Engineering Unleashed Faculty Development

Ann F. McKenna is the Vice Dean of Strategic Advancement for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and is a professor of engineering in the Polytechnic School, one of the seven Fulton Schools. McKenna’s research focuses on entrepreneurial thinking in the context of engineering faculty mentorship and curricular innovations, design teaching and learning, the role of adaptive expertise in design and innovation, and inclusivity in higher education engineering structures, culture and policies.

Samantha Brunhaver, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor within The Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Her primary research areas include engineering career pathways and decision-making, undergraduate student persistence, professional engineering practice, and faculty mentorship. Dr. Brunhaver graduated with her B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University and her M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award focused on fostering greater workplace adaptability among engineering undergraduates and early-career professionals. Dr. Brunhaver also won the 2021 ASEE PIC IV Best Paper Award, the 2021 ASEE WIED Division Best Paper Award, the 2017 ASEE ERM Best Paper Award, and a 2014 ASEE ERM Apprentice Faculty Grant. She was a selected participant to the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education Symposium in 2016.

Dr. Jennifer Bekki is an Associate Professor in The Polytechnic School (TPS) within the Fulton Schools of Engineering (FSE). Her research broadly aims to identify opportunities for systemic changes that address inequities arising from racism and sexism embedded within STEM graduate education; 2) illuminate the impacts of interpersonal support on faculty and doctoral student wellbeing, and 3) understand factors contributing to persistence decisions among the populations of online students and doctoral students in STEM. She teaches courses within the undergraduate and master’s programs in Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering as well as the Systems Engineering and Engineering Education Systems and Design doctoral programs within TPS.

Maria-Isabel is the Assistant Provost for Assessment & Faculty Development at the University of New Haven, CT. She is Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering where she teaches courses in thermo/fluids and design. She obtained her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech specializing in the area of thermal fluid systems. She received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from MIT. Her educational research focuses on the nontraditional engineering student – understanding their motivations, identity development, and impact of prior engineering-related experiences. Her work dwells into learning in informal settings such as makerspaces, summer camps, military experiences, and extra-curricular activities. Other research interests involve validation of CFD models for aerospace and industrial applications, as well as optimizing efficiency of thermal-fluid systems. A huge proponent of active and collaborate learning, she has been leading faculty development workshops for over 15 years. In her free time, she is likely out sailing or boating!

Dr. Karen High holds an academic appointment in the Engineering Science and Education Department (ESED) at Clemson University. Prior to this Dr. Karen was at Oklahoma State University where she was a professor for 24 years in Chemical Engineering. She received her B.S. in chemical engineering from University of Michigan in 1985 and her M.S. in 1988 and Ph.D. in 1991 in chemical engineering both from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Karen’s educational research emphasis includes faculty development and mentoring, graduate student development, critical thinking and communication skills, enhancing mathematical student success in Calculus (including Impact of COVID-19), and promoting women in STEM. Her technical research focuses on sustainable chemical process design, computer aided design, and multicriteria decision making. She also has extensive experience in K-12 STEM education and program evaluation and assessment. She has held a variety of administrative positions: 1) Director of STEM Faculty Development Initiatives-Clemson, 2) Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences-Clemson, 3) Interim Director of Student Services-Oklahoma State University, 4) Coordinator of the Women in Engineering Program-Oklahoma State University, and 5) Director of the Oklahoma State University Measurement and Control Engineering Center-Oklahoma State University.

Sarah Zappe is the assistant dean of teaching and learning and director of the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at Penn State. Sarah is an educational psychologist with expertise in evaluation and faculty development. Her interests include entrepreneurship education, creativity, and the integration of art with engineering.