By Eliza Rohda ‘26

 

During a special chapel service November 19, President Westbrook presented York University’s Good Neighbor Award to Doug Rood, senior operations manager at Collins Aerospace. The Good Neighbor Award recognizes community members who have impacted YU and celebrates the relationship between school and city. 

 

Rood, who has worked for Collins Aerospace for nearly 12 years and has been with the York facilities since 2021, is a vital part of the York community and beyond. He is not only a leader in Collins Aerospace, York Chamber of Commerce and York County Development Council, but he is also active in the Southeast Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance and the Nebraska Chamber Foundation Steering Committee. His impact on York University is seen upstairs in the Phyllis Mackey Center, where the Edge of Innovation Lab is housed. 

 

The lab, which contains a recording room, a One Button Studio, a podcast room and a virtual reality space, was made possible through a $23,000 grant from Collins Aerospace. As he was presenting the award, President Westbrook noted that Rood was “instrumental in securing funding from Collins for the Edge of Innovation Lab. If you have used the VR room, One Button Studio, or the podcast room, you can thank this man.” With state-of-the-art technology available to be used by students, university employees and community members alike, the lab represents a partnership between York University and the City of York.