Kim Strelke – Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Silvia Rivera ’18

Student Analyst

Senior, SMU Class of 2018
Cox School of Business, General Business
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, International Studies and Spanish
President’s Scholar
Cox BBA Scholar
McLane Scholar
Research on artisan entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development

“My motivation is closely tied to my personal beliefs and life experiences. Like a perfectly functioning ecosystem, I believe that everyone and everything in this life is (somehow) connected. Growing up, a string of small opportunities opened up the world for me. The idea of giving back by creating even the smallest opportunity for someone else to improve their life, and thereby the lives of others through those they touch, is what drives me.” – Silvia Rivera

Silvia graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.B.A in General Business and B.A.s in International Studies and Spanish. She was also an SMU President’s Scholar and Cox BBA Scholar. As a child, she immigrated to the U.S. with her family from Chiapas, Mexico and is passionate about breaking down complex issues and empowering underrepresented individuals.

At the Hunt Institute, Sylvia conducted research on artisanal entrepreneurship and empowering female artisans and assisted with the Hunt Institute’s Inclusive Economy Consortium.

While at SMY, Silvia build professional experience and developed her business acumen through case competitions, leadership workshops and summer internships, most recently serving as an Advisory intern for global professional service firm EY in Dallas, TX and Bogotá, Colombia.

Currently, Sylvia is attending Boston College where she is pursuing a Masters in Education in Early Childhood Education.

Contributors to this blog post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Silvia Rivera & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

To read more about the Hunt Institute’s work to develop future-focused solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, please click here. For the latest news on the Hunt Institute, follow our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We invite you to listen to our Podcast called Sages & Seekers. If you are considering engaging with the institute, you can donate, or sign-up for our newsletter by emailing huntinstitute@smu.edu.

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Maggie Inhofe ’18

Maggie Inhofe ’18

Student Fellow

Masters in Design & Innovation, SMU 2018
- Student Senate Scholar, 2018
- Maguire Public Service Fellowship, 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Yale University, 2015
- Harvey Geiger Fellowship, 2015
- William F. Buckley, Jr. Fellowship, 2014
- Duncan Robinson Scholar of British Art, 2013

“I came to the Hunt Institute because I believe in design that is beautiful, helpful and accessible. There are pockets in our world, both here in Dallas and across the globe, that lack design fueled by intentionality and integrity. My hope is that the work done here can inspire solutions that can be adopted anywhere, by anyone, to make this world as it ought to be.” – Maggie Inhofe

Maggie studied Design + Innovation at SMU, a new degree that aims to teach human-centered design to students from every discipline. She first fell in love with the field of design through studying the built environment, but now enjoys studying systems and using iterative design processes on all types of projects. She came to the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity because of their commitment to disrupt patterns of local and global poverty.

Maggie was a part of the Evie team in 2016 and also worked on a student housing project in Taos, NM. She was awarded the Maguire Public Service Fellowship to study modular building systems for compressed earth block houses.

After graduating from SMU, Maggie has been working as a Design Strategist for Fidelity Investments.

Contributors to this blog post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

DeAngelo Garner ’18

DeAngelo Garner ’18

Student Intern

SMU Class of ’18
Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
Minor in Spanish
Student Director, Rotunda Academic Scholars Program
President, Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir
Resident Assistant, SMU Service House
Social Media & Email Chair, SMU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)

“It has been incredibly impactful to see the effects of my efforts within the Hunt Institute as a student. Having my hands in projects based in South and West Dallas that directly impact the lives of local residents has been an encouraging learning experience.” – DeAngelo Garner

DeAngelo Garner is a North Texas native and graduated from SMU studying organizational communications, public relations and Spanish. His drive for social impact concerning personal wellness and access and equity was reflected through his extracurricular work on campus.

During his time at SMU, he worked closely with the Office of the Provost to analyze and facilitate initiatives to help with minority retention on campus. He also worked as an Ambassador in the Meadows School of the Arts, as well as the President of the Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir. Many of his passions have been aligned through his collaboration with various local nonprofit organizations involved in the idea creation of solutions to address community concerns within the food deserts of South and West Dallas.

His work experience and personal goals led him to the Hunt Institute, which gives him the opportunity to engage in various initiatives aimed at improving numerous qualities of human life within underprivileged communities. At the Institute, he worked to update various social media channels for many of their partner organizations. He also managed these partner organizations’ online subscriptions and worked to update the Institute’s documentation concerning its organizational structure.

When not discussing the importance of advocacy and self-care, DeAngelo enjoys playing tennis or reading a book near an open window.

Contributors to this blog post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: DeAngelo Garner & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Kim Strelke ’17

Kim Strelke ’17

Student Intern

SMU Class of ’17
Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications & Public Relations
Minor in Journalism
University Honors Program member
Second Century Scholar

“I never knew how much a small group of people could accomplish until I came to the Hunt Institute. It is amazing to see all of our diverse talents come together to try to tackle problems of poverty in such a unique way. As a Dallas native, the people of Dallas are near and dear to my heart, so I am passionate about doing my part in trying to make an impact on our community.” – Kim Strelke

Kim graduate from Southern Methodist University double majoring in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs with specializations in both Organizational Communication and Public Relations. She also earned a minor in Journalism.

During the summer of 2017, Kim spent six weeks studying and working in London, England, where she interned at Stylus Media Group within their Decoded Fashion branch on the marketing team. The team worked to promote their upcoming Decoded Fashion and Beauty Summit in New York in November 2017. She used social media, website, blog posts, and email blasts to promote the event and garner media and community partnerships.

Kim has previously worked with the Hunt Institute as a researcher for food deserts. She was drawn to the Hunt Institute because of its social awareness. Ultimately, she wants to see Dallas become a more stable city, where all families and citizens have opportunity and necessities. The work the Hunt Institute does focuses on coming up with viable solutions for local communities, and Kim has enjoyed being a part of that solution.

Contributors to this blog post:

Edited by: Kim Strelke & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Wendy Alyea ’18

Wendy Alyea ’18

Student Analyst

Environmental Engineering Graduate Student in SMU 4+1 program
Engineering Fellows Scholar
Provost Scholar
Chi Epsilon American Society of Civil Engineers
Student Project Lead for the Taos Project: Site Evaluation
Member of the Evie Project Phase II: Optimization in Growing
Research in environmental assessments and alternative growing systems

“Learning about the impacts of human industrialization and fragility of many environments, I wanted to promote human interaction with nature without the effect of damaging the environment. I get to incorporate my skills as an environmental engineer and my passion for site evaluation and habitat restoration into my projects at the Hunt Institute.” -Wendy Alyea

Wendy Alyea graduated from SMU studying for a Master in Environmental Engineering through the SMU 4+1 program. She received previous degrees in May 2017, a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and a B.A. in Chemistry, with completion of her undergraduate studies at SMU. During undergrad, she studied classics for a semester abroad at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. Her graduate degree will be completed in May 2018.

Wendy began working with the Hunt Institute in fall of 2013 in conjunction with an Engaged Learning project on aquaponics. When the mentor for her Engaged Learning project left for sabbatical, Dr. Eva Csaky volunteered to become her new mentor. Through this partnership, Wendy produced a paper on waste optimization alternatives, an instruction manual for aquaponics, gardening, and composting, and a case study on aquaponics system failure. She worked on the Evie Phase I and II projects and the community garden.

Wendy was also the student lead on site evaluation for the Taos project at the SMU-in-Taos campus. This involved an environmental assessment to determine the impact of material collection at one site on campus and construction of an earthen brick structure at the second site.

Wendy interned for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 office in the water enforcement division and at MWH Global, now a part of Stantec, in the water and wastewater design branch in Dallas, TX. Between Fall 2016 to Spring 2017, Wendy also completed a senior design project to determine grit removal technology for the Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility in Fort Worth, TX.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Wendy Alyea & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

Alec Maulding ’19

Alec Maulding ’19

Student Analyst

Member of the Evie Project Phase II: Optimization in Growing
Aspires to hold a management position in the construction industry
Will graduate with Honors in the Liberal Arts with a Bachelor of Science in Math and Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical specialization
Engineering Tech with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Project Management Office
Second Century Scholar
SMU Discover Scholar

“The Hunt Institute found me under the sun, digging in the dirt. I was looking for opportunities to learn outside of the classroom, and one of those opportunities presented itself as a project to build a community garden on the outskirts of the SMU campus. In one afternoon and with a few pair of hands, an empty lot was transformed into a place of growth and community. I couldn’t have planned a better introduction to the Hunt Institute; although each member may not be an engineer by title, they are all, in a sense, biological engineers, or those who understand and utilize the natural processes by which small seeds, whether they be designed to grow in the soil or the mind, eventually bear an abundance of good fruit.” – Alec Maulding

Alec Maulding was a student analyst in the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity in the Lyle School of Engineering. He graduated with the SMU class of 2019 with Honors in the Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Math and Mechanical Engineering.

Alec started his training for a construction management position with the basics; he spent a summer working as a laborer for a local construction company, Myers Concrete Construction, near his hometown of Buda, Texas. The following summer, Alec worked as an Engineering Tech for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the Transportation Planning & Programming (TPP) division. Specifically, Alec assisted members of the relatively young Project Management Office. His work focused on the standardization and implementation of best practices by TxDOT’s project managers across the state. In this way, Alec has a foundation on which to build his career in construction.

In Alec’s first semester with the Hunt Institute in the Fall of 2017, he joined the second phase of the Evie project, in which he works to implement solar energy technology to make Evie a net-zero consumer of energy.

Alec was a recipient of SMU’s Second Century Scholar scholarship award, as well as the Lyle School of Engineering’s Discovery Scholarship. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He was also a member of the SMU chapter of Engineers without Borders.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Alec Maulding & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 26, 2018March 2, 2022

DeVincent Martin ’18

DeVincent Martin ’18

Consultant

SMU Class of ’18, Graduate Student
Masters in Sustainability and Development
US Army Veteran
B.A. in Environmental Studies/Biology from Austin College
Geo-mapping current and potential community gardens in South Dallas
Consultant, Restorative Farms in South Dallas
Member, Alpha Chi Honor Society at SMU

“Fighting for that which cannot defend itself is what I have learned defines me. You do not need war to have something worth fighting for. I choose to fight for socioeconomically oppressed people, locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. I choose to fight for protection of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the salt water that harbors life we have yet to discover. I choose to fight against the displacement of indigenous people and the loss of biodiversity caused by deforestation for cash crops like palm oil. I choose to fight against childhood hunger and the millions of children that go hungry in America daily. I choose to fight the fashion industry’s waste and their use of children to make garments. I choose to fight the meat industry for their mistreatment of animals. I choose to fight the agriculture industry because of their chemical uses on crops and their ocean dead zone consequences. Speaking as a war veteran, there is no real need for fighting among nations, but there is plenty worth fighting for in this world.” – DeVincent Martin

DeVincent graduated from SMU earning his Masters in Sustainability and Development. He is a US Army Veteran who served as a Radio Telephone Operator with 3rd Armored Division 4/18 Infantry during Desert Storm. Through the Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation Program, DeVincent received his AA in General Studies from Collin College in May of 2013 and his B.A. in Environmental Studies/Biology from Austin College in May of 2016. DeVincent left the Vocational Rehabilitation Program in 2016 to continue his education through the Lyle School of Engineering Sustainability and Development Program. He was inducted into the Alpha Chi Honor Society at SMU in the Fall of 2017, and will complete his graduate degree in May 2018.

DeVincent came to the Hunt Institute when his graduate adviser, Dr. Quicksall, realized that his passion for sustainable development of healthier food options within the so-called food desert of southern Dallas region was similar to work already being done through the Hunt Institute. Under the guidance of his mentors, Dr. Owen Lynch and Professor Jessie Zarazaga, DeVincent worked on geo-mapping the current and potential community gardens in South Dallas to gather data about produce yields and options for increasing their production. His geospatial data will provide networking, collaborating, and potential expansion opportunities for the non-profit community gardens in South Dallas. In addition, the data collected will provide a baseline for urban agriculture investment opportunities for profit within the often-neglected South Dallas area.

DeVincent plans to research how using commercial urban agriculture to apply alternative food production techniques can aid in minimizing the food desert in southern Dallas, and add to economic and community development within the area by employing locals. By using company tax dollars to contribute to local community gardens, he aims to reduce the carbon footprint from transportation, reduce water usage and reduce electricity needed to run an urban agriculture company in Southern Dallas.

DeVincent worked with Restorative Farms in South Dallas to help initiate a pilot seedling farm at the MLK Center, which will provide seedlings to the local community gardens. The program plans to minimize one of the most tedious and unsuccessful stages of growing produce — seed to seedling stage. By providing the gardens with seedlings, the produce yields are expected to increase. On top of that, by providing seedlings and training, the program expects non-profit gardens to become sustainable and potentially expand.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: DeVincent Martin & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

January 9, 2018August 11, 2021

Meet Adri

Adrienn Santa ’18

asanta@smu.edu

Senior Design Team Leader

Mechanical Engineering & Mathematics Major
Engaged Learning Fellow 2017-2018
Lyle Research Fellow 2017 Summer
Full Athletic Scholarhip
Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
Varsity Letter Winner
All Conference Honor – American Athletic Conference
Best Newcomer Award – Women’s Swimming and Diving (2014-2015)

“My parents have always encouraged me to help people in need. The Hunt Institute gives me the opportunity to work on problems which could help people, who does not have enough resources or knowledge, to find solutions to their problems which affects their everyday life. I am also very passionate about the field of renewable energies, which is an environmentally friendly way to produce energy. They have a great potential to replace other non-renewable energy sources in the future.”

Adrienn Santa is a senior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. Her studies in engineering have prompted interest in energy generation, because of this she is considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy.

Adrienn was working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the Hunt Institute and as a Lyle Research Fellow over the summer which helped her realize the importance of development of urban farming and gardening. Her future goals are to be able to design sustainable solutions for low-income communities and people who do not have access to fresh heathy food.

One potential solution would be to use the vacant lots and buildings for food production. An innovative low-cost heating and cooling system, efficient irrigation system, and vertical gardening would also make urban farming more accessible for communities in need.

Adrienn grew up in a very sustainable family in Hungary, where everything is homemade and all vegetables and fruits are grown in her grandparents’ garden. This also motivates her to help other people who do not have access to these resources. The reason Adrienn likes working at the Hunt Institute is because it gives her the opportunity to utilize her passion towards creating these solutions.

Adrienn’s favorite free time activity, swimming, took her overseas as she was granted with a full athletic scholarship at SMU in 2014. Other interests of hers include traveling to different places, countries and getting to know other cultures, as well as participating in different extreme sports.

Contributors to this post:

Written by: Kim Strelke

Edited by: Adrienn Santa & Maggie Inhofe

Photo by: Alissa Llort

November 9, 2017March 7, 2022

Senior Fellow To Host National Communication Association Pre-Conference

Seedlings growing in the community garden on SMU campus. Food desert. Vegetables. The Hunt Institute.

“Innovative Interventions in the Dallas Food & Job Desert Panel”

Wednesday- November 15th 3:00-4:40

At the Hunt Institute in Caruth Hall – Suite 206

Senior Research Fellow Dr. Owen Lynch will be hosting the National Communication Association Pre-Conference at the Hunt Institute on November 15^th. The Pre-Conference will focus on urban communications with an emphasis on approaches to researching pressing issues facing global cities. One of the highlights of the event will be an open panel on Innovative Interventions in Dallas. The panel will feature local change agents presenting their unique models and organizations that address the food and job desert crises in Dallas.

Chad Houser is the Executive Director and Chef at Café Momentum – a restaurant and culinary training program for juvenile offenders at Dallas County Youth Village. Café Momentum is a regionally recognized restaurant (Top Dallas Restaurant in 2016) and a national recognized organization that provides a transformative experience for its interns. Through a 12-month paid post-release internship program, young men and women coming out of juvenile facilities rotate through all aspects of the restaurant, focusing on life and social skills, with coaching and development. Café Momentum employs an entire case management staff, providing an ecosystem of support around their interns to help them achieve their greatest potential.

Ryan Eason is the Manager of Community Relations and Strategic communications for Medical City Healthcare. Ryan created the program Kids Teaching Kids to educate students about healthy eating habits. Local high school culinary students create healthy recipes for elementary students, while encouraging them to make their own healthier treats during a 21 day challenge. Finally, these high school culinary students create healthy kids menus (like mac and cheese with pureed squash) that can be offered in restaurants. The program has brought a healthier lifestyle to tens of thousands of school children in north Texas. Ryan created the program four years ago, and it continues to grow each year thanks to his dedication and creativity. The Kids Teaching Kids program is sponsored by Medical City Children’s Hospital and the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association.

Owen Hanley Lynch is an Associate Professor of Communication at SMU, and the Senior Research Fellow for the Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity in the Lyle School Engineering. Dr. Lynch is also the Executive Director of Get Healthy Dallas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the lack of healthy food options, adequate education, and economic development opportunities in South Dallas. In November 2017, he is launching a new initiative, Restorative Farms. Through its many partnerships, Restorative Farms hopes to transform the South Dallas food and job desert into a vibrant source of food, employment, and opportunities for low-income Dallasites. Though Stage 1 of the Restorative Farms project doesn’t formally launch until November 21^st, it is already having great community impact.

Jennifer Eyer leads the Food in Schools Initiative for Children at Risk. Part of the Food in Schools program is the Universal School Breakfast throughout Dallas Independent School District. Universal School Breakfast dramatically improves access to healthy food for children, while increasing their attentiveness and classroom performance. This program is coupled with an extensive outreach programming to educate other school districts across the state on strategies to implement universal school breakfast programs and to increase participation of schools. Children at Risk also educates and performs outreach on summer meal programs and, more recently, after–school meal programs, assuring that school age children receive the daily nutrition needed for healthy, productive lives.

Drew Demler is the Manager for the “Errol McCoy Greenhouse on the Midway” and the head grower for the “Big Tex Urban Farms”. Big Tex Urban Farms (aka “Big Tex) is a revolutionary mobile agriculture system in the heart of South Dallas’ Fair Park. Big Tex experiments with hundreds of raised beds and various space saving innovations that address urban gardening’s most pressing challenges. In the past two years, Big Tex has piloted an innovative program that addresses the barriers to healthy and accessible produce throughout South Dallas by partnering with community gardens and organizations in the immediate Fair Park neighborhoods as well as connecting with like-minded agriculture entities to work towards providing the South Dallas community with locally grown produce.

October 25, 2017March 7, 2022

Therapy Dogs Visit the Hunt Institute

October 19, 2017

For the past three semesters, the Hunt Institute has invited Therapy Dogs to join the students of SMU during the stressful midterm season. This semester, students had the opportunity to stop by the Hunt Institute on Thursday, October 19^th to love on the dogs. The Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs brought three dogs for students to pet and play with, that are trained to provide affection and comfort. There were students coming in and out of the Institute all morning to mingle with and

Young girl from India embracing the greyhound dog as the dog leans into her — Jay, the retired greyhound racer, enjoyed the hugs just as much as the students.

pet the dogs. The four-legged visitors included Eddie, a red golden retriever; Jay, a retired greyhound race dog; and Moby, a Great Pyrenees; all were ready to be loved on.

Corrie initiated the Therapy Dogs event after a unique experience: at the end of a challenging day, she was at the grocery store when another shopper’s therapy dog came up to her and leaned on her leg which, she later learned, is how dogs give hugs. “I just felt so touched that the dog would recognize how I was feeling from across the store, and single me out to come over and comfort me. It really cheered me up,” Corrie said.

Three female students laugh and interact with each other petting a red golden retriever who is laying on his back enjoying the attention — Eddy’s favorite thing was to have his tummy scratched, especially his “tickle spot” according to his owner.

As a member of the SMU campus, Corrie has seen how students can get incredibly stressed, especially around midterms and finals when they have pressing deadlines, tests and projects. Freshman and international students are particularly stressed: the middle of the semester can be really hard because homesickness starts to set in, and there is pressure to keep up grades and keep scholarships.

The leadership team at the Hunt Institute does a lot of good work globally and locally but they believe their first responsibility is to students. “These therapy dogs have a unique way of tearing down the social barriers and discomfort of talking about stress and homesickness,” Corrie said. “It brings us all closer together and allows students to talk about things.”

If you missed the event, the Hunt Institute will invite the Therapy Dogs to return next semester!

Moby, the Great Pyrenees, surrounded by students, staff and his “Momma”.

Written by: Kim Strelke’ 17