School of Engineering and Technology

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY


Rafael Obregon, Interim Director – School of Engineering and Technology

Rafael Obregón
Interim Director, School of Engineering and Technology

Western Illinois University

Knoblauch Hall 135 | 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455
☏ 309-298-1091 (office); Fax: 309-298-1061

Riverfront Hall 207 | 3300 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265
☏ 309-762-3999 ext. 62783

Research & Academic Interests Include:
  • Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, and Product Development
  • Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
  • Management Strategies and Operations Management

Full professor and interim director of the School of Engineering and Technology at Western Illinois University. Internationally recognized expert in product development, design and manufacturing with over 37 years of experience as an engineer, manager and educator. Principal investigator for Department of Defense and Industrial Sponsored projects. Engineering and Technology division chair for the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and member of the American Society of Engineering Educators and the Latin America and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. 2015 recipient of the College of Business and Technology and Provost Awards of Excellence in Scholarly/Creative/Performance Activities.

Past work experiences include ten years of service for the Monterrey Tec in Queretaro Mexico, three as director of the Technology Development and Continuing Education Center, and five years as a Project Lead the Way instructor for the Western Area Career System.

Visited WIU for the first time during the Fall of 1988. Worked in tandem with Dr. Thomas G. Bridge, former Industrial Education and Technology Department Chair, to establish exchange and training programs between WIU and the Monterrey Tec. Came to WIU in 1990 as a participant of one of the exchange programs for three years; obtained a M.Sc. in Industrial Technology and then served as visiting instructor. Return to Mexico in 1993, requirement of the exchange program, and then to WIU in 1996 as a tenure-track assistant professor. Achieved tenure in 2002 and served as interim chair of the Department of Engineering Technology from 2008–2009 and 2018–2020. Promoted to Full Professor in 2019 and named interim director of the School of Engineering and Technology July 1st 2021.