CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Aug. 23, 2013) –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District signed a Cooperation Agreement with Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi today, a Hispanic-serving institution, to commit the two organizations to work together to enhance opportunities for minority students throughout the Corps.
“This partnership will serve to assist the USACE Galveston District in recruiting a workforce comprised of a diverse pool of high-performing individuals, with valuable talents and strengths that are critical to providing excellent services to all Corps customers,” said Col. Richard Pannell, USACE Galveston District commander.
According to Pannell, the agreement establishes the basis for mutual understanding and cooperation between the Corps and the university, with a focus on preparing engineering students for responsible positions in an engineering environment to include environmental engineering and civil programs.
“Achieving more diversity in the workplace is one of the goals of this partnership,” said Dr. Rose Caballero, Equal Employment Opportunity officer and coordinator of the Advanced Minorities’ Interest in Engineering Program for the USACE Galveston District. “This partnering agreement encourages engineering students to consider a career with the Corps upon graduation and helps us create a workplace that is reflective of the communities in which we serve.”
Additionally, staff will work to enlighten engineering students about the Corps, its missions, unique capabilities and opportunities through student career experience programs (CO-OP), internships and career development programs; assist Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in educating engineering students through guest lecture programs, co-executive sponsorship of student professional organizations and the creation of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as center of excellence for environmental programs; and assist in producing a world class diverse pool of talents throughout the Corps by sharing information about student talent pools and participating in campus interview/job fairs.
“I believe the USACE Galveston District’s internship and partnership programs with Texas A&M University will directly contribute to the recruitment, mentorship, development, advancement and retention of Hispanics in the Corps and other federal agencies,” said Pannell. “We’re proud of our efforts to eliminate barriers that may hinder equal opportunity for Hispanics in the Corps and will continue to focus on enhancing and promoting programs that result in equal employment opportunities.”
The agreement was signed by Pannell; Dr. Flavius C. Killebrew, the university’s president; Dr. Frank Pezold, the Dean of College of Science and Engineering, and the USACE Southwestern Division’s Commander Brig. Gen. Thomas Kula.
“With this agreement, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will be able to provide even greater opportunities for our engineering students,” said Pezold. “Our students will gain access to more internships, career development programs and desirable positions through the United States Army Corps of Engineers after graduation.”
For more information regarding university partnership opportunities, contact Dr. Rose Caballero at 409-766-3920 or email rose.m.caballero@usace.army.mil. To learn more about the USACE Galveston District’s current educational partnership agreements visit http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/About/Partners/UniversityPartnerships.aspx. Find us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/galvestondistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.