Boise State University’s College of Engineering has achieved a distinction that is uncommon even among major research universities: producing ELATES Fellows in back-to-back years. The Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science program — widely regarded as one of the most selective leadership development programs in American STEM higher education — has named two Boise State faculty members to consecutive cohorts, putting the university’s engineering college in rare company nationally.
Two Faculty Members, Two Cohorts
Hui (Claire) Xiong, a professor in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, completed the 2025-2026 ELATES cohort. Now, Krishna Pakala, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, has been selected for the 2026-2027 cohort. Both joined Boise State in 2012, and both have built nationally recognized records of research, teaching, and service over more than a decade on campus.
College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer called the achievement a meaningful signal about the caliber of the faculty Boise State has developed. “For our college to receive back-to-back faculty members named ELATES Fellows is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of the exceptional leadership and talent within Boise State,” Fleischer said in a statement.
Pakala’s Record in Teaching and Research
Pakala earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming before arriving at Boise State, where he has taught thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. He has served as associate chair of his department and held the inaugural role of Faculty Associate for Mobile Learning at the university. His research has drawn National Science Foundation funding, and he has been recognized repeatedly for his classroom work — earning three Golden Apple Awards, the David S. Taylor Service to Students Award, and an Outstanding Teaching Award from the American Society for Engineering Education.
Pakala said the fellowship represents more than personal recognition. “Being selected as an ELATES Fellow is an incredible honor, but what excites me most is what I can bring back to Boise State,” he told the university.
Xiong’s Research on Next-Generation Battery Materials
Xiong leads the Electrochemical Energy Materials Laboratory at Boise State, where her work centers on next-generation battery materials — specifically sodium-ion battery cathodes, a research area with significant implications for energy storage technology. Her work has been funded by the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, which also awarded her an NSF CAREER Award. She publishes in some of the most respected scientific journals in the field, including Nature Materials, PNAS, and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
In 2023, Xiong was elevated to Fellow of both the American Ceramic Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry — two prestigious honors in the same calendar year. In 2024, she and Boise State alumnus Peter Barnes, who graduated in 2021, received the Charles Hatchett Award from the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining. She also serves on the editorial team for the Journal of Power Sources and contributes to advisory boards for several materials chemistry journals.
What This Means for Boise and the Treasure Valley
Boise State’s College of Engineering plays a meaningful role in the Treasure Valley’s broader economic and educational landscape. As Ada County continues to attract technology-sector employers and high-skill industries, the development of nationally recognized engineering faculty strengthens the university’s ability to attract research funding, train skilled graduates, and draw industry partnerships to the region. The ELATES program specifically targets faculty positioned for senior academic leadership roles, meaning both Pakala and Xiong are being prepared not just as researchers but as future institutional leaders in STEM higher education.
For families in Boise, Meridian, and across Ada County interested in local STEM education outcomes, the university’s national standing in engineering faculty development is one indicator of the regional pipeline. Readers interested in K-12 STEM performance locally can find related coverage on how West Ada School District performed on Idaho’s ISAT standardized tests, the state’s largest district benchmark.
What Comes Next
Pakala’s participation in the 2026-2027 ELATES cohort is now underway. The program is designed to develop senior academic leadership capabilities, and participants typically return to their institutions with structured plans for taking on expanded roles. Boise State’s College of Engineering has not announced specific next steps for either fellow, but the program’s outcomes typically inform departmental and college-level leadership decisions in the years following completion. Updates on Boise State engineering initiatives can be found at the university’s official site at boisestate.edu.