Open AccessAlaska Airline's Kris Kutchera advocates for STEM education
Author(s) -
Hardin Steve
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
bulletin of the association for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2373-9223
DOI - 10.1002/bult.2015.1720410309
Subject(s) - interactive kiosk , competence (human resources) , management , vice president , passion , train , public relations , engineering , marketing , sociology , business , aeronautics , psychology , political science , computer science , economics , cartography , psychotherapist , geography , operating system
EDITOR'S SUMMARY Kris Kutchera, vice president for information technology for Air Alaska Group, shared her passion for education in a plenary session at the ASIS&T 2014 Annual Meeting. Kutchera learned early that study and preparation lead to competence, and she shares her values through Air Alaska's commitment to youth and education. Her concentration in STEM subjects led her to information technology, applied to airline operations in a variety of ways from equipment weight reduction for fuel efficiency to passenger kiosks with virtual assistants and biometric finger scanning. Such innovative changes rise from understanding of business drivers and goals. Alaska Airlines trains all personnel in business basics and seeks out those with leadership and technical skills. Kutchera applauded ASIS&T members for promoting education that puts knowledge and information in action in STEM careers.