KNC Archive | Engineering Unleashed

The KEEN National Conference (KNC) brings together hundreds of faculty, staff, and administrators annually who are interested in graduating engineers with an entrepreneurial mindset. This page contains snapshots from previous years. See our most recent conference.

A Look Back at #KNC2024

The 2024 KEEN National Conference was held on February 8-10, 2024, in Austin, TX.

Explore workshops and conference pictures with the interactive recap!

Plenary: University of Dayton and iFLY Panel

Imagine a curriculum where case studies are more than technical dissections. Instead, they're narratives of real-world opportunities, designed to inspire and engage.

In this journey of educational transformation, the University of Dayton faculty and iFLY, with its state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnels, are leading the way. They've embraced case studies as a powerful method to not only impart knowledge but also inspire innovation and value creation.

This dynamic session explored how these vibrant case studies are revolutionizing the way we teach and how they're molding the innovative engineers of tomorrow.

Plenary: Cheyenne Raker (Engineering Alum)

While pursuing her Masters in Industrial Design, Cheyenne Raker (Georgia Institute of Technology '21, Masters; Ohio Northern University '18) found her passion for the toy and game industry. With her background in both engineering and industrial design, she launched DesignByChey, her freelance business as a toy and game inventor.

Cheyenne's story illustrates the power of moments and how faculty can inspire an unexpected career path.

Plenary: George Valcarcel (Engineering Alum)

George Valcarcel (The Ohio State University '20) is the Manager of Business Development at AURA Network Systems, which is building an FAA-compliant network utilizing licensed aviation spectrum to accelerate advanced levels of autonomy in controlled national airspace. Previously, George was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and was part of McKinsey’s Future Air Mobility hub.

George's path showcases how a nurturing academic environment can fuel curiosity and entrepreneurial ambition.

Keynote: Dr. Sharon Walker

Through her role in the ELATES program (Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science) and beyond, Dr. Walker (Dean, College of Engineering at Drexel University) has been instrumental in integrating innovative thinking with technical expertise, preparing a new wave of leaders for the evolving landscape of STEM.

In her session, Dr. Walker shared her insights, championing a vision where educators and students alike embrace an entrepreneurial mindset - not just in theory, but as a practice that shapes the very fabric of engineering education. Connect with Sharon.

What Did Attendees Find Most Valuable?

"Learning new tools and ideas while networking with a diverse group of peers who are all excited about enabled the next generation of engineers." -James Swisher, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers

"I’m feeling inspired and motivated to bring back new ideas and insights to MSOE CAECM Department. As a proud KEEN partner, my goal is to create exceptional learning experiences that foster an entrepreneurial mindset in our students. Here's to an exciting future of inspiring the next generation of Milwaukee School of Engineering graduates!" - Dr. DeAnna Leitzke, Milwaukee School of Engineering

"The stories of student ingenuity that folks shared from Makerspaces across the country were nothing short of astounding. The skills students acquire, the accomplishments they achieve, and the collaborative communities they construct in these spaces are - in my mind - key to a future vision of higher education that inculcates creative flames in tandem with hands-on practical expertise." -Dr. Gordon Maples, The Odum Institute for Research in Social Science

"Actionable ideas and new connections with other faculty. There were several great ideas and engaged fun delivery in the Sustainability session. I will immediately use tools from Story Narratives in my advising sessions. I led the Develop A Mindset of Learning from Failure with Mastery-based Learning session and had a blast, the audience engagement was fantastic!" -Kurt DeGoede, Elizabethtown College

"For each workshop session, I walked away with something concrete that I could immediately implement in my classes!" -Richard Goldberg, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"These conferences are just amazing at building connections. I get a ton out of the people. Thank you for doing this right. I enjoyed meeting lots of new people and having so many choices for sessions." -Tim Doughty, University of Portland

=====

Snapshot from #KNC2023

The 2023 KEEN National Conference (#KNC2023) was held online and in person on January 26-28, 2023.

544 Attendees	93 Institutions
112 Presenters	43 Workshops

Resources

Cards from workshops

DIY mindset kits, publishing potential, and more

Videos

Keynote Speakers

Erika Wagner

Blue Origin - Senior Director Emerging Market Development

Watch her keynote.

Dr. Erika Wagner serves as Senior Director of Emerging Market Development for Blue Origin, a developer of vehicles and technologies to enable human space transportation. Prior to joining Blue Origin, Dr. Wagner worked with the X PRIZE Foundation as Senior Director of Exploration Prize Development and founding Executive Director of the X PRIZE Lab@MIT.

Narayanan "Bobby" Kasthuri

Argonne National Laboratory - Neuroscience Researcher

Watch his keynote.

Narayanan “Bobby” Kasthuri combines the power of electron microscopy and supercomputing to construct connectomes. In 2015, Kasthuri joined Argonne National Laboratory, becoming the first neuroscientist to be hired at the U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory. Kasthuri is also an assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology at The University of Chicago.

Austin Ramirez

Husco International, Inc. - Chief Executive Officer

Watch his keynote.

Austin Ramirez is CEO of Husco, a privately held engineering and manufacturing company. During his tenure as CEO the company has tripled in size to more than $500M in global sales, received designation as Global Growth Company by the World Economic Forum and been recognized as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year.

=====