Chapter Officers

President
Mehdi Nikkhah
Ph.D. Candidate,
Mechanical Engineering

Mehdi is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering. His research is focused on biomedical application of MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) and specifically development of MEMS-based biosensor for cancer diagnosis. He is conducting interdisciplinary research in collaboration with several departments at VT and also Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). He earned his B. S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2001 and M. S. degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2003 from AmirKabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic). he earned his second M. S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University in 2006. In 2006-2007 he was the president of the Iranian Student Association and organized several cultural and guest speaker events. Currently he is the graduate advisor to the ISA, chair of fees committee in the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) and co-founder of a new student association, "Nano VT." Following graduation Mehdi plans to continue his research and leadership in the field of biomedical engineering.

Vice President
Meredith Katz
Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology

Meredith is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology, pursuing graduate certificates in Women's Studies and Preparing the Future Professoriate. She received her B. S. in Psychology with a minor in Africana Studies in 2002 and a M. S. in Sociology with a graduate certificate in Race and Social Policy in 2004 from Virginia Tech. Her research interests include the sociology of culture, social inequality, and participation in social movements. Meredith has served as a representative on the Commission for Equal Opportunity and Diversity, University Council, and the Graduate Student Assembly. In addition, she serves as a Big Sister with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia. Upon the completion of her degree, she plans to pursue a career in academia.

Secretary/Treasurer
Lynsey R. Stuart
M. S. Candidate, Education Leadership and Policy Studies

Lynsey is a Master's student in the Higher Education Administration program. She received her B. A. in English Literature at the University of Tennessee in May 2007. She is currently the Graduate Assistant for Greek Housing working with both Residence Life and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. In addition, she is the 2008-2009 Chair of the Commission on Student Affairs, secretary for the VT Higher Education Association, Treasurer of the School of Education Student Association and is actively involved in many student affairs units across the university.

Karen P. DePauw
Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education

Overview
Officers and Advisor
Members
Activities & Programs
Constitution
Application Process National AEL