Nucor Steel executive to give seminar on metallurgic technology program

March 20, 2009 -- Sam Commella, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel in Blytheville, will present a seminar on ASU's Technology and Metallurgical Technology programs on Monday, April 13, at the College of Agriculture Building, Room 203, at 4 p.m. The discussion seminar is free and open to the public.

Northeast Arkansas is one of the largest steel-producing regions in the United States. There are several small and mid-level steel manufacturing industries in this region and two large steel manufacturing companies in Blytheville, which is about 60 miles away from the ASU-Jonesboro campus. One of these is Nucor Steel Arkansas. Demand for skilled employees in the manufacturing and aerospace industries with a metallurgy background in the state of Arkansas is increasing rapidly. ASU-Jonesboro will partner with local industries to help grow individual business sectors that deal with metals and their alloys.

Commella will discuss the importance of the program to northeast Arkansas manufacturers and metals-related industries with relation to steel industries. He will also discuss the opportunities available through the program, particularly through the hands-on experience that will be available to students in the ASU Metallurgical Technology program's metallography lab. Development of the lab began in the fall of 2008. The Metallurgical Technology program at ASU-Jonesboro is the only program of its kind in the state of Arkansas.

Dr. Gregory Phillips, dean of the College of Agriculture and Technology and the College of Engineering; Dr. Charles Coleman, director of Technology; and Dr. Zariff (Zac) Chaudhury, associate professor of Metallurgical Technology, will address the audience as well.

The Technology Program is a part of the College of Agriculture and Technology at ASU. For additional details about the program or the seminar, contact Dr. Zariff (Zac)Chaudhury at zchaudhury@astate.edu or at (870) 972-2263.
              

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