Dr. Arounsack has worked with the Lao diaspora for almost 15 years in various capacities. At age 19, he became Editor-in-Chief of Lao Vision Magazine, the nation’s first Lao-American hybrid publication. Later, he founded and became president (2006-08) of Pacific Arc Media LLC, a digital media company that highlighted Southeast Asian culture. In over a decade of multimedia experience in digital video, web, and print, Dr. Arounsack’s productions have been showcased on PBS, satellite television, at universities, and theatre venues across the nation. His media projects have been funded by the Ford Foundation, Texaco Foundation, and the California Council for the Humanities.  Additionally, Dr. Arounsack coordinated the first two Lao International Film Festivals for the Center for Lao Studies.

Dr. Arounsack has traveled to Laos numerous times in the last 15 years to document and better understand the conditions of life there. He recently co-developed a touchscreen program for the Legacies of War project to educate the public about the secret bombings in the 1960’s and 70’s.

Dr. Arounsack earned his doctorate in ecology from the University of California, Davis. He was part of the inaugural class of prestigious national Gates Millennium Scholars (2000-2005) and is a fellow with the American Leadership Forum (2009-2010).  Along with serving on multiple editorial boards and national organizations, he has published numerous articles and papers on the Lao, including acculturation experiences, history, and identity. Currently, Dr. Arounsack teaches at California State University, Stanislaus where his courses have focused on biology, Asian cultures, and global issues.

Dr. Muñoz is an Associate Professor with the Division of Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He joined the Engineering Division after earning his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He also holds the MSME from Purdue and the BSME from the University of New Mexico. His engineering work experience includes stints at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He spent a year long sabbatical as a Visiting Professor to Monterrey Tech. (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico. His second sabbatical was spent working as a technical analyst on the conceptual design of an advanced guideway transportation system for the I-70 mountain corridor. Dr. Muñoz served as interim Director of the Engineering Division (2003-2006) and has taught thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, various laboratory courses, sustainable engineering design and senior design. He has advised several hundred undergraduates in senior design projects that include hybrid electric vehicles through potable water and waste water treatment systems for Honduras. He has also advised 14 graduate theses (4 Ph.D., 10 M.S.) on topics ranging from fluid-thermal systems, tribology and acoustics. His research interests include energy conservation and issues of engineering design related to global sustainability.

Mr. Ruppert is a Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, where he has worked for eight years performing data analysis, algorithm design, and testing, calibration, and characterization of space and airborne instruments. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Iowa State University and has previously worked in mechanical engineering and in database development. He has been active in NGOs directed toward Southeast Asia for many years.

.