John V-Neun

I design stuff, and manage other people who design stuff. We make educational robotics kits to help schools inspire and educate students about STEM. 

I graduated from Shenendehowa HS in Clifton Park, NY as part of the Class of 2001. I graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with a BSME as part of the Class of 2005. 

I've been involved in competitive robotics since I was a junior in high school. I participated on the Shenendehowa Robotics Team for two years in high school. 

I went to Clarkson with a Robotics Scholarship. I mentored the Clarkson University Robotics Team from 2002 until 2005. 

I was recruited to come for a summer internship at Innovation First because of my involvement in robotics. While interning I was involved in the development of the VEX Robotics Design System. After graduating from Clarkson I was hired to work at Innovation First full-time where I worked with a number of other incredible people to grow the VEX program and platform to where it is today. 

The lines between my hobbies and job have become disturbingly blurred. Lucky for me, it is all a lot of fun... I'm a huge mechanisms geek. I would rather spend a few hours designing a custom linkage than write 2 lines of code. 

I love solving problems, which I view is the root of all engineering. If I had more free time I would build kinetic sculptures, which I believe are the most beautiful forms of art. 

I'm extremely interested in engineering & design education. I've worked to emphasize what I view are the core principles of these topics to the students I mentor. 

I'm also passionately concerned about the lack of new students interested in STEM careers and believe strongly in the need to inspire students to get involved in these areas -- this passion is one of the main reasons I love my work at VEX Robotics so much.