About Headframes Innovation Network

Angela has a 25-year career of progressive leadership experience across four very diverse organizations, that span academia, government, and industry. She rose through the academic ranks as an engineering professor at an R1 University, leading a high risk - high reward research team. She pivoted to a career of research administration a decade ago, through a rotation as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation. She developed a passion for mentoring faculty, making over 200 funding recommendations that shaped the careers of young investigators. Angela developed an aptitude for meaningful and constructive feedback, as many of the site's testimonials will attest. Seeking to enable diverse career paths, she developed a program that reinvested in midcareer faculty. After NSF, she migrated to smaller Universities where she could build--both programs and people. In these roles, she has developed mentoring programs, invested in applied research and technology transfer, and built significant external partnerships, all of which contributed to considerable institutional growth in research metrics. She has led initiatives in manufacturing, chemical separations, catalysis, energy, and critical minerals.

At Headframes, Angela seeks to expand the footprint of these endeavors and create a network that bridges academic theory with application. She seeks to support those that aspire to greater heights, aspire to move past obstacles, and aspire to see the application of their science/engineering.

JoAnn has a career of leadership experience, including being the department chair, dean of engineering, and Division Director at the National Science Foundation (CBET). While at NSF, JoAnn was responsible for $185M in funding within 16 programs and was one of the architects of NSF’s Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems initiative (INFEWS). Her leadership also involves professional organizations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Western Section of the Combustion Institute, and the ASEE Dean’s Public Policy Committee. Her research focused on air quality considerations, including carbon capture, black carbon, and mercury from coal-fired systems. As Dean of Engineering at Boise State University, she was dedicated to building research and student success. As such, research expenditures nearly tripled during her time as dean and scholarship award dollars doubled.

As a chemical engineer, JoAnn is passionate about systems leadership and thinking, which embodies bringing a diverse team of creative thinkers together to solve our most critical engineering and science challenges. She brings this passion and energy to Headframes, backed by over 40 years as an engineer, with a focus on higher education (35+ years).

Kumar Ganesan is a Professional Engineer (PE) in Environmental Engineering in Montana and a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. He is the founder and CEO of Energy and Environmental Research and Technology (E2RTECH) and CEO and founder of Institute for Science, Engineering and Arts (ISEA). He has over fifty years of experience in developing and implementing innovative solutions to environmental problems in air quality engineering, pollution prevention, sustainability, energy and industrial ecology. His experience ranges from working in a research-oriented government agency (overseas), in a private consulting company and as private consultant to industry and government agencies. He is a recipient of the State of Montana’s “Eco Star” award for his work in pollution prevention and sustainable environmental management among other several professional achievements and awards. He was also a consultant to US EPA over ten years.

I bring 40 years of experience in teaching and research in management, information systems and technology, and entrepreneurship.  In 2024, in preparation for a regional tech hub, I created a technology translation course in collaboration with a defense sponsored center. This course was designed to coach inventors through an assessment of the technology viability of a product, to better position the invention for licensing and commercialization. Through the Headframes Academy, I strive to work with burgeoning inventors and entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on training faculty inventors to cross the 'valley of death' and better market and assess their inventions. 

I have been married 37 years to my wife Heidi and have ten children—yes 10!--the oldest a boy, followed by eight girls and a 15 year old boy. I am passionate about international issues since working and living in Hong Kong for three years. I now work with organizations in Southeast Asia and Africa. I enjoy playing sports, especially soccer, tennis and basketball, and getting to the beach whenever possible. 

Kat is an experienced leader in instructional design, faculty development, assessment, and distance learning, with over 25 years of experience in higher education. Kat strives to integrate design thinking into education, and excels at fostering innovation, improving instructional effectiveness, and aligning digital learning with institutional goals. In an extremely resource-constrained environment, she spearheaded initiatives to enhance teaching, support faculty, and ensure the accessibility and quality of online education. She has developed professional development programs for industry partners, including in the mining industry and at a two-year college.  With formal education in the humanities, she has coached STEM faculty for the past 10 years, and this this interdisciplinary approach makes her coaching -- and your student's learning -- more impactful.  Kat is also an accomplished grant writer, having contributed to many of the grants on the 'Successes' page.  

Through Headframes, Kat would love to help you improve your own effectiveness in the classroom. She approaches each coaching session with an eye (and an ear!) to listen to your goals, and where you seek to develop. She will then work with you to explore innovative new techniques and stand by you through implementation.  

Kat holds an Ed.S. and M.S. in Educational Technology from the University of Central Missouri, as well as M.A. and B.A. degrees in English from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. 

Jerry Downey, Ph.D., P.E. is a registered professional engineer with active licenses in Colorado and Montana. He is CEO and Founder of J.P. Downey & Associates, P.L.L.C. His 40+ years of professional experience includes industrial operations, applied process research and development, and corporate management. His technical expertise includes chemical and metallurgical thermodynamics, thermal processing, materials synthesis and processing, and hazardous materials treatment.