2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Enhancing Engineering Education through Student-Led Leadership Development

Presented at Engineering Leadership Identity and Skill Development

Developing effective leadership in engineering education requires intentional frameworks that engage students, faculty, and administrators in shared learning and collaboration. The John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA) at the University of Connecticut exemplifies such a framework through its distinctive “for us, by us” model, which empowers engineering graduate students to both learn and practice leadership. Established in 2018, JLLA has now engaged more than 140 scholars and alumni across all engineering departments.

In JLLA, participants take ownership of their learning by designing and delivering workshops. Workshop's themes are purposely chosen to better prepare our members for future leadership challenges and promote self-awareness. Themes span from “Inclusive leadership for the future” to “Resilience in a time of crisis” and “Leading with emotional intelligence.” They are organised by three teams that prepare presentations and activities and invite keynote speakers. Collaboration between these teams develops teamwork, communication, and event management skills.

Members will further proactively practice and sharpen their leadership skills in committees, where they work to refine the JLLA from aspects of representation, volunteering, and community outreach. Members are encouraged to hold and volunteer in events open to all UConn students. Workshops and committees together link the organization and the community together, putting students' leadership skills into practical use. JLLA supports its members to participate in external academic conferences to further enhance their presentation, interpersonal communication, and public speaking skills beyond UConn.

Program effectiveness is continuously assessed by member evaluations, workshop reflection, committee review sessions, and member recognition. JLLA employs these criteria to understand leadership developments and growth of its members. For example, members’ reflections on workshop outcomes, and areas for improvement are recorded through journal prompts. Preliminary analyses indicate 95% of participants reported improvements in leadership and communication skills, with over 60% citing examples of applying skills developed through JLLA in real-life contexts. One participant reflected, “The things I learned from JLLA—I don’t know how else I would have gained them. It made me a more inclusive and confident leader.”

Collectively, these experiences cultivate leadership growth through service, peer mentorship, and community engagement. JLLA’s model demonstrates how student-led leadership programs can effectively complement technical education. The program emphasizes collaboration, diversity of perspectives, and mentorship by inviting guest speakers from within and beyond UConn.

Authors

Elika Shams http://orcid.org/0009-0008-6882-4766 University of Connecticut [biography]

Elika Shams is a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where she studies the molecular mechanisms of rare genetic diseases using computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations in Dr. Anna Tarakanova’s lab. Her research focuses on elastin gene mutations and their effects on extracellular matrix proteins.
She earned her Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Tehran and previously worked as a research assistant at Biotechnology Pioneers, contributing to bioink development for soft tissue bioprinting.
Beyond research, Elika is deeply involved in leadership and community building. She has served as President of the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA) since last summer and has also been President of the Iranian Cultural Organization at UConn since 2024. Through these roles, she has strengthened her passion for collaboration, mentorship, and inclusive leadership.
Outside of academics, Elika is a runner and hiker who loves exploring trails, traveling, and discovering new places through running.
Tingkai Li http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1934-1000 University of Connecticut [biography]

Tingkai Li is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering. Tingkai serves as the Social Media Director for the John Lof Leadership Academy under UConn College of Engineering during the 2025-2026 academic year. Tingkai received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Energy Systems, summa cum laude, from Iowa State University.
Maxwell Bartlett http://orcid.org/0009-0002-5862-6340 University of Connecticut [biography]

Maxwell Bartlett is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he studies transport phenomena in architected porous media in Dr. Wilson K.S. Chiu’s lab. His research focuses on the relationship between structure and transport behavior in triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures, with an emphasis on tortuosity and thermal transport.
He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2022. Beyond his research, he is actively involved in leadership development through the John Lof Leadership Academy, where he serves on the E-board as the finance director.
Outside of academics, he enjoys skiing, hiking, and traveling.
Miss Aayushi Verma http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2396-4569 University of Connecticut [biography]

Aayushi is a second-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at the University of Connecticut, where her research explores the intersection of computer vision and AI security. Under the mentorship of her advisor, her current work focuses on investigating vulnerabilities in machine learning systems used in voting infrastructure, and developing technical strategies to make these systems more secure, transparent, and resilient. Now in her second year of JLLA, Aayushi is serving as co-Finance Director on JLLA’s executive board, and is excited about connecting JLLA’s mission to graduate student needs across engineering. The leadership skills she gained through JLLA have also inspired her involvement in her department’s GradLife Committee, where she is working to build a stronger, more connected community for computer science graduate students.

Aayushi’s academic interests lie in developing rigorous, usable, and ethical AI systems. Her long-term goal is to become an industrial research scientist who not only contributes to impactful systems, but also builds and leads diverse, forward-thinking research teams. She views leadership as the ability to act with intention, communicate with clarity, and build resilience in both ideas and people.

She believes JLLA has been instrumental in helping her grow into a leader who listens deeply, navigates conflict respectfully, and drives positive change through collaboration. Her advice to aspiring graduate students: seek out communities like JLLA that challenge you to lead with purpose and help you grow beyond the technical. Through her work with JLLA, Aayushi hopes to carry forward Dr. John Lof’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and service.
Alireza Miraliakbar University of Connecticut [biography]

Alireza Miraliakbar is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he focuses on process optimization and hybrid modeling of complex chemical systems. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Tehran, where his academic foundation in systems engineering began to take shape. Alireza also serves as the Public Relations Director at the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA) at UConn College of Engineering for 2025-2026 academic year.
Kaitlyn G Mahoney University of Connecticut [biography]

Kaitlyn Mahoney is a second-year Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut. As Co-Public Relations Director of the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA), she plays an active role in shaping the organization's communication strategy, coordinating member engagement, and supporting the student-led workshop model described in this paper. Beyond JLLA, Kaitlyn holds leadership roles in the Student Association of Graduate Engineers (SAGE) and brings experience in coaching and mentoring collegiate athletes. Her doctoral research, advised by Dr. Abi Lawal, applies computational modeling to urban air quality challenges.
Mr. Yinyu Wang University of Connecticut [biography]

Yinyu Wang is a 3rd year PhD student majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. His research is about fuel cells and hydrogen energy. Yinyu Wang is also involved in student leadership training by participating in the John Lof Leadership Academy in the University of Connecticut.
Mohamadamin Rajabinezhad http://orcid.org/https://0009-0004-1195-1933 University of Connecticut [biography]

Mohamadamin Rajabinezhad is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He serves as the Activities Director for the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA) under UConn College of Engineering during the 2025–2026 academic year. Mohamadamin received his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. His academic and research interests focus on control systems, smart grids, and resilient cyber-physical systems.
Oluwaseun Moses Akinola http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0830-3367 University of Connecticut [biography]

Oluwaseun Akinola is a Ph.D. student in the Environmental Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, where his research investigates the impacts of sector-specific emission transitions on ozone formation dynamics and particulate matter burdens under changing climatic conditions. His work integrates atmospheric chemistry modeling and air quality analysis to better understand how evolving emission profiles and temperature variability influence urban air pollution regimes.
He currently serves as the Parliamentarian in the John Lof Leadership Academy within the University of Connecticut College of Engineering for the 2025–2026 academic year. Oluwaseun holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and a master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Aida Ghiaei University of Connecticut

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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