Staff Office of Diversity

Associate Dean of Diversity Affairs
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Dr. Sylvanus N. Wosu is the Associate Dean for Diversity Minority Affairs and an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Under his leadership, the School of Engineering has implemented the Pitt Engineering Career Access Program (PECAP), a comprehensive program designed to increase the recruitment and retention of quality under-represented students, women, and economically disadvantaged students in engineering.

Dr. Wosu has developed and is overseeing the implementation of PECAP's unique strategies, which stem from the belief that academic enhancement to prepare students for engineering should begin early, and that support services must continue throughout college graduation. As a science and engineering educator of minority students for the last 14 years, he has developed and directed mentoring programs for preparing under-represented and economically disadvantaged college students for graduate education, and high school students for college careers.

Dr. Wosu holds a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, an MS in Industrial and Applied Physics from Central State University, and an M.S.E in Engineering Physics from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Wosu earned his PhD in Engineering Physics at the University of Oklahoma. Professor Wosu's current research focus is in impact physics and engineering of composite materials, dynamic problems in composites failure, and biomechanics of cerebral oxygen metabolism using micro-Raman Spectroscopy.

Dr. Wosu developed a high performance Hopkinson bar and special sample fixtures for perforation impact and single and multi-mode fracture tests and general characterization of materials failure. Other internationally recognized research accomplishments include the design and configuration of a high speed imaging system capable of capturing the dynamic event at 2 million frames per second, development of laser-based experimental methods of characterizing materials failure, dynamic profiling of the energy absorption, crack propagation and fragmentation processes in material failure. He has worked in other areas of research, including experimental nuclear medical physics, applied nuclear physics, petrophysics and electrochemistry.

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Diversity Program Assistant
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Ms Cook is the Diversity Program Assistant in the Engineering Office of Diversity (EOD). She assists the Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs with program planning, implementations, internal and external communications, and the coordination of the yearly diversity enrichment workshop/seminar series and other special events.  Ms Cook also works with the PECAP units’ directors in the timely implementation of EOD strategic plan activities and progress reports.

Ms Cook has a BA Degree from LaRoche College in English, Business Administration and Management.  She has more than 20 years experience in business and management.