PEEC is a living learning community program for first-year engineering students in the Seaver College of Science and Engineering. Students in the PEEC program are enrolled in four linked courses taught by faculty members from the Seaver College and the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. The linked courses, along with the residential living component and other co-curricular experiences provided for the students in the program, are designed to create a fully integrated learning experience and further the student’s interest and success in pursuing careers in the engineering disciplines. Examples of co-curricular programs that will be offered to PEEC participants are an engineering orientated “Explore Los Angeles Program” and community based course projects.

The Engineering Living Learning Community is designed for first year Engineer students.  Participants in this community will receive support and guidance in the classroom as well as their living community.  This community is housed on the first floor of Del Rey South.

Classroom Experience

The PEEC classroom environment will differ from a traditional lecture-based course. While the content is the same as the standard curriculum, the students will attend most classes together or in subgroups. This provides the opportunity for students to work on multi- and interdisciplinary projects under the direct guidance of professors in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and English. In addition, all PEEC students will be enrolled in a workshop course designed to help students navigate challenges and explore the opportunities for first year engineering students. The PEEC curricular and co-curricular activities will be enhanced by the intensive use of technology. The focus of these technology-rich and interdisciplinary courses will be engineering design and analysis. Students will learn engineering by doing engineering and learn engineering communication by talking and writing about engineering.
The ENGR 190 course will run in the spring semester as a continuation of the fall ENGR 100 course. The ENGR 100 and 190 courses hold the objective to provide freshmen engineering students with insight and tools required for solving engineering analysis and design problems. A key element of the courses is a community-based project where teams of students design, build, and analyze a project in collaboration with non-profit outreach oriented agencies in the Los Angeles area. In addition, the courses will serve as an introduction to areas of study and career opportunities within the engineering disciplines. They will also assist in acquiring the skills and information necessary to becoming successful engineering students at LMU.  

Residence Hall Experience

All students enrolled in PEEC will live in the living-learning community designated for them in Del Rey South. Living in the community will allow students to build close relationships and enable them to learn together and from one another as they experience the challenging integrated coursework especially designed for them. The community will be staffed with two resident advisors (RAs) who are engineering students. The RAs will be responsible for building community on the floor and planning activities and programs for the residents. In addition, they will accompany the students on the “Explore Los Angeles” trips and be available on the floor as an academic resource.

Community Based Experience

The week before the beginning of fall semester, all students enrolled in PEEC will participate in a pre-college experience to help them become acquainted with one another, the PEEC faculty, LMU, and the Los Angeles area. The students will have an opportunity to get settled into their community a day before the majority of new students arrive, which will allow them to begin to form bonds and friendships prior to tackling the challenging, yet rewarding coursework that lies ahead. The program started off in the evening on Thursday, August 26th with a welcome and get acquainted bonfire and BBQ at Dockweiler State Beach. The following day, the students attended a field trip to JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). In addition to this pre-college experience, there will be other trips throughout the year to some of Los Angeles’ well-known engineering sites and local areas of scientific and technological interest.

Meet the Staff

PEEC Academic Coordinator, Jose Saez

Jose Saez is an Associate Professor in LMU’s Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. He is originally from Venezuela and is an LMU graduate (both BS and MS) in Civil Engineering. Prior to joining LMU as a faculty member, Dr Saez worked at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) for 16 years in projects ranging from wastewater treatment and recycling to groundwater monitoring and remediation. Dr. Saez later earned a PhD from UCLA in Civil Engineering. Dr. Saez teaches courses in introduction to engineering, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, water resources, open channel hydraulics, groundwater hydrology and environmental engineering. His research interests are in contaminant transport in groundwater, open channel hydraulics, hydrology and other topics in environmental engineering. Dr. Saez enjoys his free time with his family and surfing.

PEEC Student Affairs Coordinator, Stephen Rice

Stephen Rice serves as the Associate Director for Residence Life, as the Associate Director for Residence Life, Stephen is responsible for leadership and academic components of Student Housing. These include all Living Learning Communities, Faculty in Residence program, and supervise the Program Coordinator who works with the Residence Housing Association (RHA) and the Program Assistants (PA). Stephen is originally from Detroit, Michigan and studied Public Relations and Journalism at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan before going on to get his Master’s Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in College Student Personnel from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI. Currently Stephen is finishing up his doctoral work in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California. Stephen enjoys travel, cooking, reading and summer outdoor concerts.

PEEC Resident Director, Alexandra Froehlich

Alexandra Froehlich is in her first year of being the Resident Director of Del Rey South. She received her B.A. in Mathematics from Loyola Marymount University in 2008 where she was involved as an RA and in multiple clubs. Upon graduation she attended the University of the Pacific where she received her M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration with an Emphasis in Student Affairs working in both Greek Life and Residential Life. Her thesis work was based in on the spiritual development of Jewish students involved in Greek Life. Upon graduation Alexandra worked as Community Director at CSU Monterey Bay overseeing North Quad, the sophomore and junior area of campus. Alexandra currently serves as the SoCal NASPA Vice Chair and the CCPA Director of Professional Development. Alexandra’s future plans include pursuing a Ph.D. in Student Affairs where she hopes to research spiritual identity development. Alexandra is very excited to be home at LMU and to have the opportunity to invest in the lives of students the way that LMU professional staff invested in her during her undergraduate career!

PEEC Resident Advisor, Sam Evans

Sam is entering his third year at LMU and he absolutely loves it!  He is studying electrical engineering and has a minor in mathematics, which is quite challenging, but he is enjoying every minute of it.  Sam is an active member of the community going to many athletic and club sporting events, while working as a math tutor at LMU (if you need help in calculus let him know!).  He played lacrosse in high school and loves to shoot and throw the ball in his free time, as well as playing basketball, soccer, or volleyball around campus.  Sam love balancing his time on campus with exploring the beautiful city of Los Angeles by visiting Santa Monica, going to sporting events, or going into the city.  He is from Pleasant Hill, California which is in the bay area and is a loyal fan of the Raiders, A's, Warriors, and and Sharks!  This is Sam's first year as an RA and he can't wait to get to know you.




PEEC Resident Advisor, Sophia Zumot

Sophia grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, but is proud to call California her Home.  She is a senior civil engineering student at LMU and although it is sometimes challenging, she absolutely loves her major.  Sophia has been involved in quite a few things over the past three years from a Campus Recreation work-study job, to assisting with classes such as an Introduction to Engineering Analysis and Surveying and Mapping; currently she is the Vice President of Engineers Without Borders, and the President of the American Society of Civil Engineers at LMU.  Sophia enjoys meeting new residents, hanging out on campus with friends, and exploring Los Angeles.  This will be her second year as a Resident Advisor for PEEC and she is so excited for another amazing year in Del Rey South.
 

For further information

For more information, please contact Dr. Jose Saez , Stephen Rice , or  Alexandra Froehlich