June 18, 2015
Mohamad Riasati, Instructor of Mathematics at Laurel Ridge Community College’s (Laurel Ridge) Fauquier Campus, recently attended a professional development workshop for community college faculty in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines at NASA Wallops Flight Facility. The two-day workshop (June 3-5) from the STEM Takes Flight initiative focused on the integration of STEM in the NASA workplace with the purpose of assisting faculty in educating students on the importance of teamwork, technical skills, and problem solving.
Besides touring the center, participants experienced a hands-on case study in trouble shooting, real-time decision making, and teamwork. Riasati participated in an Antares mission simulation. This involved five college professors working with NASA mentors: Range Safety Officer (RSO), M&O (Mission and Operations), Test Director (TD), Radar Coordinator (RC) and Surveillance Coordinator (SC). Riasati’s role in the simulation was overseeing Mission and Operations (M&O). “I was responsible for resolving smooth operation of telemetry, optical communication, data quality, and leading troubleshooting of any anomalies relating to range assets and services and providing information to the test director,”said Riasati.
STEM Takes Flight at Virginia’s Community Colleges is an initiative that provides mentored scholarships, paid industry internships, NASA research experiences, and new courses to foster STEM career awareness and workplace skills. It was developed through the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC). The VSGC is a coalition of the Virginia Community College System, five Virginia colleges and universities, NASA, state educational agencies, and other institutions representing diverse STEM and aerospace education, research, and workforce development interests. For more details about the program visit the website at www.vsgc.odu.edu/stemtakesflight.
(Pictured is Mohamad Riasati at NASA Wallops Flight Facility)
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.