More than 3,500 alumni, alumnae, and parents call the Lone Star State their home – here’s your opportunity to connect with them! The Texas Triangle Executive Council was created to better connect our Texas community.
Engagement in the council is designed around related topics that tie the community back to campus through conversations and forums around pressing global challenges and opportunities that align with the Institute’s expertise in groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and innovative pedagogy. The council offers opportunities for engagement around business development, career advancement, graduate recruitment and student placement, and seeks to facilitate strategic partnerships among individuals, companies, foundations, government agencies and the Institute.
Texas Triangle Network
Executive Council
To succeed, the executive council needs an exemplary group of leaders and influencers to set the pace and light the way toward a more meaningful Rensselaer alumni experience. The Executive Council provides guidance and advisory expertise that will further harness the strength of our alumni in Texas, and provides leadership in support of our Capital Campaign.
Council members have a front row seat to research insights from renowned Rensselaer faculty, access to the highest levels of Institute leadership, and opportunities to foster fruitful connections with other notable alumni/ae in the region. Member terms are for three years and there are two types of memberships available. Membership gifts support the Rensselaer Annual Fund and are fully tax deductible.
Executive Council Co-Chairs
Jeffrey L. Kodosky ’70
Trustee, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Business and Technology Fellow, National Instruments
Jeffrey L. Kodosky ’70 co-founded National Instruments (now NI) in 1976 and subsequently served as the company’s vice president of research and development from 1980 until he was named an NI Business and Technology Fellow in 2000. National Instruments is recognized as an industry leader in instrument control. Mr. Kodosky holds 68 patents associated with LabVIEW technology and was inducted into the Electronic Design Engineering Hall of Fame for his invention.
Mr. Kodosky is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also serves on the University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences Advisory Council, the UTeach Advisory Council, the University of Texas Physics Department Advisory Council, and the Advisory Group at Southwest Texas State University’s Math Department.
In 1999, he received the University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences Hall of Honor Award and the Rensselaer Alumni Association Fellows Award. He was recognized with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. In 2018, he received the RAA Distinguished Service Award as well as the RPI Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1970.
Chief Executive Officer and Partner
Midstream Power, LLC.
Mr. Michael Miller ’80 has over 35 years of experience as a private equity investor and corporate executive, both managing and investing in companies focused on the energy, utilities, and communications sectors, which include conventional and renewable power generation, midstream oil and gas, LNG, water utilities, natural gas, power trading and origination, and cable television.
Mr. Miller is chief executive officer and partner of Midstream Power, LLC, which was formed in 2018 to pursue opportunities to develop and invest in projects that reduce the electric and thermal costs for North American upstream and midstream operators.
Previously, Mr. Miller was chief executive officer of Quantum Utility Generation (QUG), a private equity-backed portfolio company that pursued opportunities to own and operate fossil and renewable generation projects in North America and the Caribbean basin. Prior to joining QUG, Mr. Miller was a managing director at Oaktree Capital Management and a partner and member of the senior management team of Highstar Capital, L.P.
Before joining Highstar in 2001, Mr. Miller had a career in infrastructure management, finance, investments, and project development at Enron North America from 1993 to 2001, and FPL Group (ESI Energy) from 1987 to 1993.
Mr. Miller has served on the board of directors of several private companies focused on the power generation, waste management, waste-to-energy, midstream oil and gas, and water utilities sectors as well as being a former director of Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Mr. Miller received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. He is a CFA charterholder.
Executive Council Vice Chair
Keith Moo-Young ’92 M.S., ’95 Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
During more than two decades as a leader, researcher and instructor in higher education, Dr. H. Keith Moo-Young has supported the success of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students and has been instrumental in the growth of public and private universities on both coasts. Dr. Moo-Young is the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Dr. Moo-Young served as Chancellor of Washington State University Tri-Cities. He was formerly the Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology at California State University-Los Angeles. He holds a Ph.D. and Master’s of Science in Civil-Environmental Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Master’s of Technology Management from the University Pennsylvania, and is a licensed professional engineer, fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Board Certified Environmental Engineer by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He was formerly the Interim Dean and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Villanova University, and has served as a Professor at Lehigh University.
Currently, he utilizes AI and machine learning to predict student performance. The emphasis of his research is on sustainability of hazardous and solid waste management and technologies. As a researcher, Dr. Moo-Young has secured over millions in research funding from federal and state agencies and corporations such as the NSF, DOE, Department of Education, and Department of Defense. Dr. Moo-Young has led an industry consortium research project on Manufactured Gas Plant Remediation Strategies for the Electric Power Research Institute that included fifteen Public Utilities. Furthermore, he has over 200 refereed papers and invited talks. He is also the co-inventor of one patent.
Dr. Moo-Young has received numerous national awards including service as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Policy Fellow. He served as a member of U.S. EPA Charter Science Advisory Board and is the former Chairs of the Environmental Engineering Committee.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Matthew Aguiar ’79
Retired Senior Vice President
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
Matthew (Matt) J. Aguiar ’79 retired as senior vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company in March 2019 after 38 ½ years of service.
Mr. Aguiar received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. He joined Exxon Chemical Company in 1980 at the Baytown Chemical Plant in Texas.
He advanced through business, operations and technical roles in various chemical affiliates in the United States and Singapore prior to the merger between Exxon and Mobil in 1999.
In 2000, Mr. Aguiar became vice president of the basic chemicals business in Asia Pacific based in Singapore. In 2002, he was named site manager of the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant. Mr. Aguiar became vice president of global aromatics in 2004 and, in 2006, was named vice president of the global basic chemicals business.
Beginning in 2009, and based in Singapore, Mr. Aguiar became Asia Pacific refining director for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply and concurrently served as director and chairman of Tonen General Sekiyu K.K. (Japan). He then served as chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. and as the Asia Pacific manufacturing director for ExxonMobil Chemical.
In 2014, Mr. Aguiar returned to Houston as senior vice president of the company’s global basic chemicals, intermediates, synthetics, catalysts & licensing businesses and global marketing. In addition, he served as the chairman of Infineum, a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Shell.
In 2017, Mr. Aguiar became senior vice president of global operations, located in Houston Texas for ExxonMobil Chemical Company. He was responsible for its global, integrated manufacturing operations, global supply chain, and the Manufacturing Support and Safety & Security/Health/Environmental organizations. He also served on the board of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers.
Mary Anne Brelinsky ’96
President, AlphaGen
ArcLight Company
Mary Anne Brelinsky ’91 currently serves as President of EDF Trading and EDF Energy Services, the North American trading and customer facing business within the EDF Group. EDF is the world’s largest utility and producer of electricity. Mrs. Brelinsky joined EDF Trading as a Vice President responsible for the Texas power business. In that role, she grew EDF’s customer base to include energy management and optimization services for load and generation customers ranging from natural gas, wind, battery storage, and solid fuel power stations. EDF promoted Mrs. Brelinsky to President in 2014. In her current role, she responsible for EDF’s Power and Natural Gas Retail business, the Generation Services business, as well as Natural Gas and Power Trading in the United States and Canada.
Mrs. Brelinsky serves on the Board of Directors for Atlas Scholars, DK Energy, the Gulf Coast Power Association, and the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Advisory Council for the Women’s Energy Network and the University of Houston Energy Advisory Board. Mrs. Brelinsky holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Magna Cum Laude, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Houston.
Don Burgio ’89
Advisor – Cybersecurity & AI/ML
Don Burgio ’89 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Science degree in security engineering, both from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. in information assurance from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Burgio has over 30 years of experience in technology leadership roles. He began his career in software and telecommunication systems engineering at MCI, ultimately becoming Vice President for Network Systems; following Verizon’s acquisition of MCI, he served in various roles, including Executive Director of product engineering for fraud, identity, and cybersecurity solutions for global enterprise customers. After retiring from Verizon, Dr. Burgio is now engaged in the research and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions for a cybersecurity startup company. He also serves on the advisory board of another startup focused on Web3 technologies and serves on two non-profit boards as VP & Treasurer for the Rensselaer Alumni Association (RAA) and Alumni Relations Director for Sigma Phi Epsilon’s RPI chapter. Dr. Burgio has previously served on industry advisory boards for two universities and as a volunteer teaching electronics, robotics, and programming to at-risk youths. He has been recognized with the RAA’s Director’s & Alumni Key Awards and Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Michelle Denny ’01
R&D Director
NI Test & Measurement at Emerson
Michelle Denny ’01 graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. She currently serves as Director of Research & Development at NI Test & Measurement at Emerson. NI develops automated test and automated measurement systems that help engineers solve the world’s toughest challenges. During her time at RPI, she served on the student council, was secretary of the HKN honor society, and was President of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Mrs. Denny has spent over 20 years at NI, where she has released over 30 products in different capacities as a Developer, Lead Engineer, Core Team Lead, and Director. She excels at developing and delivering products in new application areas and with new sensor technologies. Recently she’s been focused on growing NI’s product portfolio to meet the test & measurement needs of automotive companies in the growing areas of autonomous and electric vehicles.
Mrs. Denny was the first female Chief Engineer at NI, and growing more women technical leaders has always been important to her. She volunteers her time at local schools, clubs & organizations to encourage young women to get involved in STEM. She also served as Austin Alumni President from 2002–2008.
Caryn Fuller ’99, ’00G
Partner
HKA
Caryn Fuller ’99, ’00G graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in civil engineering. She is a certified professional with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is a LEED-accredited professional in building design and construction. Ms. Fuller has completed the American Bar Association Construction Law Trial Academy Program. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi throughout her time at RPI.
Ms. Fuller is a civil engineer with over 23 years of experience. She has been appointed as an expert and assisted as the named expert on numerous occasions. Ms. Fuller has been cross-examined in arbitration, including giving concurrent evidence (hot-tubbing), and has assisted on disputes for projects with values of up to $20 billion. Her expert work covers delay, quantum and technical disciplines for sectors ranging from buildings and infrastructure to industrial, power and utilities, mining and minerals, and oil and gas. Ms. Fuller’s professional experience includes mechanical and process engineering, construction, project management, project controls management, and construction claims analysis. She is a project and program leader with a proven track record in leading high-profile, large-scale global construction initiatives, focusing on cost control, scheduling, and reporting. Ms. Fuller’s expertise includes standard of care, scheduling issues, productivity issues, procurement delays, forensic document investigations, and cost analysis and damages. She has supported clients in arbitration (both international and domestic) and mediation, delivering expert analysis, reports, and rebuttals.
Ms. Fuller is the partner in charge of HKA’s Houston Practice. She currently serves as a board member for the Rice Global Engineering and Construction Forum and for the Energy Industries Council.
Kirk Schell ’88
President
Global Components, Arrow Electronics
Kirk Schell ’88 is president of Arrow’s global components business, which provides sales, marketing, engineering and supply chain services to semiconductor and passive electromechanical component suppliers and their customers.
Prior to joining Arrow, Mr. Schell spent nearly 25 years at Dell Technologies, where he was most recently responsible for global online B2B sales. Previously, he led sales for Dell’s client solutions portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region and was the general manager of Dell’s displays group.
Mr. Schell holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Michigan.
Reid Wiseman ’97
Artemis II Mission Commander
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Reid Wiseman ’97 has served over 20 years as a naval officer. Since 2009, he has been assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Houston, Texas as an astronaut.
Mr. Wiseman’s career has primarily been focused on complex team operations in high-stress situations. The pinnacle of this occurred in 2014 when Mr. Wiseman spent 165 days in low earth orbit conducting research in microgravity and maintaining the International Space Station. From 1997 until 2009, Mr. Wiseman served as a pilot and test pilot with the US Navy. During that time, he flew over 30 types of aircraft and spent 2.5 years at sea on various ships.
Mr. Wiseman received a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Senior Director of Development, School of Science
Office of Institute Advancement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
518-545-8078 | stickb@rpi.edu