Dr. Henry G. Ansell, Assistant Professor of Engineering at Penn State Berks, officially retired on June 30, 2015, after 28 years of service to the college.
Ansell initiated the college?s Devices for Disabilities program, in which students majoring in Engineering collaborate with others majoring in Occupational Therapy to design devices useful to those with physical challenges. The students form interdisciplinary teams to develop ideas, design a project, and develop that project into a prototype, which is presented at the end of the course. Through this project, Ansell and other Penn State Berks professors in engineering and occupational therapy were able to provide students with valuable experiences in teamwork and social / professional responsibility, understanding of societal issues, and respect for diversity.
During his time at Penn State Berks, he also taught a variety of electrical and computer engineering courses. Before coming to Penn State Berks in 1987, Ansell worked an electrical engineer with AT&T Bell Laboratories in both New Jersey and Reading for 25 years. He brought a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom.
Ansell commented that he enjoyed working at Penn State Berks and spoke highly of his colleagues and the students. He said it was ?very comfortable? working at the campus and an extremely ?worthwhile experience.?