AIP has announced the appointment of Alejandro de la Puente as director of the Society of Physics Students and AIP’s first Student Engagement Officer, a new executive role at the Institute. Starting April 22, de la Puente will lead student engagement efforts across AIP.
As AIP’s first Student Engagement Officer and director of SPS, de la Puente will be responsible for student programs focused on the undergraduate level through the Society of Physics Students and the physics and astronomy honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma. He will also play a key leadership role as AIP extends its reach to undergraduate students in the physical sciences—in particular to those who are under-resourced.
A core part of AIP, SPS is a membership organization explicitly designed for undergraduate students with an interest in physics or astronomy and their advisors. SPS helps students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community. Through its members, advisors, chapters, and leadership, SPS fosters national and local community-based initiatives to help students develop effective communication and interpersonal skills. SPS also promotes opportunities for leadership development, professional networking, and effective presentation of scholarly work at professional meetings and in scholarly scientific journals.
As a key part of his role at AIP, de la Puente will also lead Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics and astronomy honor society. Sigma Pi Sigma elects members based on outstanding academic achievement and community service. Members encourage interest in and provide support for programs that advance the fields of physics and astronomy. They also provide mentoring and fellowship to physical scientists at all stages of their careers. Sigma Pi Sigma has over 90,000 lifelong members.
Before joining AIP, de la Puente held a senior civilian analyst position within the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. He focused on analyses and studies to inform decision-makers, department wide process improvement, and digital transformation initiatives, as well as workforce training and development.
De la Puente has also worked at the TRIUMF laboratory in British Columbia, at the New York Academy of Science, and at Carleton University and Northern Virginia Community College. He was selected as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow and assigned to the National Science Foundation’s division on undergraduate education.
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