HVCC Inauguration into UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre and Conference on Inclusive Skilled Trades

Day 1 – Thursday, April 11

Day 2 – Friday, April 12

Robotics
The recent innovations in the creation of collaborative robots have opened the door for small manufacturers and businesses to take advantage of new opportunities in robotics. This workshop will introduce students to industry-standard collaborative robots with easy touchscreen programming that will allow them to control and program the robots to perform simple tasks.

About the Presenter
Dr. Linda Lim was a longtime faculty member in mathematics and engineering science at Hudson Valley Community College before becoming the chair of the college’s Computer Science and Mathematics Department in the fall of 2022. Her interest in robotics and autonomous technology dates back to childhood, and continued through her undergraduate and graduate studies in computer science and computer systems engineering. She is excited to be part of the development of new robotics courses and other innovative developments in the School of STEM at Hudson Valley.

EV Charging Stations: From Generation to Distribution
In this workshop, faculty from Hudson Valley Community College’s Applied Technologies Department will provide an overview of the electric vehicle charging system, from the power grid to the vehicle battery, and explain the technologies involved. The most common reasons consumers cite for not purchasing an electric vehicle are related to charging the battery. Addressing these concerns requires coordination between EV manufacturers, repair technicians, energy providers, and electricians. Hudson Valley is bridging the gaps between these industries through the Vehicle to Grid Educational Initiative (V2GEI). V2GEI is designed as a cross-training program to teach the electricians who install and maintain EV charging systems about electric vehicle operation and repair, and teach automotive technicians who repair EVs on the operation and basic service of the power grid. This melding of disparate technologies prepares students for employment in the rapidly-growing EV charging field.

About the Presenter
Dr. Chris McNally is the chair of Hudson Valley Community College’s Applied Technologies Department. Dr. McNally, who received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009, has been a faculty member teaching automotive technology at the college since 1996, and most recently led efforts to create the new associate degree program in Electric and Autonomous Vehicles. He also oversees a new National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education grant related to educating automotive and electrical construction students about electric vehicle charging systems. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees from the University at Albany, a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego, and an associate degree in Automotive Technology from Herkimer County Community College.

Virtual Reality Welding
This introductory workshop is designed to show students the fundamentals of four different arc welding processes in a safe and accessible environment. Students will be able to utilize virtual reality welding trainers to perform simulated welds in different joint configurations, with immediate feedback and without the need for personal protective equipment (PPE).

About the Presenter
Sean Méndez has been a welding instructor since 2020. His passion for helping others realize their potential led him to a career in education. He received an associate degree in Welding Technology from Mohawk Valley Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Education from SUNY Oswego, and several welding instructor credentials from Lincoln Electric. In addition to teaching welding and fabrication courses at Hudson Valley, he is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector who assists in welding procedure qualification and welder performance qualification.

Uniquely Abled Academy at Hudson Valley Community College
The Uniquely Abled Academy is a first-of-its-kind program born out of collaboration between machine technology educators, specialists in education for those with autism, state and local social service agencies, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Together, these organizations (and more) partner together to train, support, and provide job placement services to create inclusive career opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum. Hudson Valley Community College is the first institution in New York State to offer a Uniquely Abled Academy, welcoming its first cohort of students in CNC Programming in the spring of 2024. In this workshop, speakers will discuss their experiences in teaching, planning, and developing this academy.

About the Presenters
DeAnne Martocci has worked in the field of disability services for more than 30 years. She serves as Hudson Valley Community College’s associate dean of Student Development and the college’s ADA coordinator, and is a 2018 SUNY Chancellor's Award recipient and past president of the New York State Disability Services Council. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Policy Studies.

Stephen (Steve) Motto is a former special education teacher turned business owner. For more than 10 years, he has worked in classrooms for high-needs students on the autism spectrum throughout the Capital Region. In 2013, he left the classroom to start CUSP Educational Services. CUSP assists high school and college students with their unique needs, including transitioning, executive functioning skills, social skill development, job readiness, and assertiveness training. Steve holds a master’s degree in Special Education.

Brian Wickham is a journeyman tool and die maker with more 17 years of experience as a toolmaker and CNC programmer. He holds a master’s degree in Industrial Technology, has more than 13 years of college-level teaching experience in the Advanced Manufacturing program at Hudson Valley, and helps advanced manufacturing instructors with content creation.