EESD Affiliates

Current Students

Alumni

Other affiliates

Current Students

Ieshya Anderson

Ieshya Anderson

Focus:

Exploring culturally responsive education in STEM
Participatory engineering
Curricular design and instructional strategies for engineering education
Perceptions of engineering in communities

ikanders@asu.edu

Lili Castillo

Lili Castillo

Focus

Engineering identity formation
Latino/a/x and first-generation college student pathways through engineering
Sense of belonging and persistence through engineering
First-year engineering experience programs

alcast11@asu.edu

Fantasi Nicole (Curry)

Fantasi Nicole (Curry)

Focus:

Scholar-activism and acts of resistance as empowerment among Scholars of Color in engineering
Race and gender studies in engineering graduate programs
Experiences of Black doctoral students in engineering

fantasi@asu.edu

Rachel Figard

Rachel Figard

Focus:

Learning-based technologies
STEM education policy
Accessibility in STEM fields for students with disabilities

rfigard@asu.edu

Ulises Trujillo Garcia

Ulises Trujillo Garcia

Focus

Increase retention in engineering through mentorship
Increase sense of belonging and engineering identity
Develop instructional strategies for a more inclusive curriculum
Experiences of Latino/x students with migrant and farm working backgrounds

ujtrujil@asu.edu

Michael Greene

Michael Greene

Focus:

Broadening participation in engineering
Black engineering graduate student experience
Novel instructional strategies/pedagogy

mlgree16@asu.edu

Jemal Halkiyo

Jemal Halkiyo

Focus:

Exploring barriers to quality international engineering education
Theory to practice disconnect in engineering teaching and learning in Ethiopia
Diversifying engineering education in Ethiopia, specifically gender diversity

jhalkiyo@asu.edu

Madeleine Jennings

Madeleine Jennings

Focus:

Critical theory in engineering education
LGBTQIA+ engineers and engineering students
Human systems engineering
General education research

mfjenni1@asu.edu

Sanjeev Kavale

Sanjeev Kavale

Focus:

First-year engineering education
Problem and project-based learning
Cooperative learning
Engineering design

skavale@asu.edu

Javeed Kittur

Javeed Kittur

Focus:

Persistence of students in online undergraduate engineering courses
Data analytics in engineering education
Engagement of novice engineering education researchers in conducting engineering education research
Engineering faculty preparedness in cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of learning

jkittur@asu.edu

Cecilia La Place

Cecilia La Place

Focus:

Hackathons
Lifelong learning
Self-regulated learning
Knowledge Transfer
Diversity and Inclusion in STEAM

Cecilia.Laplace@asu.edu

Yue Liu

Yue Liu

Focus:

Broadening participation in engineering
STEM education

yliu597@asu.edu

Marcus Vinicius Melo de Lyra

Marcus Vinicius Melo de Lyra

Focus:

Teaching methods to improve effective undergraduate learning
Curricular experiences for engineering faculty training at the undergraduate level
Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation mindset in engineering classroom

marcusvinicius.melodelyra@asu.edu

Christopher Mar

Christopher Mar

Focus:

Engineering education
Embedded systems

cmar2@asu.edu

Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez

Focus:

mastery-based learning
learning interventions
alternative pedagogy
student sense of belonging and identity

clperez3@asu.edu

Hadley Perkins

Hadley Perkins

Focus:

Curriculum design
Virtual instruction and distance learning
Faculty development

hadley.perkins@asu.edu

Diego Reyes

Diego Reyes

Focus:

Creating and strengthening pathways to engineering
Breaking down barriers that exist in engineering
Building pathways between community colleges and universities

diego.reyes@asu.edu

Abimelec Mercado-Rivera

Abimelec Mercado Rivera

amerca24@asu.edu

Susan Sajadi

Susan Sajadi

Focus:

Adaptability of the engineering workforce
Broadening participation in engineering through diversity, equity and inclusion

Susan.Sajadi@asu.edu

Himani Sharma

Himani Sharma

Focus:

Defining and developing frameworks to improve education for future engineers
Design-based learning methodologies
Student experiences in undergraduate and graduate engineering education

hsharm10@asu.edu

Bala Vignesh Sundaram

Bala Vignesh Sundaram

Focus:

Teacher empathy within the field of engineering education

bsundar8@asu.edu

Thien Ta

Thien Ta

Focus:

Team dynamics and innovation
Teaching methods

Thien.Ta@asu.edu

Katreena Thomas

Katreena Thomas

Focus:

Broadening participation in engineering, engineering leadership, and graduate student experiences in engineering
Read more about Thomas’s goals to make engineering more diverse and inclusive

katreena.thomas@asu.edu

Amy Trowbridge

Amy Trowbridge

Focus:

Curricular and co-curricular experiences to broaden and enhance student perspectives
Grand Challenge Scholars Program

Amy.Trowbridge@asu.edu
(480) 965-4830

Zhen Zhao

Zhen Zhao

Focus:

Engineering graduate student professional skills development, specifically the interconnection between leadership and mentorship
Evaluation of engineering education and outreach program processes, outcomes and impacts
Engineering graduate student attrition

Zhen.Zhao.1@asu.edu

Alumni

Rohini Abhyankar

Rohini Abhyankar
Postdoctoral Fellow
Penn State Leonard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education

Focus:

Acculturation dynamics and outcomes in engineering workplaces
Faculty development: Risk-taking and additive innovation
Professional pathways for graduating engineers: Socializer influence

Rohini.Abhyankar@asu.edu

Hadi Ali

Hadi Ali
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Focus:

Adaptability, risk-taking and value making
Design and performance of higher education actors and institutions
Work of the future

“I found the Poly campus to be unique from first sight. Dr. McKenna was the director at the time of my first visit. I knew I was going to be back to this campus to pursue my doctoral studies in engineering education systems and design—a program that was still in the making when I first visited. I found a unique niche in this program, being one that is focused on the “systems and design” of the educational enterprise—an area that appeals to me. In my prior graduate studies, I met with Norm Augustine, a well-known figure in aerospace who has shaped the innovation policy of science and technology in the U.S. When I explained my interests and background to him, he immediately encouraged me to study education as a system. There was no other place for me to pursue my ideas other than ASU, and no other Ph.D. advisor who could harness my diverse interests other than Dr. McKenna. I’m thankful for great times with the faculty, friends and colleagues in EESD, The Polytechnic School, the Graduate and Professional Students Association, Changemaker Central, the Decision Theater and the ASU Karate Club.”

hadi.ali@erau.edu

Wen Huang

Wen Huang
Postdoctoral fellow at Southern Methodist University – Simmons School of Education and Human Development

Focus:

Multimodal learning
Embodied cognition
Advanced pedagogy in education, particularly in STEM education

“ASU’s EESD program is the place where I started my research dream. Thanks to the faculty, course instruction and research guidance for helping me find my research interests and conduct meaningful studies during my PhD education. In general, I have formed two research directions: the pedagogy of engineering course instruction and the interactive learning environment. I will explore the potential of integrating the interactive learning environment into the engineering/STEM course instruction during my post-doctoral period.”

Mark Huerta

Mark Huerta
Assistant professor
Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Tech

Focus:

authentic and experiential learning
project-based learning in first-year design courses
service learning in engineering education
humanitarian engineering
professional development and mentorship
mindfulness in engineering education

“Through the EESD program, I was able to connect with outstanding faculty that are passionate about improving engineering education. I developed a systems-level view of engineering education and learned the best practices for conducting effective research within the field. The EESD program also helped shape my teaching perspective and prepared me well to be a successful faculty member.”

markhuerta@vt.edu

Eunsil Lee

Eunsil Lee
Assistant Professor
University of Buffalo

Focus:

sense of belonging & Inclusion
interpersonal interactions
underrepresented
underserved students

“Every experience in the EESD program was learning that prepared me as an educator and researcher in engineering education. I learned how to conduct research while being involved in the rigorous research processes within the community of faculty and peers who respect and value different perspectives. I learned how to teach and mentor students through my first-hand experience of being supported by my advisors and other faculty members in the EESD program who truly care about their students. And now, I am witnessing how my learning in the EESD community is translating into practice in my current position – Thank you, EESD!”

eunsil@vt.edu

Michael Sheppard

Michael Sheppard
Adjunct Faculty
Colorado School of Mines

Engineer
Certa Scientia Consulting

Focus:

Multidisciplinary engineering curriculum design
Strengths-based research
Military veterans in engineering
Transitions of survivors of trauma

“Never have I felt more supported in my academic pursuits than during my time as a student of the engineering education systems and design program at ASU. The faculty fostered my development as a researcher of engineering education and adjacent fields such as healthcare, quality and social justice. Through my studies and experiences, I have gained a better understanding of research-based teaching practices which continue to inform my decisions as a practitioner of engineering instruction and operational efficiency in industry.”

Michael.Sheppard@asu.edu