Don Millard
Encyclopedia
Dr. Don Millard is a Program Director at the National Science Foundation
(NSF). Prior to joining NSF, he was a faculty member at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
and the originator of the Mobile Studio
Project. In 1999 he started thinking about a way to enable students to perform experiments anytime, anyplace - specifically those that use an oscilloscope, function generator, digital control, and some form of power supply. He started the Mobile Studio
project by looking at commercially available solutions, which were prohibitively expensive; while choosing to involve students in bringing the project’s vision to reality. Jason Coutermarsh, then a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI), joined the project in the summer of 2004 and they developed a complete functional input/output board (IOBoard) hardware/software prototype. With the support of several technology companies and the National Science Foundation, the Mobile Studio Project is now being utilized to enhance science, math, engineering and technology education around the world.
and began playing guitar at age 10. He traveled with the musical group Up With People
in 1973-1974, after which he attended college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(WPI). He obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from WPI and attended graduate school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI), in Troy, NY. He did his doctoral work in the areas of plasma physics and electrical testing; generating a patent for the development of a laser-induced, plasma-based "Non-Contact Electrical Pathway," which is used to functionally test ultra fine-pitch electrical components.
During his many years at RPI, he served as an award winning faculty member of the Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Department and had several administrative roles. He was a member of Rensselaer's Center for Integrated Electronics (including six years as the director), served as the technical director of the Design and Manufacturing Institute, and was a senior project manager for the Center for Manufacturing Productivity and Technology Transfer. He created and directed the Academy of Electronic Media at RPI, which specializes in the development and use of engaging interactive electronic media and educational technology. The Academy's developments have won a number of national awards, such as the distinguished 2003 Premier Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF). Prior to joining NSF, he was a faculty member at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
and the originator of the Mobile Studio
Mobile Studio
The National Science Foundation supported , or Mobile Studio, is developing pedagogy and hardware/software which, when connected to a PC , provides functionality similar to that of laboratory equipment typically associated with an instrumented studio classroom...
Project. In 1999 he started thinking about a way to enable students to perform experiments anytime, anyplace - specifically those that use an oscilloscope, function generator, digital control, and some form of power supply. He started the Mobile Studio
Mobile Studio
The National Science Foundation supported , or Mobile Studio, is developing pedagogy and hardware/software which, when connected to a PC , provides functionality similar to that of laboratory equipment typically associated with an instrumented studio classroom...
project by looking at commercially available solutions, which were prohibitively expensive; while choosing to involve students in bringing the project’s vision to reality. Jason Coutermarsh, then a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(RPI), joined the project in the summer of 2004 and they developed a complete functional input/output board (IOBoard) hardware/software prototype. With the support of several technology companies and the National Science Foundation, the Mobile Studio Project is now being utilized to enhance science, math, engineering and technology education around the world.
Life
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Harold and Shirley Millard on November 28, 1955, Don grew up in Skokie, IllinoisSkokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
and began playing guitar at age 10. He traveled with the musical group Up With People
Up with People
Up with People is an international education organization founded in 1968 by J. Blanton Belk, building from roots in the similar "Sing-Out" program of 1965. Up With People is best known for their musical performances by international casts consisting of 70–100 students from, on average, 20...
in 1973-1974, after which he attended college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
(WPI). He obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from WPI and attended graduate school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(RPI), in Troy, NY. He did his doctoral work in the areas of plasma physics and electrical testing; generating a patent for the development of a laser-induced, plasma-based "Non-Contact Electrical Pathway," which is used to functionally test ultra fine-pitch electrical components.
Career
He first joined RPI as an Instructor in 1983 (while a graduate student) and began teaching courses and performing manufacturing related research within the school of engineering. Prior to joining the university, he spent two years as a biomedical engineer at Veteran's Administration Hospital in Albany, NY; two years involved with cardiac monitor design at Electronics for Medicine, in Sudbury, MA.During his many years at RPI, he served as an award winning faculty member of the Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Department and had several administrative roles. He was a member of Rensselaer's Center for Integrated Electronics (including six years as the director), served as the technical director of the Design and Manufacturing Institute, and was a senior project manager for the Center for Manufacturing Productivity and Technology Transfer. He created and directed the Academy of Electronic Media at RPI, which specializes in the development and use of engaging interactive electronic media and educational technology. The Academy's developments have won a number of national awards, such as the distinguished 2003 Premier Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware.