Yuma — Business leaders in Yuma are eager for skilled workers to help transform the local economic landscape, and Northern Arizona University (NAU) is aggressively embracing the challenge. NAU has announced a $2 million strategic investment to launch a mechanical engineering degree program at its Yuma campus beginning in fall 2023.

Home to major employers such as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma is seeing a steady rise in demand for engineers. But even though Yuma is western Arizona’s most populous county, it’s largely rural, making it difficult to find a skilled workforce, especially in engineering.

Professor Constantine Chokanel, NAU’s Dean of Mechanical Engineering, emphasized the lack of engineering degree options in the greater Yuma region. “While there is a high demand for further development engineers in the region, there are few options for engineering degree programs,” he said.

Andy Wang, dean of the NAU School of Engineering, Informatics and Applied Sciences in Flagstaff, echoed the sentiment, saying, “There is a growing need for engineers in Yuma and the wider region. It’s big,” he said. “Employers need a lot of engineers. As the economy grows and evolves, they need engineers. We will be ready to train the next generation of engineers.”

James V. Davey, PE, RLS, D.WRE, Founder and Chief Engineer of Yuma-based James Davey and Associates, Inc., shares his view on the importance of NAU-Yuma’s new mechanical engineering program shared. “The introduction of the mechanical engineering program at NAU-Yuma is an important development for our region. As a businessman in the local engineering industry, I see a growing demand for skilled engineers in the Yuma region,” he said. We understand that this program is a valuable opportunity for students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this field, which will not only benefit aspiring engineers, but also It also has a positive impact on companies like mine, as they have access to a well-trained workforce that can contribute: “We contribute to the growth and development of our business. I look forward to seeing the impact and the opportunities it creates for our community.”

To address this urgent need, NAU partners with Arizona Western College (AWC) to offer a mechanical engineering program. Under a collaborative agreement between the two institutions, students graduating from her AWC with an associate degree in mechanical engineering will take a direct path to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at NAU-Yuma.

“We are building our facility and laboratory capacity to deliver the courses required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering,” explained Professor Chokanel. “Yuma will have a state-of-the-art laboratory facility. It will be a very well-equipped facility where students will have hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.”

NAU’s decision to start a mechanical engineering program in Yuma exceeds the economic requirements of the region. “This is fully aligned with NAU’s new leadership, vision and initiatives,” explained Dean Wang. “Our President Cruz Rivera has a vision to make NAU a powerful engine of the local economy, impact social mobility and improve educational attainment statewide.”

The introduction of a mechanical engineering program in Yuma is especially important for Yuma County, which has a predominantly Hispanic population. Dr. Chokanel emphasized the importance of providing an engineering degree without leaving home so that students can maintain vital support systems and family ties. “Having an engineering program in Yuma from home is a feature that people really appreciate,” he said.

Construction of the mechanical engineering lab at NAU Yuma is expected to be completed in August, just in time for the program’s first semester. NAU will continue to invest in the program, increase its capacity, and admit more students.