Cindy Athanasiou

Cindy Athanasiou is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the EDS Department with over 24 years of teaching experience in many different science and engineering courses at the high school and undergraduate levels. She taught many physics and chemistry courses at all levels, developed a Forensic Science program, and taught PLTW courses in Engineering Design and Biomedical Sciences. Prior to that, she was a Project Supervisor and Chemist for National Starch and Chemical Company creating custom hot-melt adhesives for the nonwovens industry. She has also worked as an Electron Microscopist, machinist, and lab technician. Currently, she teaches Cornerstone Design 1, Cornerstone Design 2, Capstone Senior Design, and the Cornerstone Design Lab classes.

Dr. Athanasiou is passionate about Engineering Design and passing on that passion of the engineering design process through a student-centered approach in an engaging classroom where everyone is respected for their own ideas and differences. She wants to prepare Mines students at all levels to engage with their clients and teammates in a productive and meaningful way. Dr. Athanasiou is also the CCCS Outreach Lead connecting engineering students at the community college level with School of Mines at the Cornerstone Design 1 level.

Education:

• B.S. in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• M.S. and Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from University of Massachusetts, Amherst