This work-in-progress Academic Practice paper presents an effort at the University of the Pacific to build a new interdisciplinary undergraduate major at the intersection of human-centered design, engineering, and entrepreneurship. Traditionally, there is not a history of interdisciplinary programs at the university. In this paper, we report on the process that led to the development of a new Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Entrepreneurship (PDEP) and situate it in the literature on other human-centered design programs. This new program aims to equip students with the skills and mindset required to create innovative products and solutions that address real-world challenges. It will be offered for the first time in the fall 2025 semester, and we plan to collect and examine data on student pathways and outcomes in the future.
Authors
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Sebastian Dziallas is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of the Pacific. He previously served as a founding faculty member at Fulbright University in Vietnam. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Kent and a B.S. in Engineering from Olin College of Engineering. His research interests in computing education research include using narrative methodologies to understand student experiences and exploring novel work-based learning approaches.
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Dr. Shelly Gulati is Professor of Bioengineering and Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs, Teaching Excellence and Inclusion at University of the Pacific. She has been at Pacific since 2010. She received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in Bioengineering from University of California, Berkeley. She also spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow in London at Imperial College. Her research interests are in biomicrofluidics as well as engineering education. Her recent projects have emphasized mentorship of women and underrepresented students and creating engaging learning environments that promote students' sense of belonging, persistence, and success in engineering.
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Mehdi Khazaeli is an Associate Professor in School of Engineering and Computer Science at University of the Pacific. He also serves as Director of Pacific’s Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Program. He teaches courses in Building Info
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Dr. Bidisha Burman (Ph.D. Louisiana State University) is a Visiting Professor of Marketing in the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific. Prior to ESB, she has served as Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Mary Washington and Appalachian State University. Her research interests are pricing, advertising, consumer judgment and decision-making, services marketing, and sustainability marketing. Her work has been published in Journal of Business Research, Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Product and Brand Management, Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, among others. She has recently served as co-program chair for Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) and currently serves on the editorial review board of the Journal of Consumer Marketing.
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Maryam Heidaripour is an Assistant Professor of Design, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University
of the Pacific. She holds a Ph.D. in Design from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA in
General Management from the University of Tehran. She also spent two years as a Visiting Assistant
Professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s Department of Informatics. Her research interests include
design strategy, new venture development, and exploring future interactions with advanced energy technologies
to foster sustainable, equitable, and thriving communities.
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Leili Javadpour is an Associate Professor in Business Analytics and Associate Dean at Eberhardt School of Business at University of the Pacific. She earned her PhD in Engineering Science from Louisiana State University in 2013. She holds a M.S. in Product Design and Management from University of Liverpool and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology. Her research focuses on data analytics and natural language processing in different areas of Business such as Marketing, Finance and Sports.
Note
The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on
June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025
