visit author page

The focus of Mark’s research can broadly be described as “pivot thinking,” the cognitive aptitudes and abilities that encourage innovation, and the tension between design engineering and business management cognitive styles. To encourage these thinking patterns in young engineers, Mark has developed a Scenario Based Learning curriculum that attempts to blend core engineering concepts with selected business ideas. Mark is also researches empathy and mindfulness and its impact on gender participation in engineering education. He is a Research Scientist and Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Stanford University and teaches the course ME310x Product Management and ME305 Statistics for Design Researchers.

Mark has extensive background in consumer products management, having managed more than 50 consumer driven businesses over a 25-year career with The Procter & Gamble Company. In 2005, he joined Intuit, Inc. as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer and initiated a number of consumer package goods marketing best practices, introduced the use of competitive response modeling and "on-the-fly" A|B testing program to qualify software improvements.

Mark is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of One Page Solutions, a consulting firm that uses the OGSP® process to help technology and branded product clients develop better strategic plans. Mark is a member of The Band of Angels, Silicon Valley's oldest organization dedicated exclusively to funding seed stage start-ups. In addition, he serves on the board of several technology start-up companies.

visit author page

visit author page

Sophia Pink is a sophomore studying engineering at Stanford University. She began conducting research in Dr. Sheri Sheppard’s Designing Education Lab in June 2016. Sophia’s academic interests include mechanical engineering, human-centered design and social science research.

visit author page

visit author page

Adrian Piedra is pursuing an MS in Mechanical Engineering (ME) at Stanford University. He is a member of the graduate teaching assistants in the ME department at Stanford, and will be assisting with engineering design courses for the duration of his graduate studies. Adrian holds a BS (summa cum laude) in ME from the University of Florida. During his time at the University of Florida, he was a teaching assistant for engineering analysis courses.

visit author page

visit author page

Shivani is pursuing her MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, as a first year Co-Terminal student, exploring intersection of biotechnology, product realization, smart product design, and design for manufacture. She holds B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Product Design, with an emphasis in medical device innovation and pre-medical studies. Her interests in education include increasing accessibility of engineering to students of all backgrounds, especially underrepresented minorities, investigating how to encourage young girls and women to get involved with manufacturing, and how mentorship and applications of engineering problem solving can influence identity. Specifically, I am particularly intrigued by the role closeness in academic setting can play on self-efficacy on proficiency.

In addition to my role as a student, I have also had a number of amazing opportunities to teach. This year (2015-2016) I have the privilege of being a Course Assistant for three classes at Stanford: (1) E14: Introduction to Solid Mechanics; (2) BIOE51: Anatomy for Bioengineers; (3) BIOE80: Introduction to Bioengineering and Engineering Living Matter. I also have pleasure of serving as the Safety and Operations Manager at the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory, which includes managing the machine shop and teaching students how to use the machinery. In this role I am able to advise and educate students on design choices for their personal and research projects from ideation phases to functional products, with an emphasis on design and manufacturing techniques.

visit author page

visit author page

Kai Jun (KJ) Chew is a Research Data Analyst in the Mechanical Engineering department at Stanford University. He is currently working closely with Dr. Sheri Sheppard on two fronts: introducing reflective activities as part of the Consortium to Promote Reflection in Engineering Education (CPREE) and implementing the Continuous Improvement Program as part of the ABET evaluation. Born and raised in Malaysia, KJ received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) and his Master of Science in the same field at Stanford University. He is currently exploring the field of data science as his potential career path.

visit author page

visit author page

Sheri D. Sheppard, Ph.D., P.E., is professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. Besides teaching both undergraduate and graduate design and education related classes at Stanford University, she conducts research on engineering education and work-practices, and applied finite element analysis. From 1999-2008 she served as a Senior Scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, leading the Foundation’s engineering study (as reported in Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field). In addition, in 2011 Dr. Sheppard was named as co-PI of a national NSF innovation center (Epicenter), and leads an NSF program at Stanford on summer research experiences for high school teachers. Her industry experiences includes engineering positions at Detroit's "Big Three:" Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, and Chrysler Corporation.

At Stanford she has served a chair of the faculty senate, and recently served as Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education.

visit author page