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Michael Preuss, EdD, is the Co-founder and Lead Consultant for Exquiri Consulting, LLC. His primary focus is providing assistance to grant project teams in planning and development, through external evaluation, and as publication support. Most of his work involves STEM education and advancement projects and is completed for Minority-Serving Institutions. He also conducts research regarding higher education focused on the needs and interests of underserved populations and advancing understanding of Minority-Serving Institutions.

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Karen Butler-Purry is the Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies as well as a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Her research interests include computer and intelligent systems applications to power distribution systems and engineering education. She can be reached by e-mail at klbutler@tamu.edu.

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Shannon D. Walton, PhD, is an Assistant Dean for the Graduate and Professional School and the Director of Educational Achievement for the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Holding dual positions, Dr. Walton’s responsibilities range from the recruitment and retention of a talented and diverse graduate student population to the management of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, like the NSF-funded Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), aiming at increasing the number of underrepresented minority students successfully completing high quality degree programs in STEM disciplines.

A product of one of the very programs that she currently directs, LSAMP, Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, a master’s degree in Safety Engineering, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Engineering, all from Texas A&M University.

With research interests rooted in engineering education, the learning styles of engineering students in particular, Shannon’s tenure at Texas A&M is and has been rooted in the mentoring of both undergraduate and graduate students. Currently an advisor for the Texas A&M National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Chapter and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a service organization, Shannon is no stranger to mission and vision of the academic excellence and cultural responsibility.

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Ahmarlay Myint is a doctoral student in Higher Education Administration.

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Maria Claudia Alves
Senior Director for the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs at Texas A&M University

Dr. Maria C. Alves is the Director for the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs at Texas A&M University . She has been in this position since July 2012. In this position she is responsible for internationalizing the research and education activities of the Dwight Look College of Engineering. Under her leadership the college has significantly increased the number of students studying abroad, established new models of study abroad including co-op and research abroad and established meaningful connection for research and attraction of funded international graduate students. Maria started working at Texas A&M in 2005 as Assistant Director for Latin American Programs and in 2009 she was promoted to Program Manager for South America in the same office. During her time at the Office for Latin America Programs she created, managed and developed projects to enhance the presence of Texas A&M University in Latin American and to support in the internationalization of the education, research, and outreach projects of the university. She was charged with the development and implementation of a strategic plan for Texas A&M in South America. While at the Office for Latin America Programs, Maria was also responsible for the opening of the Soltis Center in Costa Rica. Maria speaks three languages fluently (Spanish, Portuguese and English) as well as intermediate French. Maria is originally from Brazil and completed her undergraduate studies at Lynn University in Florida, where she graduated with honors in Business Administration in 2002. She was part of the tennis team and was the team captain for two years, including the year the team was NCAA National Champion in 2001. She is a December 2003 graduate of the MS-Marketing program at Texas A&M University. And in the Fall of 2009, Maria graduated with a PhD program in Higher Education Administration in August 2017.

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John A. Walewski, Ph.D., is an associate professor of practice with the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University with research interests in sustainable design and construction techniques, risk management and insurance, pre-project planning, and the use of alternative project delivery and procurement methods. John is a Board member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Central Texas-Balcones Chapter. Dr. Walewski obtained a Civil Engineering Ph.D. (Construction Engineering and Project Management focus) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) in May 2005, and became a research associate with UT’s Center for Transportation Research assisting with local, regional, and national transportation issues. Before moving to Texas, John was a program officer with the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment at the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, in Washington, DC. He has over fifteen years of experience in industry and research associated with the planning, design, transportation, and construction professions. Dr. Walewski obtained a graduate degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan, and a BS in construction management as well as a BLA in landscape architecture from Michigan State University.

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