MNT-EC Mentoring

Mel Cossette

Mel Cossette is the former 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)] and the Technician Education and Additive Manufacturing & Materials project housed at Edmonds College in Lynnwood, WA. She is also a Co-PI on the NSF ATE funded Micro Nano Technology Education Center. Mel is an ETAC Commissioner for ABET through SME and a founding member of ABET's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Advisory Council and has 20+ years of experience in manufacturing education focusing on technician education and workforce development. She has developed technician education programs for industry and educational institutions; serves on numerous committees and national boards; worked in various industries; and held administrative and faculty positions within the community and technical college system.

Greg Kepner

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 three NSF projects. He also served briefly as Co-PI for the OP-TEC national ATE 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.

Esperanza Zenon

Dr. Esperanza Zenon is a Professor of Physical Science at River Parishes Community College (RPCC). She serves as the Primary Investigator on an NSF ATE Grant Project aimed at improving RPCC’s Instrumentation program. She also serves on RPCC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Dr. Zenon is the current Past President of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences. Dr. Zenon is very passionate about STEM equity and is a member of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE). She also serves on the Advisory Leadership Team for the Regional Leaders for Open Education (RLOE). Dr. Zenon has a Master of Arts degree in Physics from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in Science/Mathematics Education from Southern University.

Billie Copley

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.