Dr. Kristi J. Shryock, TAMU ’97, is the Frank and Jean Raymond Foundation Inc. Endowed Associate Professor in Multidisciplinary Engineering, Affiliated Faculty in Aerospace Engineering, Director of the Craig and Galen Brown Engineering Honors Program, and Director of the National Academy of Engineers Grand Challenges Scholars Program at Texas A&M University. The Aggie engineer has served the university for over 25 years, first as an undergraduate student researcher and currently as a faculty member in multidisciplinary and aerospace engineering. She has received numerous teaching awards and was selected in the 2022 US Frontiers of Engineering cohort from the National Academy of Engineering.
She is regularly invited to present her work related to teaching and the engineering education field at events both nationally and internationally. Shryock has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students on projects related to engineering education, including active learning, engineering identity, personalized learning modules, enhanced understanding using interactive documents, team-based learning, teaching with technology, and retention of engineering students. She is currently PI or Co-PI on NSF and DoD grants totaling over $4M related to the educational experience for students. One grant, in particular, has placed the aerospace engineering department in a very elite group of only nineteen engineering departments in the nation. The NSF-sponsored project aims to revolutionize the aerospace engineering educational experience. The program goal is to change the culture of instruction and learning in a way that imparts students with knowledge, skills and confidence to look beyond traditional boundaries. Doing so will lead to a new aerospace engineering educational experience that will appeal to a more diverse student population and will strengthen the impact of Texas A&M graduates in both traditional and nontraditional fields. She is known by students and faculty as having boundless energy and enthusiasm and a true passion for helping students learn and succeed.
Gibin Raju is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Engineering Education in the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M University. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Education from the University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on transformative learning, creativity, critical thinking skills, spatial skills, and engineering design, with particular attention to cognitive stress, cognitive load, and STEM accessibility. By integrating these strategies into a holistic framework, Dr. Raju enhances workforce development, strengthens engineering pathways, and broadens participation in STEM fields. His work equips educators with tools to personalize instruction and foster professional identity, ultimately preparing future engineers to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Trini S. Balart is a PhD student in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. With a focus on Engineering education and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on education. She completed her bachelor of Computer Science Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Her main research interests include improving engineering students’ learning, innovative ways of teaching and learning, and how artificial intelligence can be used in education in a creative and ethical way. Developer of the Artificial General Intelligence Integration into Engineering Education (AGIIEE) Framework.
Naila Syed is a full-time Physics faculty member at Dallas College. She has an Electrical Engineering background from University of Texas at Dallas. Her interests include conducting informal STEM workshops for K-12 students, and writing children’s books with a STEM theme. Her future plans include becoming a better Physics instructor and writing more children’s literature. Her research focus has been Black Engineering student retention from first year to second year, and the first higher education institutions in world history and their inclusive model and STEM innovations. Her graduate thesis was about Interests and Motivation Factors for Female Minorities in Engineering.
Eghosa Alao obtained an aerospace engineering degree at Texas A&M with a minor in business and a certificate in holistic engineering leadership. He has completed three internships with Northrop Grumman as a Vehicle Engineering Intern, and has previous research experience in the Texas A&M University Advanced Vertical Flight Lab. Additionally, he previously served as the Programs Chair and Pre-Collegiate Initiative Chair for the Texas A&M National Society of Black Engineers (TAMU NSBE) chapter. Currently, he is the co-founder and president of EarlyBirds Initiative, a youth STEAM outreach non-profit organization for disadvantaged populations. His aerospace interests include renewable energy, VTOL, and fluid/electric propulsion.
Luis is a senior majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in mathematics from Monterrey, Mexico. During his time with the 
Laksha Arora is a freshman in engineering at Texas A&M University from Austin, Texas and is currently part of the NUA2CED lab at the university. Her research work mainly revolves around exploring the capabilities and limitations of Chat GPT, an advanced language model. Although she has not yet chosen her major, Laksha is interested in pursuing a career in either computer science or data engineering. Additionally, Laksha has an interest in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity. Outside the lab, she is an active member of the Aggie Women in Computer Science Club and Aggie Coding Club.
Kamya Arora is currently a freshman general engineering major at Texas A&M University from Austin, Texas. She is interested in pursuing a career in computer science/data engineering with a minor in cybersecurity. As an undergraduate research assistant in the NUA2NCED laboratory, she has been focused on creating remote resources to aid students in mathematics and physics-related modules required for all engineers. Kamya is also actively involved with many campus organizations, some of which include Aggie Women in Computer Science and the Engineering Mentorship Council.
Ben Casillas is a senior aerospace engineering major from Pflugerville, Texas. In the NUANCED laboratory, they are investigating the effectiveness of unconventional applications for introductory aerospace curriculum in exam-format problems. The goals for this study include improving students’ engagement in and understanding of their course content, as part of a broader effort under the NSF REDO-E grant to reach out to underrepresented populations in engineering. The results of this study are currently under review for publication in the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Braden Farrell is a Sophomore Aerospace Engineering major from Houston, Texas. Recently, Braden returned home from serving a two-year mission in Oregon with his church, and is now working towards a Master’s Degree in Aerospace. He is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the NUA2NCED laboratory where he has been focusing on Hydrofoil research and prototyping for electrically-powered aquatic vehicles. Braden’s Aerospace passions include the fundamentals of flight, spacecraft, propulsion, and astrophysics.
Zachary Reinert is a Senior aerospace engineering major at Texas A&M with a double minor in mathematics and business, from Fort Worth, Texas. He is currently an undergraduate research assistant at 
Alexandra Sweeney is a junior chemical engineering major from Austin, Texas. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant in the NUA2NCED laboratory where she has been assisting in researching test anxiety. She has served as family events chair and bid day chair for her sorority Alpha Delta Pi. Alexandra plans to use her chemical engineering degree to work in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.