D. Soldan

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

D. Soldan is a dedicated educator and researcher whose work centers on engineering education, student retention, and the development of effective learning communities. As a key figure in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Kansas State University, Soldan contributed to a National Science Foundation-funded department-level reform project that introduced the New Student Assembly for freshman and transfer students in fall 2005. This initiative, detailed in the highly cited paper "Developing learning communities of new students to increase retention" (2007, 6 citations), aimed to foster a supportive academic environment and improve student persistence. Soldan’s work demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based strategies that enhance the undergraduate experience, particularly for new students navigating the transition into engineering programs. By integrating learning communities into the curriculum, Soldan helped shape a model for increasing retention that has informed practices in engineering education. Though the citation count is modest, the impact of this work lies in its practical application and its role in advancing department-level reforms that prioritize student success and community-building in STEM fields.