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Barry Matties sits down with Henry Crandall, the newly minted Student Board Member on the IPC Board of Directors, to talk about how Henry became the first PhD student in electrical engineering in his family, as well as how his role on the IPC Board will allow him to represent the voices of students and young professionals interested in shaping the future of both IPC and the industry.
Barry Matties: Henry, congratulations, you are now the Student Board Member at IPC. Tell us, what does it take to become a student board member?
Crandall: There’s a small application process. You send in some materials about your background, qualifications, and your resume. Then there’s a couple of short questions to answer about why you might be a good fit, what you would contribute, etc. This year, they also asked us to film a short video introducing ourselves and explaining why we should be the next student board member.
Matties: What was your motivation in pursuing this role?
Crandall: I’ve been involved with IPC for a couple of years; I was part of the founding group that put a student chapter at my university. Someone from the IPC Education Foundation brought this opportunity to my attention. They told me I’d be a really great fit and that I should check it out.
We’ve been in close touch with (IPCEF Senior Director) Charlene (Gunter du Plessis) ever since. This is my first year at APEX EXPO, too. It’s been awesome so far.
Matties: That’s great. Tell us about what you’re doing, your studies, and what you hope to accomplish in your career.
Crandall: I did my undergrad in electrical engineering, and now I’m pursuing a PhD in the same field, but with a different flavor. Now I’m in a more biomedical-facing field. My research is currently focused on electromagnetism and biology. In general, I’m trying to come up with novel algorithms and methods to monitor health through wearable devices.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the 2023 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.