Magazine Fall 2023 A New Home for ENGINEERING
| “This fine academic program deserves a really fine building.” |
| “It’s a great space for collaboration." |
| “Having 24-7 access to this building is huge.” |
A large crowd gathered to dedicate Westmont’s Fletcher Jones Foundation Center for Engineering building in October. Students, professors, trustees and members of the college’s engineering board watched the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and engineering students hosted an open house, highlighting their research and explaining the machinery.
“Students can get certified to use the machines in the metal workshop area,” says Maria Judy ’24. “We have beautiful garage doors, compressed air and lots of light. It’s amazing.”
Zach Yates ’25 said he appreciated having a dedicated place to study and create. “Getting 24-7 access to this building is huge,” he said. “We have 3D printers available to us, and the lounge is always open, so I’m doing homework there all the time.”
Becca Hudson ’24 says her senior design class uses the new building, and it’s easier to store capstone projects there. “It’s a great space for collaboration with the big tables, where we can all pile around and throw out ideas,” she says.
Dan Jensen, director of engineering, joined the Westmont faculty in 2021 after teaching engineering mechanics at the U.S. Air Force Academy for more than two decades.
“We take our technical competence and the foundation of our Christian liberal arts education and put it all together to love people well in the name of Jesus,” he said. “That’s Westmont engineering.”
President Gayle D. Beebe thanked Jensen for hiring amazing colleagues and building a first-class program. “It’s meaningful to interact with you throughout campus and here in your space — and to see you and your wife at plays and athletic contests, mentoring students and taking an active interest in their spiritual welfare,” Beebe said. “Thank you for the way you embody the core priorities of Westmont: rigorous academics and a deep love for God. We’re grateful.”
Mitch Vance, who chairs the board of trustees, recalled the initial vision of the engineering building more than five years ago. “This fine academic program deserves a really fine building,” he said. “Standing here right now and joining you in celebrating this beautiful facility is thrilling for us.”
