Dr. Marilyn Barger is Director of FLATE, the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence, previously funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and currently housed by FloridaMakes, the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center in Florida. FLATE’s mission is to support manufacturing workforce education in K-12, post-secondary and 2-year college programs with best practices in outreach and recruitment, curriculum development and reforms and professional development. Dr. Barger will lead development and distribution of the longitudinal industry survey and lead development of survey questions to be added to the ATE survey to learn more about ATE program efforts to encourage career development and job placement and track students after they leave the program.

Dr. Barger earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environmental) from the University of South Florida, where her research focused on membrane separation science and technologies for water purification. Dr. Barger serves on several national panels and advisory boards for technical programs, curriculum and workforce initiatives, including the National Association of Manufacturers Educators‘ Council. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education, a member of Tau Beta Pi and Epsilon Pi Tau honor societies. She is a charter member of both the National Academy and the University of South Florida Academy of Inventors. Dr. Barger holds a licensed patent and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida.