{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"PCWC 2024","provider_url":"https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024","author_name":"Greg Hill","author_url":"https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024\/author\/ghill\/","title":"Rick Vaughn, Ph.D. - PCWC 2024","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"vUHSLcLP3F\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024\/portfolio-items\/rick-vaughn\/\">Rick Vaughn, Ph.D.<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024\/portfolio-items\/rick-vaughn\/embed\/#?secret=vUHSLcLP3F\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Rick Vaughn, Ph.D.&#8221; &#8212; PCWC 2024\" data-secret=\"vUHSLcLP3F\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/chips.ieeeusa.org\/pcwc-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/09\/Rick_Vaughn.jpg","thumbnail_width":400,"thumbnail_height":400,"description":"As the faculty chair for STEM Initiatives at Rio Salado College, Dr. Rick Vaughn has a passion for all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). He is equally passionate about another, lesser-known STEM acronym: showtunes, travel, enquiry and motivation.  Originally from Utah, Vaughn grew up in Southern California, and when deciding on a program of study for college, he looked at his strengths.  \u201cI chose math entering college as I was good at it and I wasn't quite sure what else to do at the time,\u201d Vaughn said. \u201cMy real love for the subject and for teaching grew in my senior year and truly blossomed in graduate school.\u201d  Vaughn earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of San Francisco, and a master\u2019s and Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California at Davis.  Several influences led Vaughn to a career in education.  \u201cMy father inspired me to be curious and to be a teacher,\u201d Vaughn said. \u201cOther sources of inspiration include Mahatma Ghandi\u2019s quote, \u2018Be the change you want to see in the world,\u2019 John F. Kennedy, and my middle school math teacher, Mr. Maxwell.\u201d  Vaughn has been with the Maricopa Community Colleges for 24 years, including 11 at Rio Salado.  He is the published author of more than 15 journal and conference proceeding articles. In 2021, he helped Rio Salado receive a\u00a0$300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation\u00a0to train 30 students and increase the employee pool for the nanotechnology industry.  \"Maricopa County has become a tech hub for many international companies with hiring needs for micro- and nano-technicians,\u201d Vaughn said. \u201cThis year alone we have three fabrication plants opening with Taiwan\u00a0Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Intel.\u201d  Vaughn said students considering a career in STEM can take advantage of Rio\u2019s micro credentials, as well as\u00a0certificates and degrees in each STEM area\u00a0now and coming\u00a0soon.  He added, \u201cTechnician careers using nanotechnology are abundant and they also pay well!\u201d"}