Engineers Alliance for the Arts » Board of Directors

EAA was founded in 2000 by a group of leading San Francisco Bay Area structural engineers with the initial goal of merging visual and performing arts with the world of engineering. Recognizing the value of a hands-on approach to education, we started placing engineers and designers into classrooms to share their time, talent, and technical expertise directly with students. Our first pilot project launched in 2001 in two San Francisco Unified School District high schools, and our programs have since been adopted by multiple schools throughout the Bay Area, benefiting thousands of students.

Our Board of Directors is committed to ensuring the growth of this innovative program by continuing to work with educators, engineers, and the design community to refine and improve the curriculum; building our ranks of progressive supporters, volunteers, and donors; and exposing more students to the arts and engineering by expanding the program footprint across the nation.

“EAA is doing so much more than bringing engineers into the classroom. In a broader view, it is exposing students to a world of professional career paths and opening up a new world for students to consider.”

Jax Kneppers
Past President, EAA

“This program provides a much needed link between scientific and mathematical principles and practical applications. It does this while still allowing for personal expression and encouraging creativity.”

William Kotterman
Chief Executive Officer, EAA

“EAA’s program is an ideal way for teachers to enhance their math, engineering and art programs – and give kids a glimpse of a possible career and some great incentive to do well in school.”

Steve Cetrone
Chief Operating Officer, EAA

“I’m proud to be part of a program that encourages both educational and personal growth from the students!”

Ariel Creagh
Vice President, Student Impact Project, EAA

Executive Committee

William Kotterman

President & Chief Executive Officer, EAA
Manager, Customer Success, Autodesk

Steve Cetrone

Chief Operating Officer, EAA
Vice President, Oliver & Company

Katie Boisseree

Chief Financial Officer

Simon Ng

Vice President, Technology
Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers

Rafael Turcios

Vice President, Student Impact Project, EAA
Santa Clara Valley Water District

Claire Killian

Vice President, Student Impact Project, EAA
Degenkolb Engineers

Ryan Salas

Vice President, Student Impact Project, EAA
Trailhead Technology Partners

Thomas Byrne

Crow Holdings, Dealpath

Jax Kneppers

President, Jax Kneppers Associates, Inc.

Uchenna Okoye

Autodesk

Kit Ratcliff

Ratcliff Architects

Mark Van Velzen

FOUNDER

Ashraf Habibullah

Founder, EAA

Founder, President, and CEO, Computers and Structures, Inc.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Michelle Lehman

Executive Director, EAA

Advisory Board

Eric Chen

GISI

Joyce Feng

SEAONC

Kenneth Forward

PG&E

David Friedman &
Paulette J. Meyer

Laurie Johnson

Degenkolb Engineers

Alyssa Kim

Google

Hymel Ling

Dana Hymel & Jason Ling

Urban Design Consulting Engineers

Klein

Kenneth Klein

Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger

Ron Machado

SFUSD

Norton

Jeff Norton

O’Melveny & Myers, LLC

Ray Pugliesi

Degenkolb

Stacie Rodriguez

Lawrence Livermore National Security

Hala Titus

CDM Smith

Ken Walker

Titan Constructed