Akers honored for contributions to culture

On March 13, 2025, Dean Ian Robertson held an event to recognize engineering faculty and staff for outstanding contributions. Kassi Akers, an academic program specialist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, received the Inclusive Excellence in Engineering Award.

While Akers’ role is focused primarily on students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, she has, in the process, created a more welcoming, inclusive environment for all who work and learn in her department. Through the Women in Mechanical Engineering student organization, she advocates for student needs. She’s active on the department’s Graduate Committee and Inclusion and Diversity Committee and is a partner in efforts to improve inclusive excellence in ME—for example, she helped to increase participation in faculty meetings by identifying more equitable meeting times. She coordinates social activities that unite students, faculty and staff.

In addition, Akers has developed seminars to enhance leadership skills among student organization leaders. She leads the department’s graduate student recruitment event, then continues to showcase the department’s inclusive culture during new student orientations. Perhaps the best summary of Akers’ impact is this statement from an ME faculty member: “She is the shining example of how to incorporate inclusive excellence, with creativity and passion, into every part of one’s work.”