Work with thought leaders and academic experts from Oklahoma State University

Dr. Rachel M. Schmitz is an associate professor of Sociology at Oklahoma State University Stillwater. She received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016. Her research interests include gender inequality, family dynamics, and social stratification. She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented her research at national and international conferences. Dr. Schmitz is also actively involved in mentoring and teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the field of Sociology. With her strong background in research and teaching, she is committed to advancing the field of Sociology and promoting social justice.

**Payam Zarrintaj** earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering-Tissue Engineering from Tehran University in 2018. Then he joined Oklahoma State University and the University of Montana as a Postdoctoral research associate. His research interests involve understanding advanced polymers in the biomedical field, including tissue engineering and drug delivery. He is known for developing strategies for treating damaged tissues/organs and controlling biological substances for target delivery into the human body using smart and stimuli-responsive polymers. He has published extensively in the area of polymer/biomedical engineering, and as of November 2023, he has been cited more than 7300 times and has an h-index of 48. Furthermore, some of his publications earned him the honor of being included among the "Top Hottest Articles" and featured as "The most downloaded articles" and "The most cited articles" from ScienceDirect. He has received several awards, including "Top Peer Reviewer" (2019) and "outstanding reviewer." Also, he was listed as the world's top 2% scientist for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023). Right now, he is a senior scientist at allnex.

Dr. Ken Lepper is a highly educated and experienced geologist with a passion for environmental science. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Oklahoma State University in 2001, focusing on dosimetric geochronology. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from The Ohio State University in 1995. Dr. Lepper has spent his career studying and teaching about geological processes and environmental issues. He currently holds a position as a Professor of Geology at North Dakota State University, where he shares his knowledge and expertise with students. He has also conducted extensive research on topics such as climate change, paleohydrology, and land use effects on the environment. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Lepper is committed to applying his knowledge to real-world issues. He is a strong advocate for responsible and ethical environmental practices, and workplace safety. He strives to educate others on the importance of preserving our planet for future generations. Dr. Lepper's combination of education and experience make him a highly qualified and valuable resource in the field of environmental science and surfical geology. His dedication to research, teaching, and mentoring make him a respected and influential figure in the academic and environmental communities.

Jay Dawes is a Professor of Applied Exercise Science at Oklahoma State University. He has over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry and has published numerous articles and books on exercise science, strength and conditioning, and sport performance. He received his PhD in Health and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Dr. Dawes has worked with a variety of clients, from recreational and high school athletes to professional and Olympic-level athletes. He has also consulted with various organizations, including the United States Marine Corps and the National Strength and Conditioning Association, on strength and conditioning programming and education. In addition to his work at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Dawes was also the Director of Education for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Dr. Dawes is a highly sought-after speaker and has presented at numerous conferences and events around the world. He is also a prolific researcher, with over 300 professional publications in top scientific journals and textbooks.

Principal geologist with 10 years in interdisciplinary geologic team operations and client focused project planning. Effective at anticipating client needs and maintaining timelines for on-time and early deliverables. Highly skilled at solving complex problems using established best practices and developing new workflows to streamline processes. <br> Experience with Schlumberger's WesternGeco encompasses both seismic data processing and interpretation. Basin exploration and reservoir development of hydrocarbon prospects using 2D and 3D seismic data in combination with wells logs and petrophysical data.