Irina Kalashnikova Tezaur

Irina Kalashnikova Tezaur ’02 is a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, where she leads interdisciplinary teams using advanced mathematical modeling and supercomputing to solve complex global problems—including national security and climate change. A Russian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. speaking no English, she joined Cranbrook in sixth grade and quickly found her footing, excelling in both the sciences and humanities. Encouraged by teachers who pushed her to write and think critically, Irina graduated with a love of math and a belief in the power of persistence. After earning her Ph.D. in computational and mathematical engineering from Stanford, she has dedicated her career to developing algorithms that power high-impact simulations, from modeling medical devices to forecasting climate outcomes. In 2019, she received the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her groundbreaking work. Reflecting on her Cranbrook experience, she says, “It taught me that I could accomplish things I didn’t know I could do—it made me want to aim high.”

 

Read more in her Tradition profile by clicking here.