The Bridge - Issue 2, 2022 - 7

Alumni News
HKN is eager to learn more about the challenges
that members are facing, and how the challenges are
changing with the workforce and environment of today.
The first few episodes have covered topics such as
Career Planning and Effective Mentoring, and many
more are in the works.
are our best and brightest who are working diligently
on the problems that our world faces. We hope that
you will reconnect with us, either by joining us for a
reception, listening to a podcast, or sharing a need that
we can help you meet.
HKN is for life. Once you are inducted, you are always
an HKN member and that honor stays with you and
is recognized wherever you go and whatever job you
do. Our common values of character, scholarship, and
attitude apply to us all, regardless of the part of our
community with which you identify.
Amy Jones is an Engineering Supervisor
in John Deere's Construction Division.
Alumni gather at RadarConf in New York City in March.
While HKN alumni don't need study groups or lab
partners, they are looking for chances to meet new
people. One never knows if an HKN colleague will
be the one to recommend them for their dream job,
invite them to join their side gig, or even just make a
conference dinner less awkward.
" As a candidate for induction, I remember being
impressed by the responsibility that HKN members
seemed to feel toward their fellow students in my
department, " Amy said, " Whether it was hosting a
study session or offering a free doughnut, they always
seemed to be extending a helping hand. While I still
have fond memories of those young leaders, one
thing that I didn't expect about being an alumna is
how incredibly proud I have remained of the student
members of HKN. I'm thrilled to hear about their
achievements, and don't want to miss an opportunity
to help them make a strong start towards their goals.
Those feelings are not unique to me; I see that same
pride and passion in the many HKN members who
have supported me both in the past and present.
Where else in our careers do we find a built-in network
of supporters and cheerleaders, people who have been
pre-vetted to share our common values of character,
scholarship, and attitude? "
With this in mind, the Alumni Engagement Committee
has already planned to host several Alumni Receptions
this year. The first was held at RadarConf on 21 March
in New York City. A second was held at the 2022 IEEE
SoutheastCon in Mobile Alabama, on 2 April.
Our members are the best part of HKN. They form
the history of which we are all so justly proud and they
She leads the Operator Station Systems
& Module team and is responsible for
supporting factory production of cabs
as well as leading new development of
common components and systems for
the Construction division. In 12 years with
John Deere, she's held roles in Software Test and Systems Design.
One of her proudest accomplishments was leading the team that
delivered eleven new models of excavator to production for global
markets. Amy is a Senior Member of IEEE and a proud alumna
of the Gamma Theta chapter of Eta Kappa Nu. In her spare time,
she loves spending time with her family, watching Jeopardy, and
supporting STEM outreach to build the next generation
of engineers.
Hulya Kirkici is Professor and the
Department Chair of Electrical and
Computer Engineering at the University
of South Alabama. She received B.S.
and M.S. in physics from Middle East
Technical University, Turkey; and Ph.D. in
electrical engineering from Polytechnic
University (currently NYU), NY. Previously,
Dr. Kirkici was Professor of electrical and computer engineering
at Auburn University, visiting scholar / Faculty Fellow at the Air
Force Research Laboratory - Wright Patterson Air Force Base,
and visiting scientist/engineer at NASA, Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, AL. Dr. Kirkici's research interests are electrical
insulation, high-frequency dielectric breakdown, and repetitive
pulsed power.
Dr. Kirkici is a Fellow of IEEE and recipient of the IEEE Eric O.
Forster Distinguished Service Award, IEEE William G. Dunbar
Award, and the IEEE Sol Schneider Award. Dr. Kirkici is members
American Physical Society (APS), Sigma Xi Scientific Honor
Society, Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society, and American Association of
University Women (AAUW).
Dr. Kirkici is Governor-at-Large of the IEEE-HKN Board,
a member of the IEEE-HKN Bridge Magazine Editorial Board
(2020 - present).
HKN.ORG
7
https://hkn.ieee.org/ieee-hkn-alumni-reconnect-form https://hkn.ieee.org/
The Bridge - Issue 2, 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 2, 2022
