Alumni Newsletter: Gadomski School of Engineering
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Venkateswara R. Kode grew up in Christian missionary schools in his home country of India, and they significantly influenced his life and career, fostering a deep appreciation for the values of Lasallian education. Gratefully acknowledging these experiences, Dr. Kode recently joined CBU as an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. Dr. Kode teaches courses in Thermodynamics, Process Control and Modeling, Material and Energy Balances, and Polymeric Materials Science. He appreciates the opportunity to mentor and guide students as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of undergraduate life, and he finds teaching at CBU to be a fulfilling and rewarding experience that allows him to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students.
Prior to his new role at CBU, Dr. Kode served as a Senior Scientist at Genesis Systems LLC, focusing on addressing global warming and water scarcity. He also gained experience as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Membrane Science Engineering & Technology Center at the University of Arkansas.
Dr. Kode completed his BS in Chemical Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 2015. He then moved to the U.S. to pursue his MS in Chemical Engineering at Cleveland State University, specializing in advanced nanomaterials and colloidal science. This specialization led him to a PhD, where his research in the BioNano Materials Lab earned him multiple awards upon completion in 2021. Beyond academia, Dr. Kode has contributed to peer-reviewed journal publications and holds several U.S. and International patent applications in atmospheric water generation and carbon capture technologies. Additionally, he actively engages with the academic community through editorial work for various journals.
Alumni Spotlight
As a student at CBU, Alexa Marie Kintanar (Electrical Engineering ’19) was very active student. She was a member of the Honors Program, a Senator in the Student Government Association, and served as Vice President for the Omega Delta Chapter of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity. She also mentored, taught, and assisted students in the Math Center and tutored students in Computer Science and Physics courses. “I’m a Filipina American, whose parents immigrated to America in order to give my sister and I the chance at a better life,” Alexa says. “The sole reason I work as hard as possible is to make my parents proud.”
As an Electrical Engineering major, Alexa concentrated in Electronics and Power Systems. “I’ve always had a passion for innovation in technology to help others,” she says. “While attending CBU, I worked at the Apple Store as a “Genius.” I not only repaired devices, but I loved to show others the power of technology, whether it was for everyday use or accessibility.” She was awarded second place for her technical paper and oral presentation entitled “Smart Clothing with Haptic Technology” at the 2019 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Southeastern Conference. CBU provided her with an internship opportunity at FedEx, where she worked as a paid Co-op Intern in Avionics. “This position exposed me to the impact I could have on a larger scale,” she explains.
Alexa has been at FedEx ever since, and she has risen to a position as a Senior Aircraft Engineer in Avionics, where she leads engineering projects for aircraft navigation and surveillance systems for long-term safety, reliability improvements, capability enhancements, and cost savings across all fleets. She also earned an MBA from the University of Memphis in 2022.
Alexa still believes in the strength of mentorship and that spreading knowledge is a great way to help others. “I encourage students to get involved in STEM at a young age by presenting at Memphis City Schools with the FedEx Express Aircraft Maintenance Outreach program,” she says. “I’m an advocate for women in STEM and a member of the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA), the Memphis chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and a volunteer for Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) in Memphis. I’m also a mentor in the REACH Memphis program and CBU First-Generation program.”