Educating Future Facilities Management Professionals

This Panel Discussion will center on the topic of what is happening in higher ed to help educate a new generation of facilities management professionals.  Many current FM professionals fell into their positions by happenstance. Now, however, a number of colleges and universities have developed FM-related degree programs for individuals desiring to enter the world of FM by choice.

The discussion will be highlighting two aspects of FM in academia:

1. Degree programs and their curricula
2. Academic research related to FM topics

Panelists:

Derek Hillestad – Graduate Research Associate – Arizona State University

Jake Smithwick – Assistant Professor – University of North Carolina Charlotte

Regina Ford Cahill – Chair of  Construction Management – Pratt Institute

Michael Bown – Associate Professor – Brigham Young University

Deniz Besiktepe – Assistant Professor – University of Wisconsin Stout

Moderator: Doug Litwiller – Building Maintenance Optimization Consultants