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| JHLP NewsletterSummer 2023 Vol. 2
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Hello, Friends:
As promised, here is Volume 2 of the Summer 2023 newsletter. If you missed the first volume, you'll find it online.
This newsletter features spring activities, lots of news about our award-winning students, and profiles of graduating HLAs. Many of the articles were written by Holmes Leadership Associates. We are proud to share these students' accomplishments with you.
With appreciation,
Kim Graves Wolfinbarger, Director
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| Dr. Teri Reed Shares Leadership Insightsby Natalie Norton
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JHLP partnered with OU's Women in Engineering program (WiE) to host Dr. Teri Reed, inaugural Director of the OU Polytechnic Institute, as our spring Distinguished Speaker. A proud OU engineering alumna, Dr. Reed is an internationally recognized leader in engineering education. She is a strong advocate for women in STEM and has held leadership positions at the University of Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Purdue, and OU. She previously served as President of WEPAN, the Women in Engineering ProActive Network.
During her presentation, “Filling Her Shoes: Women in Leadership,” Dr. Reed shared leadership lessons she has learned throughout her career. Using the metaphor of a fish bowl, she discussed internal mental models. Everyone is swimming in their own fishbowl, and we can forget that other people live in and have grown up in different “water” than we have.
Dr. Reed also discussed the importance of mentors, role models and sponsors. Role models are people we look up to learn how to lead and be successful; mentors ask us the hard questions, hold us accountable, and invest in our lives; and sponsors help us get in the door by advocating for our inclusion in new opportunities.
When asked to share a piece of leadership advice she wished she had learned earlier, Dr. Reed said to “go low” in tense situations. Taking a step back to calm down and lower your voice encourages people to listen closely and makes a big difference.
Prior to the speech Dr. Reed joined a small group of HLA and WiE students for dinner. In this intimate gathering, students were able to learn more about Dr. Reed in a casual and conversational setting. We were thankful to host Dr. Reed and to gain insight into leadership lessons she has learned throughout her career.
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|  | Dr. Teri Reed, director of the OU Polytechnic Institute, discusses challenges and opportunities during her presentation "Filling Her Shoes: Women in Leadership."
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HLAs Start Spring Semester with Social Event at HeyDay by Tadiwa Aubrey Mugwadi
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Late last fall, the JHLP committee chairs adopted Akio Toyoda’s motto “No more boring cars” and changed it to “More exciting meetings.” As a direct result, we held the Back to School Spring Social at HeyDay Norman where our associates got a team bonding experience featuring all you can eat pizza, bowling, laser tag, and arcade games.
This event set the tone for the entire spring semester as more meetings were held beyond the engineering quad. These events, especially the laser tag and bowling, gave HLA associates the opportunity to engage with each other in matters including our science and engineering journeys, hobbies, and common interests.
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| Students Visit Sensia Global in Duncanby Henry Mbogu
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|  | Students and Sensia staff pose outside the Duncan plant. Plant manager and OU ISE alumnus Nate Smith is on the right.
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As campus and corporate operations returned to a more normal format, JHLP organized its first industry site visit in several years. JHLP partnered with OU's student chapter of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers to visit the Sensia manufacturing plant in Duncan. Sensia is a leading automation specialist in oil & gas production, transportation, and processing.
Students toured the manufacturing facility with site manager, Nate Smith, an OU ISE alumnus and JHLP mentor. Students learned about manufacturing from the design stage through quality checks to packaging for deliveries. Following the tour, Sensia engineers and other staff conducted a panel discussion about leadership in the workplace and life after college. Students asked questions ranging from what it's like working in manufacturing to navigating new challenges. Valuable insights and advice were shared, allowing students to better understand how to maximize their college days.
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JHLP Offers Leadership Workshop Seriesby Henry Mbogu
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The leadership workshop series expanded this spring as JHLP collaborated with the Tom Love Innovation Hub and the Price College’s JCPenney Leadership Program (JCPLP) to host three workshops. The workshops were open to all Gallogly and Mewbourne students, as well as business students in JCPLP. At the first workshop, “Design Thinking,” I-CCEW Program Director Cassandra Rigsby led a practical, interactive session about a structured approach to innovation and its application to the design of products and business solutions. In the second workshop, “Understanding Corporate Financial Statements,” OU accounting instructor and CPA Kaimee Kellis discussed the standard financial statements used in business. This was of particular interest to the engineering students who had questions about the financial implications of engineering decisions and vice versa. The final workshop, “Negotiation Skills for Life,” featured OU-Tulsa professor and executive coach Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, author of the book Everything is Negotiable. This workshop educated students on effective approaches to getting the best terms for one’s self and team in various business and personal ventures.
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Young Engineering Alumni Discuss Leadership in the Workplaceby Natalie Norton
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The Oklahoma Young Engineering Alumni (OYEA) organization reached out to JHLP this semester eager to connect with current students. JHLP's Mentor-Alumni Relations Committee, chaired by Danuta Radyna, organized a panel discussion and networking reception featuring OYEA members from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, consulting, and energy. All students from the Gallogly and Mewbourne Colleges were invited. Panelists shared their insights about leadership and workplace success for young professionals. The students asked questions about topics ranging from continuing education to remote work to opportunities for volunteerism in the workplace. This event provided a great connection to OYEA and we look forward to future collaborations.
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Mentor Mixer and Spring Celebrationby Tadiwa Aubrey Mugwadi
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|  | HLAs Alene Basmadjian and Esther Kayondo chat with Professor Jude Okolie.
| |  | Mentor Matt Butzer answers a question as Tina Nguyen looks on.
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 | Pictured above are HLA Chase Cummins and mentor Marcos Stocco.
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Graduation can be an exciting and overwhelming time for those who are leaving and a bittersweet time for continuing students. To appreciate the guidance and recognize the achievements of graduating HLAs, we invited mentors and faculty to our annual Spring Celebration.
The evening began with a mentor mixer, an opportunity for HLAs to interact with their mentors while also meeting other mentors and faculty that support the program. Mentors for graduating students especially enjoyed celebrating with their mentees. On behalf of JHLP, we would like to wish our associates success in their next journey.
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Students Win Spring Awards
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HLAs continued to make an impact through academic, service, and extracurricular accomplishments. This year several HLAs were recognized at national, university, and college levels. Rylee Newport (biomedical engineering) received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Christian Newkirk (mechanical engineering) and Rachel Penner (engineering physics) were named Outstanding Senior for the Gallogly and Honors Colleges, respectively. Newkirk was also named to the Letzeiser Honor List. Esther Kayondo, another Letzeiser Honoree, was named Outstanding Senior for the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. Stephen Kooker (chemical engineering) received the university’s Campus Life Award.
JHLP once again presented the William J. Kennedy Leadership Award, recognizing senior students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service to the Gallogly College. Christian Newkirk (mechanical engineering) and Bethany “Wink” Winkle (biomedical engineering) were this year’s honorees, each receiving a $3500 cash award.
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Leadership Retreat Chair Patrick Oketcho was this year's recipient of JHLP's Make It Better Award, honoring a student, faculty member, or staff member who has made significant contributions to program operations. Honorees receive a pocket knife engraved with the phrase “Make It Better–Make It Happen.” The inspiration came from a favorite Gen. Holmes story about another engraved pocket knife, which he received from his commanding officer during his time as wing commander of Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Patrick graduated in May with a BS in chemical engineering.
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What's Next?Graduating HLAs Enter a New Chapter
by Tadiwa Mugwadi and Henry Mbogu
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Several Holmes Leadership Associates graduated in December and May. Some are pursuing additional education, while others are starting their careers in industry and government. We congratulate our graduates!
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Alene Basmadjian
MS, Mechanical Engineering; Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Alene will join Kimley Horn in Dallas, Texas, as a Civil Engineering Analyst.
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Christian Newkirk
BS, Mechanical Engineering
Christian will join Capital One in Washington DC as a Software Engineer.
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Rylee Newport
BS, Biomedical Engineering; Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Rylee will pursue a PhD at University of Florida as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
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Rabiea Abo Taha
BS, Electrical Engineering; minor in Computer Science; Certificate in Engineering Leadership.
Rabiea will remain at OU to pursue a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering.
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Sydney Potts
BS, Civil Engineering
Sydney will join Williams in Houston, Texas, as an Engineer I.
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Omar Hassan
BS, Mechanical Engineering
Omar will join Walmart Global Tech in Bentonville, Arkansas, as an Associate Product Manager.
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Keely Laurence
BS, Biomedical Engineering; Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Keely will pursue a PhD at the University of Delaware.
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Elina Avila
BS, Environmental Engineering; Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Elina will begin her career as a water resources engineer with Freese and Nichols in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
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Kaydra Barbre
MS, Geology
Kaydra will pursue a PhD in geology at OU.
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Caylin Nimmo
BS, Aerospace Engineering.
Caylin will remain at OU for a master's degree in aerospace engineering.
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Casey Seale
BS, Mechanical Engineering
Casey will be joining IBM in Dallas, TX, as a Technical Sales Engineer.
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Mahmoud Mousa Hamad
MS, Computer Science
Mahmoud will be working at OU's Data Institute for Societal Challenges as a software developer.
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Davin Rhule
MS, Mechanical Engineering
Davin will pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering at OU.
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Patrick Oketcho
BS, Chemical Engineering
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Sydney Kropp
BS, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Sydney will pursue a master's degree in industrial and systems engineering at OU.
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Esther Kayondo
BS, Civil Engineering
Esther will pursue a master's degree in civil engineering at OU.
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| Engineering Leadership Certificate Awarded to 8 Students
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Pursuing the undergraduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership continues to be a popular option for students, with 7 students earning the certificate this year. Recipients completed the required course Leadership and Management for Engineers and an additional 12 hours of electives aligned with JHLP’s Leadership Capabilities. The certificate curriculum incorporates courses from across the University in business, humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Completion is noted on a student’s transcript, providing tangible evidence of their leadership education. This year's recipients were Rabiea Abo Taha, Elina Avila, Chase Cummins, David Colindres, Nikhila Kunderu, Keely Laurence, and Rylee Newport.
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Mentors play a key role in HLAs' leadership development. They act as coaches, guides, and advocates, providing a listening ear as students make important decisions about life and careers. We will begin recruiting additional mentors later this summer, so email us if you would like to learn more.
To our current mentors, thank you! As always, we appreciate your feedback. If you have not already done so, please complete the Spring 2023 Mentorship Survey. This short survey takes 5–10 minutes and supports our continuous improvement efforts.
If your mentee is continuing their studies, stay in touch over the summer. When school resumes in August, we will maintain current matches as long as both the HLA and the mentor agree.
If your mentee has graduated, consider holding a closure meeting. An intentional closure process helps the formal mentorship relationship end on a positive note, allows the partners to reflect on their growth, and provides a transition to the next phase of the relationship. Chapter 8 of your Mentor's Guide book has suggestions for successful closure.
We appreciate the time you spend with your mentees and the effort put into the relationship. Thank you!
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