STUFFMadeInCT.com | Fall 202 0 • STUFF 13
$85,031
Average annual salary of
a manufacturing worker
in Connecticut
Note: Sources on all STUFF factoids are
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and
the Connecticut Department of Labor
engineering and science building back in 2018, as
well as the expansion of various other academic
buildings. Lejuez sees the state's investment in these
programs as an opportunity for innovation within
STEM.
"It's a big step forward in the state's investment in
UConn as an engine for innovation and economic
development in Connecticut," Lejuez said, "and
enhances the resources available to our faculty,
staff, and students to advance Connecticut as a
leading hub of STEM innovation."
Dr. Clifford Thermer, dean of Goodwin
University's school of business, technology, and
advanced manufacturing, said the expansion of
STEM facilities comes from increased demand.
"We've expanded our CNC lab four times here in
the last five years because of the demand," Thermer
said. "We just expanded the welding lab … We are
adding, and we are just starting off a new
mechatronics and automations program."
Thermer said these new programs have been in
development for the past two years and put on
pause because of the coronavirus. He describes
mechatronics as the integration of mechanical and
electrical.
"We are working pretty closely with the German-
Continued on page 14
A UConn student working in the
new Engineering Building on
Sept. 18, 2017.
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