The Student Design and Experiential Learning Center (SDELC) gained two new staff members over the past year. Alivia Dean, ME’21, returned to S&T as associate director of the design center. She leads the outreach and marketing of the many design teams that make up the center. Christina Jones, business support specialist for SDELC, joined S&T last September and manages the center’s finances and day-to-day activities.

Meet Alivia Dean

Dean realized S&T was where she belongs during her first tour of the design center as a high school student. At S&T, she joined two design teams and found Human Powered Vehicle to be a great fit. Under her leadership, the team returned to competing twice each spring and regained enthusiasm for future innovation. She then moved on to become peer mentor for the design center, helping guide students to reach their full potential on design teams. While at S&T, she also worked for design, construction and space management, which opened the door to begin her career in building healthcare facilities for JE Dunn Construction.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T, where she also earned minors in both Spanish and Latin American studies for technical application. These academic accomplishments paved the way for Dean’s interest in travel and in her new advising role for the Engineers Without Borders Design Team. Dean has now returned to S&T to continue her impact on STEM education and promote experiential learning. Here, she can embrace the responsibilities of marketing and outreach for all design teams and promote the excellence in recruiting and retention that the design center has established. She will also build and expand strong relationships within the design center and S&T at large. Dean has already begun fostering the community among team leaders to prepare our career-ready young adults to enter the workforce.

Meet Christina Jones

From the very beginning, Christina Jones hit the ground running, immersing herself in the S&T culture, policies and, most importantly, the well-being of our students. Jones’ primary role is managing the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center’s finances and day-to-day activities. She also serves as the point of contact to welcome everyone into the building with a friendly face. 

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Columbia College. Prior to joining S&T, she managed a local trucking company for 14 years. She is a mother of four, dedicating her free time to her children’s activities. They love outdoor activities and spending time with their dog, when he is not chewing on the television remote.