Cassandra Birrenkott

Cassandra Birrenkott is a Professor at South Dakota Mines, holding a B.S. from the institution and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research spans materials engineering (amorphous alloys, ultrasonic welding of thermoplastics) and engineering education (systems thinking pedagogy, arts integration, first-generation student support). Recent NSF-funded initiatives include the SD-FIRST program for first-generation engineers and arts-engineering community projects.

Publications demonstrate dual themes: materials characterization (elastic properties of metallic glasses, spiropyran activation) and educational innovation (systems thinking assessments, creative curriculum design). Articles consistently emphasize empirical validation and practical applications.