Cynthia (Cindy) Thomas Kalkomey is continuing her lifelong support of STEM education and ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ through her recent appointment to the Institute’s . Her service began at the Board’s winter meeting. 

Cindy’s connection to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ runs deep. Her late father, Charles “Ted” Thomas, a Clinton, Indiana native, graduated with high honors in electrical engineering from Rose Polytechnic Institute (now ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ) in 1943. He went on to a distinguished 28-year career with Texas Instruments’ defense systems division, retiring in 1986 from a senior technical leadership role. 

In 2023, Cindy and her husband, Kurt Kalkomey of Dallas, Texas, honored her father’s legacy with a $500,000 gift to for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students.

Now, Cindy is further strengthening her relationship with the Institute by serving on its Board of Trustees.

“Cindy’s commitment to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and our mission of helping students achieve their goals in STEM fields is deeply personal,” said ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ President Robert A. Coons. “We look forward to her insights and leadership as a trustee.” 

Cindy brings to the role an impressive academic and professional background in STEM. She earned a doctorate in statistics from Southern Methodist University, following master's and bachelor's degrees in mathematics and statistics from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.

Kurt also holds a strong academic foundation in the sciences, with a master’s degree in aquatic ecology and a bachelor’s degree in biology, both from Stephen F. Austin.

Cindy began her career as a geostatistician with Mobil Oil’s research lab, where she specialized in reservoir characterization and reserves assessment. She also taught technical short courses to Mobil affiliates around the world. 

In 1995, Cindy and Kurt co-founded Kalkomey Enterprises, a Dallas-based company that merged their love of the outdoors with their STEM expertise. The company became a leader in outdoor safety education, developing online courses and printed materials for boating, hunting, bowhunting, ATV, and snowmobile safety certification in partnership with state agencies. They sold a majority interest in the company in 2015, though Cindy continued to serve on its board for several years. 

Today, the Kalkomeys focus their efforts on philanthropy—with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ playing a key role in their mission to expand educational opportunities in STEM.