Ipri-Brown Begins Term as ASME’s 143rd President

Ipri-Brown is a Fellow of ASME, has served on the ASME Board of Governors, and has been an active member of the Society for 34 years, including her years as a student member.

Ipri-Brown is a strategic partnership specialist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM), which also serves as the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office for Manufacturing USA. Prior to joining OAM, she served as the associate dean for educational outreach, as founding director of the ExploreHope Academic Outreach Office, and as an associate professor of engineering instruction at Hope College in Holland, Mich. She also served as associate director of the STEM Education Partnerships at Northwestern University, where she directed teacher professional development programmes, grant writing, and new programme development.   

At ASME, Ipri-Brown has held numerous positions of leadership, including serving on the ASME Board of Governors and the Executive Committee, and as a member of the Public Affairs and Outreach Council. She served as vice president of the Committee on Government Relations and was named an ASME Federal Fellow and served at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where she fostered strategic partnerships to support technology-based economic development initiatives. She also held the position of vice president of ASME’s Global Outreach and was a member of the Society’s Council on Education.

Ipri-Brown actively encourages the next generation of engineers through STEM programmes for area Scout councils along with devoting time as a coach and judge for FIRST robotics programmes. Within her work and community, she is a long-time advocate of programmes that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the engineering profession.

Ipri-Brown earned her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University. She is a recipient of the ASME Dedicated Service Award.

In addition, the ASME Board of Governors welcomed the following four individuals who were elected by the ASME membership to a three-year term that ends June 2027:

Nicole Kaufman Dyess, an ASME member, currently works as an independent consultant who helps her clients bring emerging energy technologies to market. Her 24-year career includes strategic programme management and product development leadership positions at for-profit, non-profit, and government organisations.

An active ASME volunteer since her undergraduate studies, Dyess recently completed her service as ASME’s senior vice president for student and early career programmes. She earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from NC State University and a master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

William P. King, PhD., an ASME Fellow, is a professor and the Ralph A. Andersen Endowed Chair in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds courtesy appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. His work focuses on advanced manufacturing, microsystems and nanotechnology, heat transfer, and materials. He is the co-founder of three companies. His most recent company, Fast Radius, was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Lighthouse Factory, one of the world's best digital factories. King was the founding chief technology officer at MxD, one of the first Manufacturing USA Institutes.

King is active in ASME’s Heat Transfer Division, Manufacturing Engineering Division, and Microelectromechanical Engineering Division. He has published 280 journal articles and holds 21 patents. His awards include the PECASE award from the White House, the Gustus L. Larson Memorial Award from ASME, and the Ennor Award from ASME. He is an ASME Fellow, as well as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Physical Society, IEEE, SME International (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), and the National Academy of Inventors. He received a B.S. degree from University of Dayton and M.S. and PhD. degrees from Stanford University, all in mechanical engineering.

Lester K. Su, PhD., an ASME member, is a lecturer in the mechanical engineering department at Stanford University. His areas of expertise are experimental fluid mechanics, thermal sciences, and turbulent flows.

Su previously served as a faculty member in mechanical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the University of Wisconsin. At JHU, he received a National Science Foundation CAREER award, won a Diversity Recognition Award from the university, and received teaching awards from the JHU Alumni Association, school of engineering, and student government association. He also served as an ASME Congressional Fellow in 2000-2001 in the office of Rep. Vernon Ehlers, where he worked on issues including STEM education and funding for basic research in engineering and the sciences.

As an active volunteer with ASME for over 20 years, Su was the senior vice president of the Public Affairs and Outreach Sector and a member of the Philanthropy Committee. Previously, he chaired the Committee on Government Relations and the Federal Fellows selection committee, was an alternate to the Nominating Committee, and was the faculty advisor for the JHU Student Section. While at JHU, he founded an outreach programme to introduce middle school girls to engineering that was awarded three ASME Diversity Action Grants.

Su earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from the University of Chicago and did his graduate work at the University of Michigan, where he earned Master of Science degrees in mathematics and engineering and a PhD. in aerospace engineering. He also did post-doctoral work at the University of Texas and Stanford University.

Janis P. Terpenny, PhD., an ASME Fellow, is a programme director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) where she directs the Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI) programme and works with other related programmes focused on integrated digital environments for manufacturing and design. She is also a professor at George Mason University in systems engineering and operations research and in mechanical engineering. Her research focuses on smart integrated manufacturing systems, engineering design, and design education.

She has previously served as dean of engineering at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, department head of industrial and manufacturing engineering at Penn State, department chair of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering at Iowa State, professor of mechanical engineering and engineering education at Virginia Tech, and assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She previously worked for NSF in the Division of Undergraduate Education and in industry for General Electric (GE), including a two-year rotational management programme.

Terpenny has been actively involved with ASME for more than 20 years. She has chaired the Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Group (IMTG) and served on the Fellows Review Committee. She founded and for 10 years chaired/co-chaired the Broadening Participation Committee (BPart) for the Design Engineering Division. She served as the first associate editor focused on design education for the Journal of Mechanical Design (JMD) for six years and has organised sessions and presented papers at IDETC and MSEC for many years.

In addition to ASME, she is fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and has been actively engaged in other professional organisations, serving on boards, as associate editor of several journals, and is an innovator and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Master of Science. and PhD. degrees in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.

The Nominating Committee, under the leadership of ASME Fellow Oscar Barton, Jr., PhD., P.E., selected the following four nominees for future member-at-large positions on the Board of Governors. The nominees’ names will appear on the ballot in September 2024 and, if elected by the ASME membership, they will serve on the Board for a three-year term beginning June 2025. The Governor-Nominees are:

Carlos Alberto Beatty Jr., an ASME member, is a seasoned leader with expertise in the technology, energy/utility, and automotive industries, recently having served as a Strategy & Operations Director for Product and Technology at Expedia Group, and as a Chief of Staff for Brand Protection at Amazon. His roles emphasised strategic planning, operational efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration, leading to productivity and governance improvements.

With over 14 years as a member of ASME, he was a part of the Student and Early Career Development Sector supporting student leadership training both as an organiser and trainer, participated as an Early Career Leadership Intern Programme to Serve Engineering (ECLIPSE) intern for the ASME Volunteer Orientation and Leadership (VOLT) Academy, and served as a member and Chair of the Nominating Committee.

As a Board Member for the Centre of Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA) at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Carlos focuses on governance and supporting institutional goals. He is also the co-founder of Resumation, a free online resume-building tool. Carlos earned an MBA from the University of South Dakota and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Nelia Mazula, PMP, MBA, an ASME member, started her career as an engineer for a multi-billion-dollar natural gas project across both Mozambique and South Africa. She is an account manager for Siemens and has over 20 years of experience in the engineering and engineering software industries. She was an early employee for two software startups purchased by Siemens and has held numerous global leadership positions. She was the managing founder of an herbal tea retail manufacturer that distributed to over 20 H-E-B grocery stores.

Mazula was the FY22 President of the Federation of Houston Professional Women and the FY18 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) – Houston Area chapter. She is a lifetime member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and SWE for which she has held numerous leadership roles. She is currently a Senator for SWE. She is on the advisory board for the School of Engineering Construction and Petroleum Technology for Houston Community College. She has several technical certificates and over 15 published technical papers on digital strategies and engineering. During her work in Mozambique, she was recognised by the Minister of Natural Resources for her research work on natural gas condensate. Mazula received several awards and recognition for her work in software, energy, and DEI in STEM. She is a three-time awardee for top performance at Siemens. Mazula has five software patents for which she is featured in the National Inventor’s Museum as a Woman of Change.

Mazula volunteered for ASME on the verification and validation committee and has been active in the ASME Petroleum Division and currently sits on its executive committee. She was honoured by the Houston Business Journal for the Women Who Mean Business Award for her non-profit work focused on diversity in STEM.

Mazula is a certified professional project manager, earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University and an international MBA from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD).

Parisa Saboori, PhD., an ASME Fellow, is a Distinguished Lasallian Educator. She serves as the Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College, where her expertise significantly enhances the educational landscape for both students and the broader academic community.

Saboori's research focuses on biomedical applications, with a particular emphasis on advancing the understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in various contexts. Her investigations span from shaken baby syndrome to sports-related injuries and the safety of infants in car seats. Saboori has also made substantial strides in women's sports research, conducting studies on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female athletes. She has designed a knee brace that effectively mitigates ACL and leg injuries in women's sports.

Saboori’s ASME involvement includes membership in the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) Steering Committee, Committee on Organisation and Rules, Space Exploration, and Habitats Technology Group. She is treasurer of the Bioengineering Division and a mentor for the Volunteer Leadership Pathway – Mentor Programme. She served as a leadership Communications and Outreach Specialist for the Bioengineering Division and was a member of the Engineering Science Segment. Saboori was chair and co-chair for the Musculoskeletal and Sports Biomechanics track of IMECE and was an ECLIPSE intern in 2020. She was the recipient of the 2023 ASME Outstanding Student Section Advisor Award.

Saboori cofounded the Mechanical Engineering Women's (MEW) group at Manhattan College. This initiative complements the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and serves as a vital platform for addressing the social and professional challenges that female-identified individuals often encounter in the male-dominated field of mechanical engineering. Driven by her commitment to diversity and inclusivity, she actively promotes positive change in the academic and professional society.

Saboori earned a Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from The City University of New York.

Scott Smith, PhD., an ASME Fellow, is the Section Head for Precision Manufacturing and Manufacturing Innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was a professor of mechanical engineering at University of North Carolina, Charlotte from 1997–2019, and he was chair of the department from 2009–2019. He was assistant director for technology at the US Advanced Manufacturing National Programme Office from 2012 - 2013. He was on the mechanical engineering faculty at the University of Florida from 1987–1997. He was the founder and co-owner of Manufacturing Laboratories, Inc., and has been a consultant to numerous industrial partners.

Smith also is a Fellow of SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers), and CIRP (The International Academy for Production Engineering), and a Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Division of ASME, and president of the North American Manufacturing Research Institute of SME. He is co-author of the books Machining Dynamics: Frequency Response to Improved Productivity and Mechanical Vibrations: Modelling and Measurement and holds 14 patents.

Smith’s awards include the ASME/SME Merchant Manufacturing Medal, the ASME Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award, the ASME Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, the NAMRI/SME Wu Research Implementation Award, the SME Education Award, a Federal Laboratory Consortium Technology Transfer Impact Award, two R&D 100 Awards, and the NAMRI/SME Lifetime Service Award.

Within ASME, he was chair of the Tennessee Tech University Student Section, chair of the Gator Section, associate editor of the Journal of Engineering for Industry, chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Division, and member at large for the Committee on Division Operations and Training. He served on the Blackall, Ennor, and Shaw Award Committees, and he chairs the Merchant Medal Committee.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University, and a Master of Science degree and a PhD. from the University of Florida.