William Oakes

William Oakes is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, 150th Anniversary Professor, and Director of EPICS at Purdue University's College of Engineering. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Engineering Education and is affiliated with Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering. His leadership spans roles in the Global Engineering Program, Engineering Curriculum Committee, and First-Generation Success Team. Oakes’ research focuses on service-learning, community-engaged engineering education, and professional development through experiential learning. He has pioneered the EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) model, emphasizing interdisciplinary teamwork and societal impact.

Key research interests include enhancing undergraduate education through service-learning, global engineering ethics, and fostering equity in STEM through project-based curricula. His work explores the impact of programs like Engineers Without Borders USA on student career readiness and ethical decision-making. Oakes has been recognized as a 150th Anniversary Professor for his contributions to engineering education innovation.

His publications highlight trends in curriculum design, industry-academia collaboration, and measuring the societal impact of engineering projects. Oakes actively chairs committees focused on improving the engineering education pipeline, first-year learning communities, and cross-cultural learning initiatives. He oversees multiple labs and programs, including the EPICS High Program for K-12 outreach and sustainability-focused engineering projects.