Ilka was named director of Engineering Career Development in the fall of 2013. Engineering Career Development comprises the employer relations work, career preparation services, internship and co-operative education, and helping students transition from college to professional life. Ilka has been involved in the Co-op program as well as international programs in the College of Engineering since January 2006.

Ilka is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and has served as the secretary, chair-elect, chair and past chair of its Cooperative and Experiential Education Division. She served as chair of the Conference on Industry and Education Collaboration in 2017. Ilka is also a staff advisor for UK’s Engineers Without Borders chapter.

Before coming to Lexington in 2004, Ilka worked as a political consultant to candidates and campaigns in the Washington, D.C. area and for the European Election Campaign in Stuttgart, Germany.

Ilka is a native of northern Germany and graduated with a master’s degree in political science, history and communications from the University of Göttingen, Germany.