When Dr. Heather Yates walks through a construction site, she doesn’t just see beams and blueprints, she sees possibilities.

As a proud Oklahoma State University graduate and longtime faculty member, Yates knows firsthand the legacy of rigor and excellence that has shaped OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. Now, as the newly appointed head of the School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management, she is helping write the next chapter in CEAT’s history.

This summer, CEAT reorganized two of its academic pillars — the Division of Engineering Technology and the School of Materials Science and Engineering — into two forward-looking schools: FCEM and the School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering. The move marks a strategic step in aligning OSU’s engineering programs with the industries and communities they serve.

A new home for safety and construction

FCEM now brings together three powerhouse programs, including construction engineering technology, fire protection and safety engineering technology, and fire and emergency management.

Yates believes the integration reflects the real-world connections between these disciplines.

“When you think about fire protection, it’s part of the built environment,” Yates said. “Construction experts create the spaces, fire protection specialists safeguard them and emergency management prepares us for when the unexpected happens. Together, they make our communities stronger.”

The restructuring also amplifies one of OSU’s most distinctive strengths — its fire programs. With FPSET and FEMP under the same academic umbrella, OSU stands out nationally as one of the few institutions with a comprehensive focus on fire education.

By uniting these programs, FCEM opens the door to deeper collaboration with two of OSU’s longtime partners in fire education and outreach: Fire Protection Publications, the world’s leading publisher of fire training materials, and Fire Service Training, which provides hands-on instruction for firefighters nationwide. Together, these entities create a powerful platform that connects OSU students and faculty with professionals in the field, ensuring that research, training and education are directly tied to real-world needs.

“Bringing the three programs together allows us to integrate them in a way where we all rise and use the strengths of each other to make the three programs better and operate as one,” Yates said.

Yates’ journey at OSU began as an undergraduate in construction management. After a career in safety and inspection roles, she returned to her alma mater as a faculty member in 2006. Over the years, she has risen through the ranks, driven by a philosophy that blends professional integrity with loyalty to the university that shaped her.

“I have expectations of program rigor because it wasn’t easy when I went to school here,” she said. “If we don’t hold that rigor, I cheapen my own degree. We owe it to our alumni to keep producing graduates of the same caliber year after year.”

Her goals as school head are clear: elevate national reputation, create new opportunities for students and foster faculty collaboration — all while preserving OSU’s reputation for academic excellence.

Engineering the future of manufacturing

On the other side of CEAT’s transformation, Dr. Jim Smay has been named head of MMME, based out of both Stillwater and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

With programs in mechanical engineering technology, electrical engineering technology, mechatronics and robotics, and materials science and engineering, the new school is built at the intersection of innovation and industry.

“The School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering is focused on the right technologies to make a huge impact in Oklahoma,” Smay said. “Materials scientists make discoveries about the nature of matter, while modern manufacturing relies on automation, robotics and sensors. By combining these strengths, we can move both academics and industry forward.”

The timing could not be better. OSU is already recognized for its materials research and applications, and MMME is positioned to advance manufacturing research and education. Accompanying the creation of MMME, Global Aluminum will build a $6 billion production plant in Tulsa, and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biomanufacturing has recommended a $15 billion investment in biomanufacturing. 

Smay, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before joining OSU in 2002, is no stranger to pioneering change. He previously led the School of Materials Science and Engineering and understands the challenges of uniting faculty and programs across two campuses. But he sees opportunity in the challenge.

“Academic rigor, creativity and innovation go hand-in-hand,” Smay said. “Our job is to give students the right tools, teach them to use them responsibly, and then unleash them to do great things.”

A vision for the future

For CEAT Dean Hanchen Huang, the restructuring represents more than just a name change — it’s a bold step toward the future of engineering education at OSU.

“The reorganization and new leadership provide a conducive environment for faculty and support the offering of in-demand and forward-looking programs to students,” Dr. Huang said. “I look forward to working with the school heads to advance CEAT and OSU and serve the state of Oklahoma.”

As CEAT embraces its reimagined structure, the excitement is palpable. With leaders like Yates and Smay at the helm, the college is not only keeping pace with change, it’s driving it.

For students, alumni and industry partners, that means the future of engineering at OSU continues to shine bright orange.