Woodrow W. Winchester, III, an expert in engineering professional development and continuing education, has been named the new executive director of Texas Engineering Executive Education (TxEEE) in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. TxEEE provides for-credit graduate degrees and continuing education programs for working professionals. Winchester begins on July 1, 2022.
"The Cockrell School is committed to helping professionals advance in their careers and adapt to ever-changing trends and demands through educational growth. Woodrow’s experience and knowledge is a perfect fit for what we need to expand our professional development offerings in engineering and technology," said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School. "A few months ago, the University of Texas shared its 10-year strategic plan, which includes a commitment to supporting professionals in their lifelong learning. Woodrow will lead the Cockrell School’s efforts to fulfill that mission.”
In his role as executive director of TxEEE, Winchester also oversees the management of the Petroleum Extension (PETEX) and the Health and Safety Training Center (HSTC) of the Cockrell School.
Most recently, Winchester served as the director of Professional Engineering Programs in the College of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is a certified professional engineering manager (CPEM) with over 10 years of technical program and project management experience.
"Truly, these are exciting times for continuing professional (engineering) education at UT. The opportunities for TxEEE to provide leadership and innovation in building a ‘Talent Strong Texas’ are endless, including such important areas as energy, health care and advanced manufacturing," Winchester said. "As the new executive director of TxEEE, I am thrilled to lead and partner, internally and externally to UT, in not only creating new credentialing pathways, but also exploring the use of emerging technologies to extend and deepen how we engage with our learners and constituents."
In addition to his work supporting professional development and continuing education, Winchester is a well-known advocate for more equitable and inclusive approaches to technological innovation and management. He was recently named the inaugural director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE/I) for the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM). He previously served as ASEM’s director of Professional Development & Continuing Education. Winchester was also selected as a member of the second cohort of the National Science Foundation-sponsored IAspire Leadership Academy.
He has also published extensively on the subject of DE/I in influential practitioner-oriented publications such as INCOSE Insight Magazine, ACM Interactions, Fast Company magazine and The Conversation. He received his B.S. and M.S. in industrial engineering and his Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering, all from North Carolina A&T State University.
About TxEEE
Texas Engineering Executive Education (TxEEE) empowers engineering and technology professionals with real-world knowledge and learning through master’s degrees, certifications, professional development programs and custom courses. TxEEE leverages the expertise, experience and resources of the Cockrell School of Engineering, a global leader in engineering education, research and invention, as well as other UT colleges such as the McCombs School of Business, for the delivery of its programs. TxEEE has been offering continuing and professional education for more than 45 years.
