Six months before he was set to defend his dissertation, Pratheesh Jakkala experimented with another feat of endurance. This time, it was physical.

The stringent athletic and nutrition demands of preparing for an Ironman triathlon event turned out to be a welcome distraction to the mental gymnastics of a Ph.D. program in its final stretch. 

“Everybody was shocked that I decided to train and compete during crunch time,” said Jakkala, an assistant professor in residence at the UNLV College of Engineering.

But, with Jakkala’s record for setting his mind on goals and following through with determination to achieve them, his friends and family shouldn’t have been that surprised.

Jakkala, who has experience in both materials engineering and experimental physics, is one of several new faculty in residence to join the College of Engineering within the last couple of years in order to support increased student retention, progression, and completion. He teaches physics courses to engineering students as part of a yearslong effort by the college to rethink how math and physics are taught.

Tapping into his materials engineering background, he also joined the college to help lead the creation of a new program — the bachelor’s in engineering technology — which debuted this fall and was formed with student success at the center. The program, coupled with increased 1:1 faculty support, comes at just the right time. This fall, the college welcomed its largest-ever incoming class. 

“We want employers to look at the graduates of our new engineering technology program and say, ‘This is exactly what we want from an employee,’” Jakkala said. “We want our students to become whole students with a strong blend of technical and soft skills, ready to enter the workforce on day 1.”

Building a program from the ground up requires a bit of Ironman-esque endurance, which is what makes Jakkala perfect for the job.

Can you give us a primer on the new bachelor’s in engineering technology program and why it was created?

The bachelor’s in engineering technology program was created with our students at the forefront — they were our motivation and drove our philosophy forward. We have a lot of students in our college who possess the engineering mindset and are good at working with their hands to solve  problems, but sometimes, they get afraid of the advanced calculus requirements. So, we wanted to find a path forward for them. 

The engineering technology program is focused deeply on career readiness and applied engineering technology skills. We have three main tracks: Mechatronics, IT, and construction management and technology. Every course is a mini-workshop and involves hands-on projects. Students are required to complete three internships over the course of the program, and we’re working with our employer partners to ensure our courses are aligned with industry needs, with a big emphasis on AI integration.

What is your favorite place on campus?

I’ve been to almost every part of the campus. But for me, I keep coming back to my classroom. That is the best place. I forget about the outside world when I’m in the classroom; it’s almost a sort of meditation for me. And, even if I teach back-to-back classes, I don’t feel tired. I come out of the classroom feeling reinvigorated.

What's one collaboration you're hoping to build with other departments/colleagues on campus?

Just after I arrived on campus, I began working with electrical engineering and education faculty on a National Science Foundation grant proposal to get high school students interested in semiconductor manufacturing. Funding was approved this past summer for $1.3 million. This semester, we’re building the curriculum and recruiting participants, and next semester, high school students will be on campus.

I also want to seek research collaborations with education faculty to reinvent and rethink classroom learning. I try to inject new teaching methods into my classes every year. When I find a creative idea about teaching — and if it’s something that could make the student experience better — I’ll more than likely give it a try. Flexibility and adaptability is my strength.

I’m currently experimenting with a new teaching method — what I call a fusion classroom — and implementing it in almost all of my classes. Students seem to love it. But, it would be great to partner with education researchers on a focused project or research study to expand on what I’m already doing.

What’s the most Vegas thing you’ve done since you moved to the desert?

I love Red Rock Canyon. I go there every week. I’ve probably finished half of the trails already. My favorites are Calico Tanks, Gene’s Trail, and Turtlehead Peak. Turtlehead is particularly challenging but I still love it. Hiking gives me peace.

What’s your ideal vacation?

This past summer, I actually took a road trip throughout Utah and hit up almost all of the national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Arches. I brought a tent, but it was actually most comfortable for me to sleep in the back of my car. I’d love to do something like that again.

What’s one surprising thing you’ve learned from students?

Students are more adaptable and flexible than we often give them credit for.