Dr. Steve Watkins, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is the 2017 president-elect of the honor society for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN). In 2018, he will lead the honor society as president and will chair the board of governors.

Watkins currently serves as editor-in-chief for the society’s magazine, THE BRIDGE, and is a prior member of the board of governors. He also serves as a co-advisor for the S&T student chapter of IEEE-HKN. He joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 1989. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Missouri S&T before pursuing his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin.

HKN was founded in 1904 and merged with IEEE in 2010. The organization promotes the electrical and electronic engineering profession through recognition and service activities.  More than 200,000 people have been inducted into the 235 chapters worldwide. Membership is conferred for excellence in scholarship, leadership, character and service.