Clarkson University Taps Industry Veterans for Manufacturing Seminar

The one-credit seminar, Introduction to Manufacturing, will be hosted by the university's Center for Advanced Materials Processing in Potsdam. Fram Akiki, a Clarkson trustee with four decades of experience at IBM and Qualcomm, will lead and moderate the weekly sessions. The curriculum bridges the gap between academic theory and executive decision-making, covering topics from semiconductor fabrication and aerospace robotics to national security and economic policy.

Beyond technical instruction, the program aims to provide a practical look at the business of moving products from initial concept to full-scale commercialization. Industry leaders, including AliveCor CEO Priya Abani and former White House economic advisor Elisabeth Reynolds, are slated to present. This initiative follows the university's previous seminar models in the energy and semiconductor sectors, reinforcing a strategy of integrating workforce development with direct industry mentorship.