Please join CSCE at our monthly meeting at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. At this meeting, Dr. Brock E. Barry, Professor of Engineering Education and Director of the Civil Engineering Division in the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, will give a presentation on nonverbal communication. The meeting co-sponsors are the CSCE Government Engineers Committee and the ASCE Student Chapter at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Attendees may earn 1 NYS PDH at this meeting.
A significant amount of all face-to-face communication occurs nonverbally. Much of the nonverbal communication we project outwardly, as well as the nonverbal communication we interpret as projected by others, is done-so without conscious effort. What if we missed out on a large portion of the nonverbal communication that is on-going around us? Is it possible that we could become more effective and more efficient in our work-place communication by being more in-tune with nonverbal communication? How does nonverbal projection change in a virtual environment?
This presentation will provide an overview of nonverbal techniques used to enhance two-way work-place communication. Various scientific taxonomies of nonverbal communication will be discussed. In addition, the six “C’s” of nonverbal communication: context, clusters, congruence, consistency, culture, and confounding factors, will be illustrated using interactive techniques that are sure to stimulate engagement.
Dr. Brock E. Barry holds the title of Professor of Engineering Education and Director of the Civil Engineering Division in the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point where he has been part of the faculty for the past 14 years. As Division Director Dr. Barry is responsible for the oversight and management of the Nation’s first civil engineering department that is annually ranked by multiple organizations as one of the top undergraduate civil engineering programs in the United States.
Dr. Barry has a Bachelor of Science degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree from University of Colorado at Boulder, and a PhD from Purdue University. Prior to pursuing a career in academics, Dr. Barry spent 10 years as a senior geotechnical engineer and project manager on projects throughout the United States. He is a licensed professional engineer.
Dr. Barry's areas of research include assessment of professional ethics, teaching and learning in engineering education, nonverbal communication in the classroom, and learning through historical engineering accomplishments. He has authored and co-authored a significant number of publications on these topics.
Dr. Barry has served on multiple national committees for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) including the ASCE Body of Knowledge 3rd Edition Task Committee and as the Chair of ASCE’s Task Committee on the Code of Ethics. He also served a seven-year term in the leadership ranks of the American Society for Engineering (ASEE) Civil Engineering Division and continues to serve that organization as the Division Historian.
Dr. Barry is a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers. Dr. Barry was recognized with ASCE’s 2020 Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award and received ASCE’s William H. Wisely Award in 2021. He is the recipient of the 2020 American Society for Engineering Education National Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2021 United States Military Academy Dean’s Career Excellence Award in Teaching. Within the United States Army, Dr. Barry has been recognized with Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal, the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and the Superior Civilian Service Medal. Dr. Barry is an Eagle Scout with Triple Palms.
Dr. Barry and his wife, Allison, celebrated their 22th wedding anniversary last summer. They have two sons, Colton and Elijah. The family is very active in sports, Scouts, and outdoor activities.