Interview with Bob Clark, HVAC&R Program Coordinator at College of DuPage

This video from the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center features an interview with Bob Clark, HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration) department coordinator at the College of DuPage (COD) in Illinois. Clark begins the interview by discussing earning an MBA in sustainability, working in the corporate world, an interest in mechanical systems leading to the field of industrial maintenance and HVAC. Clark describes changes to the COD HVAC technical education program, including a customized set of curriculum options for students and the creation of an updated lab. Information is also shared about the program’s focus on “real-world scenarios infusing energy and sustainability concepts throughout the curriculum,” hands-on learning and skill development, and systems thinking. Clark concludes by discussing advocacy work done for technical education at state and national levels, and efforts to address workforce shortages by bridging the gap between technical education and industry needs.

The video runs 00:25:35 minutes in length. Other interviews in this series are available to view separately.