Timur Kuzu, MESA Program Director

Email: tkuzu@highline.edu

Timur has had an incredibly diverse and dynamic career, with a wealth of experience both in the military and in education. Growing up in a variety of international environments, from Turkiye to Germany to South Korea, and later living in multiple states across the U.S., he’s been exposed to a range of cultures and perspectives. His military career, spanning over two decades, reflects his commitment to service, having worked with advanced aerospace systems like the A-10 Warthog, F-16 Falcon, and C-17 GlobeMaster, which speaks to his technical expertise in aerospace propulsion and aviation maintenance. His role as the Director of the Air Force Leadership School, alongside teaching professional development and sexual assault prevention workshops, showcases his leadership and dedication to nurturing the next generation of military professionals.

Additionally, Timur’s advocacy for breaking down barriers in higher education, particularly for students in STEM, demonstrates his passion for education and inclusivity. His multifaceted background in areas like linguistics, environmental science, and aerospace, combined with his leadership roles, positions him as someone uniquely qualified to contribute to and inspire both the military and the broader educational community

Cait Cramer, MESA Faculty Sponsor

Email: ccramer@highline.edu

Hello! I am the full-time Engineering faculty and Engineering Department Coordinator at Highline College.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering for Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2012. After graduation, I moved to Phoenix, AZ to work at Intel as a Process Engineer in Chemical Vapor Deposition & Quality Engineer in Defect Metrology. Both of these jobs involved working at the high-volume manufacturing cleanroom in Arizona.

The large corporate work environment was not the right fit for me, so from 2013-2014 I stepped away from an engineering career and worked in the nonprofit sector. I ran a volunteer clearing house in Phoenix, AZ and served a 1-year term as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and Volunteer Coordinator at Children First Academy.

In 2014, I returned to school to complete a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Washington (earned in 2016). While in graduate school, I was a teaching assistant and did research. My research involved roll-to-roll printing of flexible solar cells, screen printing of metallic inks for semi-transparent electrodes and electrode grid optimization.

After earning my Master’s degree, I continued to do research until 2017, when I moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to start my teaching career. I taught a wide array of classes including Fluid Power, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, CAD, Programming, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Engineering. While there, I managed several student research projects related to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) including MEMS packaging design and prototyping, strain gauge printing and optimization, and the development of hands-on kits for data acquisition of MEMS sensors.

In 2022, I returned to Washington state. Here at Highline I teach all the Engineering classes, so if you are an Engineering student it is likely that I will meet you at some point in your academic career!