Steven O'Brien is an associate professor in the Technological Studies Department within the School of Engineering at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Dr. O’Brien’s interests lie in two main areas: (i) integrated-STEM curriculum design for Technology Education / Pre-engineering college courses for both elementary and secondary teacher preparation programs and (ii) characterization of TCNJ’s unique Math/Science/Technology K-5(8) teacher preparation program. Dr. O’Brien has published and presented on each of these issues and is the co-author of Engineering Design: An Introduction, a textbook intended for grades 9-12 (endorsed by PLTW). Dr. O’Brien has served as an affiliate representative for FIRST-FTC and for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), as chair of the School of Engineering strategic planning committee and as a member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and College-wide Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. O’Brien has 20 years of engineering, engineering management, and executive level experience in industry for both start-up and large companies. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and physics from Western Washington University, and Masters and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Cornell University. His area of technical expertise is the design and application of semiconductor lasers. Dr. O’Brien has more than 40 publications and 13 patents.