Staff

Senior Director

Email: jebinger@smu.edu
Phone: 214-768-3222

Jennifer Ebinger is the Senior Director of SMU’s Office of Engaged Learning.  As part of the Provost’s team, her department supports university-wide research and entrepreneurship programs, including Engaged Learning Fellowships and Summer Research Assistantships that support undergraduate research; the Big iDeas program that seeds and mentors undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff startups; Think-Play-Hack which provides a unique big-data experience; and the SMU Incubator, which collaborates with entrepreneurs and organizations to bring social and economic value to north Dallas.  Before coming to SMU, Director Ebinger served as a regional director for a non-profit education foundation out of Johns Hopkins University, where she led an interstate team to support school, teacher, leader, and student growth.

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Assistant Director

Email: ambailey@smu.edu

Alisha Bailey serves as Assistant Director for the Pathways to Business and Industry Program. Before transitioning to OEL, she served as Program Manager in SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, where she led the engineering outreach camps for K-16. Alisha received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Spelman College and her Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from Alabama A&M University. Prior to obtaining her master’s degree, Alisha worked as a sixth and seventh grade mathematics teacher in Houston, TX, before transitioning back into the science field. Through her master’s program, her knowledge and focuses were fisheries, aquaponics, and water management research and by studying abroad in Nanjing, China, she broadened her skills in GIS. Alisha worked for the government in the environmental health field as an Environmental Compliance Specialist for several years in Atlanta, GA. Outside of work, Alisha is continuously dedicated to service by volunteering at Ronald McDonald House Dallas, as an advisory board member with Women Leading Technology, serves on the Board of Directors for The GEMS Camp, a proud alumna of Leadership ISD Dallas County Civic Voices Fellowship, and a member of Junior League of Dallas.

Program Coordinator

Email: kchandrapal@smu.edu
Phone: 214-768-3223

Kelly Chandrapal comes to SMU most recently from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s art museum where she worked closely with undergraduate and graduate students in her position as the Learning Resources Coordinator. Prior to working at UNC, she implemented educational programs in museums and taught elementary and high school art in Texas public schools. Kelly earned a BFA in Visual Art Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and MA in Museum Science from Texas Tech University. She is a Texas native but new to Dallas and is looking forward to becoming a part of the SMU community!

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Program Manager

Email: asneal@smu.edu
Phone: 214-768-3205

Adam Scott Neal serves as Program Manager for Research programs in the Office of Engaged Learning. He coordinates the Engaged Learning Fellowship and Undergraduate Research Assistantship programs and related events. Adam is a composer working in a variety of genres, from toy piano solos to modern dance scores. Recognized as “exquisitely crafted,” Adam’s music “draws the listener inward, encouraging intimate dialogue” (Creative Loafing Atlanta). His music has received nearly 300 performances in 32 states and 15 countries. Adam has also published research on computer music, lo-fi, improvisation, and popular music education. Adam earned a PhD at the University of Florida and previous degrees at Queen’s University Belfast and Georgia State University. 

Email: oprioleau@smu.edu

Olivia Prioleau serves as the new Project Specialist, coordinating the Big iDeas and Mustang Mentors program. As a Charleston, South Carolina native, Olivia received her B.A. in Journalism and Communications from the University of South Carolina and will be graduating with her M.Ed. in Higher Educational Leadership from Texas Christian University in May of 2024. During her two years at TCU, Olivia served first-year leadership programs, student organizations, and large-scale programs in her role as the Graduate Assistant in the Student Activities Office. She is excited for her new journey at SMU and to serve more students on the Hilltop.

Faculty Fellow for Undergraduate Research

David Son has been a professor in the Department of Chemistry at SMU since 1996.  Dr. Son received his B.S. in chemistry from Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI) and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA).  Dr. Son was a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, D.C.) before coming to SMU. Dr. Son conducts research on the synthesis of inorganic and organometallic polymers for a variety of applications including drug delivery, additive manufacturing, and aerospace. At SMU, Dr. Son has been awarded the Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Award, the Thomas W. Tunks Distinguished University Citizen Award, and the ‘M’ Award. Dr. Son has also served as Faculty in Residence at Boaz Residential Commons from 2014-2022.

dson@smu.edu

Entrepreneurship Fellow

Michael is the Co-Founder of Resolute Future, a software company dedicated to empower the next generation of innovators, and a former VP of investments at JPMorgan Chase where he spent 12 years with a variety of responsibilities including sales, financial planning, management, & training. He held his series 7, series 66, and insurance federal and state licenses in over 20 states during his tenure there. Michael built a $120 million business before leaving to start Resolute Future. While at JPMorgan, he was recognized multiple times for his sales accolades, served on the Diversity Board, and helped increase the book of business 60x under his leadership. Michael is also a serial Entrepreneur dating back to his first venture in 2005/06 while still in high school. He currently sits on the Venture Board for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center focused on increasing venture activity in the DFW area. He donates his time to the DEC, the Capital One accelerator program, Mass Challenge's accelerator program, and giving speeches at Universities. He was voted by his peers North Texas' Startup Evangelist of the year for 2023. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with his business administration and management degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Ixchell Ibañez is a junior from Frisco, TX. She is a 2021 spring transfer who is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. She is currently the videographer and video producer for the Office of Engaged Learning’s Media Team. She aspires to one day work at Capitol Hill and pursue and elected office.