2026

McKelvey Engineering Awards

J. Chris Kroeger The Dean's Award

During his more than 35 years at WashU, Chris Kroeger has held several different positions, all
within the McKelvey School of Engineering.

In his current role as associate dean for undergraduate engineering students, he supervises 15
staff members in Engineering Undergraduate Student Services. The office is focused on
championing engineering students through admissions, recruitment of students from liberal arts
schools around the country for its engineering dual degree program, four-year advising for more
than 1,500 undergraduates, student group support, working with merit scholarship students,
student support, tutoring and mentoring activities, course registration, student record
management, data reporting, degree clearance, accreditation support, running a January Intensive
Course, and coordinating with numerous offices on campus. His past positions in the school
include assistant dean and engineering registrar, assistant dean and director of engineering
admissions, and assistant director of engineering career services.

In 2007, Kroeger was awarded the university’s Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award, which
is the highest service award given to a WashU staff member each year. He has been a part-time
Dale Carnegie instructor for 25 years, and he has been an undergraduate instructor for college
courses.

With 13 years of service in the Army Reserve as a transportation and logistics officer, Kroeger
graduated with distinction from Army ROTC and received the George C. Marshall Award, the highest
honor bestowed upon top Army ROTC cadets, recognizing the top 5% in the nation for excellence in
leadership, academics, physical fitness, and officer potential.

Kroeger earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Northern Iowa in 1984 and
a master’s degree in applied psychology with a focus in industrial and organizational psychology
from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 1986.

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Stuart Brown Alumni Achievement Award

Stuart Brown comes from Hudson, Ohio, a town south of Cleveland. At WashU, he received a
Langsdorf Scholarship and participated in student affairs, becoming president of the Student Union
during his senior year. He was also recognized with the Student Service Award at Commencement.

Now retired, Brown served on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for
eight years. He performed research and taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in the
department of materials science, receiving the department’s graduate teaching award after his first
year. In addition to his academic career, Brown founded two companies, Semi-Solid Technologies
and Veryst Engineering, retiring as chief executive officer from the latter in 2024. Veryst Engineering
provides advanced technical consulting services to organizations ranging from startups to Fortune
500 companies. The company has developed advanced running shoes for Olympic athletes and
assisted in the development of artificial organs with Massachusetts General Hospital.

Brown has written book chapters and encyclopedia entries as well as edited conference
proceedings. He has authored more than 100 technical publications and is listed as an inventor in
over 20 patents, both domestic and foreign. His consulting firm supported multiple high school
robotics clubs, and he serves on the advisory board of Dearborn Academy, a Boston inner city STEM
high school.

Having retired to Rockingham, Vermont, Brown chairs the Windham County Democratic
Committee and is a member of the Vermont State Democratic Committee, which sets statewide
initiatives for the Democratic Party. He also serves as a Vermont Justice of the Peace.

As a WashU alumnus, Brown and his wife have endowed and continue to contribute to the Stuart
Brown and Sandra DeJong Langsdorf Scholarship within the McKelvey School of Engineering. Brown
also started the Washington University Climate Change Community (WashUCCC), a group of
alumni, parents and students focused on the issue of climate change. The WashUCCC currently
has over 200 participants and works to publicize both climate work within the university and
climate topics across the country and globe.

Brown earned bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and in English literature from WashU
in 1977. He also holds an MBA and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Stanford
University and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from MIT.

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Michael Lefenfeld Alumni Achievement Award

Michael Lefenfeld is president and chief executive officer of Hexion Inc., where he also serves as chairman of the board of directors and as a member of the board of managers for ASP Resins Holdings LP. Since joining Hexion in 2023, Lefenfeld has led a sweeping transformation of the nearly 170-year-old company — from a commodity chemical supplier into a technology-enabled, solutions-driven leader in advanced materials and manufacturing. His vision has redefined how the company innovates and competes, embedding artificial intelligence across operations, modernizing its manufacturing systems, and positioning Hexion at the forefront of responsible industrial transformation.

Under Lefenfeld’s leadership, Hexion has launched its enterprise-wide transformation office,
accelerated sustainable innovation through bio-based and circular materials, and integrated
Smartech’s AI-powered manufacturing systems to optimize efficiency and reduce waste. These
efforts reflect his conviction that advanced manufacturing must unite data, design and science to
achieve both performance and environmental progress. Lefenfeld’s approach — data-informed,
human-led and safety-first — has produced measurable gains in productivity and financial
performance, while establishing Hexion as a model for modernization in the global chemical sector.

A scientist and serial entrepreneur by background, Lefenfeld holds more than 100 patents
addressing sustainable materials and clean technologies. Prior to Hexion, he served as chief
executive officer of Cyanco International and SiGNa Chemistry and was named a Young Global
Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2016. In 2025, he was recognized as CEO of the Year by
Columbus Business First for his leadership in transforming Hexion and advancing the integration of
AI across industrial operations.

Lefenfeld serves as a member of McKelvey’s School of Engineering National Council, which
provides external perspectives to guide the school's programs and advise the dean. He received the school’s EECE Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025, the Engineering Entrepreneurship Award in 2017, and the Young Alumni Award in 2008. In May 2026, he was elected to WashU's Board of Trustees, the university's primary governing body, responsible for long-term strategic planning and financial oversight. 

Lefenfeld earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from WashU in 2002. He
also holds master’s degrees in philosophy and in chemistry from Columbia University.

Polly J. Shrewsbury Alumni Achievement Award

Polly J. Shrewsbury has built her career on a defining belief: complexity, when navigated with vision
and discipline, becomes competitive advantage. A C-level executive, management firm partner,
and independent board director, she is known for transforming and scaling businesses through a
distinctive blend of strategic insight, business acumen, operational excellence and entrepreneurial
drive.

As a partner in Kearney’s global data & AI practice, Shrewsbury guided organizations to new heights.
Most notably, she redesigned the operating model of a Fortune 100 telecom, transforming it into a
tech-focused, AI/digital-first business and contributing to 20% market-cap CAGR growth, from $145
billion to $256 billion. She also served on the board of “smart logistics” company Hoptek.

Earlier, as chief operating officer of private equity-backed FourLeaf, she translated strategy into
execution. She scaled the AdTech startup into a profitable growth engine by launching a customer-
centric digital platform and building new revenue streams around it, while guiding the company
through a restructuring and partial acquisition. She has also held executive roles at software
companies Versata and Trilogy.

An entrepreneur at heart, she founded Shrewsbury LLC, advising global companies on AI/digital-
enabled transformation. Her work has driven large-scale impact — from rearchitecting a $10 billion
vision care company’s global product launch process to reimagining the customer journey for the
nation’s largest insurer, enabling a 10% four-year revenue CAGR. She co-founded Pollyseon, an
innovative lifestyle company with patented solutions and partnerships with Estée Lauder and
Aveda.

As an undergraduate, Shrewsbury was the Jean & Raymond Winkler Scholar, placed twice
nationally in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers research competition, was elected to
Tau Beta Pi, and earned the Stanley I. Proctor Award, while actively leading in the Engineering
Student Council and Society of Women Engineers.

She champions initiatives to elevate women’s impact and remains deeply engaged in her
community, serving in leadership positions with Austin Opera and Ballet Austin, as chair of the
WashU Eliot Society Committee for Austin/San Antonio, sponsoring engineering scholarships, and
mentoring future leaders. Today, Shrewsbury continues her work as a strategic advisor, investor,
and board member, including through the Central Texas Angel Network.

Shrewsbury earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from WashU in 1995. She also
completed a Bachelor of Science in chemistry at Centre College and a doctorate in bioengineering
from University of California, Berkeley.

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Ahad Khan Engineering Entrepreneurship Award

Ahad Khan is a technology leader and entrepreneur who has spent his career building and scaling
companies that help people turn ideas into real, sustainable businesses.

Khan currently serves as president of Kajabi, where he previously spent five years as CEO. During
his tenure, he helped grow Kajabi into a leading platform that enables creators, experts, and
entrepreneurs to build digital-first businesses on their own terms. To date, Khan has powered more
than $11 billion in revenue for its customers, reflecting his belief that more people should have the
tools and ownership to build something of their own.

Before Kajabi, Khan grew his career in both startups and large technology companies. As COO and
CFO of MileIQ, he helped scale the company through its acquisition by Microsoft, where he later led
business operations for key parts of the Office 365 ecosystem. Prior to that, he was an early team
member at Kiwi Inc., a Palo Alto-based mobile app developer and distributor and helped grow the
company from its nascent days through acquisition.

Khan began his career in investing and finance at Spectrum Equity and William Blair & Company,
experiences that shaped his perspective on how technology, capital, and execution come together
to launch enduring companies.

A lifelong builder, Khan brings an engineer’s mindset to entrepreneurship, combining analytical
thinking with a focus on real-world impact. He remains passionate about supporting the next
generation of founders and expanding access to opportunities through technology.

Khan earned a bachelor of science degree in systems science and engineering with a second major
in economics and a minor in industrial engineering in 2003 and a master of science degree in
systems science and mathematics in 2004, both from WashU. He also holds an MBA from the
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Emerging Leader Awards

 

Jeff Gamble MS '15, PhD '17

Jeff Gamble is a health-care operator and product leader focused on redesigning how care is delivered in the United States.

Trained in biomedical engineering and neural engineering, Gamble has spent his research career working at the intersection of biological systems and computational intelligence. His research explores how neural networks — both biological and artificial — can be leveraged to develop novel interventions for functional disabilities. This technical foundation has shaped his system-oriented approach to solving complex healthcare challenges.

Gamble is the founder and chief operating officer of Rezilient Health, a tech-enabled health-care services company pioneering a hybrid care delivery model that integrates virtual medicine with physical “CloudClinics.” Under his leadership, Rezilient has built a vertically integrated platform combining software, clinical operations, and multispecialty care to expand access, improve patient experience, and lower costs for employers and health systems.

Since its founding, Rezilient has raised $30 million in funding and established strategic partnerships with major health systems, universities, and other employers to scale its model nationally. Rezilient currently has 15 locations across four states and has served tens of thousands of patients to date, with plans to continue to rapidly grow its services into new geographic markets. Gamble leads product strategy, company operations, and organizational growth, translating engineering principles into operational systems that drive measurable health-care outcomes.

Prior to Rezilient, Gamble founded SnapPEAS, an AI-powered nutrition platform: worked part-time in a product role at Neurolutions, a WashU startup that created the first FDA-approved brain- computer interface: and has advised startups and investors on commercializing advanced technologies through the InSITE program.

As an alumnus, Gamble has been involved with the Department of Biomedical Engineering speaker series and with the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, leveraging his experience to help advance continued innovation and the development of technology for care.

Gamble earned a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering with a minor in neuroscience from Duke University in 2011. He completed a master’s degree and doctorate in biomedical engineering at WashU in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

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Eric Jensen BS '08

An expert in aerospace and geospatial intelligence, Eric Jensen is a business leader, engineer, STEM champion, and advocate for veterans. He serves as the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at ICEYE US, an industry-leading remote sensing firm based in southern California that offers and operates radar imaging satellites. By delivering real-time monitoring of global economic activity, the company empowers U.S. government, allied, and commercial partners to make more accurate, timely decisions for the betterment of society. Before his current role, Jensen was the firm’s president.

Before moving into business development and strategy, Jensen served in various engineering leadership positions in civil, defense, and national mission domains. Prior to serving ICEYE US, Jensen spent more than a decade at the Boeing Company, where he began his career as a design engineer within Phantom Works, a division focused on advanced national security programs. He went on to direct Boeing Satellite Services, guiding the organization responsible for critical connectivity and infrastructure for United States senior leaders, and later became vice president of Boeing Commercial Satellite Systems, leading the team delivering advanced communication satellites to global customers.

Jensen is a dedicated member of the external advisory board for the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science within McKelvey Engineering. He is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, a global leadership community.

Originally from St. Louis, Jensen earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from WashU in 2008. Upon graduating, he moved to the west coast and completed a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California while working full-time. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California Los Angeles.

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Rebecca Vincent BS '08

An experienced supply chain executive, Rebecca Vincent has an extensive track record of developing solutions and driving efficiencies in supplier planning, distribution, and network design. She is passionate about people, positive change, and problem-solving.

In 2022, Vincent joined Cisco as the director of product operations for the Industrial Internet of Things. Two years later, the company expanded her role to include enterprise routing, wireless networking, and Meraki vision and sensors. She is also the pillar sponsor for iWise iBelong.

Prior to joining Cisco, Vincent worked at Tesla in multiple supply chain roles, beginning in new product introduction material planning for the Model X launch. She later moved to service and energy supply chain management, encompassing many facets of supply chain operations, including demand forecasting, warehousing and distribution, last leg logistics, remanufacturing, and more. She began her career in manufacturing with GE Energy on the operations management leadership program, which offers extensive lean manufacturing training and four diverse rotations in steam turbine manufacturing, GE water logistics, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.

At WashU, Vincent was a Danforth Scholar and an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, a student organization that empowers women and allies in engineering and technology around the world. She is a dedicated supporter of engineering scholarships and the McKelvey Annual Fund.

Vincent earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from WashU in 2008.

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Grant Taylor Williams BS '07, BS '07, MS '09

Grant Taylor Williams is a principal solution engineer at Salesforce, where he leads pre-sales efforts for enterprise clients in the high-tech industry. He quarterbacks complex, matrixed selling motions from a technical perspective, developing business cases, running executive-level workshops, and closing dozens of multiyear, multicloud software-as-a-service (SaaS) deals. Known for bridging deep technical knowledge with strategic business acumen, he is respected in the board room but equally admired at the office for mentoring the next generation of solution engineers.

Before Salesforce, Williams’ career traced an unconventional and entrepreneurial arc. He began as an electronics engineer at Northrop Grumman’s research and development division, identifying nascent technologies and overseeing investment in advanced technology programs. He then transitioned to investment banking at Lincoln International, developing mergers and acquisitions investment theses and financial growth strategies for technology sector clients. He co- founded Tempo Beverage, raising $750,000 from angel investors, opening over 100 retail accounts across the Chicago area including Whole Foods, and ultimately negotiating the company’s sale to a strategic acquirer.

Outside of work, Williams is committed to expanding access and opportunity in STEM. He volunteers with Girls 4 Science, inspiring K-12 students to pursue careers in science and engineering, and with Volunteer Medical Engineers, applying his technical background to serve the medical and humanitarian communities.

As a WashU undergraduate, Williams was deeply engaged in the engineering community. He served as President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers student chapter, contributed to the beloved Vertigo “dance floor” project, was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, and claimed the Intramural Badminton Championship.

Williams earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and in computer engineering, and a Master of Science in electrical engineering — with a thesis on a head trauma medical device — from WashU on a full-tuition scholarship. He also completed an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.