The MNT-EC Executive Team
Jared Ashcroft
PI of Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC)
Professor at Pasadena City College
Jared Ashcroft is a Chemistry professor at Pasadena City College and the Center Director for the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, actively involved in bringing MNT technical education programs to community colleges. He earned his BS in Chemistry from Long Beach State and Doctorate in Chemistry from Rice University. His doctorate work and subsequent studies at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab focused on nano-based medical diagnostics and therapeutics. His current undergraduate research group focuses on using active learning in conjunction with remote instrumentation to increase success and engagement in science.
Billie Copley
Center Manager – Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC)
Billie is the center manager of the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC). She is the former project manager of Nano-Link: Center for Nanotechnology Education and a graduate of the Dakota County Technical College Nanoscience Technology program. Billie has been in the ATE community since 2011 and has worked with several other ATE centers and projects during her time with Nano-Link. She has her BS in Project Management from Minnesota State University – Moorhead. In her spare time, she enjoys being a rock hound and amateur wood building hobbyist.
Neda Habibi
CO-PI Micro Nano Technology Education Center
University of North Texas
Dr. Habibi is an Assistant Professor at the Biomedical Engineering Department at University of North Texas.
Dr. Habibi has a PhD in Nano-biotechnology specializing in Bionanomaterials and drug delivery. She received her PhD degree from the University of Genova, Italy in 2012. From 2012 to 2016, she was Assistant Professor with Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Institute at Isfahan University of Technology, Iran.
She is an alumna of the Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard University where she was visiting Assistant Professor at Dr. Shafiee’s Laboratory. From 2016, she has been a research assistant professor with the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Prior to joining UNT, she was coordinating a Nano-engineering program at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio.
Peter Kazarinoff
CO-PI Micro Nano Technology Education Center
Portland Community College
Peter is a full-time faculty member in Engineering and Engineering Technology at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. Peter earned a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Washington and a BA from Cornell University. He teaches courses in Engineering, Materials Science, and Manufacturing at Portland Community College. Teaching at a community college is his dream job. He is passionate about bringing a diverse group of problem-solving technicians into the workforce. Peter lives with two inquisitive daughters and a wonderful and supportive spouse.
Greg Kepner
CO-PI Micro Nano Technology Education Center
Greg Kepner, MEd, is a Co-Principal Investigator for the NSF-ATE Micro Nano Technology Education Center. He served for 5 years as Director/Principal Investigator of the NSF-ATE Midwest Photonics Education Center and as PI for an NSF project. He also served briefly as Co-PI for the OP-TEC center. In 2019, he retired from Indian Hills Community College where he served as the Department Chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Department. He previously served IHCC as the Industrial Technology Coordinator and Robotics/Automation instructor. Greg has a Master’s Degree in Higher Education, Community College Leadership from Iowa State University, a BA Degree from Buena Vista University and an AA and AAS Degree in Electronics Technology from IHCC. He has experience as a senior field service engineer in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Mel Cossette
Mel Cossette is the Executive Director/Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education funded Online Instructional Resources for Material Science Technology Education [formerly the National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEdU) housed at Edmonds College in Lynnwood, WA. She is also the PI for an NSF ATE project, Technician Education and Additive Manufacturing & Materials and a Co-PI on a newly funded NSF ATE Micro Nano Technology Education Center. Mel is an Alternate Commissioner for ABET through SME and a founding member of ABET's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Council and has 20+ years of experience in manufacturing education focusing on technician education and workforce development. She has developed technician training programs for industry and educational institutions; serves on numerous committees and national boards; and worked in various industries and held administrative and faculty positions within the community and technical college system.