Dean's Leadership Institute

Started in 1994, the Dean's Leadership Institute (DLI) provides a series of unique seminars for outstanding students. The Institute brings together the area's top technical and community leaders, along with select students from the College. The goal of the Institute's seminars is to provide an environment where candid dialogues can occur.

Student selection for the DLI is based on academic achievement, leadership skills, and commitment to participation. Typically, 15-20 junior level students are selected to participate each year. The DLI consists of 6 seminars on Friday evenings during the academic year. The hour-long seminars allow students to hear first-hand from noted speakers about:

• lifetime achievements and experiences
• important characteristics that helped develop his/her leadership skills
• advice for young student leaders preparing for careers
• the entrepreneurial spirit, and
• personal hardships that helped shape his/her career and life

Past speakers have included:

• Annette Clayton, Vice President, Americas Manufacturing and Distribution Operations, Dell Inc., Texas
• Michael Di Flora, President & Founder, The Home Group, LLC - a Venture Capitalist Company
• Curt Schacker, Vice President of Professional Services, Real-Time innovations (RTI), California
• Kris Joshi, Founder and Chairman, UES, Inc.
• Ronald Bullock, Chairman and CEO, Bison Gear & Engineering, Illinois
• Jeff Almoney, Director, Global Information Systems and Services, GM Corporation, Michigan
• Jennifer Whitestone, President, Total Contact, Inc.
• Stephen Solch, President, Business Labs, A Division of Digital Concepts, Inc.

Students interested in applying for the Dean's Leadership Institute can download the application form, or can contact Teri Shepherd in the Dean's Office at teri.shepherd@wright.edu or (937) 775-5007. Applications are due each year around mid-May. The selection process will conclude with a brief interview with the dean or assistant dean. Decisions are made by September.

Current Participants

	Victor N. Agbugba Major: Electrical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2012 High School: Evangel College Hometown: Abia, Nigeria agbugba.2@wright.edu	Being an electrical engineer has always been Victor's goal since childhood. As the vice-president of the Junior Engineers, Scientist and Technician Club (JETS club) in high school, his passion for studying electrical engineering was appreciated. At WSU he is able to get the quality education he left Nigeria for, knowing how equipped and productive he'll be to his country and the global society as a whole. He is an Honors student at WSU and is currently the membership chair of the National Society of Black Engineers Region IV WSU chapter. In the summer of 2008, he successfully completed the Glenn Stokes Research where he researched on how to improve the problems of an active band pass filter. Currently, he works at Iya Technology Laboratories, a company that won the 2009 SION award for the best innovative company in Dayton. He plans to get his masters in electrical engineering and after producing his dream device, he will continue researching new things to help make the world a better place to live.
	Costa P. Alimonos Major: Biomedical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Bellbrook Hometown: Dayton, Ohio alimonos.2@wright.edu	In high school, Costa was involved in the National Honor Society, attended the National Youth Leadership Program on Medicine in Chicago, and was a member of the football, wrestling, and tennis teams. At Wright State University, he is currently Director of Public Relations for the Wright Engineering Counsel and serves as activities coordinator for Biomedical Engineering Society and Pre-Med Society. He is a tutor for the Student Academic Success Center and UVC 101 instructor for 1st year students. After graduation he would like to study and conduct research in the field of cardiology, either through medical school or graduate school in engineering.
	Asela A. Benthara Wadumesthrige Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Ananda College Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka anuruddhika.2@wright.edu	In high school, Asela was able to become the senior secretary of the Buddhist association, which was the main social works club in the school. After graduating high school, he was able to attend the University of Kelaniya in 2007 majoring in physics. Outside of campus, Asela pursued a degree in electrical engineering at the Institute of Technological Studies. He came to Wright State University as an electrical engineering student, but after taking a job in the mechanical engineering department, he was able to discover his skills in that field of study. He is currently working as a research lab assistant under Dr. Haibo Dong. He has done many research projects involving direct injection of the Wankel Rotary engine, a Pontiac Solstice engine, and a Rotax engine. Asela is also a member of Dr. Dong's micro air vehicle research group where he's doing modeling for his research about insect flights. Asela is expecting to continue his graduate studies at WSU as a mechanical engineering student majoring in renewable energy and by doing more research work based on Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis and exploring new methods to increase the efficiency of the automobile engines.
	David Bricker Major: Electrical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Ramstein American Hometown: Dayton, Ohio bricker.9@wright.edu	David Bricker graduated as an Honor student at Ramstein American High School in Germany. His high school involvements included varsity tennis, officer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and leader in a youth group band. Since then he has been a part of the honors program at WSU and has been on the Dean's list repeatedly. He has a strong commitment to service and has spent time volunteering at the Dayton Gospel mission locally and also participated in service trips to Mexico, Slovenia, and Norway. His future goals include finishing his degree in Electrical Engineering with a view towards a graduate degree.
	Paul M. Cary Major: Electrical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Bellbrook Hometown: Bellbrook, Ohio cary.9@wright.edu	Paul has lived in six states and the Czech Republic. He moved to Bellbrook as a high school freshman where he participated in the Dayton Honors Society, National Honor Society, and Academic Team. Paul enrolled in the Post Secondary Education Adoption (PSEA) and studied at Sinclair and University of Dayton during his junior and senior years. At Wright State University, Paul is a member of the University Classical Guitar Ensemble. He works at the Math Learning Center as a tutor and at South Dayton PCA Church as the sound team coordinator. After graduation, Paul plans to go to Lutherie School and start a Lutherie business.
	Greg Chaney Major: Biomedical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Big Walnut Hometown: Westerville, Ohio chaney.33@wright.edu	Greg Chaney was born and raised in Westerville, Ohio. Growing up he played a lot of sports, which included baseball, football, basketball, golf, and soccer. He graduated from Big Walnut High School in 2007. The high school was a pretty good size school in a small town so everyone knew everyone. His mother is a case manager at Nationwide Children's hospital in Columbus and she is also an Registered Nurse. Greg thinks the reason why he has always been fascinated in the medical field and why he is currently a Biomedical Engineer undergrad is due to his mother. He is currently interning at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio in the Clinical Engineering department. He is learning all about the newest medical equipment and how to repair the equipment when problems arise. After graduating he hopes to attend a medical school or a graduate school for biomedical engineering. He is very excited for the opportunity to be in the Dean's Leadership Institute and is looking forward to the rest of his junior year!
	Zach Gaston Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Madison Jr./Sr. Hometown: Middleton, Ohio gaston.8@wright.edu	Zach is currently in his third year of undergraduate studies here at Wright State University. He is involved with several organizations on campus. He is an officer in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has been active in the organization since fall quarter when he began his studies. He is also a member of the Student Honors Association (SHA), Dean Student Advisory Board, and the CARS Program. Through the CARS Program, he has been involved with Micro Air Vehicle and High Speed Imaging research since Winter of 2008. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, reading, listening to music, and playing sports.
	Andrew W. Grdadolnik Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Brunswick Hometown: Brunswick, Ohio grdadolnik.2@wright.edu	While attending Brunswick High School, Andrew was a trumpet player in the marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble. He was also a member of the boys' tennis team and a member of the National Honor Society. At Wright State Andrew has maintained a part-time job as an undergraduate lab assistant in one of the university's Biochemistry Molecular Biology labs since his freshman year. He was also selected for a membership to the National Society of Mechanical Engineers. Upon graduating, he would like to pursue a career in either the automotive or aerospace industries with a focus on design and/or power systems such as fuel cells, and possibly pursue a master's degree.
	Wesam Helou Major: Biomedical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: The International School of Choueifat-Koura Hometown: Fairborn, Ohio helou.4wright.edu	Wesam completed his high school degree in Lebanon. At Wright State University, he is the vice president of the Biomedical Engineering Society and the director of freshman relations in the Wright Engineering Council. Wesam is also a teaching assistant for anatomy and physics. Long-term, he would like to do research concerning cancer and eventually attain a PhD in biomedical engineering or become a medical doctor.
	Tyler Hester Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Bethel Christian School Hometown: El Paso, TX hester.12@wright.edu	Tyler graduated from Bethel at the top of his class in the spring of 2007. The following semester, he attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he was selected for a pilot class in Energy & Society. He was also a student representative for the ASME student club, was on the Dean's List of the Engineering College, and was selected for the scholarship award for academic excellence. The following year, he transferred to Wright State as a more economical alternative that was close to home. He started as a sophomore and he has fully enjoyed his new school. He received Dean's List honors again last year, as well as being selected for SMART scholar through the American Society for Engineering Education, Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. The program will pay his tuition, give him an internship next summer, and grant him a job as an Air Force civilian engineer after graduation in the spring of 2011.
	Conrad Jett Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Troy Christian Hometown: Troy, Ohio jett.5@wright.edu	Conrad is currently a Senior Airman in the U.S. Air Force and works as a crew chief within aircraft maintenance. He is an Eagle Scout and has participated in Air Force ROTC and a Junior Leadership Training Course. Conrad would like to pursue a career as a test engineer, possibly serving as a test pilot for the Aur Force or for a private corporation like Boeing or Lockheed Martin.
	Jade O'Mara Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Franklin Hometown: Franklin, Ohio omara.4@wright.edu	Jade O'Mara is a fourth year mechanical engineering student at Wright State University. Jade is a member of the Honors program and her student activities include: the Society of Women Engineers of which she is the Vice President for the 2009-2010 school year, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Academic Advantage Program. As a 2006 graduate from Franklin High School in Franklin, Ohio, her involvement included: National Honors Society, color guard, peer facilitators, SADD and French club.
	Kathleen Meyer Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Hamilton Hometown: Hamilton, Ohio meyer.137@wright.edu	As a high school student, Katie participated in soccer and was captain her senior year of the varsity soccer team. She was also selected to attend leadership training at the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation in Colorado over the summer of her sophomore year. Katie graduated 3rd in her class and is a recipient of the Di Flora Memorial Scholarship. While at WSU, she has made the Dean's List every quarter. Katie has completed a co-op with Emerson Climate Technologies in Sidney, Ohio. She is currently co-oping at WPAFB as a contractor through Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE). While pursuing a minor in Spanish, Katie has participated in the Ambassador Program to Costa Rica. She is also an active member and president of the Women's Rugby Club which won the state title for Division III in Rugby in 2008. In the future, Katie would like to pursue a career that would include traveling to other countries.
	Michael Pitts Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Miami East Hometown: Troy, Ohio pitts.30@wright.edu	Michael is a junior this year at Wright State University. He graduated from Miami East High School in 2006, and then attended Ohio University. He transferred to Wright State last year and is majoring in mechanical engineering. He plans to earn his bachelor's degree at Wright State and is unsure at this point if he will go on to get his master’s degree.
	Michael J. Robertson Major: Biomedical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Princeton Hometown: Evendale, Ohio roverston.37@wright.edu	Michael is pursuing the pre-med track within the biomedical engineering degree program. He is a mentor and tutor in the Visions Mentoring and Wright Math programs, respectively. He chairs both the Judicial Review and Academic Integrity Panels. In addition, he is the treasurer for the National Society of Black Engineers. In high school, he played soccer, tennis, and bowling. He was a member of Pennies for Patients Organizing Committee and the National Honor Society. He played the violin in the symphonic orchestra and played in the pit orchestra for Les Miserables. During the summer of 2008, he worked as a freshman orientation leader. Last Summer, he worked on minimally-invasive surgical device at Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Long term, Michael would like to continue working on medical devices and/or become an orthopedic surgeon. In addition, he would also like to tutor at middle and high schools.
	Zach Rupert Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Madison Jr./Sr. Hometown: Middleton, Ohio rupert.18@wright.edu	Zach is a junior in the mechanical engineering program. He is the 2009-2010 Senator of the College of Engineering and Computer Science for Student Government. Zach has been active with the American Society of Mechanical Engineering holding different positions such as secretary of external affairs and fund raising chair. In addition, he has been active in Greek Life through Phi Sigma Phi Fraternity. Zach is currently interning at Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded in Fairborn, where he works on mechanical drawings. Zach attended high school at Madison Jr./Sr. High school in Middletown, Ohio where he was active in NHS, newspaper, German club, and Student Government. He also played football and wrestled all four years of high school.
	Daniel Smith Major: Computer Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Chaminade-Julienne Hometown: Dayton, Ohio dan.linux@gmail.com	In Dan's senior year of high school, he was the team captain for cross country. While at WSU, Dan has participated in the rock climbing club and was the accountant and secretary for the mountain biking club last year. Currently, Dan volunteers for the Dayton Police Department as a Neighborhood Assistance Officer (NAO) and has an internship with Northrop Grumman. After graduating, Dan plans to receive a Master's degree in Computer Engineering and hopes to continue on at Northrop Grumman as a full time employee.
	Jared Speltz Major: Engineering Physics Expected Graduation: 2011 High School: Northmont Hometown: Englewood, Ohio speltz.3@wright.edu	In high school, Jared participated in soccer, musicals, and marching band, where he was the section leader of the trombones. He is also an Eagle Scout and was a leader of Englewood youth exchange group to Germany. For over a year, Jared has been working in the Center for Advanced Power and Energy Conversion (CAPEC) lab on campus on plasma research. After graduation, he would like to work for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base research labs, possibly continuing plasma research. He does plan on continuing school with a master's program, but at the moment is unsure of what field he will pursue. It is important to him that his work is devoted to helping defend, or improve people's lives.
	Taylor Thullen Major: Biomedical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Northeastern Hometown: Springfield, Ohio thullen.3@wright.edu	Taylor Thullen graduated with honors from Northeastern High School, located in Springfield and was active as co-team captain in wrestling and power-lifting. He was a member of The National Honor's Society, the Ohio Math League, and was awarded the scholar athlete of the year as a senior. After high school, he was directly admitted into the biomedical engineering program at WSU where he is currently in his senior year. On campus, he works as a calculus teacher's assistant where he enjoys working with peers and helping them succeed. Mr. Thullen has been awarded the Green and Gold Scholarship and the Choose Ohio First Scholarship. He is a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and has maintained an overall 4.0 GPA at Wright State University. This past summer, Taylor worked as a co-op for an engineering firm called Brilliant Solutions where he aided the company as a radar analyst by designing the predictions of radar cross-sections. After college, Taylor plans to enter the work force, and later return for his master's degree. His goals in the field of engineering are broad, but he is most interested in alternative energies as well as medical technologies.
	Zach Votaw Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Jonathan Alder Hometown: Plain City, Ohio votaw.3@wright.edu	Zach attended high school at Jonathan Alder in Plain City, Ohio. During his high school career he played three years of varsity soccer and served as vice president of his class during his junior and senior years. He was also inducted into the National Honors Society and was ranked 10th in his class of 140 students with a GPA of 3.95. He also served as Team Leader of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). Currently, he works as a Co-op student at WPAFB and is in the process of fabricating an optics probe to conduct Raman spectroscopy measurements on superheated liquid/vapor interfaces. After graduation he intends to pursue a career in aerospace engineering and research.
	Seth Wright Major: Mechanical Engineering Expected Graduation: 2010 High School: Cowan Hometown: Muncie, Indiana wright.141@wright.edu	During his time at WSU, Seth has had the opportunity to gain valuable, diversified experience through a materials co-op at AFRL, a life support systems internship with NASA, and his current co-op involved with laser research at AFIT. These experiences mixed with his farm-raised background have helped to develop a broad knowledge base that spans the theoretical and practical divide. He has not decided yet which direction to go after graduation, but is considering pursuing a graduate degree at AFIT as one option.

Past Participants