Young Professional Awardee: Keisha Howard

Video games are changing the future, and Keisha wants to ensure everyone has a voice in that conversation. A futurist, entrepreneur, and two time TEDx Speaker, Keisha recognizes the potential for video games to transcend their role as entertainment and become a mechanism for inspiration and social change.

Keisha Howard has seen the world of video games from many perspectives. As a player, she loves the way games can open your mind and shape who you are as an individual. As a creator, she encourages others to create and find their voices in this rapidly growing industry. Whether working with students, developing game design/ media literacy curriculums or collaborating with executives on corporate strategy, Keisha considers it her goal to help bring everyone into the conversation about how video games are changing the world.

Innovative Research Awardee: PSYONIC - Aadeel Akhtar, PhD

Dr. Aadeel Akhtar is the CEO and Founder of PSYONIC, a company developing advanced bionic limbs that are accessible to humans and robots. Dr. Akhtar received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. He received a B.S. in Biology in 2007 and M.S. in Computer Science in 2008 at Loyola University Chicago. In 2021, he was named as one of MIT Technology Review’s top 35 Innovators Under 35 and America’s Top 50 Disruptors in Newsweek.

Lifetime Achievement Awardee: Andrea Ingram, JD

A proven leader with extensive experience as a business lawyer, public policy advocate, social service agency executive, and cultural institution thought leader, Andrea J. Ingram joined DuPage Children’s Museum in November 2019. Ingram served for 13 years as Vice President of Education and Guest Services at the Museum of Science and Industry prior to joining the Museum.

At the Museum of Science and Industry, Ingram was responsible for all aspects of the Museum’s guest experience as well as impactful programs that inspire and motivate youth to become the next generation of innovators and scientists. Previously, she served as Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Information for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services where she managed and built partnerships across communities and stakeholders and streamlined systems for children in state care to access the services and programs they need. 

Ingram earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The American University. She is a Board of Trustees member and past chair of Heartland Human Care Services.

Societal Impact Awardee: STEM Opportunity Landscape Project - Jessica Burgess

Jessica Burgess is Argonne’s STEM Education Partnerships and Outreach Manager, overseeing the development and coordination of family-friendly outreach activities and competitions that align with Argonne’s research. Jessica and her team are responsible for connecting Argonne researchers with youth engagement opportunities. The team also builds and manages partnerships with schools and STEM organizations. As a personal goal, Jessica wishes to promote STEM literacy and make STEM subjects accessible to everyone.

Before joining Argonne in 2016, Jessica held various formal and informal education roles, engaging thousands of youth and families every year in STEM activities, shows, and events. Jessica holds an M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a B.S. in Marine Biology from Eckerd College (Florida), and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Zoo and Aquarium Studies from Western Illinois University.

Societal Impact Awardee: STEM Opportunity Landscape Project - Meridith Bruozas

Meridith Bruozas recently stepped into the role of Interim Institutional Partnerships Director, where she will lead the laboratory’s university strategy, which includes building out frameworks for successful research partnerships and increasing engagement with minority-serving institutions and community colleges.

As the Manager of Educational Programs and Outreach, Ms. Bruozas develops high-quality education and workforce development programs that are aligned to mission science and support the development of the next generation of STEM problem solvers and leaders. Ms. Bruozas is an educator by training and has spent the past 20 years in a combination of district, nonprofit and academic leadership positions that research and promote STEM education. She earned her M.S. in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Secondary Education and Biological Sciences from Ball State University. Her publications include several national science curricula for middle and high school classrooms and numerous professional presentations and research articles.

Synergy Awardee: Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen Hub (MachH2) - Dorothy R. Davidson, Ph.D.

Dr. Dorothy Davidson is the President and CEO of Orano Federal Services. She is an accomplished and innovative senior executive well known for her success in developing and implementing successful growth strategies in the U.S. nuclear energy industry. Dr. Davidson excels in working effectively with a diverse set of Government agencies, national laboratories, research universities, industry partners, and stakeholders on large, complex nuclear energy programs and projects at DOE operations and cleanup sites. She has skillfully led large organizations that develop and/or apply state-of-the-art nuclear science and technologies while adapting quickly to evolving industry, economic, and policy requirements and challenges. She establishes a positive, transparent working environment, sets clear goals, develops talented science and technology teams, and directs and continuously improves both company-wide and project-by-project performance.