Dennis J Pretti, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Pretti received a BS degree in electrical engineering from ��������Ƶ Boulder in 1995. He began his career at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho, in 1995, working as a parametric test device engineer in Boise’s high-volume manufacturing facility until 2000. From 2000 to 2022, Pretti designed parametric test devices used for process development in technology development. In 2000, he developed and led a team of test device design engineers until 2013. From 2013 to 2019, his work focused on CMOS automation, test device and optical design quality. From 2019 to 2022, his efforts were centered on test device and optical design roadmap pathfinding initiatives. In 2022, he shifted his focus to STEM outreach (K-12), university technical engagement and the development of Micron team member technical engagement and career pipeline opportunities.

Pretti joined the Technical Leadership Program (TLP) community in 2015 as a senior member of technical staff, where he has held various roles of leadership, influence, mentoring, technical expertise and innovation. He became Micron’s technical ambassador for ��������Ƶ Boulder in 2018, holding this role today. Pretti actively contributes to ��������Ƶ Boulder, serving on the ECEE External Advisory Board since 2022 and joining the Engineering Advisory Council in 2024. He holds one U.S. patent and has five publications.

His involvement in technical and STEM outreach has provided him with his greatest experiences and memories of his 30-year professional career.

Contributions to the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering over the past year:

Pretti has been a highly engaged alumnus over the years, consistently going above and beyond for the department and the college. He has hosted numerous Micron university visits, career fairs and opportunities for students to collaborate with Micron and industry professionals. His partnership is helping the department become more involved in Micron’s Educator Hub, focusing on curriculum that is current and relevant to the semiconductor industry. He also represents the department and Micron on the college’s Engineering Advisory Council, while continuing to be an active member of the ECEE External Advisory Board. Pretti  looks forward to continuing his efforts towards STEM outreach, while continually being an advocate for Micron Technology and ��������Ƶ Boulder technical engagement, curriculum development and student mentorship.

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Alice Phinney, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Phinney graduated with her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1985. She worked at Boeing for five years before returning to Boulder to continue her career at Ball Aerospace. Phinney started her career at Ball in design and project engineer roles. In the early 2000s, she served as the lead mechanical engineer for Deep Impact. That role led to her first position as a functional manager. From there, she advanced to roles as the manager of the Mechanical Engineering Group and then director of the Structural, Thermal, Optical, Mechanical, and Materials and Processes (STOMPP) Group. Through that role, she supervised over 300 people and oversaw countless hiring processes. As a manager, she worked hard to make sure that every individual’s work was the best fit for their talents and to create an environment where happiness was considered a core value and viewed as fundamental to the team’s success.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

From nominator Katherine McConnell, scholar in residence with mechanical engineering: “Alice first joined the ME Industry Advisory Committee in the early 2000s and was still serving in that capacity in 2013 when I joined the department. I remember her from my very first ME Industry Advisory Committee Meeting as incredibly articulate, passionate and solution oriented. In every conversation with her since, I’ve seen that same combination of deep care for the individual and strategic focus on program improvement at scale.

Following her retirement from Ball Aerospace in 2017, Alice reached out to let us know that she would be happy to continue her efforts to support ME students. Her support has been especially instrumental in enabling us to launch our alumni mock interview program. She was one of our very first volunteers for that program and has met with more than 10 students each year for mock interviews. The students she has met with have consistently shared outstanding feedback about the interview process, frequently commenting on how she went above and beyond in getting to know them as individuals and help with their application materials beyond the interview. Throughout all of her mentoring efforts, the thing that has impressed me the most about Alice is her talent for both coaching students on concrete aspects of the job search process and empowering them to see and communicate their own strengths.

After a few years of mock interviews, Alice noticed that many students had similar questions and compiled an internship application advice guide for ME students drawn from her career at Ball Aerospace. That guide with information directly from an engineering hiring manager has been immensely helpful for us as a teaching team, as a reference to help students start their first internship search. Alice has also been a frequent contributor to student events including the ��������Ƶ Engineering Expo and our annual Women+ in ME Graduation Dinner. In fall 2024, she began a new volunteer role at ��������Ƶ serving as a mentor for the Chancellor’s Leadership Program.”

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Joe Ning, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Ning earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in environmental engineering in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Alongside his academic achievements, he completed a minor in leadership studies and obtained certifications in engineering leadership and water engineering & management, further enhancing his expertise in the field.

During his time at ��������Ƶ, Ning was an active member of several impactful organizations, including the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program, the BOLD Center, the Presidents Leadership Class and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). These experiences helped shape his leadership skills, global perspective and dedication to fostering inclusive engineering communities.

Ning is currently applying his knowledge and skills as an environmental design engineer at JVA Consulting Engineers, where he contributes to designing sustainable and innovative environmental solutions.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Ning is the first professional advisor in the history of ��������Ƶ SASE, a BOLD Center student organization. He has taken it on with utmost responsibility and care, shaping the role to be a crucial aspect of the ��������Ƶ SASE community. He has worked closely with board members the last three years, working to revise bylaws, help support in conflict mediation and provide guidance on how to continuously improve the club for future generations so that there is a space at ��������Ƶ for young Asians in STEM to celebrate their heritage, professionally develop themselves and become motivated to grow as leaders in their space.

Beyond these weighty responsibilities and impacts Ning makes in his advisor role, he still takes the time to involve himself on the more granular scale. He consistently attends most general chapter meetings and major events to help set up and run the activities. When he is not actively doing a task, he is introducing himself to SASE members and taking the time to sit down, chat and connect. He leads by example as a mentor for the board by not only vocalizing his belief in making the space engaging for young Asian leaders, but also consistently fostering the space through his contributions and actions when he attends meetings and events.

The amount of time, effort and standard of quality Ning dedicates to his role as SASE’s professional advisor is a pure reflection of his generosity, passion and wisdom. The role is something he saw a need for, volunteered to stay in for the past three years and continuously works to improve.

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Teresa Hogan, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

While at ��������Ƶ Boulder, Hogan was one of the prestigious “Woz Scholars” under Evi Nemeth, funded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Upon graduation, she worked for US West and was the lead engineer on the company’s first dial-up Internet service provider, as well as the lead engineer on the development of the Megabit Services DSL product offering. She was on the board of the Colorado Internet Cooperative Association, the first business-to-business ISP in Colorado. Her career has led her to a variety of roles, including product management, R&D, network engineering and information security consulting. In 2012, her life-long passion for the economic self-sufficiency and meaningful participation of women and other underrepresented populations led her to join NCWIT, where she is currently CEO and executive director.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Hogan has provided an ongoing supportive presence over this year and in past years. She has participated in the Department of Computer Science’s exploration of possible future programs and tech community engagement. She advises computer science based on her role as CEO of NCWIT, her many years of consulting and leadership experience, and her passion as an alumna. She has shared insight on inclusion progress in tech fields and the most recent research efforts in inclusion-powered innovation. She was the keynote speaker for the computer science graduation ceremony in 2023, and represented BS alumni during the recent ABET re-accreditation cycle.

Hogan has been an ongoing supporter of CS programs over the years and a leader by example. Her impressive work with NCWIT reflects wonderfully on ��������Ƶ Boulder’s program, and her support of TeachEngineering has furthered the reach and growth of this crucial K-12 STEM learning resource. Her service on the college’s Engineering Advisory Council has provided additional insight to computer science and holistic support of the college. Her continued support is appreciated!

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Jack Elston, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional background:

Elston is a pioneer in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) development, with a proven track record of leading innovative projects in some of the world's most extreme environments. As the CEO and co-founder of Black Swift Technologies, he has spearheaded significant advancements in UAS technology, successfully executing missions in challenging conditions such as over volcanoes, during wildfires, and through polar regions. Holding a PhD in aerospace engineering, Elston has authored numerous influential publications and is recognized for his cutting-edge research and practical applications, including pioneering UAS deployments for meteorological sampling and storm chasing.

Elston collaborates extensively with several organizations including the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, actively contributing to critical weather research and forecasting. During the 2024 hurricane season, his team achieved a groundbreaking milestone by recording the strongest gust ever measured on Earth — an astonishing 209 knots — using UAS technology deployed from Hurricane Hunter planes. This critical data supports the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center in improving storm predictions, enhancing public safety and advancing atmospheric science.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Elston is still heavily engaged in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at ��������Ƶ Boulder. He and his company are sponsoring a senior projects capstone course, but beyond that, he is a passionate mentor to students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Elston lectures and mentors multiple undergraduate teams of students who are working on UAS technologies and projects. Elston serves on the department's External Advisory Board, helping guide the direction of the department to ensure they remain a top 10 U.S. public aerospace school. He is generous with his money, but even more generous with his time and energy, acting as a phenomenal mentor and role model for students, showing them what is possible with an aerospace degree from ��������Ƶ.

Elston reaches out to students and offers guidance with their post-graduation plans, giving them tours of his facilities and discussing potential career paths and opportunities with them.

He is always reaching out to the department to see how he can be more involved even though he already goes above and beyond. He makes himself available to current and former students, answering questions they have about the aerospace industry and assisting them with navigating various career paths.

Elston sets the standard for ��������Ƶ aerospace alumni.

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Claudia Bouvier, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Bouvier’s undergraduate degree is in civil engineering from Escola Politecnica da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. She worked as a project manager in construction for most of her over 20 year career. She also holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder's Engineering Management Program and for the last six years has pursued an entrepreneurial career as a founder/owner of a consumer packaged goods company in Boulder. Her company has won several industry awards related to sustainability and innovation in the food space, and their products can be found at grocery shelves throughout the country. She incubated Pastificio Boulder with the Catalyze ��������Ƶ program’s 2017 cohort. Bouvier is a sustainability advocate and is often found speaking at trade shows, conferences and educational events (including various ��������Ƶ departments). She manages marketing and sales at her company. Bouvier recently became an instructor in the Engineering Management Program.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

During the past few years, Bouvier has been a guest speaker for Engineering Management courses, and has been a panel speaker or featured company in a variety of ��������Ƶ programs. A few highlights include:

• October 2024 - ��������Ƶ systemwide I&E Showcase. Out of the 20 presenting companies, she was one of nine to be highlighted by Colorado Public Radio
• August 2024 - Catalyze ��������Ƶ 10-year reunion featured company
• July 2024 - Case study and guest speaker for Coursera course "Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business," led by Michael Readey
• AY23-24 Guest Speaking - Leading technical organizations, leadership, College of Media, Communication and Information marketing courses
• 2024 Masters of the Environment B Impact Clinic
• Environmental Design - Design-build lab by Jade Polizzi
• 2022 Catalyze ��������Ƶ podcast
• 2017 Catalyze ��������Ƶ cohort

Bouvier's success story helps Engineering Management promote its master’s program to budding entrepreneurs. In addition, it is part of the success metrics reported by the Catalyze ��������Ƶ accelerator, leading to continued donor sponsored support and a doubling of the existing budget for the program.

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Clark Lindsay, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Lindsay is Cresa’s president of project management and serves on the board of directors. After merging his previous company, Pacific Program Management (PPM), into Cresa in 2024, he oversees the company’s strategy for program and project management. Lindsay founded PPM in 2009 and served as CEO of the company through its national expansion and recent merger with Cresa. He focuses on growing and strengthening Cresa’s platform through M&A, team integration and developing successful real estate programs rooted in people-centric workspaces. Lindsay is known for driving sustainable growth, emphasizing diverse talent, and fostering impactful client relationships.

Lindsay received a BS in civil engineering from ��������Ƶ Boulder in 1996. He started his career at general contracting and commercial real estate firms, including Kiewit, Sellen Construction and Trammell Crow, before founding Pacific Program Management in 2009.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Lindsay has been a valuable contributor to multiple initiatives at the College of Engineering and Applied Science for many years, including continued support of the Broadening Opportunities through Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) Center and sponsoring their Lindsay Pacific Huddle Room. Lindsay also sponsored a computer science capstone project to develop custom software solutions for PPM. 

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Joe Poshusta, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Professional Background:

Upon completing BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering at Washington State University, Joe Poshusta received a PhD in chemical engineering from ��������Ƶ Boulder for his research on novel zeolite membranes for light gas separations under the guidance of professors John Falconer and Richard Noble. Early in his career in industry, he led the development of portable solid oxide fuel cell generators at Protonex Technology. As director of engineering at CoorsTek Specialty Chemicals, Poshusta spearheaded the development and commercialization of advanced chemical reactors and chemical purification systems for production of advanced electrolyte materials used in lithium-ion batteries. Poshusta currently serves as the chief technology officer at Synthio Chemicals, a startup company leveraging process intensification technologies for manufacturing specialty chemicals. He holds multiple patents in the chemical engineering field and is recognized as a leader in the field of process intensification and highly compact chemical reactors.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Poshusta has been a long-time supporter of ��������Ƶ Boulder and its students. He has served on the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s External Advisory Board (EAB) for the past 12 years. As the EAB chair in 2017-18, Poshusta led four meetings and instituted graduate and undergraduate student sessions wherein board members talk confidentially with students about strengths of and suggestions for the department. Beyond the EAB, he has been a consistent fixture at department alumni and donor events. He is always quick to help with any ad hoc requests, from meeting with ABET evaluators and judging graduate student research symposia, to creating videos on entrepreneurship and graduate school for undergraduate students. When the department requests feedback from alumni on topics such as creating a professional master's program or new courses, Poshusta can be counted upon to give helpful, insightful advice. He is also always looking to help ��������Ƶ students, giving talks in classes and to student groups, leading student tours, and providing internship and job opportunities. In general, Poshusta has embodied Sko Buffs with his unwavering support of ��������Ƶ and its students!

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Beatriz Zepeda-Almazan, 2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards 
 

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal

Professional Background:

Zepeda-Almazan graduated from the Engineering Plus Program (now Integrated Design Engineering) in 2019 with a degree that combined an emphasis in mechanical engineering with a concentration in engineering management. During her time at ��������Ƶ Boulder, she was a standout student, actively participating in the Engineering Leadership Program, ��������Ƶ Boulder swim and dive team, Society of Women Engineers, and Engineers Without Borders. Currently, Zepeda-Almazan serves as a manager of athlete science at Adidas, where she combines her engineering expertise and passion for innovation to lead international cutting-edge product development and research focused on enhancing athletic performance. Her dynamic leadership, commitment to mentorship and passion for integrating engineering and design make her an exceptional role model for current students and alumni.

Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:

Zepeda-Almazan has made significant contributions since her graduation in 2019, positively impacting the ��������Ƶ Engineering community and the Integrated Design Engineering Program (IDE) through her leadership, mentorship and consistent volunteerism. She has remained a dedicated advocate for the program, actively participating in events that connect her with current students. She frequently connects with current IDE students through remote mentoring, helping them explore career paths, internships and innovative ideas. In 2024, she served as an alumni panelist for the BOLD Center, sharing her professional journey and offering valuable insights to inspire students.

As a member of the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board, Zepeda-Almazan collaborates with other alumni to foster mentorship, build connections and support student success. Additionally, her participation in faculty-led K-12 Engineering Experts Panels empowers educators to inspire the next generation of engineers while enhancing the visibility of ��������Ƶ Boulder’s programs. Through her approachable and inspiring presence, Bea continues to make a lasting impact on the IDE and BOLD communities while enhancing the visibility and reputation of ��������Ƶ Boulder’s engineering programs.  

Zepeda-Almazan exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding alumni role model, representing our engineering programs and college with professionalism, dedication and a deep commitment to giving back. Her contributions extend beyond direct mentorship and panel discussions; she has consistently volunteered her time to foster a supportive and inspiring environment for students, even while excelling in her demanding career at Adidas. She attributes her unique career pathway — combining engineering and sports product design — to the opportunities and connections she cultivated during her time at ��������Ƶ Boulder. Now, as an industry professional, she is driven to give back by providing the mentorship, support and connections that helped shape her own journey. Zepeda-Almazan’s ongoing involvement underscores the enduring impact alumni can have on academic programs and reflects her passion for helping IDE and the College of Engineering and Applied Science continue to develop well-rounded engineers ready to thrive in an ever-changing world. As an active alumna of both the IDE program and the college, she is truly deserving of recognition for her continued support, advocacy, and efforts to nurture the next generation of engineers.

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Engineering Alumni Awards

2024 Alumni Engagement Medal Award recipient

Current job and employer: Chief Operations Officer, Chevron Lummus Global

Current city: San Rafael, California

Professional background

Upon receiving a BS in chemical engineering from ��������Ƶ in 1991, Thad Sauvain embarked on a 33-year career with Chevron / Chevron Lummus Global. Starting as a process engineer, Sauvain branched into research & development and business development. He soon worked his way into design and process engineering multi-level management and served as the director of global licensing and sales for Chevron for nine years. Sauvain is now the chief operations officer for Chevron Lummus Global, overseeing all engineering design work, field services and supply of catalyst and equipment for CLG’s customers.

Contributions to the Chemical and Biological Engineering department over the past year

Over the past year, Sauvain has served as the president of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s External Advisory Board. In this capacity, Sauvain organized four board meetings in 2023, two in-person and two via Zoom, in addition to organizing meetings with department leadership. He spearheaded efforts to conduct the first-ever undergraduate senior exit interviews in the spring, and graduate student interviews in the fall. During those interviews, board members met individually with nearly 100 students. He was instrumental in bringing in three new board members this year, arranging for board members to meet with ABET evaluators, and calling prospective students to encourage them to enroll at ��������Ƶ.

Sauvain has championed the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and ��������Ƶ students during his 33-year tenure at Chevron. He has participated in just about every activity possible for alumni, including department and BOLD Center panel talks, guest lectures, career fairs, mock interviews and resume critiques, mentor programs, senior design project support and student group talks. On top of giving class lectures on professionalism and other industry-facing topics, he arranged to fly in Chevron speakers to give technical talks in other courses such as process control and separations. Sauvain has been a champion of funding support from Chevron for numerous areas of the college, including the chemical and biological engineering department, BOLD Center and student groups such as AlChE and OXE. On a fun note, he was instrumental in getting murals put up in the department’s undergraduate lab. In general, Sauvain has embodied Sko Buffs with his unwavering support of ��������Ƶ!

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