Rosa Halvorsen

Background

Rosa Halvorsen is on the faculty of the Department of Plastics & Packaging Engineering and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. Before Porter, Rosa was a process engineer at an injection-molding plant.

Rosa's work centers on teaching and curriculum in polymer characterization and sustainable polymers and recycling, including course redesign and mentoring newer instructors.

Areas of expertise

• Polymer characterization
• Sustainable polymers and recycling
• Undergraduate research and project mentoring

Teaching

Rosa regularly teaches courses in Plastics Engineering, Packaging Technology. Specific sections and syllabi are listed in the class schedule each term.

Rosa designs courses around clear, visible learning outcomes, frequent retrieval practice, and prompt feedback, and revises the sequence each year based on where students actually get stuck.

Advising and office hours

Rosa advises students in the Plastics & Packaging Engineering programs and holds weekly office hours during the fall and spring terms, posted on the office door and in the course pages. Prospective students are welcome to email to arrange a visit or a call.

Advising conversations usually cover course sequencing, whether to add a minor or a concentration, and how classroom work connects to internships, research, or graduate study. Students who are undecided are welcome; part of the job is helping them narrow things down.

Recent and representative work

Rosa's recent activity centers on teaching scholarship and curriculum work in polymer characterization and sustainable polymers and recycling. Representative items:

• A redesigned course sequence in polymer characterization, with open or low-cost materials.
• A conference presentation on teaching sustainable polymers and recycling at the undergraduate level.
• Mentoring of new instructors and teaching assistants in the department.

Titles and venues here are illustrative. UW–Porter Falls is fictional; Rosa has no real publication record.

Get in touch

The fastest way to reach Rosa is email (rhalvorsen@uwporterfalls.edu); messages during the fall and spring terms are usually answered within two business days. Prospective students and families can ask the Plastics & Packaging Engineering department office to set up a call, a class visit, or a meeting during an admitted-student day.