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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Academic Unit
Muhammad Kehnemouyi
Muhammad Kehnemouyi, Interim Vice President/Provost of the Collegewide STEM Unit and the Germantown Campus

As Interim Vice President and Provost of the Germantown Campus and the Collegewide STEM Unit at Montgomery College, I am delighted to welcome you. Our unit offers degrees and certificates in physics, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, cloud computing, network and wireless technologies, mathematics, data science, environmental science and policy, biological science, bioinformatics, and biotechnology.

STEM programs lead to some of the most interesting, in-demand, and well-paying jobs and careers in the country and in the world. Students who complete STEM programs enter the workforce upon completion or transfer to four-year colleges or universities to complete the last two years of their undergraduate degree.

Montgomery College has transfer agreements with many four-year schools to ensure that the coursework you have completed counts toward your bachelor's degree and prepares you to continue your studies.

Not all STEM jobs require a four-year degree, however. With Montgomery College's certificate programs, such as those in biotechnology and cybersecurity, you can obtain certification to pursue in-demand jobs in Montgomery County and the surrounding area.

 

Dr. Muhammad Kehnemouyi holds an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from The George Washington Universitynew window and a BS degree in chemical engineering from Tehran Polytechnic Institute.  He is a registered professional engineer (PE) since 1988. In 1983, he joined  Montgomery College's Department of Physics, Engineering, and Geosciences.  He became the chair of that department in 1999.  He is currently collegewide dean for Science, Engineering, and Technology. 

Kehnemouyi has brought national recognition to the engineering program at Montgomery College. Under his leadership, there has been considerable growth in engineering enrollment during the past several years. His leadership has contributed significantly to the articulation agreements in place with many of Montgomery College’s regional receiving schools of engineering. He helped developed memoranda of understanding with Montgomery County Public Schoolsnew windowGeorgia Institute of Technologynew window, and George Washington Universitynew window. He has served for five years as the Academic Program Director of the Johns Hopkins Universitynew window Summer Program for Engineering, further demonstration of organizational and project management skills.

Kehnemouyi has considerable experience as a process engineer (chemical) for the Iran aircraft industry, as consulting engineer in the private sector, as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins Universitynew window, and George Washington Universitynew window, and as curriculum and materials developer, focusing on modifying and revising Montgomery College’s engineering courses to reflect changes at University of Maryland College Parknew window, Georgia Institute of Technologynew window, and other four-year universities. He is an active member of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)new window and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)new window, conducting numerous presentations at the ASEE national and international meetings.

A recipient of the NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence award and the Montgomery College outstanding faculty award, Kehnemouyi was a nominee for the 2005 David R. Pierce Faculty Technology Award sponsored by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Cisco Systems and has been recognized by MCPS several times for outstanding volunteer service. He has taught most of the engineering courses including: Introduction to Engineering Design, Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat transfer, Numerical Analysis, and Engineering Physics sequence.

Kehnemouyi is the author of several publications in the field of engineering education. He is currently serving a five year term as member of advisory board of Journal of Engineering Education (JEE)new window. He has been a project team member in an ASEE initiative to promote broad-based discussions on the role and importance of engineering education within the society. The report entitled "Creating a Culture for Systematic and Scholarly Engineering Education Innovation"new window is currently posted on the ASEE website.

Kehnemouyi helped to obtain $406,720 in federal funding from U.S. Department of Education to equip six set up of wireless mobile classrooms to serve the engineering and computer science programs both on and off campus. He served as the principle investigator for the Fund for Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant. This $471,142 grant from U.S. Department of Education focused on increasing the number of underrepresented students in engineering. The project was highlighted in the FIPSE Newsletter (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) , a national newsletter published in August 2010. Kehnemouyi's leadership, as co-principle investigator, also helped to secure two four-year, $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) for “ACCESS Engineering and Computer Science” (Achieving Community College Excellence, Success, and Scholarship in Engineering and Computer Science). Each year, this scholarship program supports over fifty promising engineering and computer science students at Montgomery College as well as a select group of MC transfer students.

Education
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, Tehran Polytechnic Institute, 1976
    Thesis Topic: An estimate of oil gas reserves and profitability analysis using Monte Carlo Techniques
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, The George Washington University, 1979
  • Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, The George Washington University, 1996
    Dissertation Topic: Theoretical and experimental investigation of the steady flow Ejector-Compression Refrigeration System utilizing steam as working fluid
  • Registered Professional Engineer (PE) since 1988
Awards
  • Recipient of NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Award
  • Recipient of Montgomery College Outstanding Faculty Award
  • Nominated by Dr. Charlene Nunley for the 2005 David R. Pierce Faculty Technology Award sponsored by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Cisco Systems
  • Recognized by MCPS several times for outstanding volunteer service
  • Co-principle investigator for the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS)
  • CyberCorps scholarship provides four (4) qualified students with $22,500/year each for full tuition, book costs, professional development funds, and living stipend for their final year at Montgomery College and then for two years at the UMBC.
  • Obtained $406,720 in federal funding (Department of Education) to equip six set up of wireless mobile classrooms to serve the engineering and computer science programs both on and off campus. November 2004
  • The principle investigator for the FIPSE (Fund for Improvement of Post Secondary Education) grant. A $471,142 grant from U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of underrepresented students in engineering. December 2006
  • Helped obtain two four-year $600,000 grant, as co-principle investigator, from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) for “ACCESS Engineering and Computer Science” (Achieving Community College Excellence, Success, and Scholarship in Engineering and Computer Science).
  • Co principle investigator for the NSF CSEM grant.
  • Co principle investigator for the NSF TUES grant with UMD, Mechanical Engineering Department entitled” A Structured Course Series for Enhancing Student Interest in STEM Subjects and Inspiring Students to Succeed in STEM Careers” submitted to NSF, May 26th, 2010
  • Co principle investigator for NSF CCLI Phase 1 grant entitled: Title: “Feasibility of an Engineering Science Associate’s Degree for Migration from 2-Year to ABET 4-Year Engineering Programs. A model community college associate’s degree program”. Submitted to NSF July 2009
  • Community College as the Starting Point. In the article entitled "STEM and the Community College," which appears in the Digital Edition College Planning & Management, Dr. Muhammad Kehnemouyi, Professor and Chair, points out the advantages Montgomery College's small class sizes taught by professors rather than TAs. Gone is the stigma of spending the first two years of college at a community college, as Montgomery College produces an impressive rate of transfer to four-year institutions, including University of Maryland, Georgia Tech., MIT, and The George Washington University.
  • Montgomery College engineering program featured, in engineering journal, as " largest engineering transfer program in the nation". The article is entitled, "Community Colleges Gain Larger Role in Developing Engineering Talent" and is in the April '09 Edition of , PE, the Magazine for Professional Engineers, published by the National Society of Professional Engineers. In the article, Dr. Muhammad Kehnemouyi, Professor and Chair, comments on the high success rate of engineering transfer students from Montgomery College to four-year institutions.
  • Montgomery College engineering program featured in PRISM journal, as a community college that is "Geared To Busy Lives" and "Eases the Transition". Prism, the online journal of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), features comments on aspects of Montgomery College's role in engineering education from Dr. Muhammad Kehnemouyi, Professor and Chair, and retired professor (now part-time) transfer advisor, Dr. Donald Day.
  • MC Engineering Program featured in the Chronicle of Higher Educationnew window. Community colleges are working to fill a growing need for engineers by creating programs that help students go on to four-year programs. The article highlighted Montgomery College's own efforts to work with other colleges and universities to create a statewide transfer agreement and to advise and prepare students.
Presentations 
  • On October 30, 2018 at the NAE annual meeting in DC, Montgomery College was accepted as the first community college to have a Grand Challenges Scholars Program. Dean Muhammad Kehnemouyi spoke at the conference about the demands and rewards of developing a GCSP at a two-year institution.
  • “Successes and Challenges for a Model Two-Year College Engineering Transfer Program in Supporting Student’s Completion of an Associate of Science Degree” Maryland Association of Community Colleges Summit, Dec 2013
  • Co-presented paper titled: "The Value of ASEE Membership Especially Relate to Faculty at Two-Year Institutions", ASEE mid-Atlantic Meeting, NYC, NY, April 27, 2013
  • “Student success and degree completion of underrepresented groups in STEM programs via grant-funded projects”, Maryland Association of Community Colleges Summit, Dec 2011
  • Journal of Engineering education meeting, ASEE annual meeting Louisville, KY, June 2010
  • The first annual PLTW national innovation summitnew window, Washington DC, Oct 20-22, 2010
  • Presented paper titled: “Engineering your future” at ASEE annual meeting in Austin Texas, (June 2009)
  • ASEE Engineering Dean’s Council Public Policy Colloquium, Washington DC, Feb 17, 2009
  • Presented a paper at the ASEE international meeting in Sydney, Australia titled: “Bringing engineering to high school honor students”. (Oct 2005)
  • Presented a paper at the AMSAT-NA 23rd space Symposium and annual meeting in NASA Goddard titled: “Montgomery College’s Parabolic Antenna Project” (May 2005)
  • National Academy of Engineering, July 2004. The three day workshop entitled “Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers”
Publications
  • “Montgomery College Engineering Ambassadors and Teachers (M.E.A.T) Program for K-12 students”, Kehnemouyi, Abanulo.  ASEE annual conference and exposition, Indianapolis June 2014
  • “The Value of ASEE Membership Especially Relate to Faculty at Two-Year Institution” Kehnemouyi, Walter W. Buchanan, Texas A & M.  ASEE  Mid-Atlantic conference, New York, April 2013
  • “A Successful Engineering Program Story” , Kehnemouyi, Hou.  Poster session at Stemtech conference, Atlanta October 2013
  • “Engineering your future project for High School Students”, Kehnemouyi, Abanulo. ASEE annual conference and exposition Austin, June 2009
  • “Use of 3D Printing in Teaching Engineering Design”, Kehnemouyi, Schuster,  Zhang
  • “Bringing Engineering to High School Honor Students”,  Kehnemouyi, Storck, Sharon, ASEE Global Colloquium, Sydney, Australia, Oct 2005
  • "The Value of ASEE Membership Especially Relate to Faculty at Two-Year Institutions", co-authored along with Prof. Walter W. Buchanan, Texas A & M, ASEE, April 2013
  • Introduction to Engineering Design Laboratory Manual (Montgomery College, August 1997)
  • Introduction to Excel 4.0 for Windows, Student Manual (Technical Assistance & Training Corporation, January 1993)
  • Role of Electronic Spreadsheet in Mechanical Engineering (ASME, September 1992)
  • Thermal Performance Characteristics of a 208 PGA Package as a Function of Design Parameters (Applied Computations, Inc., September 1992)
  • Stress Distribution on the Silicon Die (Applied Computations, Inc., August 1991)
  • An FEA report on the mother board summarizing the stress distribution as a function of the resonant frequency (Applied Computations, Inc., March 1997)
  • Life cycle analysis comparing the fatigue life of TQFP solder joints with copper and alloy 42 lead frames (Engineering Analysis Technology, March 1997) 

Program Areas

Opportunities, Partnerships and Special Programs

Opportunities Available to Students 

STEM Internshipsnew window, including NIST PREPnew window (Professional Research Experience Program)

STEM Scholars Programnew window, a selective honors program for STEM majors

STEM Ambassadorsnew window 

 

Transfer Opportunities

Community Colleges Collaborating in STEM (C3STEM)new window:  This program, in partnership with Mount St. Mary's University, provides scholarships and support to STEM majors who transfer from either Montgomery College or Frederick Community College to complete their bachelor's degree.

STEM Transfer Student Success Initiativenew window: This program supports STEM students in making a successful transition to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

Partnerships and Special Programs 

Bio-Tracnew window: This partnership offers graduate/post graduate level hands-on laboratory training workshops for research scientists

BIOTrainnew window: This partnership, led by Montgomery College, brings together biotechnology companies, government entities, and nonprofits to shape a technical workforce that is ready for today and tomorrow.

Spectrum Lecture Seriesnew window: A science-oriented lecture series aimed at a non-scientific audience.

K-12 STEMnew window: Many young students begin to develop interest in STEM before they start college. There are many activities and programs that are available to young students with an interest in STEM.

 Who We Are

Academic Unit Leadership Team and Office Staff
Interim Vice President & Provost

Office Staff

 

Deans and Department Chairs
  • Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science, Milton Nash, Collegewide Dean
    • Luc Desir, Chair, Germantown Mathematics Department
    • Ingrid V. Brown-Scott, Chair, Rockville Mathematics Department
    • Kim Fouche, Chair, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Mathematics Department
  • Science, Engineering, and Technology, Nawal Benmouna, Acting Collegewide Dean
    • Alla Webb, Chair, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Networking Department, Germantown and Takoma Park/Silver Spring 
    • Helio Zwi, Acting Chair, Rockville Engineering, Physical and Computer Science Department
  • Chemical and Biological Sciences, Jim Sniezek, Collegewide Dean
    • Jennifer Capparella, Chair, Germantown Biology, Biotechnology, and Chemistry Department
    • K. Rebecca Thomas, Chair, Rockville Biology Department
    • Laura Anna, Chair, Rockville Chemistry Department
    • Valerie Lantz, Chair, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Biology/Chemistry Department