

Community Mission
The College Outreach Community leads collaborative efforts between SAME and academia to identify and resolve national security infrastructure-related challenges and supports Post’s efforts to mentor and develop future STEM professionals at the collegiate-level. The community serves as a bridge between academia, Posts, government (military and civilian), and the private sector. The community provides guidance to the network of student chapters across the Society, promotes internship opportunities from SAME sustaining members, and will establish a new engineering competition for students designed to address the nation’s grand challenges.
Overview
The SAME College Outreach Community strives to organize programs and present opportunities to future military and civilian members of the A/E/C profession that will foster networking within their professional community, build leadership skills, and provide job opportunities to recent graduates. Additionally, students with an active membership within SAME have at their disposal a wealth of knowledge and experiences from professionals throughout the A/E/C community of practice.

Executive Community Structure
Vice Chairs
Danielle Hughes, Communications
Jeffrey Allen, Academia Engagement
Staff Liaison
Sarah Feighery, Program Manager
2026 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge
Submissions for the 2025-26 SAME Undergraduate Innovation Design Challenge are due by February 6, 2026. This competition, led by the College Outreach COI, evaluates design projects that are being developed by student members as part of their degree curriculums and highlights the innovative thinking of the next generation of STEM professionals.
Learn more about the Innovation Design ChallengeUpcoming National Webinars
Related TME Articles – College Outreach
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NO WATER, NO MISSION: Water Resilience is a Readiness Concern
By helping to identify gaps in water resource infrastructure and procedures, water resilience readiness exercises across the Department of the Air Force represent the latest step toward greater mission assurance. -
The Rise of Design Joint Ventures in the A/E Industry
Innovation Theater presented by Jacobs. Architects and engineers are moving between firms more frequently, taking their expertise and credentials with them. This has led companies to reconsider strategies for pursuing large design contracts—and they are increasingly choosing joint ventures (JVs) as a viable option. -
Implementing Statewide Master Planning for Army Reserve Readiness
A statewide master planning initiative driven by the U.S. Army Reserve integrates advanced data analysis, GIS technology, and collaborative workshops to optimize every site for readiness, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. -
Seamless Synchronization and Strategic Planning: Aligning Data for Portfolio Management Success
A large-scale effort to realign data across 32.2-million-ft2 of Defense Health Agency medical centers is setting facility managers and owners up for success with more streamlined facility condition assessments and informed strategies.