Intel partnership leads to continued collaboration

Above: Summer 2023 Intel interns perform cleanroom training.

Technology has changed the way we work and increasingly, skilled workers are needed to fill tech jobs of the future.    

On July 17, Central State University (CSU) met with representatives from Intel, Wright State University (WSU), Ohio State University (OSU), and Cedarville University (CU) to discuss how they will collaborate to increase the number of students choosing to major in a tech-related field, helping to ensure a viable future tech workforce.

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The roundtable consisted of CSU Interim President Alex Johnson, Intel Vice President and Ohio Site Manufacturing and Operations Manager Jim Evers, and Wright State University President Sue Edwards.  

Intel delegates were welcomed by CSU’s Johnson, along with CSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. F. Erik Brooks, Dr. Morakinyo Kuti, interim dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (JWGESTA) and director of 1890 Land-Grant programs, CSU’s Department of Manufacturing Engineering Chairperson Dr. Mahmoud A. Abdallah, CSU Intel Project Director Dr. Mohammadreza Hadizadeh, CSU Associate Professor Dr. Deng Cao, and Dr. Mubbashar A. Khan, research assistant professor of electronic engineering.  

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Intel for their unwavering commitment to diversity and for recognizing the immense potential within Central State University's student body," Johnson said.

"Together, we are forging a path toward a brighter, more inclusive future that empowers underserved communities, promotes equality of opportunity, and showcases the immense value of diversity in the semiconductor field,” he added. 

Central State University led a presentation on the current Intel-sponsored Semiconductor Education and Research Program. The briefing highlighted the summer internship program pathways to employment at Intel.   

"After our meeting with Intel executives and our collaborators from WSU, OSU, and CU it's clear that our summer interns are making impressive progress. This unique partnership between academic institutions and industry allows for real-world learning experiences that nurture the innovators of tomorrow’s semiconductor industry. Such cooperative efforts are the engine that drives technology forward," Hadizadeh commented.

The meeting was followed by interactive discussions, guided tours of the laboratory facilities where students are trained, and lunch with the Intel interns. During lunch, Evers presented the latest research and developments in the semiconductor industry, along with Intel's strategic plan for hiring in Ohio.

“I appreciate the successful training under the summer internship program led by Central State University,” Evers said. “I am motivated by the interns and hope this will open doors for them to be part of Intel’s skilled workforce when Intel’s Ohio facility is operational in 2025.” 

Evers further encouraged the students to apply for current internships and job openings at Intel’s other facilities across the globe.  

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The CSU-led Intel Summer Internship program for Women and Underrepresented Minorities concluded on July 28. This eight-week intensive course began June 5. During this time, students received training in electronic hardware design, fabrication, and security. The curriculum included five courses that involved daily lectures and extensive hands-on lab practice.  

Twenty interns from Central State, Wright State, Stark State, Sinclair Community College, and local high schools were selected for the internship from a pool of more than 80 applicants. With continued support from Intel, CSU intends to train an even larger pool of interns over the next two summers.  

For more information visit centralstate.edu/semiconductors/Intel.