Ethan Lipton currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Technology at California State Univeresity, Los Angeles. In addition to teaching courses related to technology, technology education, and graphic communications, he continues his related research and professional activities. They include active service as the K-12 STEM Education Coordinator of IMPACTLA, an NSF GK-12 program to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum, inform and inspire students about careers in science and engineering, and improve the graduate fellows ability to communicate their research to a broad audience. He previously served as Principal Investigator for the CSULA site of the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education, a collaborative network of scholars with backgrounds in technology education, engineering, and related fields. Its mission is to build capacity in technology education and to improve the understanding of the learning and teaching of high school students and teachers as they apply engineering design processes to technological problems. Dr. Lipton also continues as a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Printing Museum, currently serving as Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Education Committee. In addition to his work on behalf of the museum, its programs and the preservation of printing history, he continues his related research, presentations and publications with a focus on technology education, typogrphy and Columbian presses. He is also the current President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Printing History Association.

Previous Cal State L.A. leadership positions have included service as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs–Planning and Resources; Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs–Planning and Resources; Dean of Educational Support Services; Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology; and Chair of the Department of Technology.

After obtaining his B.A. and M.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, Dr. Lipton received his Ph.D. degree in Education (Instructional Technology) from the University of Southern California. Before joining the faculty of Cal State L. A., he worked as a high school teacher, department chair and in positions in the graphic communications industry. His technical areas of specialty include graphic communications, typography, publication design, production, fine printing and industrial and technology education. He is also a former principal advisor of the Department of Technology.

Dr. Lipton has devoted much of his professional career to issues related to technology education, placing a major focus on improvement and articulation of its content, delivery and application. His numerous activities have included involvement in the development and review of state and national standards, service on many California Department of Education committees/task forces and active leadership in industrial and technology professional development. Under his directorship of the Center for Technology Education between 1994 and 2002, he was responsible for providing leadership and coordination of more than $1.5 million of funded projects related to industrial and technology education program development, training, consulting and services to local educational agencies and industry.

Recognized nationally as one of California’s leaders in technology education and graphic communications, Dr. Lipton is very active professionally having served as President of the International Technology Education Association, as President of the California Industrial and Technology Education Association and as a member of the Technology for All Americans Phase III Project Standards Team, which developed national standards for technological literacy. Dr. Lipton has edited five books, authored more than three dozen articles and papers and has made over eighty professional presentations at national, international and regional conferences. He has helped to develop and implement block articulation programs for many years, providing seamless transitions for students from one education level to the next. He co-developed and disseminated an Industrial and Technology Education Learning Continuum Model that provides and articulates multiple paths and multiple entry/exit points for learners from elementary school through life-long learning. He served as the editor and a contributor for Models and Variables for Articulated Programs in the United States, published in 2002.

Dr. Lipton is the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors including the Printing Industries Association of Southern California Educator of the Year, the California State University Distinguished Faculty Alumnus, the Distinguished Technology Educator Citation from the International Technology Education Association, the Distinguished Service and Laureate citations awarded by the International Board of Directors of Epsilon Pi Tau, the Distinguished Service Award from the Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International and the Cal State L.A. Engineering and Student Council Outstanding Technology Professor Award.