Keynote
Tsu-Jae King Liu, Ph.D.
President
National Academy of Engineering
Tsu-Jae King Liu is the President of the National Academy of Engineering since July 1, 2025. A distinguished engineer and academic leader, she earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. In 1996 she joined the faculty of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley where she has served in various administrative leadership positions, most recently as Dean of the College of Engineering from July 2018 through June 2025.
Liu is renowned for her contributions in the field of microelectronics, which include co-developing the FinFET transistor design that is used in all leading-edge computer chips and smartphones today. She has authored over 550 publications and holds 97 U.S. patents. Her recognitions include the DARPA Significant Technical Achievement Award and the IEEE Electron Devices Society Education Award.
Liu is a Fellow of the IEEE and the National Academy of Inventors, and was inducted into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2017. She has served on the Boards of Directors for Intel Corporation and MaxLinear Inc., and has contributed nationally as an advocate for domestic microelectronics workforce development and as a member of advisory committees for NSF, NIST, and PCAST.
Opening Remarks
Thomas Costabile, P.E., FASME
Executive Director/CEO
ASME
Tom Costabile is a visionary business leader renowned for his strategic acumen in orchestrating transformative mergers and acquisitions that have revolutionized industries and spearheaded cutting-edge digital transformation.
With a keen eye for identifying synergies, Tom has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate complex negotiations and drive transformative deals that drive growth and innovation.
His track record of executing high-impact M&A transactions speaks to his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to driving business success through strategic partnerships.
A dynamic force in the mechanical engineering space, Costabile, ASME's Executive Director/CEO, has dedicated the last seven years to establishing ASME as a global leader while championing the technical and societal contributions of engineers. Known for his calculated risk-taking and profound industry insights, he has been a vocal advocate for engineering education and career development. He orchestrated ASME’s acquisition of Techstreet, aiming to diversify the revenue stream and explore opportunities in the for-profit arena.
With a focus on driving progress in key technology sectors such as manufacturing, bioengineering, robotics, clean energy, and pressure technology, Costabile has been instrumental in the development of groundbreaking products, services, and programs within code and standards development; solidifying his reputation as a pioneering force in the field of engineering.
Before embarking on his transformative journey with ASME, Tom Costabile blazed a trail of innovation across diverse industries. His tenure as a consultant at Carlan Advisors and as a partner at 3ssentials, LLC showcased his acumen as a forward-thinking private equity investor. In the realm of music distribution, he ascended to an executive leadership position at industry giants such as SONY Music, WEA Manufacturing-Warner Music Group, and CBS Records, and played a pivotal role in shaping the future of these industry giants.
Costabile's legacy is defined by his trailblazing approach to developing cutting-edge business strategies, incubating disruptive business models, and revolutionizing channel programs. His innate ability to drive innovation and chart new pathways to success has established him as a leader who thrives on pushing boundaries and redefining industry norms.
Tom, a dedicated philanthropist, chaired the University of Oregon Foundation's Board and achieved the distinction of being its first president to serve a two-year term. His visionary leadership facilitated a groundbreaking billion-dollar campaign cabinet donation. ASME Strategic Communications December 2025.
Presently, he contributes his expertise as a valued member of the Board of Trustees at the esteemed Montgomery Academy. Notably, he also initiated a scholarship endowment specifically for women in engineering.
Costabile is a licensed professional mechanical engineer. With a Finance MBA and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, he brings a robust educational background to his professional endeavors.
N. K. Anand
Regents Professor
Texas A&M University
N. K. Anand (“NK”) is a distinguished academic and researcher, currently holding the rank of Regents Professor at Texas A&M University. NK earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1983. He gained valuable industry experience as a Systems Engineer with the Link Division of the Singer Company in Silver Spring, Maryland (1983-85). He launched his academic career at Texas A&M University in 1985. Throughout his tenure, NK has demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving in multiple key roles within the College of Engineering and across the university. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a testament to his significant contributions to the field. In 2020, NK was awarded the prestigious ASME Harry Potter Gold Medal for "outstanding contributions as a teacher of thermodynamics and related topics, and as a researcher who has advanced the state-of-the-art design of alternate refrigerant condensers, cooling strategies for electronic packages, and aerosol transport lines." A prolific scholar, NK has co-authored a definitive book on finite element and finite volume methods tailored for heat transfer and fluid dynamics. His current research is focused on Reduced Order Modeling of turbulent flow and heat transfer phenomena; The innovative application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) for the accurate prediction of complex compressible flows; and Characterization of transport of graphite particles in Generation IV Nuclear Reactors.
Ivana Milanovic
Professor
University of Hartford
Dr. Ivana Milanovic is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hartford, where she has served since 2001, including leadership as Chair of both the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology departments. A Ph.D. graduate of NYU Tandon School of Engineering, she is internationally recognized for transforming engineering education through simulation-integrated and inquiry-based instruction. Her curricular innovations have strengthened ABET-accredited programs and empowered students to reason with professional tools in ways that mirror real-world practice.
Her scholarly record includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications, NASA reports, conference papers, and software releases, with research spanning vortical flows, CFD, and multiphysics modeling. Her work has been supported by NASA, the World Bank, ARDEC, CCAT, and the Connecticut Space Grant Consortium.
A Fellow of ASME, Dr. Milanovic serves on the Fluids Engineering Division Executive Committee and co-chairs the Advances in Fluids Engineering Education topic. She is a Senior Member of AIAA, an active ASEE member, and was elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. Her honors include the ASEE Northeast Outstanding Teacher Award, the Women of Innovation Award from the State of Connecticut, and the Larsen and Bent Awards from the University of Hartford. She also supports K–12 STEM pathways through the Simsbury High School Engineering Advisory Board.
Olga Pierrakos, Ph.D.
Program Director, Directorate of STEM Education
National Science Foundation
Dr. Olga Pierrakos (PhD) is a national higher education leader and innovator, an interdisciplinary biomedical and mechanical engineer, experienced educator, and mother of four. She is currently a STEM Education Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) working across the education, engineering, and technology innovation directorates and managing a $300M+ portfolio of STEM education federal investments. Olga has founded two brand new U.S. engineering programs – Wake Forest University and James Madison University – demonstrating institutional and national transformation of engineering education. Prior to joining NSF for a second stint in January 2024, Olga served as the Founding Chair of Wake Forest Engineering (2017-2022) from launch to accreditation and led transformational change with a vision to Educate the Whole Engineer for Human Flourishing and positioned Wake Forest Engineering as the 14th Best Undergraduate Engineering Program (2023 US News Report, among 275 US institutions) and a top performing academic unit with sponsored research in just six years. Olga has a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and a MS and BS in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech. She has leveraged STEM education research to transform engineering education and committed to reimagining higher education for student and societal flourishing.
Joseph J. Rencis, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Dean of the School of Engineering and Professor
College of Aviation
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Dr. Rencis has a career spanning over forty years of experience in higher education and is a national leader in engineering education. He takes pride in being a first-generation college graduate with a humble background. He holds a B.S. in architectural and building construction engineering technology from Milwaukee School of Engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in civil engineering from Northwestern University and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Rencis has served as a tenured professor of mechanical engineering and director of engineering mechanics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was the department head of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas and dean of engineering at Tennessee Tech University and Cal Poly Pomona. He has served as interim dean of engineering at the University at Albany, SUNY, and the University of Texas Permian Basin. Dr. Rencis has also served as interim department head of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is currently the inaugural associate dean of the school of engineering within the college of aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Worldwide. Dr. Rencis has made a significant contribution to the field of mechanical engineering by serving as chair and vice-chair of the ASME Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Committee and as president of the ASEE. He is a fellow of ASME and ASEE, and his research focuses on computational solid mechanics and engineering education. Dr. Rencis has won several awards; some include the ASME Edwin F. Church Medal, ASEE Hall of Fame, ASEE Mechanical Engineering Division Ralph Coats Roe Award, ASEE Isadore T. Davis Award for Excellence in Collaboration of Engineering Education and Industry, ASEE Mechanics Division Archie Higdon Distinguished Educator Award, and ASEE Northeastern Section Outstanding Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. Rencis is a professional engineer in Massachusetts.
Mohammad A Zahraee, Ph.D., PE
Professor, Interim Dean of the College of Technology
Purdue University Northwest
Dr. Mohammad A Zahraee, a registered professional engineer, is Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology and Interim Dean of the College of Technology at Purdue University Northwest. He has been an administrator for over 25 years, serving as a department chair, associate dean, and dean. Dr. Zahraee has also been PI and Co-PI, working on several NSF and DOL grants, totaling over four and half million dollars. He has also been the responsible for Industry Grants and contracts totaling over 2 Million Dollars. Professor Zahraee has served ABET as a program evaluator, commissioner (Accreditation Team Chair), Chair of the Technology accreditation commission and as a member of the ABET Board of Delegates and Directors. He has been the recipient of Purdue Northwest Outstanding Administrator Award, ASEE/CIEC Best Paper Presentation Award, Merl K. Miller Award for the Outstanding Computers in Education Journal Paper, and recipient of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Ben C Sparks Medal for his contributions in Mechanical Engineering Education.