Dayton Engineer
University of Dayton School of Engineering Names Cooperative Education Director
By Karen Updyke, School of Engineering
Congratulations to Colleen Bretland on her recent promotion to Director of Cooperative Education for the School of Engineering at the University of Dayton. She begins this essential campus position on September 1, 2021.
Bretland comes to the new position from the UD School of Engineering Office of Student Success where she was an academic adviser responsible for working with engineering students to find their vocation and managing over 200 students annually, was the transfer student coordinator, developed and automated a forms tracking system, managed a team that moved all engineering files to an electronic filing system, was School of Engineering liaison to the UD Pre-Law program, and created and presented the welcome presentation to UD School of Engineering incoming students.
From 2017-2020 as School of Engineering Cooperative Education coordinator, she mentored engineering students and coordinated with industry employers, engineering department chairs, students, and the UD Career Services team. She developed the co-op program office Handshake database as well as the co-op readiness and sign-up seminars.
Before her career at the University, she was with the Air Force Avionics Directorate Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a division program manager, followed by a career at Novell, Inc. as a senior sales executive, and 3D Vision Inc. as a recruiting consultant.
Her education includes an M.S. in Administration from the Central Michigan University (1994) and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton (1986).
Bretland’s 20 years of experience in cooperative education, industry and management will add value and growth to the School’s Cooperative Education program and take it to the next level.
Congratulations, Colleen Bretland!