Santiago Ibarra

Community Engagement Director, SHPE Chicago Professional Chapter
Academic Account Manager, Ansys Inc.

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Santiago Ibarra moved to the U.S. at the age of 8 and has since followed a passion for engineering that began with a fascination for the aerodynamics of cars and planes. He earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University, focusing on aerodynamics and engineering systems.

Santiago began his career as a simulation analyst at Navistar Inc., performing aerothermal simulations on vehicle designs. He later transitioned into account management roles—first at Gamma Technologies LLC, and now at Ansys Inc.—where he helps universities adopt and expand their use of cutting-edge engineering simulation software.

Santiago became actively involved in SHPE in 2021 after attending the National Convention, where the energy and community spirit inspired him to take on a greater role. As a board member, his focus is on growing membership through meaningful partnerships with other professional and community organizations in the Chicago area.

Outside of work and SHPE, Santiago enjoys live music (he officially entered his salsa era in 2024!), caring for his plant collection, keeping up with sneaker drops, and planning relaxing getaways.