Dr. James A. (Jim) Egenrieder is on the College of Engineering's Research Faculty and Director of the Virginia Tech DC Metro Area K-20 STEM Labs (VT DC STEM Labs, and formerly the Qualcomm® Thinkabit Labs™). He creates, develops, and facilitates programs (and funding) for technical and professional (STEM) education and workforce initiatives internationally and also in the Washington, D.C. area, primarily through collaborations and partnerships engaging schools and higher education, non-profit, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development, and industry partners.   He created the first Governor’s Career and Technical Academy (STEM Academy) in Virginia, and created one of the first k-12 STEM programs in the United States. He led Virginia Tech’s Math and Science Teacher Preparation Programs in Northern Virginia including graduate coursework and internship supervision.

A primary focus of this work is 5G IoT and Smart Cities / Smart Schools initiatives, and how to prepare young people to thrive in an increasing technical and increasingly global workforce.   Egenrieder is also on the Natural Resources and Environment adjunct faculty of Virginia Tech's Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, President Emeritus of the Washington Academy of Sciences, and an active Board member of the Virginia Technology and Engineering Education Association, the Children's Science Center and Science and Technology Museum of Northern Virginia, and the Advisory Board of Urban Alliance. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Virginia Tech's College Access Collaborative.