May 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elaine Sullivan
Cal Poly Continuing Education and University Outreach
805-756-7136; continuing-ed@calpoly.edu
Frederick Mowrer to Spearhead Development of New
Fire Protection Engineering Graduate Program
for Cal Poly Continuing Education
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Recent news stories reinforce what nearly everyone knows: fire is a deadly hazard for many California residents. Cal Poly Continuing Education and University Outreach is now fighting fire with knowledge and expertise, retaining Frederick W. Mowrer as a visiting professor to spearhead the establishment of a fire protection engineering graduate program.
The goal is to develop a program that will culminate with a Cal Poly master of science degree in fire protection engineering according to Cal Poly Continuing Education Dean Dennis “Skip” Parks. “This unique program, a joint effort between our department and the College of Engineering, is desperately needed in our state,” he said. The program will be offered with both on-campus and distance learning options. The current plan is to begin offering courses in the fall 2010 term, pending final approval at both the campus and California State University levels.
Mowrer received his doctorate in fire protection engineering and combustion science from
UC Berkeley. Mowrer is thrilled by the opportunity and challenge of establishing a graduate program in fire protection engineering on the West Coast. “My goal is to produce graduates who can practice at a high level within this profession,” he said. “With its educational philosophy, Cal Poly is an ideal fit for this goal.”
Mowrer recently retired with emeritus status from the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland after more than 20 years of service. Mowrer served on the board of directors of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers from 1995 to 2003, including a term as president of the Society in 2002.
Mowrer currently serves as chair of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers Technical Steering Committee, as chair of the Research Advisor Committee of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Protection Research Foundation and as a committee member of the International Association for Fire Safety Science. He is the author of chapters in the National Fire Protection Association and Society of Fire Protection Engineers handbooks along with more than 100 technical articles and reports.
According to Mowrer, this program can only succeed with strong continuous support of the fire protection engineering profession. For more information about the program, contact Mowrer at fmowrer@calpoly.edu.
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