ENE Industrial Advisory Council (E2IAC)
Formed in 1997, the Industrial Advisory Council provides guidance and support to the Purdue School of Engineering Education (ENE) for reaching the School's broad strategic goals and achieving new levels of excellence in the First-Year Engineering Program, undergraduate and graduate programs, scholarly research, and P-12 engineering research and learning.
Members
Council members are both alumni and non-alumni of the Purdue College of Engineering. They comprise practicing engineers, engineering managers, and engineering executives, representing a cross-section of companies and interests in engineering in general, and in engineering education in particular. Membership is at the invitation of the School head.
Krista Comstock, Chair, E2IAC; Corporate Modeling and Simulation, The Proctor and Gamble Company
John Babb, Lead Customer Advocate & Director of CONFORM Office, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Dianne Beever, Independent Consultant
Timothy L. Jacobs, Director, Research Science and Planning, Amazon
Rick Kosdrosky, Retired, BAE Systems, Inc.
Kristen McCain, Consultant, Leadership Development-Manufacturing and Quality, Eli Lilly and Company
Reginald McGregor, Engineering Employee Development Manager, Rolls-Royce North American, Inc.
Steven Nieting, Continuous Performance Improvement Manager, Schlumberger
Chris Rehrig, Manager, Instrumentation & Equipment Technology, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Mary Smith, Senior Vice President, Walker Parking Consultants, Inc.
Denise Tears, Research and Engineering Manager, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Pawel Zajac, Engineering Manager, Caterpillar, Inc.
Meetings
The council meets in the spring and fall on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. Meetings are structured somewhat like a brainstorming session with the work of the council focused on the School's issues, directions, future, and how they impact and are impacted by the industry. Presentations by ENE faculty and staff provide an overview of various topics and are followed by break-out sessions designed to generate ideas and action items.
In addition to giving counsel to the department, our E2AC members are asked to meet with student groups when they return to campus to share their stories, experiences, and advice with students. An optional panel discussion is held the evening prior to the E2IAC meeting and offers an opportunity for council members to share their experience and advice with a select group of students. Many of our E2IAC members say that it is one of the most rewarding aspects of their service to Purdue. The conversation is largely directed by student questions and has covered such topics as the best classes to take to prepare for a given career, balancing family and work, diversity at their companies, the future for the field of engineering in the United States, and how to comport yourself in an interview.
Contributions
E2IAC members are required to contribute $5,000 annually per member company. Funds from council member companies support a variety of vital programs and initiatives in the school, such as student scholarships, student support services, curriculum development, special program activities, equipment for lab experiments, and graduate research. ENE does not reimburse members for incurred expenses of travel, lodging, or meals. Meals are provided for the day of the meeting.