Turning the Wheels: CEAT staff who drive student success

Turning the Wheels: CEAT staff who drive student success

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | [email protected]

Running a college is like turning a gear - without its cogs, it won't move.

In the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, it takes a plethora of dedicated staff to keep it moving.

Engineering Projects and Futures

Over the course of a year, CEAT Design and Manufacturing Lab Manager Wendy Hall sees anywhere from 300-400 students in the four labs she oversees.

Hall works closely with these students to develop their skills using the machinery the lab offers. In these labs, you will find a multitude of fabrication processes, laser cutting, welding, casting and more.

Additionally, Hall also serves as an advisor to Senior Design teams.

In spring 2025, Hall advised a team building a solar-powered landscaping trailer for the Oklahoma State University Landscape Services team. The most exciting part for Hall is seeing the students' growth from the beginning of the semester to Expo Day.

"At first, you have one or two who communicate here and there, and by the end, the entire group is having discussions and bouncing ideas off each other," Hall said. "That was the best part. We had some bumps and bruises along the way, but ultimately, the landscape services team was happy, and these students will have their name on something that will be within the university from now on."

Hall has helped lead the Senior Design Expo for four years, coordinating nearly 80 spring and 28 fall teams. It's a huge undertaking to set up for the expo. But for what some might consider a challenge, Hall views it as fun.

"I love being involved in Expo," she said. "The hustle of trying to get everything set up; it's an adrenaline rush. It's so much fun."

While Hall holds the title of lab manager, her unofficial title is mentor.

"I had an IEM student come to me who got offered a role at SpaceX," Hall said. "This student didn't feel like they were qualified because they were not a mechanical or electrical engineer. I encouraged them to apply and did interview prep with them, and they have been at SpaceX for two years now.

"Whether it's life, financial or academic issues, I like being able to chat with students. Having them come back and tell me about their career and how something I said helped them; that's the most rewarding part to me. I like being around the students, it's what drives me."

Firefighter. Educator. Cowboy.

Next, we turn to another inspiring force on campus - Ryan Szirmay.

Ryan Szirmay, manager FPSET Lab

As the manager for the Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology Laboratory, Szirmay works alongside the FPSET faculty with undergraduate and graduate students teaching them about many aspects of fire protection, including fire pump inspection, fire alarm building and installation, live fire experiments, electrical safety, and chemical sampling.

Szirmay also holds the titles of instructor and program manager for the CEAT Professional Development Fire Protection and Loss Control Program. Through this program, Szirmay has the unique opportunity to work with hundreds of industry professionals per year to help fulfill one of OSU's core missions of outreach and extension.

Being a firefighter himself, Szirmay stresses the importance of the hands-on learning that is used in both programs.
"It always goes back to how can you apply it in the field." he said. "The whole job is very hands-on, even the people evaluating designs, they're not looking at a computer screen, they're out in the field walking in those spaces seeing how they actually are.

"The angle I teach from is I've seen this stuff work, or not work, and that has kept me in that practical form. I want to do the most realistic training as possible."

Outside of hands-on learning, Szirmay also likes to take a practical approach in his teaching when explaining tough concepts to new students. He uses simple comparisons, such as driving a car or using a safe with keys.

"It helps to step through that process with them and put things into a visual perspective with simple comparisons. We all have common ground, find it and work from there," he said.

At the forefront of his work is student success.

"Seeing students succeed, that's always great," he said. "Just knowing that you made a difference; showing up here and having enthusiasm for the work and giving that atmosphere of it's OK to mess it up. It's OK if we break it; we'll fix it. Do it here so you don't do it out there."

From Stillwater to the World

Preparing students for the future means creating opportunities for growth. Study Abroad Coordinator Elizabeth Smith provides a world of those opportunities.

Elizabeth Smith, Study Abroad coordinator

Planning a trip abroad usually starts a year in advance.

"I always start with a survey for students to get background on what they want," Smith said. "I'm thinking what countries are of interest to them? Are they interested in seeing historical or modern engineering technology? What do they want to spend?"

Smith strives to blend great experiences with learning.

"We visited a clog and cheese factory in Amsterdam," Smith said. "They talked about the technology used to hand carve wooden clogs using essentially a 100-year-old 3D printer. And after that we got to try on the clogs."

She encourages hesitant students to embrace the experience.

"I want to inspire students to take that leap," she said. "That's what college is all about, stepping out of your comfort zone. It's OK to feel nervous. You're not alone, we are here with you every step of the way."

This summer, nearly 100 students traveled abroad through CEAT's short-term program, including 30 students who went to Australia, the largest CEAT Study Abroad group yet.

Smith emphasizes how advantageous going abroad can be for a student's future endeavors.

"Many people don't realize that study abroad and international experiences can be added to their resume and can set you apart in the future," she said.

When she isn't planning trips across the world, Smith fosters global conversations on campus.

Smith's flag initiative allows those in CEAT who have traveled or lived in various countries to display those flags in hopes of fostering conversations.

Another initiative is sweet treats. A candy bowl at the front desk filled with treats from around the world, sparking curiosity and encouraging students to follow CEAT Study Abroad on Instagram.

The most rewarding part of her job? The students.

"I love working with the students and seeing them grow," Smith said. "I love their excitement.

"We want to give our students the opportunity to see the world. To see how engineering, technology, architecture and culture can become one and inspire their future careers."

Photos by: Annie Buford and Elizabeth Smith

Story by: Savannah McDaniel | IMPACT Magazine