IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E 5 8 S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 The Emerging Engineer program for the Global Elec- tronics Association is a catalyst for student success, offering tools, resources, and experiences that help shape informed, capable, and confident future engi- neers. The Electronics Foundation (formerly known as the IPC Education Foundation) invited the following students to attend IPC APEX EXPO 2025 and partici- pate in this program. Malachi Macon Malachi is a first-generation college student studying mechanical engineering at MIT following a longstand- ing passion for the design and manufacturing of products. He has inter- ests in the space and energy industries and climate research. On campus, he has been involved with various extracurricular activities, including a student theatre lighting design club, the MIT solar electric vehicle team, the Gordon Engineering Leadership (GEL) program, and more. He enjoys biking, hiking, and cooking. "The opportunity to learn firsthand from the career experiences of mentors provides perspective on what soft and hard skills are important to develop for Emerging Engineers as we progress through our own careers. We are encouraged to gain leadership skills by volunteering to work on standards, serve as committee leaders, and more. "Our access to the technical proceedings of confer- By Charlene Gunter du Plessis, Senior Director, Electronics Foundation Meet some Emerging Engineers who are using the Global Electronics Association to advance their careers B I T S & B Y T E S A Catalyst for Student Success ences provides a vast wealth of knowledge regarding developments in the electronics manufacturing indus- try, which may prove directly useful to the work of the Emerging Engineers at their respective organizations. "But the community we build may be the most valu- able aspect. Not only do we get to meet and collabo- rate with organizational representatives and leaders from various levels of the global electronics manufac- turing industry, but the support network we create among the Emerging Engineers is so valuable as well." Waad Tarman Waad is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department at Auburn University, specializing in electronics manufacturing and reliability. She moved to the U.S. from Jordan to pursue graduate studies. She was the IPC Student Board Member in 2024 and president of the IPC Stu- dent Chapter at Auburn. She is passionate about advancing the reliability of solder joints in elec- tronics and engaging stu- dents in this vital field. "I learned so much at IPC APEX EXPO. First was the depth of collab- oration between industry and academia in advancing materials and processes. Second is the importance of standards and how they drive product quality and consistency. Third, I gained real-world insights into the challenges of transitioning to new technologies, like lead-free soldering and sustainability initiatives."