Leadership Team Biographies
Dr. Krishna Athreya - Program Director
Dr. Athreya was appointed as the director of the Engineering Leadership Program on March 1st , 2006. As director, Dr. Athreya supervises all program activities, including curriculum development, mentoring, diversity training, and a leadership learning community, as well as corporate and public outreach efforts.
Dr. Athreya is co-founder and current president of Engineers for a Sustainable World, a national nonprofit organization with chapters and members at dozens of major research institutions across the U.S. Engineers for a Sustainable World mobilizes both engineers and engineering students to address the challenges of global poverty and sustainability through education, public outreach, and development work both domestically and internationally.
From 1993 to 2000, Dr. Athreya was coordinator of Iowa
State's Program for Women in Science and Engineering.
She also served as director of Women's Programs in
Engineering from 2000 to 2004 at Cornell University in
Ithaca, New York, as well as interim director of
Cornell's Minority Programs in Engineering from 2001 to
2003. She is currently serving a second term on the American Association for the Advancement of Science's national Committee on Opportunities in Science.
Dr. Athreya received her Ph D in experimental condensed matter physics from Iowa State University
in 1986. She has conducted postdoctoral research at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and has served as a temporary assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Iowa State.
Amy Joines - Student Director
Amy Joines is a graduate student in Information Assurance. She was selected as a National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service recipient in 2007 and will be serving in the federal government addressing computer security needs upon her graduation in May 2009. She received her B.S. in Computer Engineering with secondary majors in Spanish and International Studies in December 2007. Amy has interned with Rockwell Collins, the Toro Company, and most recently for the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate in Washington, DC. At Iowa State, Amy has been involved with ELP as an Associate Student Director, E-Week 2008 as the Career Fair Co-Chair, The Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program, Information Assurance Student Group, intramurals and Delta Zeta sorority.
Mike Kalkhoff - Sr. Associate Director
Mike is a junior majoring in Chemical Engineering. Mike has been involved in ELP as an associate director, a scholar, and as a peer mentor. In the upcoming year Mike is looking forward to getting more involved with research and furthering his leadership learning project which focuses on health care in the developing world. Mike plans on continuing to participate in many intramural sports as well as working and volunteering at the hospital. Within Chemical Engineering, Mike is interested in biomedical applications. After completing his undergraduate degree, Mike plans on going to graduate school.
Adam Bragg - Associate Director
Adam Bragg is a senior in Mechanical Engineering and was selected as a 3M Scholar during the Spring '06 semester. Adam’s hobbies include playing baseball, softball, and ultimate Frisbee. Adam also enjoys water sports such as waterskiing and wakeboarding. On campus, Adam plays an integral role in the continued development of the Engineering Leadership Program. Adam has most recently completed an internship with Flint Hills Resources and after graduation, he plans on pursuing a career in alternative energy. Adam’s goals include obtaining a Master’s degree and being involved with the cutting edge of new technology as well as incorporating engineering leadership at a national level.
Sam Eischeid - Associate Director, Year 3 Cohort
Sam is a junior majoring in Chemistry. Though she switched her major out of engineering, she still wishes to remain involved in ELP and help develop the program as an associate director. Next year, Sam hopes to make strides on her leadership learning project involving a local mentoring program and continue research she is involved in on campus. She also looks forward to continuing to mentor a local child and continue her involvement in church activities. After graduation, Sam hopes to combine her interest in chemistry with her interest in agriculture by either going straight into industry or attending graduate school.
Justin Knight - Associate Director, Year 2 Cohort
Justin is a sophomore majoring in Materials Engineering. Justin has been involved in ELP as a scholar and has been involved with EPLI for much of last year. In the upcoming year Justin is looking forward to getting more involved with research and beginning his leadership learning project as well as other projects related to public policy and engineering. Justin is uncertain about his future plans after Iowa State, but would like to stay involved in public policy.
T.J. Masker - Associate Director, Year 1 Cohort
T.J. is a junior in Agricultural Engineering. He spent 8 months at a Co-op with Bobcat Company in their Hydraulics Department. He is looking forward to his role as Associate Director in the ELP and furthering his Leadership Learning Project focused on Rural Development in Iowa. T.J. was also named to the Student Advisory Team for the organization called Agriculture Future of America. In this role he will serve as an ambassador for college students in agriculture on a national scale. T.J. is very involved in his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and in many other campus organizations. After graduation, T.J. plans on going directly into the industry, and plans to take over the family farm.
