Director of the Smart Home Research Initiative. He also created the STEM-Summer Enrichment Program (STEM-SEP) and served as its director for 8 years. STEM-SEP was designed to improve student preparedness for college, while promoting STEM education through active learning experiences and activities.

Bachnak was a professor of electrical and computer engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) for six years. During his tenure at TAMIU, he led the implementation of a new bachelor’s program in Systems Engineering and served as director of STEM-Minority Outreach and Retention Enhancement and director of STEM-Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation. During the 2009-2010 academic year, Bachnak was a Fulbright Scholar at Notre Dame University, Lebanon, where he investigated the use of eddy-current for non-destructive evaluation.

Bachnak was also at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for nine years. His assignments during this time included interim chair of the Department of Computing Sciences, coordinator of Engineering Technology, and director of Furthering the Underrepresented in Science and Engineering. During the 2005-2006 academic year, he spent a year at Johnson Space Center as a NASA Administrator Fellow where he worked on research projects associated with the International Space Station. His other experiences include several summer fellowships with NASA and the Naval Air Systems Command, appointments at Northwestern State University and Franklin University, and work at Koch Industries.

Bachnak’s research has centered on sensor measurements, systems design and integration, and control system applications. He has supported his research and outreach activities with grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Education, the US Department of Agriculture, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Space Grant Consortium, and several private foundations. He is a lead author on more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and a co-author on more than 60 other publications. He has reviewed a number of technical books and has served as a reviewer for the IEEE Transactions on Education and the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. He has also served on the International Review Board for the International Journal of Modern Engineering and the International Journal on Advances in Systems and Measurements.

Bachnak is a registered Professional Engineer and has been active in several professional organizations, including IEEE, ISA, and ASEE. He is a senior member of IEEE and has served on the Board of Directors of the IEEE Corpus Christi Section in a variety of positions, including Chair. His ASEE service includes chair and program chair of the Instrumentation Division and chair and program chair of the Systems Engineering Division. He also was active in the Gulf-Southwest Section of ASEE and served as chair for the 2005 Annual Conference and section chair in 2006. Bachnak has been involved with ABET accreditation since 1991 and has served as an EAC and ETAC Program Evaluator on numerous accreditation visits.

Professor Bachnak received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Ohio University. […]

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