YES Programs

MENU  

STORIES


Alumnus Working to Improve School Bus Safety

Yusuf  Abdulhassan  Yes  Kuwait 1

Yousif Abulhassan, YES 2006-2007, Kuwait, hosted by the Aspect Foundation in Muncie, IN

YES alumni can impact the world in surprising ways. Yousif Abulhassan (YES ’07) ceratinly shows this as he conducts very special research on school bus safety.

As a PhD Candidate at Auburn University, Yousif’s work was recently highlighted by the Shelby Country Reporter. The article highlights Yousif’s tests of school bus evacuation times in order “to determine the physical requirements necessary to operate and evacuate a school bus, how long it takes students to evacuate a bus with and without verbal directions and prompting from the driver, and if the current emergency exits on school buses provide adequate emergency evacuation times.”

Yousif told the Shelby County Reporter, “I believe school buses are the safest mode of transportation for our students. My goal is to make them even safer.” What an important and interesting cause!

According to Yousif, his career path was greatly influenced by his time on the YES program. He says, “After completing the exchange student program, my goal was to come back to the United States for college, where I knew I would have many opportunities to pursue my career goals.”

After earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portland in 2012, Yousif decided to follow his dream to “pursue a career in engineering that would serve society by caring about the safety and welfare of people.” This led Yousif to earn a Master’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, concentrating in occupational safety and ergonomics. All throughout, Yousif stayed involved in research related to musculoskeletal disorders in factory works and industrial safety.

Now, Yousif is putting that experience to good use as a Doctoral Candidate. What started it all? Yousif says, “The YES program provided me with the courage to pursue an academic career in the United States. My career goal is to work in the United States to conduct research that will benefit society as a whole and educate future generations of engineers.”

As Yousif’s path demonstrates, YES alumni really do make the world a better place in a variety of ways! And perhaps school buses will be safer thanks to Yousif’s inspired work.


Share: