Our Industry Advisory Board brings together leaders from across computer science and AI, from Fortune 500 companies to early-stage startups. Today they help shape what and how we teach, so our students graduate with the skills, experience, and professional network to launch their careers with confidence.
Our focus is to strengthen the connection between education and industry by advising on programs that equip students with the skills, experiences, and networks needed to launch career success.
Message to Our Students: Many of our board members started exactly where you are – learning in Ball State classrooms. Today they’re building software, leading AI teams, and launching companies. They have returned to give back to the next generation of Ball State students, and provide an even stronger start to your career. Through our TechTalk series and other on-campus events, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know our board members and build connections with them.
Board Members
Chris Dibble, Director of Integration Services and Software Architect at Genesys, President of the Board
Chris Dibble brings over a decade of leadership experience developing empowered, cross-functional teams. His work focuses on platform integration and extensibility, ensuring customers can customize the platform for advanced use cases without compromising performance or reliability. With a strong technical background in scalable, cloud-native architectures and backend development, Chris is deeply committed to software craftsmanship. Chris graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University with a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. He is passionate about supporting the next generation of students, drawing on his own formative college experiences, which included immersive learning, programming competitions, and internships.
Anna Claxton, Vice President of the Board
Anna has proficiency in agile scrum and project leadership for software development teams. She participates daily in both legacy software sustainment and research and development for new software. With a previous position overseeing quality assurance, Anna maintains high standards for technical rigor and frequently engages with stakeholders at all levels. As a scrum master, Anna is passionate about agile principles and communication that empower a development team to deliver the right value for the end user. She is a proud alumna of Ball State University and an Indiana resident.
Steffan Byrne, Lead Software Engineer, Salesforce
Steffan Byrne graduated from Ball State University in 2013 with a B.A in computer science and Japanese. He works at Salesforce as a software engineer with over ten years experience in delivering robust web applications and platforms using the latest technology. Career focus areas include quality and security for enterprise customers. Steffan is a supporter of agile practices, testing, and continuous delivery. He is also a proponent of free software and Linux.
Joshua Hurst
Josh Hurst has spent 14 years building and scaling engineering teams in cybersecurity, fintech, and B2B SaaS, taking companies from pre-seed through Series A. He now runs Ridgeline Labs, where he works as a fractional engineering leader for startups and growing software teams. Josh graduated from Ball State's Computer Science program in 2012 and now serves on its Industry Advisory Board. He also serves as Treasurer of Indy Hackers. He was named to the IBJ Tech 25 in 2021 and is a 2026 Techpoint Emerging Tech Leader finalist. He lives in Fishers with his wife and two daughters, where they play a lot of music and board games.
Michael Keen, Software Engineer II at Fanatics Betting and Gaming
Michael Keen is currently a Software Engineer II at Fanatics Betting and Gaming. He was born and raised in Indiana and grew up in the city of Fishers. He began attending Ball State University in fall 2017 and graduated summa cum laude in spring 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Michael previously worked at Accutech Systems Corporation in Muncie, which provides trust accounting and wealth management solutions to banks and trust companies across the US.
Rajendra Prasad Ghankot, Assistant Vice President Software Develop & Automation at HCA Healthcare
Rajendran Prasad Ghankot is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as Assistant Vice President of a Division at a leading healthcare firm headquartered in Nashville, TN. As a technology enthusiast and IT Leader with a Masters degree, he is passionate about innovation and developing future talent.
Sivakumar Ramakrishnan, VP and Head of Programming, Technology Innovations & AI at Vita Global Sciences
Sivakumar (Siva) Ramakrishnan is Vice President and Head of Programming, Technology Innovations & AI at Vita Global Sciences, a Kelly Company. He has more than 16 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, primarily in clinical and statistical programming supporting clinical trials and regulatory submissions.
His current role combines clinical and statistical programming leadership with a focus on technology, automation, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence. He is particularly interested in how technology can improve the way we work while maintaining quality and regulatory standards, with the ultimate goal of helping bring therapies to patients more efficiently.
Siva is actively involved in the broader industry community and currently serves as an AI Governance Stream Chair for PHUSE US Connect 2027. He also participates in industry advisory initiatives focused on AI, innovation, and the evolving role of technology in life sciences. He believes in giving back to the professional and academic communities, sharing practical industry experience, and helping prepare the next generation of professionals to make a meaningful impact on patients and society.
Dev Roy
Dev Roy is a technology entrepreneur, Federal Technology Advisor, and Ball State University alumnus with 18+ years of experience at the intersection of enterprise architecture, cloud modernization, and artificial intelligence.
After earning his MS in Computer Science from BSU in 2010, Dev built a career advising some of the most complex technology environments in the country — NIH, FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of State, DoD Air Force, and USAID — helping federal agencies navigate cloud migration, digital transformation, and AI adoption at scale. That work, which generated over $150 million in revenue, gave him a front-row seat to a recurring problem: AI pilots that never made it to production.
That pattern led Dev to found IntraIntel.ai, a compliance-native AI platform purpose-built for regulated industries. Today, IntraIntel.ai serves 15+ customers, delivers a 95% pilot-to-paid conversion rate, and is on track for FDA 510(k) clearance as a Software-as-a-Medical-Device (SaMD) platform in Q3 2026. He also leads RoarTech Inc., a government IT consultancy specializing in cloud architecture, DevSecOps, and enterprise transformation.
Dev brings to the BSU CS Advisory Board a rare combination of deep federal technology experience, startup leadership, and a genuine commitment to building a pipeline of computing talent that is ready for the real-world challenges ahead.
Devin Simoneaux, Senior Data Engineer at Microsoft
Devin Simoneaux is currently a Senior Data Engineer at Microsoft within the Azure Data organization, where he specializes in the Microsoft Fabric analytics stack and Azure cloud platform. This is his 6th different role at the company, and he started with the organization right out of undergrad in 2019. Devin has discovered that his passion is data, and he particularly loves connecting the dots between complex data architecture and actionable business insights. Devin attended Indiana Wesleyan University to get his Bachelor's in Computer Science and he also completed a Master's in IT Management through Western Governors University in 2021. He was an adjunct professor at IWU for a semester in 2023, and it opened his eyes to the gap between academia and the industry. He is excited to embark on this journey with today's students to bridge that gap.
Brian Walker, Software Engineer and Android Developer at Kroger
Brian Walker is an Android engineer with four years of experience shipping apps at scale, from Android and Google TV experiences in the entertainment industry to grocery apps for Kroger. He's also a dedicated open source developer, currently maintaining an Android launcher with over 50k downloads, and he's eager to help students build real software and get involved in FOSS.
Mark Xue, Software Quality Engineer at Finvi
Mark Xue is a Software Quality Engineer at Ontario Systems (dba Finvi), where he has contributed since 2019. With over five years of experience in software quality assurance, he focuses on ensuring the reliability, scalability, and performance of enterprise applications. In his role, Mark develops automated testing frameworks and conducts performance testing to identify and address system issues. He plays an active role in maintaining high product standards by implementing effective quality assurance practices and collaborating with cross-functional and offshore teams. Mark brings a detail-oriented and analytical perspective to his work, with a strong commitment to delivering dependable, high-quality software solutions.
Yuifei Yan, Software Development Engineer, Workday
Yufei Yan is a Software Development Engineer at Workday. After earning bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science from universities in both the United States and China in 2012, he began his career as a software engineer in China, working on embedded systems and financial systems. In 2015, he joined the Ph.D. program in Computer Science at Auburn University. In 2022, he returned to industry by joining Evisort. In 2024, he joined Workday following its acquisition of Evisort.
Yu Zhang
Yu Zhang is a software engineering director with expertise in architecting large-scale digital solutions for the pharma industry. He leads cross-functional engineering teams to build AI-driven and automated digitalization platforms that enhance product intelligence, operational efficiency, and regulatory readiness.