Experience with local clubs and councils has led an ISU engineering student up the path to the top ranks of a national engineering organization.

Kim Knuth, sophomore in industrial engineering, will officially begin her term as president of the National Association of Engineering Student Councils on Dec. 1.

An organization as large as the National Association of Engineering Student Councils has many functions, Knuth said. The association’s main points of focus are promoting engineering education in schools, providing engineering information to students and being the voice of engineering students, she said.

“It represents engineering as a whole – a collective voice of engineering students across the nation,” Knuth said.

James Melsa, dean of engineering, said he has known Knuth since she first came to Iowa State.

“Kim is a highly motivated student leader,” he said.

“I first met her when she was a freshman. She was secretary of the E-Council and president of Freshman Leaders in Engineering.”

Since her freshman year, Knuth has been involved in engineering organizations.

In September 2000, she became co-director for the National Association of Engineering Student Councils’ national conference. It was this experience, she said, that was a springboard to becoming president of the association.

As president of the organization, Knuth will travel across the nation to universities and promote engineering to students, she said.

In addition, Knuth will also have the chance to talk with the deans of students at several universities to make sure they are properly involved in the field of engineering, she said.

“One of my main goals as president is to establish permanent sponsorship for NAESC,” Knuth said.

She also wants to establish permanent relationships with major engineering corporations, such as IBM, Boeing and Rockwell Collins, she said.

Melsa said Knuth will do well in her new position.

“The College of Engineering is very pleased and proud that Kim has been elected to this important national position,” he said.

“It is clear that her work ethic and leadership experience will make her very successful.”