Leadership Summit Spring 2026

Tanner Mcintosh

Tanner is our event emcee. Originally from Manhattan, Kansas, Tanner will graduate in December of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a structural emphasis at the Colorado School of Mines. On campus, Tanner served as a Lead Peer Mentor for two years, working on programs such as Helluva Welcome and Oredigger Camp. In his free time, Tanner enjoys fly fishing, hiking, and watching the Denver Broncos

Maxwell Nwokeukwu

Maxwell earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Biomechanics from Mines, where he also competed as a collegiate football player—balancing the demands of athletics and academics with discipline and drive. 

During his time at Mines, Maxwell served as Co-President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where he helped expand membership, increase engagement, and create opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM. 

Currently, Maxwell works as a Research and Development Engineer at Penumbra, a leading medical device company focused on advancing neurovascular care. In his role, he designs and develops innovative devices and implants that help treat stroke and other neurovascular system conditions.

Jalen Thomas

Jalen Thomas is an engineer, entrepreneur, and themed entertainment designer passionate about blending creativity, storytelling, and engineering to craft unforgettable experiences. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering ’23 and Master’s degree in Engineering and Technology Management ’24 from the Colorado School of Mines, along with certificates in Product Management ’24 and Space Resources ’24.

During his time at Mines, Jalen was deeply involved in academics, athletics, and leadership. He played outside linebacker and tight end for the Mines football team, served as Co-President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and was an active member of the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP). He also represented the campus as a Mines Foundation Dignitary and Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Student Ambassador for the Economics and Business Department, helping strengthen community and representation across engineering and business programs.

As the Founder and President of the Theme Park Engineering and Design (TPED) Group, Jalen created a space where students could explore creativity through themed entertainment design, launching projects that combined technical skill and imaginative storytelling. His passion for immersive experiences led him to intern at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he contributed to attraction development and design innovation.

Jalen later served as a Graduate Assistant at the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and is currently a member of the Beck Venture Center. He is also a past Innov8x Challenge winner, recognized for his innovative problem-solving and entrepreneurial drive.

Today, Jalen is the Founder and CEO of FUNtastic LLC, a Colorado-based entertainment company that designs and operates portable escape rooms and large-scale immersive experiences. Through FUNtastic, he continues his mission to make themed entertainment more accessible while fostering inclusion, safety, and fun in every project.

Alicia Jessop

Alicia Jessop is an attorney, founder of the media platform Ruling Sports, and a tenured Professor at Pepperdine University.

As an attorney, Alicia helps clients develop and preserve their legacies. She represents college and professional athletes, influencers, broadcasters and businesses in a range of transactional and intellectual property matters, including sponsorship and NIL negotiation; business formation and transactions; company acquisitions and trademark law. Alicia also practices estate law, where she counsels members of her community on ensuring their legacies extend beyond their lives. She presently serves as the Co-Chair of the Sports Division of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries. In 2025 she was named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an invitation-only recognition awarded to less than 1% of attorneys in the U.S.

Founding Ruling Sports in 2011, Alicia has spent over a decade as a sport journalist. She has been

a contributor to The Athletic, Washington Post, Forbes, CNBC, Huffington Post and SI.com. Through these roles, she was one of the few female sports writers credentialed for like the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, NBA All-Star Game, Indianapolis 500, Final Four and more.

As a scholar, Alicia’s research centers on athlete well-being. She is the Program Chair of the Sport Administration program at Pepperdine University. Through her research, she has work with several U.S. Congresspeople and Senators to draft proposed federal legislation to protect athletes’ rights. From 2023-2025 she was one of 16 appointed members to the NCAA’s Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee. Alicia is a past-President of the Sport and Recreation Law Association and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport and the Journal of Global Sport Management.

Alicia is a 2006 alumna of the Colorado School of Mines, where she was the second female Student Body President in the university’s history, and 2009 alumna of Chapman University School of Law. She is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, the Junior League of Denver and supports several organizations working to end the orphan cycle and foster economic growth in Haiti.