March 3, 2025
Dr. Jeong Tae “JT” Ok’s educational journey drew him through several different types of engineering before leading him to Shawnee State University. Dr. Ok has earned a bachelor’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, a master’s in electrical engineering, and a master’s in electronic engineering. Using those degrees, he taught at several other universities before being drawn to SSU because of the ability to lead students through research.
“My passion for teaching and fostering undergraduate research led me to Shawnee State University, where I continue to explore my interdisciplinary research interests while inspiring the next generation of engineers,” Dr. Ok said.
The importance of his career is to promote and stimulate research. The feeling was built during his master’s thesis, “Hardware Implementation of Artificial Neural Networks,” combining the theoretical and applied aspects of engineering.
“I became captivated by the potential of neural networks to solve complex problems and by the challenge of implementing these systems in hardware,” he stated. “It was during this work that I realized the impact I could have by contributing to both research and education.”
Activities outside the classroom also inspired aspects of Dr. Ok’s work within the world of academia. After becoming a swim coach in 2015, he tried to find a way that could aid him and his athletes to perform to the best of their abilities.
“These experiences taught me how to inspire and motivate individuals to reach their potential, whether it was swimmers striving for personal bests or students tackling challenging research problems,” Dr. Ok said. “This holistic approach to teaching and mentoring has profoundly shaped my career and continues to drive my commitment to helping others succeed.”
He worked to integrate his engineering past with his knowledge of swimming to create a Smart Robot Assistant Coach.
“This project involved integrating robotics, machine learning, and sensor technologies to create a robotic system capable of analyzing and improving swimming performance, demonstrating how engineering technology can enhance sports and human performance,” he explained.
Dr. Ok believes that the SSU Department of Engineering Technology emulates his ideals of combining real-world activities, like swim practice and engineering techniques, with robotics.
“The department stands out for its focus on the practical application of engineering techniques in real-world scenarios,” Dr. Ok said. “Our programs prepare students for exciting, cutting-edge careers by teaching them the scientific and practical foundations of ever-changing technological advancements.”
To learn more about the Engineering Technologies programs at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/engineering-technology.