STEFFEN PEUKER holds the James L. Bartlett, Jr. Professor position in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He teaches courses in the HVAC&R concentration and mechanical engineering including first-year courses. Dr. Peuker received his Diploma Engineering degree from the Hochschule Mannheim in Germany, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has taught well over 1000 freshmen students at different universities. Dr. Peuker’s educational research focuses on increasing student retention and success in engineering and he has given talks and workshops nationally on the subject and facilitates faculty learning communities.