What’s New? The Latest from the IEP Alumni Network

Kaylen Haley ‘04

German and Biomedical Engineering

Southern New England – In August 2024, I started a new role leading Global Product Development PMO Operations for Olympus – working with teams based in Massachusetts, Hamburg and Tokyo to optimize how new medical devices are developed. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to flex the global collaboration muscles I first developed as a student in the IEP!

Alex: “I love the caption on the wall… I don’t know if I will follow its message.” (Photo taken in Florence, Italy by Alex Giannakos)

Alex Giannakos ‘14

URI/TU Braunschweig Dual Master’s Grad in Mechanical Engineering

Italy – Deciding to go through the IEP’s dual master’s program was probably the most transformative and intense experience of my career. Although I have pivoted fields since completing my course of study, I was left with a broad range of experience that has been invaluable in my path since graduating from the IEP. I think overall the coursework and language experience has allowed me to be versatile, more personable, and more relatable to my colleagues. Since graduating I worked in the tourism industry, the hospitality industry, and eventually in a tech field and learned a third language. In each of those settings I always felt prepared and confident to interact, understand, and solve problems with both colleagues and clients alike (all from different parts of the globe).

I think more than just an engineering degree and language experience, the IEP gave me an intercultural framework by which to approach both my work and professional & personal relationships. It’s something I continue to develop and build on.

Ross Blanchard ‘16

Spanish and Chemical Engineering

New Haven, CT – I recently started a new job as a Product Development Engineer at KX Technologies, a water filter manufacturing company in New Haven, CT. I was specifically hired for my international experience, since they are looking to expand their business in South America. I work on cross-cultural and cross-functional teams everyday, which I was well prepared for after my year abroad in Chile. I am able to use my Spanish and Portuguese language skills to communicate with our production team in New Haven, as well as our suppliers, manufacturing partners, and customers in Mexico and Brazil. I also enjoy sharing a piece of South American culture I brought home, drinking yerba mate from a traditional gourd wrapped in leather, which is becoming more popular in the United States thanks to Lionel Messi.

Ross at the R&D lab standing next to a big tank of DI water for filter testing. (Photo courtesy of Ross Blanchard)

Ross’s set up in the office, including his traditional yerba mate cup! (Photo courtesy of Ross Blanchard)

Kevin Valerio ‘18 and Estefany Mejia ‘19

Kevin and Estefany with baby Devin. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Valerio)

German IEP and Mechanical Engineering

Kevin and Estefany were both graduates from the German IEP with mechanical engineering who studied at TU Darmstadt. They shared with us about the birth of their son, Devin Valerio, on July 2, 2024!