Roundtable Commenters
Russell Korte
Associate Professor
The George Washington University
Russell Korte studies the social, cultural, and professional systems in organizations and their effects on learning and performance. This work focuses on the professional education and socialization of engineering students, the work of practicing engineers, as well as the preparation of professionals for their future careers. Dr. Korte is an Associate Professor of Human and Organizational Learning at The George Washington University where he combines his practical experiences of work in education, business, and industry with his research and teaching in professional education, professional practice, and the social foundations of work. He has published on topics ranging from organizational socialization (onboarding), workplace learning, organization studies, social science, and philosophy. He also works on a variety of topics supporting his students’ work on decision-making, the meaning of work, and social connectedness in school and the workplace. Korte received his Ph.D. in Work and Human Resource Education from the University of Minnesota.
Bridget Reeves
US Culture and Diversity Engagement Lead
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata America International Corporation
•Bridget Reeves has been in Human Resources for over 25 years. Her industry experience has been in legal, customer service, and IT, and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees of Applied Sciences.
•Bridget has been employed with TCS for 14 years and is based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Her latest role was US Western Region HR Head for Talent Engagement covering 10 US states consisting of over 6,000 associates and managing a team of 13 Talent Engagement Partners and Managers.
•Bridget would like to say her region’s platform was learning and building confidence among leaders with the region. Plus, she had a special interests in women’s professional growth, civil justice, and safety for associates.
•Bridget has a handsome teenage son. In her spare time, she likes to do event planning for family and friends.
•Bridget has a heart to serve others and lives by her motto is treat people how you want to be treated; basically, have a servitude attitude.
Dr. Peter Romine, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering
Navajo Technical University
Peter Romine is associate professor and Head of the Electrical Engineering program at Navajo Technical University (NTU), a Tribal College/University (TCU) of the Navajo Nation in Crownpoint, New Mexico. NTU is the 1st and only TCU with ABET accreditation for Engineering. A distinction that allows NTU Engineering Graduates to compete for the same jobs and opportunities that graduates of other accredited institutions have long taken for granted. And graduates of the NTU Electrical Engineering program have been very successful in employment as engineers with federal research institutions, employment as Robotics Engineers, and entry into graduate programs in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Early adoption of hands-on project-based learning with multidisciplinary teams was the key to the success of the program and the students. His EE program seized the opportunity to participate in the 2015 and 2016 DC Makerfaires, the 2017 and 2019 Capitol Hill Makerfaires, the 2016 NASA Innovation Challenge, and the 2018 and 2019 Nation Of Makers Convening (NOMCON), plus many other Maker events. The philosophy of the Maker Movement made sense to him and the Navajo engineering students and has been integrated into the NTU EE curriculum and teaching methodologies. Peter requires all of his students to develop through the participation in several national engineering design competitions each semester. The level of project success, leadership and teamwork demonstrated by the NTU students is steadily growing. He has been successful in developing dual-credit (early college) relationships with many of the high schools on the Navajo Nation and the students have been excited by the opportunity to develop their Maker identities. This was highlighted in the 1st annual Dine’ Maker Nation – Makerfaire held spring 2019 at NTU Crownpoint. The theme was “The Evolution of the Dine’ Maker” and interwove the modern Maker Movement with traditional Navajo Crafts & Trades, culture and language.
Marcel Wright
Engagement Director
Tata America International Corporation
Marcel Wright, M.B.A. is an Engagement Director at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Marcel Wright is a global cyber security leader with over 20 years of professional experience with a proven track record providing technical services and solutions across the public and private sectors. He has consulting expertise in security governance and IT compliance controls transformation, cybersecurity strategy and roadmap development, data protection and privacy regulations, security metrics design and implementation, security risk assessment and IT external audit support for nationwide Fortune-500 clients across multiple sectors and industries.
Marcel is an MBA graduate, ranking magna cum laude from Pepperdine University and has high honors from National University with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems. He holds the certified information security manager (CISM), certified information protection professional (CIPP), certified in risk and information systems control (CRISC) and GIAC strategic planning, policy, and leadership (GSTRT) distinctions. He is also a highly decorated US Navy Combat veteran who served tours of duty in the Middle East and North Africa.
Marcel has extensive professional experience providing strategic and management level services and solutions for market leaders. His expertise includes IT security governance and compliance controls implementation, IT strategy and digital transformation program development, security metrics design & execution, data protection and privacy assessments, security risk assessments and IT audits for Fortune-500 companies.
Marcel spends much of his volunteer time supporting diversity, equity and inclusion mentorship/leadership efforts across the U.S.. His personal purpose in life is to "learn, earn and return" by constantly learning and evolving so that he may give back a positive return for those less fortunate among us to help raise them up.