Using STEAM as a Catalyst for Sustainable Leadership Capacity

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Using STEAM as a Catalyst for Sustainable Leadership Capacity

πŸ“… February 23, 2026
πŸ•” 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
πŸ“21c Library — Pikes Peak Library District
1175 Chapel Hills Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920 

 


Engineers Know What Matters.

Now Let’s Scale It.

IEEE is more than a technical society — it is a professional home for leadership formation, career progression, and cross-generational mentorship 

This meeting will outline a clear, intentional systems-engineering approach to using STEAM outreach as the Section’s:

  • 🎯 Center-of-Gravity for Community Engagement

  • πŸ” Leadership Flywheel (Recruit → Mentor → Activate → Replicate) (p.9

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    )

  • πŸ“ˆ Platform for Sustainable Leadership Capacity (p.6

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    )


Why Attend?

Many Sections face:

  • Volunteer burnout or not enough volunteers

  • Mentorship discontinuity

  • Institutional knowledge gaps

  • Industry engagement challenges

This session will present a structured response using:

🧭 Strategy

Infrastructure thinking and intentional design of leadership systems.

πŸ”„ Operations

Academia–Industry–Section coordination through makerspaces and STEAM pipelines.

πŸš€ Tactics

Volunteer activation, student engagement, and distributed leadership growth.

 


What Makes This Meeting Different?

This is not a motivational talk.

It is a systems-engineering architecture for scaling:

Self-Leadership → Team Leadership → Organizational / Legacy Leadership

Built around:

Skillset × Mindset × Mentorship = Sustainable Leadership Capacity


πŸ‘¨‍πŸ‘©‍πŸ‘§‍πŸ‘¦ Bring Your Kids!

This is a family-friendly event.

We will run parallel sessions:

πŸŽ“ Adult Session

  • Section Strategy

  • Operational Model

  • Volunteer Activation Framework

  • Leadership Capacity Scaling

  • Career Path Integration (Academia, Industry, Young Professionals)

πŸ€– STEAM Demo Session for Kids

  • Hands-on engineering demos

  • Robotics and maker-style activities

  • Encouragement toward thinking like engineers

  • Inspiration for future IEEE members

We believe leadership continuity begins early.


Who Should Attend?

βœ” IEEE Members (all grades)
βœ” Academia and Industry Leaders
βœ” Young Professionals
βœ” Parents
βœ” Student Members
βœ” Future Engineers


The Goal

To build a Section where:

  • Every member grows as a leader

  • Every leader builds other leaders

  • Career progression aligns with service

  • Outreach strengthens leadership capacity

  • IEEE remains the professional home for engineering excellence


The Vision

“For each year, each of the current active and engaged members, recruit one IEEE member and mentor the recruit to become active and engaged…” 

That is how leadership compounds.


Be part of the intentional design.

Be part of the leadership momentum flywheel.

Help build sustainable leadership capacity.

Very Respectfully,
John


  Date and Time

  Location

  Hosts

  Registration



  • Add_To_Calendar_icon Add Event to Calendar
  • 21c Library β€” Pikes Peak Library District 1175 Chapel Hills Drive
  • Colorado Springs, CO , Colorado
  • United States 80920
  • Room Number: ENT Conference Room

  • Contact Event Host
  • Starts 16 February 2026 07:00 AM UTC
  • Ends 23 February 2026 07:00 AM UTC
  • No Admission Charge


  Speakers

Topic:

Using STEAM as a Catalyst for Sustainable Leadership Capacity

 

 

Biography:

 

Dr. John Santiago is a retired United States Air Force officer with over 26 years of service in research, development, and acquisition, including work in precision-guided munitions and advanced technologies. Following his military career, he spent more than two decades in higher education as a professor and mentor, teaching electrical engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, physics, and mathematics while guiding senior design and capstone projects.

He is an active leader in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), currently serving as the Region 5 Educational Activities Coordinator and a leader within the IEEE Pikes Peak Section. Dr. Santiago has been recognized for his contributions to STEM education, mentorship, and community engagement, including designation as an IEEE STEM Champion. His work focuses on developing sustainable leadership capacity through engineering education, mentorship pipelines, and community partnerships.

Dr. Santiago is the creator of the PyramidX-OS leadership framework and the STEAM-TEAMS initiative, which integrates technical skill development, entrepreneurial mindset, and mentorship to support workforce readiness and leadership growth across students, professionals, and communities. His programs emphasize the principle that skillset, mindset, and mentorship together create lasting impact.

He continues to volunteer extensively, developing AI-assisted educational resources, community STEM programs, and leadership training initiatives designed to improve the human condition through technology and service.

Email:

Topic:

STEAM Demos on Magnets, Motors, and Microcontrollers and Monster Magic

This initial meeting will focus on simple demos of Magnets and Motors.

Biography:

Dileep Rai

Dileep Rai is an engineering professional and active IEEE volunteer dedicated to advancing STEM education, workforce development, and community engagement through technology. He has contributed to collaborative initiatives that connect industry, academia, and community partners, with a focus on practical learning experiences that inspire students and support professional growth.

Through his involvement with IEEE programs and regional activities, Dileep has supported efforts aligned with leadership development, mentorship, and outreach, including participation in initiatives that integrate hands-on engineering demonstrations with career pathway awareness. His interests include fostering innovation, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and helping build sustainable programs that strengthen technical communities.

Dileep is committed to leveraging engineering knowledge and professional networks to create opportunities for students, young professionals, and volunteers, contributing to the broader mission of advancing technology for humanity.


Topic:

STEAM Demos

Biography:

Senthil Mehalingam is a technology professional and IEEE volunteer with experience in computing systems, cloud technologies, and software engineering. He has contributed to technical programs, professional activities, and knowledge sharing within IEEE, including service in leadership roles such as Vice-Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Chapter in the Pikes Peak Section.

Senthil has participated in organizing technical talks, webinars, and professional development activities that connect industry practices with engineering communities. His interests include emerging computing technologies, cloud security, and applied software solutions that support organizational innovation. He is also recognized as a senior member within the broader computing professional community, reflecting his technical experience and professional contributions.

Through his volunteer work, Senthil supports initiatives that promote technical learning, collaboration, and workforce development, contributing to IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for humanity.