EPICS University Staff
Dr. William Oakes, Director of EPICS
William (Bill) Oakes is Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning, Director of the EPICS Program, and a 150th Anniversary Professor and one of the founding faculty members of the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. He is a leader in community engagement, conducting more than 100 workshops, publishing articles and contributing to nine books including co-authoring the first text for engineering service-learning.
Bill was the first engineer to receive the U.S. Campus Compact’s Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service-Learning. He was a co-recipient of the National Academy of Engineering’s Bernard Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Educating, recipient of the National Society of Professional Engineers’ Educational Excellence Award and recipient of the American Society for Engineering Education’s Chester Carlson Award for Excellence. He is a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Jorge Martinez, Outreach Program Manager, EPICS University
Jorge Martinez joined EPICS in 2017 after working 20 years in manufacturing, engineering, and management. Throughout his career, Jorge has collaborated in project management, product development, process engineering, and quality assurance across continents.
His current role supports sharing EPICS with national and international higher-education institutions, coordination of multi-university projects and activities, and building partnerships with corporations and organizations. Jorge helps developing and implementing strategies for fund raising and engagement.