ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

FRANCES MAZZE HURWITZ, PH.D. NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER

For pioneering work in the development of materials suited for space exploration, for exceptional team leadership across disciplines, and for opening the way to a more equitable work environment.

rances Mazze Hurwitz, Ph.D., is Branch in the Structures and Materi- mation retrieval at a pharmaceutical senior materials research engi- als Division at NASA Glenn, and as the company and at a university. In 1979, Fneer at NASA Glenn Research acting program manager, materials and she earned her Ph.D. in macromolecu- Center in Cleveland, where she leads structures, for the High-Speed Research lar science from Case Western Reserve the development of high-temperature Office at NASA Headquarters in Wash- University. thermal materials. Over the course of ington, D.C. When she joined NASA Lewis Re- her long career with NASA, Dr. Hurwitz Highly skilled at managing research search Center (now NASA Glenn) in 1979 has worked at the frontier of materials projects and collaborating with diverse as a research engineer, Dr. Hurwitz was problems associated with aerospace scientists, technologists, and defense one of only seven women at the facility technologies. Since 2007, she has contractors, Dr. Hurwitz has been as- with a doctoral degree in science. She spearheaded NASA’s development of signed to some of NASA’s most critical has been active in efforts to break down aerogels for use at temperatures above projects. She was on the committee that barriers to women in science, technology, 700 degrees Celsius, establishing tech- studied the composite material failure engineering, and mathematics careers niques for fabricating composites for that led to the 2003 Columbia shuttle di- and was instrumental in establishing a entry, descent and landing, and space saster and has been a member of several more equal and open work environment power systems. She is a recipient of the Columbia Accident Investigation and for women at NASA. NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal Space Shuttle Return to Flight teams. Following the Feb. 1, 2003, loss of the for outstanding scientific and leadership She has also represented NASA on a space shuttle Columbia, Dr. Hurwitz contributions. number of Department of Defense tech- testified before the Columbia Accident A prolific writer and frequent speaker, nical program advisory committees and Investigation Board. Her participation Dr. Hurwitz has shared her research has been technical advisor on materials was crucial to helping other investiga- on ceramic matrix composites, thermal for several NASA programs, including tors understand the effect of aging on protection systems, and lightweight the NASA Space Radiation Program. reinforced, carbon-carbon integrity and aerogel materials in many presentations, Dr. Hurwitz graduated from Harpur ultimately resulted in NASA’s replacing workshops, journal articles, and techni- College of the State University of New several defective wing leading edge pan- cal seminars. Fluent in the science of York at Binghamton in 1968 with a B.A. els and ensuring the safety of subsequent both polymeric and ceramic materials, in chemistry. After working briefly as a shuttle missions. Dr. Hurwitz has a remarkable ability chemist for a pharmaceutical company, Dr. Hurwitz is married, with two adult to move between disciplines. She has she earned a master’s in library science, children and four grandchildren. led the development of polymer-derived then worked as a reference librarian in ceramics, served as chief of the Polymers the nascent field of computerized infor-

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 127 SUZANNE JENNICHES UPWARD MOBILITY AWARD ENDOWED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

JANEEN JUDAH CHEVRON

For an exceptional career spanning multiple disciplines, often in pioneering roles, and for leveraging her influence into unceasing advocacy for women in engineering.

aneen Judah is the general man- After a brief period as a lawyer, then many women engineers as possible. ager for Chevron Corp.’s Southern management consultant, Judah joined In 2010, Judah was promoted to her JAfrica Business Unit, overseeing Texaco in 1998, and her career gained current position. Aware of her high more than 800 Houston-based employ- upward momentum. There, she negoti- visibility, she actively mentors both ees and billions of dollars in development ated multimillion-dollar rig construction early- and midcareer women engineers, projects. Additionally, she represents and rental contracts, managed personnel always saying “yes” when asked. Chevron for the Angola LNG project, and their careers, and gained interna- Beyond work, Judah has been an the largest single project ever built in tional experience. A promotion to staff active leader in the Society of Petro- sub-Saharan Africa at over $10 billion. advisor for the president of worldwide leum Engineers (SPE) since 1979 and Over a career that spans more than production operations followed. was named a Distinguished Member in 30 years, Judah has led technical groups After Texaco’s purchase by Chevron 2003. She received SPE’s Distinguished across most subdisciplines in the oil in 2001, Judah became technical man- Service Award in 2010. A frequent guest industry. Fueled by enthusiasm for deci- ager for the Latin America Business lecturer at Texas A&M University, she phering complex problems, often where Unit, supervising teams of engineers is a longtime member of the industry there is no expertise or path to follow, and geologists. In 2004, she moved to advisory board of the department of her rise through the industry is dotted Chevron’s Energy Technology Company, petroleum engineering and, in 2011, was with “firsts.” Her master’s thesis, “An where she led the organization’s sup- the first woman named to its Academy Evaluation of Risk Simulation Models port staff. With each transition, Judah of Distinguished Graduates. She is also for Reserve Estimates,” was an early found ways to elevate other women. In a member of the College of Engineer- method of decision analysis modeling 2007, Judah was named the first female ing advisory council, and has remained that is now routinely used for all eco- president of Chevron’s Environmental active in the Phi Mu fraternity for 30 nomic decisions in the oil industry. Management Company, supervising an years, reaching out to collegiate women Judah began her career with ARCO annual $800 million budget and over 4 whenever possible. in west Texas in 1983 as a principal million staff hours of work. She joined A native Houstonian and the daughter engineer, working on drilling, complet- Chevron’s 60-member management of an engineer, Judah holds B.S. and ing, and producing wells, eventually committee and, as a frequent speaker on M.S. degrees in petroleum engineering transferring to Houston as an econom- environmental stewardship and reme- from Texas A&M University, an MBA ics expert and reserves coordinator, diation, raised awareness among senior from the University of Texas of the Perm- all while earning an MBA and J.D. at management. She pioneered mentoring ian Basin, and a J.D. from the University night school. circles to provide career guidance to as of Houston Law Center.

128 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 RODNEY D. CHIPP MEMORIAL AWARD

NICHOLAS (NICK) C. BELL, PH.D. GENERAL MOTORS

For career-long mentoring of women engineering students and interns, and for enthusiastic engagement in programs that encourage professional development of women in engineering and technology.

ick Bell, Ph.D., has been chief ing more than 90 percent of services keynote speaker at the organization’s information officer, global performed by GM employees, Dr. Bell annual Signature Gala, where over Nproduct development at General has sought to hire talented women and $250,000 was raised for science, tech- Motors (GM) since December 2012. He to ensure that GM retains and promotes nology, engineering, and mathematics is responsible for all IT applications and them. (STEM)-related educational programs. also for contributions to the company’s Dr. Bell is GM’s executive leader for Dr. Bell promoted the inaugural 2013 global IT transformation. His previous the IT Women’s Employee Resource MCWT Executives in Technology Lead- IT leadership positions with GM include Group (WERG-IT). This group enables ership professional development forum, global chief information officer (CIO) for women to network and to benefit from which drew more than 500 people GM’s Manufacturing and Labor group; mentoring and educational, social, and featured panel discussions with and chief information officer for GM and community outreach forums. Dr. CIOs from General Motors, Ford, and North America. Dr. Bell also worked for Bell cultivates a range of programs for Chrysler. Volvo Car, where he was vice president WERG-IT, including new-employee Through GM’s intern program, Dr. and CIO, responsible for developing welcome events, CIO leadership forums, Bell works to include women in hiring Volvo’s global IT strategy and creating and panel discussions, all focused on for GM’s four new IT innovation cen- synergy with Ford. He began his ca- attracting, engaging, retaining, and ters across the country. In addition, he reer as a systems analyst at Ford in the developing women in IT. WERG-IT stewards a $250,000 Georgia Tech GM United Kingdom. recently launched a cross-functional Foundation grant, which funds STEM Since joining GM North America in steering committee to promote profes- advances in the automotive industry and 2005 as process information officer for sional development at GM and create is also intended to help organizations sales, service, and marketing systems, community awareness of careers in IT with a strong science and technology fo- Dr. Bell has involved himself both per- for young girls and women. cus support women in STEM disciplines. sonally and as a top executive in creating As a GM executive champion, Dr. Dr. Bell holds a Ph.D. in engineering an environment that encourages full Bell’s engagement with women in IT from the University of London, U.K. He participation by women in engineer- extends into the entire state through the earned both his bachelor’s and master’s ing and technology. Every year, he joins Michigan Council of Women in Technol- degrees from the Imperial College of more than 70 walkers on GM’s “Making ogy (MCWT). He advocates for GM’s Science and Technology, University of Strides Against Breast Cancer” team, platinum sponsorship of MCWT and London. which has raised over $34,000. Since regularly volunteers to help with fund- A native of the United Kingdom and 2012, when GM began switching from raising activities, such as the “Lunch now a U.S. citizen, Dr. Bell is married outsourcing most of its services to hav- with a CIO” auction. He has been the and has three children.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 129 RODNEY D. CHIPP MEMORIAL AWARD

GENE FRASER NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

For lasting and significant contributions to the advancement of women in engineering through personal mentoring throughout his career, and the founding of the Women in Leadership Program.

ene Fraser is vice president of high-level technical expertise but lacked and learning how to think strategically. programs, quality and engi- leadership skills. At Northrop Grum- More than 200 women are nominated Gneering in the corporate office man, Fraser again observed that few for the WiL program each year. of Northrop Grumman Corporation. He women held leadership positions in the Between 2012 and 2014, 50 women directs engineering, and quality policy company, and that women aspiring to were accepted into the program, with across the corporation and evaluates all management lacked leadership skills, an 84 percent completion rate. A survey major programs from bid to execution. networks among senior management, of WiL graduates conducted in 2013 Fraser joined the U.S. Marines in 1973 and in some cases, confidence. So in showed that participants had increased after graduating from the University of 2012, along with Karen Tokashiki, the their responsibility and visibility on Florida with a degree in chemical engi- director of specialty engineering at the job. Graduates considered the most neering. He was a jet pilot and squadron Northrop Grumman, Fraser founded valuable aspect of the program to be leader before entering NASA’s astronaut Women in Leadership (WiL) to help interaction with senior management training program, but the Challenger women at Northrop Grumman advance and networking with peers. Graduates disaster derailed his plans to be an as- and succeed. have formed an alumni association to tronaut. His final active duty assignment For two years Fraser was WiL’s ex- maintain contact. was as commanding officer of the U.S. ecutive champion, and he continues Fraser holds a B.S. in chemical engi- Navy’s Test Wing Atlantic, the first Ma- to volunteer and attend workshops neering from the University of Florida rine ever to lead this command. Fraser and other events. The WiL program is and is a graduate of the California Insti- retired from the Marines in 2002 and based on Fraser’s goal of developing a tute of Technology Program for Strategic that same year, joined Northrop Grum- leadership pipeline from the ranks of Marketing of Technology and the U.S. man as chief engineer of the B-2 Spirit the company’s most promising women Naval Test Pilot School. He is a member stealth bomber program. first- or midlevel managers and mid- of the Society of Experimental Test Pi- A life member of SWE since 2013, career engineers. Over the course of 10 lots and served on the board of directors Fraser has long advocated mentoring, months, participants meet monthly to of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle or what he terms “protégé relationships.” develop leadership abilities, work with Systems International. He is a highly He has always made himself available their mentors, and learn how to expand experienced aviator with 6,000 flight for mentoring — offering guidance and their professional networks. Activities hours on 81 models of fixed-wing aircraft support as a student, a military officer, include workshops, leadership panels, and helicopters. and a business executive. While Fraser executive networking, and assigned was serving in the Marines, he observed reading. Specific workshop topics in- that while more women were beginning clude presentation and public speaking to move through the ranks, they had skills, cultivating an executive presence,

130 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 DISTINGUISHED ENGINEERING EDUCATOR

KAREN A. THOLE, PH.D. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

For visionary leadership and far-reaching influence as a researcher, role model, teacher, and mentor who effectively inspires young women to pursue STEM careers.

aren A. Thole, Ph.D., is a profes- students having published in peer-re- Computational Convection Lab and the sor and head of the department viewed conference and journal papers. Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine Kof mechanical and nuclear en- An exemplary role model and tireless facility. Both are substantially funded by gineering at The Pennsylvania State mentor, Dr. Thole fosters a respectful, the Department of Energy, NASA, and University. After earning her B.S. and dynamic, and supportive atmosphere Pratt & Whitney and have been named M.S. in mechanical engineering from among the students in her research labs. a Pratt & Whitney Center of Excellence the University of Illinois and her Ph.D. One of her singular contributions has for heat transfer. from The University of Texas at Austin, been as the founder and champion of the She is an ASME fellow and is now she spent two years as a postdoctoral Engineering Ambassadors Program at leading ASME’s Energy Conversion and researcher at the Institute of Thermal Penn State, a program now replicated at Storage Segment within the Technical Turbomachinery at the Karlsruhe Insti- numerous institutions across the United Events and Conferences Sector. She for- tute of Technology in Germany. States. Engineering Ambassadors learn merly served as the chair of the board of Dr. Thole’s academic career began in advanced communication skills, using directors for ASME’s International Gas 1994 as an assistant professor at the the messages of the National Academy Turbine Institute. She has also served as University of Wisconsin-Madison. In of Engineering’s Changing the Conversa- chair of the ASME-ME department head 1999, she accepted a position in the me- tion to spread the word about exciting executive committee, as a member of the chanical engineering department at the careers in engineering to middle- and Vision 2030 committee, and as chair Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State high-school students. In the Ambas- of ASME’s committee on honors. She University, where she was promoted to sadors’ “It’s All about M.E.” collegiate has been recognized as an outstanding professor in 2003 and was recognized program, juniors and seniors lead events alumnus at both The University of Texas as the William S. Cross Professor of to help first- and second-year students and University of Illinois. Dr. Thole is Mechanical Engineering in 2005. She understand the opportunities mechani- a recipient of Penn State’s Rosemary also served as an AdvanceVT professor, cal engineering offers. Under Dr. Thole’s Schraer Mentoring Award and has been funded by the National Science Foun- leadership, the percentage of women recognized as a White House “Champion dation through the Advance grant as a entering mechanical engineering at of Change” for her recruitment efforts co-principal investigator. Penn State has grown from 8 percent in STEM. In 2006, Dr. Thole was appointed to to 15 percent. Dr. Thole grew up on a dairy farm in her current role as department head at Dr. Thole has published more than 190 southern Illinois. She and her husband, Penn State, where she administers two peer-reviewed journal and conference Michael Alley, who also teaches at Penn degree programs involving 50 faculty papers. To support her research and State, reside in State College, Pennsylva- members; 1,000 juniors and seniors; educational efforts, she has secured $18 nia. They are both avid hikers who enjoy and 280 graduate students. She has million in external funding. She has built the hills of central Pennsylvania. supervised more than 65 theses and dis- two experimental research laboratories sertations with nearly all of her graduate at Penn State: the Experimental and

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 131 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

RITA BOWSER WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY

For advancing the world’s nuclear safety culture, exceptional leadership in the aftermath of crisis, and dedication to developing the potential of aspiring engineers.

ita C. Bowser is vice president of inghouse European and South African advisor to the Mescalero Apache Tribe as new plant project advancement for Leadership Council. the Rancho Seco Generating Station in RWestinghouse Electric Company, Prior to her assignment in South Africa, California was being decommissioned, leading new projects to expand the appli- Bowser held the role of vice president, helping open a visitor center for outreach cation of Westinghouse’s AP1000® plant strategy, for the Westinghouse European on the project and staffing it with promis- technology to broader markets. She also Fuel Business and was the head of the ad- ing students. In Ukraine, she established leads a core team within Westinghouse vanced gas-cooled reactor and VVER fuel a successful, informal network of former to continually improve global nuclear business in the United Kingdom. Prior to Soviet women engineers to help them safety culture. that, she was president and CEO of West- find careers beyond Chernobyl. In the Previously, Bowser supported the inghouse/British Nuclear Fuels Limited U.S., Bowser currently provides STEM Americas Region and responded to subsidiary, BNFL Fuel Solutions, a dry training for high school students through nuclear utility needs in a post-Fukushima cask storage business for used nuclear Westinghouse’s outreach program, N-Vi- environment, bringing 30 years of ex- fuel and nuclear plant decommissioning. sion, and has performed similar outreach perience that included her work during Before joining Westinghouse, Bowser and training on four continents. the Three Mile Island recovery and the worked on commercial nuclear and spent Bowser received an M.S.M.E. in health aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. fuel and decommissioning programs physics from the Georgia Institute of Bowser served for more than a decade across the globe. She also worked for Technology and a B.S. in mathematics in international Westinghouse postings, more than a decade at the Rancho Seco from Clarion University. She currently including regional vice president, South Nuclear Generating Station in radiation serves on the board of the Pittsburgh Africa, where she integrated the com- protection and radiochemistry. section of the American Nuclear Society pany’s global nuclear network through a Throughout her career, Bowser has and the executive board of the Moraine local delivery model. been a powerful promoter of science, Trails Boy Scout Council. She is a regis- She has been on the boards of Westing- technology, engineering, and mathemat- tered radiation protection technologist, house Electric South Africa (WE-SA) and ics (STEM) training and a role model and a certified industrial safety instructor, a the American Chamber of Commerce. mentor for other women engineers and patron of the American Nuclear Society, She is a founding member of the Nuclear aspiring engineers. Her volunteer activi- a member of Women in Nuclear, and a Institute of South Africa and served on its ties cross cultural and language barriers, past secretary of the Northern California board. In addition, she was a founder and developing future leaders and educating Health Physics Society. executive sponsor of Women in Nuclear communities all over the world. Among WE-SA. She also served on the West- many such efforts, Bowser served as an

132 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

ANNE COTÉ KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION

For lighting the path to global leadership roles for women across cultures and continents, and for deep, generational impact on present and future leaders.

nne Coté is director, global device spent in quality leadership roles. She has mained active in her church, in local and business quality for Kimberly- led the quality operations for five major national advocacy and service groups, AClark Corporation’s medical Kimberly-Clark businesses consisting and many charities. Within Kimberly- device business. She is responsible for of some 50 manufacturing sites in more Clark, she has been an active member all quality-related activities, including than 15 countries, three major acqui- of employee diversity network groups, ensuring that all manufacturing loca- sitions, two facility closures, and two including the Women’s Interactive Net- tions are fully resourced, trained, and corporate spin-offs. work and its LGBT support network, can consistently meet customer and regu- Coté’s extraordinary networking skills which helped shape the current policy of latory expectations for product safety, and ease with cultural immersion have nondiscrimination seen across all com- quality, and performance. Overall, Coté made her a successful leader. Her team pany locations. Kimberly-Clark is now and her team manage the quality of ap- includes members from Asia, Europe, recognized as one of the best companies proximately $1.5 billion in products and Mexico, and the U.S., and exceeded 700 to work for in terms of workplace equality services. employees at its peak. A champion for and has received a perfect score from the Coté has held numerous global techni- developing women leaders across the Human Rights Campaign. cal and managerial leadership positions globe, she has managed, coached, men- Coté’s legacy of developing strong, throughout her 30-year career with three tored, and developed countless women capable women destined for global lead- Fortune 100 multinational corporations: throughout her career. Many are now ership roles is stellar, but she is known for GE, The Dial Corp., and Kimberly-Clark. in senior management or director-level saying that her proudest achievement is She obtained her B.S. in physics from roles. Within the past three years in her daughter, Sarah, whom she raised as Providence College and began her career particular, three of Coté’s prior direct a single parent. Today, Sarah is a graduate as an electronic test equipment design reports have been promoted to executive- of the Georgia Institute of Technology engineer for GE during the Trident II level director positions, and two of the and is now a research and development program. Since then, her technical ex- three are women. Just last year, four of project leader for Kimberly-Clark’s Inter- periences have crossed a wide variety of her direct reports received promotions national Division. disciplines, including electronic weapons to senior management roles with three Coté earned her B.S. in physics from systems, polymers, consumer products, of the four employees located outside Providence College. She currently resides cosmetics, textiles, over-the-counter and the U.S. She is also a cherished “reverse in Georgia. prescription drugs, and medical devices. mentor” for women in positions higher Although Coté has worked in other than her own. functions, most of her career has been Throughout her career, Coté has re-

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 133 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

SUZANNE R. DAVIDSON THE BOEING COMPANY

For groundbreaking contributions to Ethernet and LAN technology; fostering authenticity and openness among diverse, global teams; and encouraging colleagues to fulfill their potential.

uzanne Davidson is technical lead Space Agency, Japanese Aerospace Ex- empowers others to dream big, continu- for the Joint Station Local Area ploration Agency, and European Space ously stretch, and achieve extraordinary SNetwork (LAN) team for the Inter- Agency independent Ethernet networks; things. She often opens her home for national Space Station (ISS) and works delivery of initial Ethernet capability to team activities, and team members from for Boeing Defense, Space and Security the space station; and development of all over the world maintain contact long in Houston. An expert on Ethernet ar- a disruption/delay-tolerant networking after projects are finished. chitectures and protocols, she manages (DTN) protocol project that will store Recognized for sustained outstanding the International Space Station’s Joint and forward science and mission sup- performance, Davidson has received Station LAN team. Her expertise in port data between on-orbit and ground numerous awards, including the presti- systems engineering, computer network despite loss-of-signal events across the gious Team Rotary National Award for design, and systems integration has satellite Ku-band system. The DTN Space Achievement, two Johnson Space made significant contributions to the ISS system will be deployed to the ISS in Center Group Achievement awards, and mission during the past 11 years, includ- early 2015. both NASA’s GEM and ISS Space Flight ing the station’s Internet connectivity. Prior to joining The Boeing Company, Awareness (SFA) awards. She is a mem- Davidson was on hand when the net- Davidson worked at several companies, ber of the Society of Women Engineers, works she helped create carried the first including Compaq as an Ethernet expert; IEEE, and the InterPlanetary Network- tweets and emails from the ISS to Earth. IBM, where she developed device drivers ing Special Interest Group. Davidson provides leadership for all for the U.S. Postal Service point-of-sale Davidson earned her B.S. in computer U.S. international partner integration system; Aesbus Knowledge Solutions, system design from the University of testing and requirements development where she conducted field tests for HP Houston. She is a certified professional for the Joint Station LAN; serves as servers, workstations, and handheld coach; an energy leadership index mas- project engineer on NASA space station devices; and Lockheed Martin, as a sys- ter practitioner; and certified in bird, change notices; and is project engineer tems computer engineer designing the large mammal, and habitat management for Boeing Independent Research and computer and network architecture for through the Professional Forestry and Development for new technologies, pro- a prison command and control security Wildlife Conservancy. Davidson par- tocols, and science for expanding the system in Bridgend, Wales. ticipates in numerous charities, through ISS capabilities. Boeing’s investments in Davidson continuously works to Boeing and individually, including an- Davidson’s research projects have paid a improve not only her technical skills, nual beach cleanup for Texas Parks and return more than 10 times since 2011. but her leadership and communications Wildlife. She is also active in many food Davidson’s achievements include in- skills, as well. Through her experience drives, natural disaster relief, and other tegration of the NASA, Russian Federal and determination, she consistently volunteer activities.

134 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE PRISM AWARD

CINDY HOOVER SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS INC.

For blazing a trail of technical and personal success for women engineers to follow, and for reaching out to women professionals across industries.

indy Hoover is vice president Hoover came to Spirit in 2007 from Area Section; lieutenant governor and for the 737 MAX Program at LSI Corporation, where she worked governor of Region i; and chair of the So- CSpirit AeroSystems. She is re- for 10 years and held several critical ciety finance committee. She currently sponsible for development and execution leadership positions. She began in the serves at the Society level as treasurer. of the program and manages integration host software organization as a product Hoover established Spirit AeroSys- of the 737 MAX into existing operations. manager. After a year, she was promoted tems as a SWE corporate member and As a Spirit executive, Hoover communi- to manager of the engineering program is the creator and executive sponsor for cates and drives company strategy. management group. Hoover then agreed SWEPT, an organization at Spirit target- She has more than 24 years of ex- to establish a Six Sigma program at the ing women in engineering and technical perience in engineering, project and company. She did a two-year rotation professions who meet for technical tours operations management, and Six Sigma as a Six Sigma Black Belt, driving proj- of the various facilities on campus, pro- in the oil and gas, high-tech electronics, ects in operations, customer service, fessional development workshops, and and aerospace industries. Hoover re- engineering, marketing, and sales; networking. ceived her bachelor’s degree in electrical cultivating relationships; and building Also active in the Wichita community, engineering from Wichita State Univer- a reputation for technical, managerial, Hoover serves on the board of advisors sity. She earned an executive MBA from and financial excellence. for Wichita State University’s College of Friends University, and her Six Sigma Her next step up at LSI was to manager, Engineering and the board of trustees Black Belt certification from Six Sigma then director of customer fulfillment. for Wichita Area Technical College. She Academy. Using her engineering and Six Sigma has also served on the boards of the Girl Prior to her current position, Hoover skills, Hoover bridged the gap between Scouts of Kansas Heartland, the Wichita was program director for Spirit’s 767 operations and engineering on technical Area Outlook Team, and the Wichita tanker program where she implemented issues and between sales and operations, Chamber of Commerce. Hoover and program management best practices as well. Dubbed the “quarterback” of the her husband, Bryan, have three sons, to successfully develop and execute operations team, she was diligent in her Jeremy, Marcus, and Cameron. In her program milestones. She also created efforts to bring the needs of the customer ever-elusive spare time, she enjoys a standardized process for new product and the goals of the company together. watching her sons play soccer, the WSU introduction and led the change control Active in the Society of Women Engi- Shockers basketball team, and reading board for the program. Hoover also neers since she was an undergraduate, a good book. served as director of fuselage engineer- Hoover has filled many leadership posi- ing programs and lean operations at tions, including membership chair, vice Spirit. president, and president of the Wichita

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 135 SWE PRISM AWARD

EMILY L. HOWARD, PH.D. THE BOEING COMPANY

For modeling a groundbreaking career that applies a deep understanding of human behavior and cognition to technical advances in defense, aerospace, and security.

mily L. Howard, Ph.D., a senior degree in psychology. She earned her herself as an expert in technologies that technical fellow at The Boeing master’s and Ph.D. in cognitive psychol- enhance decision-making. Her current ECompany, is currently serving as ogy from the University of California, focus is on advanced user interface the user experience architect for the Los Angeles. She holds two U.S. pat- frameworks for large-scale software digital aviation initiative, responsible ents, with one other patent application applications, beginning with her role as for the end-user experience of nearly 700 currently pending. Participating in a the user interface architect on Future Boeing Commercial Aviation Services mock infantry battle as part of a 1999 Combat Systems. products. Over the course of her career federal research project reinforced to Dr. Dr. Howard is the executive sponsor with Boeing, Dr. Howard has applied her Howard the crucial relationship between of the Human Factors and Ergonomics expertise in cognitive psychology, sys- human and machine when life-or-death Community of Excellence and of Boeing tems engineering, software architecture, decisions are at stake. Women in Leadership – Huntington human-in-the-loop test and evaluation, Strategic about her career, Dr. Beach chapter. She is a member of the intelligent systems, and graphical user Howard has risen steadily at The Boeing Society of Women Engineers and the interface to develop many advanced Company. Her positions have included Amelia Earhart Society. Her human products and technologies. director of technology and process for factors training makes her a strong Concurrently she is chair of the Boeing the B-1B network-centric operations; advocate for gender diversity in engi- Technical Fellowship, whose members director of capability readiness in neering, which she contends confers an share their expertise across Boeing via advanced systems engineering and tech- advantage in solving complex technical mentoring, consulting, and training. Dr. nology; and chief engineer, advanced problems and boosts creativity. The only Howard is the first woman to lead this command, control, and communication female senior technical fellow at Boeing group in its 25-year history. In 1996, networks, in Phantom Works. for more than eight years, Dr. Howard she became an associate technical fellow She joined Rockwell International leveraged this position to encourage and was capture team leader, program (which later became part of Boeing) in other women to develop technical skills. manager, and principal investigator 1988 as a human factors specialist. She The mother of two grown daughters, for Boeing’s portion of the Defense developed display formats for the X-31 Dr. Howard is also a competitive sailor. Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Fighter Demonstrator and AC 130U Through her church, she volunteers in Command Post of the Future program. Gunship and measured and analyzed youth programs and helps build and As a technical fellow, she was the human human performance effectiveness with repair homes with various service orga- systems integration lead on a combat emerging cockpit technologies. Her nizations, such as Habitat for Humanity center for a U.S. Navy destroyer and early research focused on head-worn and Sierra Service Project. She speaks a handheld, GPS-enabled search and displays and virtual reality applications. often on science, technology, engineer- rescue radio for the U.S. Air Force and Subsequently assigned to the Agile War- ing, and mathematics (STEM) topics; special operations forces. rior program, Dr. Howard applied her diversity; and women in engineering, Dr. Howard graduated from Franklin expertise to associate technology, a form and is passionate about being a role and Marshall College with a bachelor’s of artificial intelligence, and established model and mentor to others.

136 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE PRISM AWARD

CAROL J. WEBER CATERPILLAR INC.

For engineering accomplishments in a wide range of cutting-edge technologies; for serving as a role model; and for mentoring, coaching, and guiding many young engineers and professionals.

arol Weber is senior engineer- measures particulate matter in engine in every SWE career fair since 1996. ing project team leader in the exhaust. Weber received her section’s 2013 Dis- CProduct Development and An intellectual property license tinguished Member Award. Global Technology Division of Cater- agreement with Sierra Instruments Since 2004, Weber has been a member pillar Inc. She manages technology included Weber’s software and led to of the University of Wisconsin–Plat- readiness for research programs in ma- the development of the BG-1, BG-2, and teville women in engineering, math, and chine automation, operator assistance, BG-3 product line. In 2011, the U.S. science advisory board. From this posi- connected enterprise site solutions, Environmental Protection Agency ap- tion, she encourages women engineering advanced prognostics and analytics, and proved the BG-3 system for light- and students and offers career guidance. Her electronics and control systems. Over heavy-duty transient engine emission participation has been a significant fac- the course of her career with Caterpillar, testing. Sierra has sold hundreds of BG tor in a 53 percent increase (since 2010) Weber has applied her expertise to a systems to engine test labs around the in the number of women in the univer- wide range of company initiatives in ma- world. Weber also played a key role in sity’s engineering school. In 2010, she chine design, manufacturing research, mobile and portable test equipment in- received the University of Wisconsin’s gas engine development, and strategy novations, and led development of the Outstanding Alumni Award. At Caterpil- development. She is a certified Six Sigma APSDev — the first portable field test lar, Weber mentors midcareer engineers Black Belt and Green Belt. She completed system to integrate electronic control new to the company who need support the Bradley University Management for module data with analog sensor data for to acclimate and to develop professional the 21st Century program in May 2008. testing of Caterpillar products. networks. Weber graduated from the University A SWE member since college, Weber Weber is married to Brian and has of Wisconsin–Platteville with a B.S. became a professional member when two children, Alyson and Matthew. Her in electrical engineering and joined the Central Illinois Section (SWE-CI) favorite leisure activities are spending Caterpillar shortly after as a college was formed in 1993. She has served time with her family and friends — es- graduate trainee. As a test engineer in the section as vice president, treasurer, pecially on their annual ski vacation the Measurement Systems Development secretary, section representative, — walking her two golden retrievers, Division, she played a key role in design- and fundraising chair. From 2008 to playing cards, and fitness kickboxing. ing test systems that impacted quality 2013, she was a volunteer mentor for and reliability of Caterpillar products SWE-CI’s Adopt-a-School program and worldwide. Weber developed software now advises the program’s leadership algorithms for Caterpillar’s patented team. Thanks in large part to Weber’s partial flow dilution technology, which advocacy, Caterpillar has participated

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 137 EMERGING LEADER

ANGELA AHMAD EXELON CORPORATION (BGE)

For technical skill and leadership; for a flexible, fearless approach to challenges while achieving stellar safety records; and for being a role model to youth from underserved communities.

ngela Ahmad is a utility inte- vative approach to employee-engaged distribution supervisor, relying on her gration manager for Exelon teams pushed the company to record own technical expertise, procedures, AUtilities, and has spent most of performance in safety; outperforming and work practices to ensure reliable her 23-year career supporting safe and industry peers and exceeding top decile construction standards were understood reliable delivery operations for Exelon performance. and followed to safeguard and maintain subsidiary PECO, serving more than 1.5 Ahmad’s responsibilities also include electrical grid infrastructure. million electric and more than 600,000 emergency response management for A recipient of the 2011 Philadelphia gas customers in the Philadelphia the Philadelphia region. In this role she Tribune Women Achieving Award, service area. manages more than 200 mechanics and Ahmad is a member of the American Currently, Ahmad oversees the in- support personnel serving 600,000 cus- Association of Blacks in Energy and tegration of key strategic projects and tomers, ensuring safe and prompt aerial the American Society of Safety Engi- programs at Exelon’s newest utility, and underground service restorations neers, board secretary for Girl Scouts of Baltimore Gas and Electric. She is re- from storms like Hurricane Sandy, and Eastern Pennsylvania, and active in the sponsible for migrating 3,300 employees the ice storm of 2014, the second larg- Urban League Leadership Program and toward the use of human performance est customer outage count in PECO’s Civic Advocacy Committee. tools, which includes retirement of two history. In her community, Ahmad has been legacy systems, changes to processes and Prior to managing safety, Ahmad chosen as judge of elections for her dis- procedures, and emphasis on critical served as new business manager, lead- trict, is involved in two school executive thinking to hone systematic problem- ing design and engineering teams for boards, volunteers as a Girl Scout troop solving and investigative techniques to several multimillion-dollar projects, leader, and organized PECO’s Earth prevent adverse events. Keen project where innovative engineering solutions Day event, co-creating the patch girls management skills, system use knowl- were needed to overcome river-related now earn. She mentors inner-city girls, edge, frontline operations experience, construction complexities and problems exposing them to technical fields and the and respect for company culture have associated with downtown Philadelphia’s positive impact utility operations can enabled Ahmad to complete project aging underground infrastructure. Each have on the environment. milestones on or ahead of schedule. project was successfully completed on Ahmad is a certified utility safety pro- As PECO safety manager, she over- time with no safety-related incidents, fessional. She holds a B.S. in electrical saw all field service operations, with a and Ahmad’s proactive approach engineering from Temple University and work force of nearly 2,000 operations resulted in an overall regional safety an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. employees in five counties. She led the record. She and her husband reside in Phila- safety culture and industrial hygiene Among the wide spectrum of posi- delphia with their four daughters and programs, picking up a certification as tions Ahmad has held, she was the first one son. a safety utility professional. Her inno- woman in the company to serve as aerial

138 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 EMERGING LEADER

JENNIFER A. BROOKS CATERPILLAR INC.

For creative technical leadership that improves design, streamlines production, and reduces costs; and for enthusiastic outreach to young people and the community.

ennifer A. Brooks is an under- cost-reduction projects in three years, Specialist to Strategist” in 2012. carriage systems engineer for she received her Six Sigma Black Belt She earned her B.S. in mechanical Jtrack-type machines with Caterpil- certification. engineering from the University of lar. She is a principal contributor on a In 2010, Brooks was selected to lead Wisconsin-Platteville and an M.S. from design team for development of under- a multidisciplined, worldwide resourc- Bradley University. carriage systems for multiple worldwide ing team for undercarriage idlers. Early Brooks’ community involvement also products. Brooks is responsible for in the project, she developed a com- displays her interests in engineering performing needs analysis and initiat- munication plan for key stakeholders and music. During college, she helped ing ideas, evaluating new products, and and receiving facilities to ensure that charter the Theta Iota chapter of Sigma performing product maintenance. She quick changes and key decisions in the Alpha Iota, a professional music frater- keeps up-to-date on and also develops project were communicated effectively. nity for women. She sings in her church new technologies; communicates that Her technical product knowledge, orga- choir, coaches soccer and softball for technology to customers, team members, nization skills, and leadership avoided her children, and has taught music and suppliers; and supports and advises material shortages and maintained during vacation Bible school. She has engineers, managers, marketing person- quality product to customers. After nar- volunteered with an Engineering Ex- nel, customers, and suppliers. rowing a list of cost-effective fabricators plorer post for four years, a program Brooks joined Caterpillar’s Specialized from around the world, she visited each that exposes high school students to Technology group in 2000, perform- one personally, and continued to visit the multiple engineering disciplines through ing finite element analysis for several chosen supplier to ensure smooth design speakers and hands-on projects. Brooks product groups. She worked closely with transitions. She managed the supplier has been a speaker to area high school the machine design team in Japan to exit, minimized scrap, and resourced 44 students through an engineering ex- gain support to improve roller and idler part numbers in just two years. ploration program sponsored by her designs for heavy-duty field applications, An active member of SWE since 1998, division at Caterpillar for the past three entailing background research into the Brooks enjoys facilitating the advance- years. She also engaged her daughter’s field problem, consultation with service ment and achievement of women in second-grade classroom last year by fa- engineers, development, analysis, and their careers. As a member of the Cen- cilitating monthly engineering activities. approval of designs. The resulting design tral Illinois Section, she served on the Brooks is happily married to her hus- improvements reduced failure rates to professional development and work life band, Chad, and they have two children: less than 1 percent. integration committees, was secretary a daughter, Lana, and a son, Ethan. In She worked her way up from associate for two years, followed by president elect, her leisure time, Brooks enjoys activi- engineer to systems engineer, taking and is currently serving as president. ties with her children, reading, quilting, on greater responsibility and leader- She continues to expand her technical golfing, and playing the flute. ship opportunities with each position. and leadership capabilities and attended After leading more than 10 additional the SWE/Smith College program “From

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 139 EMERGING LEADER

KRISTI CHRISTENSEN DEERE & COMPANY

For passionate commitment to both the company’s mission and her co-workers, for inspiring cross- functional teamwork, and for achieving outstanding process improvements on the factory floor.

risti Christensen is the global functional leadership experience, with since her college graduation. In 2009, manager of program management roles in manufacturing engineering, Christensen was asked to take on the Kfor the application product line operations management, supply man- lead engineering recruiting position of John Deere. She and her organiza- agement, and quality engineering. These for John Deere at her alma mater, Iowa tion are responsible for delivering new roles have allowed her to live out her State University. Since that time, she models of agricultural sprayers glob- passion for process improvement and has streamlined the career fair selec- ally, with manufacturing locations on talent development. With each position, tion process and significantly increased four continents. These sprayers feature she has both developed leaders and im- the diversity and balance of interview engines that emit 80 percent fewer ni- proved processes. She transformed the candidates. trous oxides (NOx) than prior models, manufacturing landscape of John Deere In addition to her contributions of meeting the more stringent Final Tier Des Moines Works through the instal- developing people, products, and pro- 4 emissions standards and contributing lation of a powder coat paint system cesses, Christensen remains active in to a cleaner environment. Christensen and the combination of two assembly SWE at Iowa State University, serving manages a research and development lines. The new system changed the as section corporate advisor. She is ac- budget and leads cross-functional teams hang methods for 10,000 unique parts tive on the John Deere SWE committee, of more than 200 people to understand and added a powder coat topcoat to an including leading the awards effort. Ad- customer requirements and develop e-coat system, achieving 22.5 percent ditionally, she supports her church and premier customer solutions. return on investment, and was delivered has served as a religious instructor for In this role, Christensen has devel- in nine months through Christensen’s the past eight years. oped a leadership organization and planning, direction, and daily support. Christensen grew up on a family farm process focused on daily execution In addition to Christensen and her team in northwest Iowa. She earned her B.S. in and accountability. She set an example meeting these goals, three of her team mechanical engineering from Iowa State through her own participation, ensured leads earned promotional opportunities University and her MBA from Drake each individual made a difference daily, based on her recommendations. University, both with highest honors. and created an atmosphere of clarity and She continues to influence the paths Christensen; her husband, Matt; and alignment among team members. She of future leaders, developing employees their three daughters enjoy the outdoors also headed the product development through inspiring and engaging lead- through boating, scuba diving, and council, which is responsible for deliver- ership. Recognizing the importance of four-wheeling. ing product line profitability. attracting and retaining talent, she has Christensen has 15 years of cross- recruited on campus for John Deere

140 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 EMERGING LEADER

DIANNA GENTON HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES

For applying exceptional technical and analytical skills to complex problems and for outstanding contributions to both ship and space launch vehicle design.

ianna Genton has worked in too heavy for the DDG 1000 hull form. for two research and development manu- the shipbuilding industry for Genton brought her experience with facturing technology projects involving Dthe past 11 years, combining large composite structures to the task, process improvements for sonar dome her enthusiasm for engineering with and the team devised a design that used fabrication and integrating 3-D metrol- a love of the ocean. She joined the internal decks and bulkheads to support ogy to streamline current processes research and development group of the radar, reducing both overall weight across the shipyard. Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation (then impact on the platform as well as labor She and her teams have received the Northrop Grumman) in 2003, working costs. This new technology, later coined President’s Award for Excellence, the on the next-generation destroyer, DDG “aperstructures,” gave the company a Chairman’s Award for Excellence (the 1000 —DD(X) at the time. Tasked with unique advantage in a $23 billion mar- company’s highest honor), and NASA’s designing and building two large-scale ket. Subsequently, Genton was named Engineering and Safety Center Group radar cross-section fixtures for testing design lead for two contracts that further Achievement Award. large composite panel and antenna developed the technology. Genton is an active member of the configurations, she soon found herself In 2009, Genton led the manufac- Shipbuilder Women Engineers, Women working on the integrated deckhouse turing team for the composite portions in Shipbuilding Enterprise, the Ingalls test article design, a one-of-a-kind, of NASA’s Max Launch Abort System Management Association, and Hun- carbon-fiber demonstrator for testing (MLAS) composite demonstrator, in tington Ingalls’ diversity and inclusion the destroyer’s critical stealth attributes. collaboration with the NASA Engi- advisory committee. She has led nu- Genton assisted in coordinating sup- neering and Safety Center, Northrop merous events encouraging local youth plies, vendors, and design information, Grumman Aerospace Systems, and and co-workers to pursue secondary quickly becoming a subject matter ex- Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. The education and science, technology, en- pert in composites. The program was MLAS was designed to provide a quick gineering, and mathematics (STEM) a huge success and key contributor to escape from the Ares I launch vehicle careers. She has volunteered for Habi- Northrop Grumman’s winning the deck- in case of a launch emergency. Genton tat for Humanity and coastal cleanup house contract. and her team devised new processes projects, and is active in numerous com- Next, Genton participated in a that offered a lower-cost solution to the munity charities. Northrop Grumman Electronic Sys- fabrication and assembly, while meeting A native of Fort Myers, Florida, tems (NGES) study, investigating the precise specifications and strength Genton holds a B.S. in ocean engineering technical requirements for integrating requirements demanded by space launch from the Florida Institute of Technol- NGES S-Band advanced radar onto a vehicles. The MLAS was successfully ogy and an M.S. in logistics, trade, and DDG1000 composite deckhouse with tested at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility transportation and an MBA from the CG(X) cruiser mission capability. Tra- in 2009. University of Southern Mississippi. ditional design methods made the radar Genton is currently program manager

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 141 EMERGING LEADER

ZOHRA HEMANI NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

For bridging engineering and business through technical skill and strategic thinking and for delivering industry-changing new technology in geospatial and big data processing and analysis.

ohra Hemani is a senior technical of Army geospatial information dis- creation of a multi-intelligence “applica- manager for Northrop Grumman’s semination from traditional stovepipe tion store” that is now the foundation of ZInformation Systems sector. She applications toward a service-oriented an entirely new line of business. leads a multidisciplinary team of more architecture. During this time, Hemani An engaged leader, Hemani con- than 40 engineers working on an identified an opportunity for increased sistently mentors colleagues in their enterprise flagship system serving thou- camaraderie within her division and career growth. She is an active member sands of users for the U.S. government. formed a committee to build morale of Northrop Grumman’s diversity and Hemani joined Northrop Grumman in and team spirit. She also led the growth inclusion advisory board and various 2002 as a software developer, quickly opportunities task force in her organiza- employee resources groups. In 2007, establishing herself as a natural leader. tion, which provided recommendations Hemani received the Women of Color She was promoted to project manager at to executive leadership regarding Rising Star award and has earned the age of 24. career-development opportunities for numerous awards for her technical At 14, Hemani came to the United employees. leadership and dedication to customer States from Pakistan to pursue educa- Hemani has also led multiple million- satisfaction. tional opportunities. She began working dollar projects for Northrop Grumman’s She is active in youth-development in high school to support her family and Independent Research and Develop- programs in her community, organizing continued to work throughout college ment (IRAD). She was the principal summer camps, sports tournaments, to finance her education. Her interest in investigator for advancing geospatial and tutoring mathematics. She is on courses that strengthened her analytical analysis and visualization tools and Web the senior design advisory board at the skills motivated her to pursue a career in services to solve customers’ technical George Washington University and ad- software engineering. challenges. She has developed patent vises students about careers in software Over the past 12 years, Hemani has pending technologies, published six engineering. successfully managed several mul- articles, and presented at various con- Hemani earned her B.S. in computer timillion-dollar projects at Northrop ferences. Hemani was asked to lead the science from the George Washington Grumman. One such project was for the productization of IRAD capabilities that University, and an MBA from the Uni- Army, where she interacted closely with solve “big-data” challenges facing the versity of Maryland. In her spare time customers, managed budget and staff- organization’s intelligence community she volunteers in her county, teaching ing needs, proactively mitigated risks, customers. Despite a tight schedule, she classes in anger and domestic abuse controlled project scope in the face of led a team of engineers, technologists, prevention and treatment. constantly changing requirements, and and managers to integrate several project kept her team of 25 people motivated. capabilities as a single product offering. This resulted in the successful migration Another such initiative resulted in the

142 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 EMERGING LEADER

LAURA M. MAJOR THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY INC.

For a contributive career in a breakthrough engineering discipline and for dedicated efforts to teach girls about science and engineering.

ecruited for her expertise in lead assignment was for the Smart Ac- coordination and enterprise manage- cognitive and human-factors tuation System, which she proposed and ment for situation awareness, improved Rengineering, Laura Major joined managed. prediction of behavior, and early detec- The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Major published six HCE-related pa- tion of intent. in 2005 as a cognitive engineer in a pers in her first three years at Draper, Major is a member of the Human Fac- software group. Advocating for human- while establishing HCE as an area of tors and Ergonomics Society, of which centered engineering (HCE) to senior technical expertise at the lab. Begin- she was president of the MIT chapter management, she eventually succeeded ning with a staff of just five, she landed in 2004, and the American Institute of in establishing a thriving new business enough contracts to hire 10 more people Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is area at the laboratory. She is currently in four years. Understanding that HCE also involved with the Science Club for the business area lead for advanced requires a collaborative approach, she Girls (SCFG), a Cambridge, Massachu- analytics and human systems within hired experts in psychology, cogni- setts-based nonprofit that introduces Draper’s special programs. tive modeling, computer science, and girls K-12 to science and engineering. As Major received her B.S. in industrial aerospace systems engineering. She a mentor, she led girls in science experi- systems engineering from the Georgia increased the revenue of the group, with ments and shared her own experiences Institute of Technology. She went on to six patents in process. working with astronauts. Major wrote earn an M.S. in aeronautics and astro- After four years, having recruited Letter to My Younger Self to help girls nautics, with a concentration in humans and trained her replacement in the HCE get past stereotypes about science, tech- and automation from the Massachusetts group, Major took a one-year assign- nology, engineering, and mathematics Institute of Technology. Her thesis was ment as strategy and marketing lead in careers. Her leadership on the SCFG an exploration of the impact of human- science and technology development. board has significantly benefited the machine interfaces on oceanic air traffic Again taking up the challenge of defin- organization. Major contributed to re- control. Major has co-authored several ing a new business area, Major initiated vamping the curriculum and arranged papers on this subject. discussions with sponsors at the Intel- for field trips to Draper so girls could Her first HCE-related leadership ligence Advanced Research Projects see engineers at work and talk to them position with Draper was task lead Activity and at the Defense Advanced about their careers. She also negotiated for NASA’s Precision Lunar Landing Research Projects Agency. She was then for Draper to contribute both funds and Technology Program. She made major recruited to become the business area resources to SCFG. contributions to the conceptual design of lead for advanced analytics and human Outside of work, Major is a devoted an autonomous flight manager, includ- systems. In this role she is responsible mother, and in her leisure time, she ing identifying the astronaut’s role and for developing programs that provide enjoys travel, hiking, and skiing. analyzing users’ responses to the new specialized software applications that system. Major’s first program manager increase automation for cross-platform

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 143 EMERGING LEADER

JESSICA MCELMAN NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, CARDEROCK DIVISION

For strong, dependable leadership in both electrical engineering research and work-force development and for steadfast commitment to recruiting exceptional women engineers.

essica McElman has been an em- TROCOR 2007 conference proceedings. Command Award for her contributions ployee of the Naval Surface Warfare Her products have included improved to the USS Virginia UEM signatures trial JCenter, Carderock Division for 12 physical-scale, math, and numerical team. She is the eighth person to be cer- years in the Underwater Electromagnetic modeling tools, threat-based platform tified as a Naval Sea Systems Command Signatures and Technology Division. She requirements, and countermeasure cathodic protection design specialist, has made significant contributions to the system specifications and designs for and the only person to have earned this safety of the U.S. Naval fleet through her several classes of U.S. Navy vessels. certification in Code 75. analysis and mitigation of corrosion- McElman received the 2003 Junior McElman has a B.S. in electrical en- related static electric signatures. She Technical Engineer of the Year Com- gineering from Marquette University, developed mathematical models and mand Award. In 2004, with only three an M.S. in electrical engineering from signal processing techniques to quantify years of experience at NSWCCD, she was North Carolina State University, and an the electric fields of submarines. The selected as the electric signatures team M.S. in engineering management from techniques she developed are still the lead. As team leader, McElman managed Drexel University. Navy’s primary tools for determining the division’s theory and modeling tasks, She has been a member of Alpha submarine susceptibility to underwater signature reduction system designs and Omega Epsilon, an engineering and mines. Currently a supervisory engineer, hardware specifications, configuration technical sciences sorority since 1994. McElman oversees underwater elec- and performance requirements of un- McElman has volunteered at the inter- tromagnetic (UEM) signatures and derwater electric field measurements national level of the sorority since 2002, technology research, development, arrays, and processing of output. She serving on the history, expansion, and testing, and evaluation of more than led a group of expert engineers and 25th anniversary committees. She was 30 Navy and Department of Defense scientists, government employees, and also elected international executive contractor engineers and scientists. contractors and managed their work board treasurer for 2002 to 2004 and Joining the Naval Surface Warfare in electric field theory, modeling, data president from 2004 to 2008. Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) analysis, proposals, statements of work, McElman currently serves as the in 2001, McElman quickly advanced to specification review, and technical director of finance on the Alpha Omega the electric signatures team lead and in guidance. She conducted and directed Epsilon National Foundation board of 2012 was promoted to branch head of analyses of electric fields from boundary directors. She is thankful for her fam- Code 75 Theory, Modeling, and Analysis element models, to physical scale models ily’s support, especially her husband’s (Code 751). She has successfully cali- and full-scale sea trials. support, which allowed her to focus brated the ICCP systems on U.S. Navy In 2007, when she had been a senior on her volunteer work, completing an submarines, and has published nearly engineer for just one year, McElman engineering management degree, and 40 technical reports documenting her was awarded the third quarter Code 70 traveling in the U.S. and abroad to serve work for NSWCCD, as well as papers Senior Engineer Award for her technical the Navy’s mission. in the OCEANS 2005 and the ELEC- expertise, as well as the 2007 Teaming

144 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 EMERGING LEADER

TARA L. ROSSMAN CATERPILLAR INC.

For technical excellence and leading by example; for demonstrating a strong work ethic, perseverance, and treating others with respect in both professional life and community service.

ara L. Rossman has been a technical Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas Leadership Conference in June 2014. information supervisor at Caterpil- took Rossman to Denver. Responsible for The conference focused on senior female Tlar in Peoria, Illinois, since 2011. improving product support and business leaders and on dealers in North and She leads a team of 15, who deliver tech- metrics, she learned to lead by influenc- South America. The agenda included nical information to Caterpillar dealers ing senior dealer decision makers. In Fortune’s seventh and 28th most pow- and customers. Under her leadership, 2006, Rossman relocated to England erful women in business, as well as this team has increased customer out- as a Six Sigma Black Belt. She achieved Caterpillar’s chair and CEO. puts by over 150 percent, cut past-due significant cost savings and led more Since 2010, Rossman has been a work in half, and cut response time to than 20 projects that involved several dedicated supporter of the Children’s customers in half. business areas, including marketing, Hospital of Illinois. She is on the ad- Rossman graduated from the Uni- warranty, finance, accounting, and IT. visory board and co-chairs a group of versity of Iowa in 2001 with a B.S. in Key projects included improving the young professionals who raise funds industrial engineering. She is also a Perkins parts pricing process, installing for the hospital. She mentors them on 2007 graduate of the Penny Ferguson an expense system that affected all U.K. community leadership, involvement, and Personal Leadership program in Lon- Caterpillar facilities, and standardizing philanthropy. She is also leading a group don. She joined the company in 2001 some of the Perkins and Caterpillar war- of volunteers to plan and execute the through a management program that ranty processes. second annual Fight to the Finish ex- prepared employees to become mar- Two years later, Rossman returned to treme race to raise funds for the hospital. keting representatives for Caterpillar’s Peoria and took on a sales consultant po- Finally, Rossman spearheaded a devel- independent dealers. After a three- sition, responsible for increasing market opment committee focused on engaging month training class, she spent almost share at each dealer. Through persuasive additional community partners. In less two years rotating through marketing thought leadership and disciplined man- than three years, under her leadership divisions, learning about Caterpillar agement of the implementation process, the committee has raised more than dealer service operations and best prac- Rossman increased company profits $50,000 for the hospital. tices. In her final rotation, she helped significantly in a little over two years. Rossman is married and has three to plan the North American Product Rossman’s top priority for advocacy children. She is a member of the SWE Support Conference for 400 attendees. at work is maximizing the collective and Central Illinois Section and has partici- A new position as service operations individual strengths of her team. She pated in STEM mentoring programs for territory manager for five dealership also co-led the planning and execution young girls. territories in Montana, Colorado, New of Caterpillar’s inaugural Women in

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 145 EMERGING LEADER

PATRICIA WALKER MEDTRONIC INC.

For expertise and creative problem solving in biomedical engineering and for business and community leadership informed by integrity, commitment, and generosity.

urrently a principal supplier two years there, she worked on 10 major awards chair, section representative, quality engineer in Medtronic’s programs and saw devices progress from and professional development co-chair. Ccardiovascular division, development to manufacturing. She Under her leadership, the professional Patricia Walker joined Medtronic, the gained expertise in many manufacturing development committee received two world’s largest medical device company, processes, including extrusion, plastic successive, Society-level program as a senior supplier quality engineer in injection molding, catheter tipping, awards. In 2013, Walker received the 2011. Quickly promoted because of her and thermal forming and fusing. She SWE-Minnesota Bravest Volunteer of expertise in biomedical contract manu- was also lead engineer on a device that the Year Award, which recognizes a facturing, Walker works closely with aided in cancer therapies, a program member who has tackled new tasks in suppliers, overseeing quality, medical she inherited from another engineer, for unfamiliar territory for the betterment standards, and regulatory compliance. which she provided a solution and test of her section. In 2013, she received the She is accountable for one of the divi- method. Walker soon began managing Minnesota Federation of Engineering, sion’s largest contract manufacturers, projects, and in 2004 was promoted to Science, and Technology Societies Young which produces more than 600 varieties engineering supervisor. Engineer of the Year Award. of specialized cardiovascular products. In 2006, Walker joined Accellent Inc. On the region and Society levels, Walker received her B.S. in engineer- and applied her education and work Walker has chaired the Region H awards ing science-biomedical engineering from experience to catheter design and medi- and procedures committees and led the Iowa State University in 2000. Two years cal device manufacturing. Her novel strategic awards assessment task force. later, she earned an M.S. in biomedical approach to design and manufacturing In 2009, she was honored as a SWE Dis- engineering from the University of Iowa, reduced development cycle time and tinguished New Engineer. Also active where she aided in setting up a cardio- enabled prompt delivery of high-quality, in her community, Walker helps raise vascular abdominal aortic aneurysm innovative products. Walker was acting funds for the American Diabetes As- research team. program manager and then engineering sociation, the American Cancer Society, Following graduate school, Walker’s manager for the new product develop- and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She first job was with Catheter and Dis- ment group. volunteers for a number of ministries posables Technology Inc. in Plymouth, Involved in SWE on all levels, Walker at her church. In her free time, she en- Minnesota. As a product development was program chair for the Chattanooga joys spending time with her family and engineer, she helped design medical Area Section in 2009 and section repre- friends, the arts, and travel. devices used in the cardiovascular, sentative for the Heart of Iowa Section respiratory, urinary, nervous, reproduc- from 2010 to 2011. In the Minnesota tive, and skeletal systems. In her first Section, she has served as vice president,

146 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 EMERGING LEADER

ERIKA WILLIAMS JOHN DEERE

For demonstrated technical and managerial successes in process management, and for maintaining a thoughtful, balanced perspective in her profession and as a dedicated community volunteer.

rika Williams is the business im- and processes that had been previously tion. The improved metrics also helped provement manager for the John transferred to John Deere facilities in the facility recertify to ISO 9001:2008 EDeere Des Moines Works factory Mexico. Williams’ team worked through that same year. in Ankeny, Iowa. She is responsible process trials and capability studies to Williams holds a B.S. in agricultural for the overall factory strategies for ensure that parts met customer require- and biosystems engineering from North continuous improvement, 5S, and total ments. This involved changes to heat Dakota State University and an executive productive manufacturing for the fac- treat, hot forming and paint processes, MBA from the Kellogg School of Man- tory’s four business units and for 1,000 and measurement systems. agement at Northwestern University. production and maintenance employees. As Six Sigma Master Black Belt for She has been a member of the Society Williams began as a cooperative edu- the factory from 2008 to 2011, Williams of Women Engineers since 2013 and cation student with John Deere at the was part of a three-person team that currently serves on the nominating com- Des Moines Works in 2001, completing developed a Design for Six Sigma cur- mittee and bylaws review committee for rotations in product marketing, design, riculum that was used for one of the the Heart of Iowa Section. and test and reliability. During this time, major company divisions and later ad- She is a member of the American she gathered data from customers in the opted across the company. Promoted in Society of Agricultural and Biological company’s dealer network to determine 2011 to quality and production systems Engineers and of the American Society how to revise factory assembly of tillage manager, Williams led the Des Moines for Quality. At John Deere, she is part products. Williams’ project resulted in Works in standardization of processes, of the Women in Operations Employee increasing parts being installed at the measures, and metrics. She collaborated Resource Group and the Des Moines factory, streamlining shipping and cut- with a team of 100 experts at the factory Area WomenREACH. She is a member ting setup time for the dealers. to train more than 1,000 employees to of the professional agricultural sorority In 2003, Williams joined John Deere improve key processes, including five Sigma Alpha, which helps young women full time as a test/performance engineer, major process lanes, 40 subprocesses, in agricultural careers. responsible for planning and execution and 180 individual criteria. In recogni- Williams devotes much of her energy of product test activities and reliability tion of the facility’s improved metrics, and spare time to her church. She lives improvement plans. In her next role and as a result of Williams’ success in in Ankeny, Iowa, with her husband and as a design engineer, she led a cross- engaging the whole organization in the two sons, ages 1 month and 4. functional, cross-unit team to identify effort, the Des Moines facility earned a and execute improvements for parts bronze-level of performance certifica-

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 147 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

CARRIE BALLESTER LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

For outstanding technical ability and leadership contributing to the success of critical defense programs, and for enthusiasm and dedication in support of SWE.

arrie Ballester is an F-35 sus- through workshops, mentoring, and a in five annual conferences, and served tainment program manager variety of special assignments through- two years each as vice president, presi- Cat Lockheed Martin for the out the company. Her experiences dent, and section representative in New Mission Systems and Training Division included a rotation as the engineering Jersey. In 2009, she received the SWE in Fort Worth, Texas. Her background lead on the President Obama-mandated New Faces of Engineering Award. After includes mechanical, structural, and Aegis Ashore program and a manu- moving to Texas in 2013, she joined and thermal design and analysis, control facturing project manager position. became outreach chair for the SWE Fort account management, and program In both roles she led diverse teams in Worth Section. management. She has extensive expe- meeting deadlines in a high-pressure Ballester has worked diligently for rience guiding diverse teams through environment, earning accolades with Lockheed-Martin SWE, managing the cost-constrained and technically chal- her government customer. In June 2013, company’s Women in Engineering Day lenging programs. Ballester has been Ballester assumed her current position for eight years, co-coordinating the an- active in SWE for 14 years and currently with the Joint Strike Fighter program, nual DiscoverE: Engineers Week, and serves as outreach chair for the Fort where she manages several hundred mil- mentoring many junior employees. She Worth Section. lion in sustainment contracts. also organized several “Survived and Ballester earned a B.S. in mechani- Ballester’s SWE career is most Thrived” presentations, which showcase cal engineering from The College of noteworthy for her ability to inspire successful Lockheed women executives, New Jersey and an M.S. in mechanical others — SWE members, community sharing their accomplishments and ap- engineering with a specialization in members, and co-workers alike — and proach to work/life balance. During biomechanics from the University of enlist their help in a common cause. Women in Engineering Day alone, she Pennsylvania. She completed an M.S. in In 2000 she joined SWE as a first-year reached nearly 1,000 high school girls. program management from the Stevens college student serving as secretary, vice She is an active alumni participating Institute of Technology, is a certified Six president, and president. After gradu- in mentoring programs and has also Sigma Black Belt, and recently became ate school, she became very active in been a FIRST® Robotics volunteer. She a certified program management profes- the SWE New Jersey Section, joining supports many charities, including the sional (PMP). forces with a small group of members American Cancer Society, the Diabetes She started at Lockheed Martin as a determined to revive the section. To- Association, and Susan G. Komen®. Dur- responsible design engineer on several gether they planned outreach, social, ing her time in New Jersey, she donated U.S. and international programs. Se- and professional development events, all funds raised by the annual Lockheed lected for Lockheed’s highly competitive large-scale Girl Scout events, career Martin volleyball tournament, which she Advanced Technical Leadership rota- fairs, and a regional SWE conference at initiated, to the Prostate Cancer Founda- tional program, Ballester accelerated her NJIT. Ballester has been a judge for SWE tion in memory of her father. professional and technical development scholarship applications, participated

148 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

CYBIL BOSS, P.E. URS CORPORATION

For expertise in environmental engineering, and for consistently delivering results above expectations, both professionally and at all levels of the Society.

ybil Boss, P.E., is an environ- — for review by the senior project iCON13, which was used again in 2014. mental engineer with the URS engineer. She has worked on the section’s past CCorporation in Omaha, Ne- In 2006, Boss was selected for the three “Wow! That’s Engineering!®” braska. She has been with the company proposal team for one of the largest events, all of which sold out. She cur- since 2004 and has experience in all fixed-priced projects the Omaha office rently serves as the membership chair aspects of environmental engineering of URS had ever pursued. She was part for the Eastern Nebraska Section, where work — from strategy development and of the technical team that devised the membership has almost doubled during proposal preparation to project plan- strategy for nine of the sites in the pro- her term. Her commitment to personal ning and execution, as well as remedial posal and developed the cost estimate. communications with members and her design, fieldwork management, data URS was awarded the contract, in part efforts to recruit new members have analysis and report writing, and regula- based on Boss’ technical and business resulted in an average 89 percent reten- tory negotiation. She is also responsible contributions. Since 2006, Boss has tion and 30 percent growth over the for supervising and mentoring junior managed a large, performance-based past two years. She has served on the staff at URS. contract at a military installation in Society membership committee for two From 2004 to 2005, Boss worked Nevada. She is involved in all aspects of years, and is active in advancing SWE on projects in several states, including the project, including remedial system member awareness of the K-12 Educator the design of a 500-gallon-per-minute design and implementation, long-term Membership Type. groundwater treatment facility in Ne- environmental management, project Boss earned her bachelor’s degree in braska for treating chlorinated solvents team supervision and training, and chemical engineering in 2003 from the contamination in groundwater using achievement of project objectives. University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She air-stripping technology. The project Boss joined SWE in 2007 and has is a registered professional engineer in involved installation of two groundwater been active at all levels of the Society. Nebraska and South Carolina and an ac- extraction wells; 3,000 feet of under- She was president of the Eastern Ne- tive member of the Society of American ground piping; and a new treatment braska Section from 2011 to 2012. She Military Engineers. Boss lives with her facility. As part of the design team, Boss co-chaired iCON13, the 2013 Region husband and two children in Omaha. She was responsible for collecting ground- i conference, which drew more than enjoys travel, playing the piano, bowling, water samples and surveying proposed 150 attendees, including the FY13 SWE and playing volleyball and softball. construction locations. She prepared the president, attracted 27 company spon- preliminary system design — including sors, and generated significant revenue engineering drawings and calculations and profit. Her team coined the name,

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 149 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

BRITTA JOST CATERPILLAR INC.

For inspiring others and leading by example, and for an ability to bring people together on the job, in SWE, and in the community.

ritta Jost planned on a career a test engineer at Caterpillar’s Peoria Outstanding Membership Net Increase. in mathematics, but a college Proving Ground, where she designed The next year, the section earned the Binternship at Caterpillar changed tests and collected operator comments Membership Retention Award and an her mind. She earned a bachelor’s that validated the computer models she honorable mention for Membership degree in mathematics and a master’s once built. In 2010, she coordinated and Growth. Jost received her section’s Dis- in mechanical engineering, both from implemented all D7E track-type tractor tinguished Member Award in 2012. She Michigan Technological University. As product improvements on machines for most recently served as SWE-CI work an undergraduate, she completed a sum- the waste industry. This work resulted life integration chair and organized a mer research program at MIT Lincoln in Jost being named co-inventor on two dinner-workshop event that brought Jo Laboratory, where she used software to patents that have been granted, and one Miller, a SWE conference speaker and detect military targets in hyperspectral additional application under review by professional women’s leadership coach, images. In 2005, after interning for USPTO. to Peoria. three summers, Jost joined Caterpil- A dedicated SWE member, Jost has Also deeply committed to member lar full-time through the Engineering focused her energy on membership recognition, Jost has been involved in Rotational Development Program. She and member recognition, serving the her section’s award nomination process is now a senior engineer in large struc- SWE Central Illinois (SWE-CI) Sec- since 2007. Since she began coordinat- tures design engineering, responsible tion as a two-time membership chair, ing SWE-CI’s award submissions, the for design of the D6 track-type tractor president elect, president, and section section has received 15 regional and chassis components. The components representative. She served two years as eight Society-level awards. under Jost’s design control are produced regional membership coordinator and A trained court-appointed special in four Caterpillar factories around the is currently the Society’s membership advocate for children, Jost advocates for world. committee chair. abused and neglected children through Jost’s first position with Caterpil- As section membership chair, Jost CASA of Peoria County. Over the past lar was in the simulation group for wrote the first student transition six years, she has advocated for two sets track-type tractors. She worked on program policy and had it approved by of siblings and logged over 500 hours the project that first used simulations the executive council. Under her leader- of volunteer casework. She is married to predict the structural durability of ship, the section grew to more than 100 to fellow engineer Jeff Jost and has a tractors without building prototypes members and won all three regional daughter, Liesl, and a son, Warner. and testing. It was through this project statistical awards for membership: that she became a certified Six Sigma Outstanding Membership Retention, Green Belt. In 2008, Jost worked as Outstanding Membership Growth, and

150 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

STACY LUENEBURG CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS

For expertise in mechanical engineering, for working effectively across cultures, and for contributions to the Society of Women Engineers and the community.

tacy Lueneburg is currently a new cluster design and have it ready from member involvement chair, college senior staff mechanical engineer to demonstrate at the 2008 Consumer relations chair, section treasurer, sec- Sat Continental Automotive Sys- Electronics Show. She was responsible tion representative, Region H alternate tems. She graduated from Kettering for mechanical packaging of the dis- senator, and most recently, president University in December 2006 with a plays, coordinating with hardware to of the Detroit Section for the last two B.S. in mechanical engineering with a complete the electronics, and working years. Lueneburg has also been involved concentration in plastic product design. with the software engineer to program with the Society awards committee, and She earned an MBA from Kettering dummy graphic displays for the show. has judged scholarship applications for University in December 2011. She finished the assignment successfully junior and senior students. Lueneburg joined Siemens VDO (later and met the deadline. Actively involved in the Alpha Sigma acquired by Continental Automotive Other assignments at Continental Alpha sorority since 2003, Lueneburg Systems) in 2006 as a design engineer have included mechanical engineer on is currently recruitment advisor. She in instrumentation and displays. This the company’s Chevrolet Volt program answers many questions about co-op group focused on innovation, designing and senior mechanical engineer for the job, careers, and course work and dashboard instrument clusters that dis- fluid quality group, where she worked encourages her sorority sisters to join played safety information, such as speed, on the next-generation flex fuel sensor. SWE on their campus. Lueneburg has fuel level, revolutions per minute, and Having demonstrated her ability to work supported the sorority’s philanthropy warning symbols. Although Lueneburg effectively in Japan, China, and England missions by making bracelets for Girls is the youngest engineer in her group, as mechanical lead on a global Nissan on the Run and decorating bags for the she has received three promotions in project, Lueneburg was assigned to an Special Olympics. She also participates just seven years. Australia-based program and collabo- in events such as Easter Seals Walk with Charged with bringing awareness of rated with team members in the United Me Detroit, Relay For Life of Clarkston, new technology into the department, States, Mexico, Australia, and China. Walk MS Troy, and The Engineering Lueneburg created the mechanical de- She overcame several obstacles, includ- Society of Detroit. In her spare time, sign package for the group’s first 12-inch ing communication across time zones, to Lueneburg enjoys travel and spending thin film transistor (TFT) display and execute the project successfully. time with her husband, and their three designed the company’s first “Triple TFT Lueneburg joined SWE in 2002 when rescue cats. Instrument Cluster.” This task had high she was in college. In 2007 she became visibility and a tight deadline; Lueneburg involved with the Detroit Section and has was given just one month to complete a held several leadership positions ranging

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 151 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

LISA M. RIMPF THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY

For accomplishments in chemical engineering and SWE leadership, especially at the region level, and for tireless efforts to engage young women in engineering.

isa M. Rimpf is the environmental served as the facility’s first operator and members, providing resources for technology research team leader at trained additional crew members. Rimpf marketing and publicity, and updating LBabcock & Wilcox Power Genera- established data analysis protocols Region G’s travel policy. Rimpf has also tion Group Inc. in Barberton, Ohio. As a and wrote technical reports about the served as the SWE counselor for The research and development engineer, she results. The most promising design to University of Akron Collegiate Section evaluates advanced process concepts for emerge from the three-year program for six years and provided guidance technical merit and commercial readi- was successfully demonstrated at a slip- and support to the section’s conference ness, applying engineering principles, stream utility site. committee when it hosted the Region G market study analysis, and business Rimpf has been a dedicated and ac- conference in 2009. She also annually alignment strategy. tive SWE member since she attended evaluates applications for the Society Rimpf fosters collaboration among a her first meeting as a University of scholarship committee. 10-person team that develops flue gas air Toledo undergraduate. She has been a In her community, Rimpf judges sci- pollution control technologies for clean life member since 2006. After serving ence fairs and leads hands-on activities electricity generation. She works with as both vice president and president of for the local Kids’ Career Day outreach her team to identify higher efficiency and The University of Toledo Collegiate Sec- event. She also supports efforts to eradi- lower emission improvements for steam tion, she led the fundraising, planning, cate cancer, especially breast cancer, generating systems. She is also actively and coordination for the 2005 Region G by leading a team for the American engaged with environmental, health, conference. In her first year as a member Cancer Society’s Relay For Life® and and safety compliance and quality as- of the Northeast Ohio Section, Rimpf walking 60 miles in the Susan G. Ko- surance performance throughout the was elected vice president and has held men 3-Day®. Rimpf’s German heritage company’s research facilities. many offices in the section since. She is very important to her, and she has Rimpf was integral to the development has reinvigorated the section, helping to been involved in the Donauschwaben’s of a $12 million, 7-ton-CO2-per-day pilot increase membership to its current level German-American Cultural Center since plant, which was approved for installa- of more than 100 women strong. she was a member of the children’s dance tion at the company’s combustion and Long active at the region level, Rimpf group. Rimpf earned a bachelor’s degree emissions control test facility in 2008. is the current Ohio Valley Region G in 2003 and a master’s degree in 2005, She provided front-end engineering de- governor. Among her initiatives are both in chemical engineering and from sign specifications, participated in the streamlining open communications The University of Toledo. design review process with the contract- and enhancing one-on-one interactions ing firm, and commissioned equipment among leaders including bridging the and unit operation components. She also gap between collegiate and professional

152 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

STEPHANIE R. SALAS-SNYDER INTEL CORPORATION

For problem-solving abilities and expertise in human factors and biomedical engineering, and for contributions to SWE and the next generation of women engineers.

tephanie R. Salas-Snyder is of weapon systems. She helped identify levels. She was the Region G awards co- a human factors engineer for areas overlooking the human element chair and spearheaded the SWE Region SIntel Corporation, focusing on and recommended modifications for G Judy Simmons Memorial Scholarship. improving user experience and solv- existing and future systems. She is the chair-elect for the Society- ing problems that arise when humans Salas-Snyder led the Army’s Lower level curriculum committee and is the and machines interact. She focuses on Extremity Gait System project to un- awards coordinator for the New Faces interactions with a variety of personal derstand current technology for lower of Engineering, Collegiate Edition and computing devices, including laptops extremity prosthetics and orthotics. a section award. Salas-Snyder served and 2-in-1 devices. She will explore new Applying her expertise in human fac- as the University of Dayton collegiate technology and methods to ensure users tors and biomedical engineering, she counselor for four years. She joined the are getting the most out of their devices developed a technology road map based Columbia River Section in 2014 and and to enrich every aspect of their lives. on research and discussions with nearly looks forward to bringing new ideas and While working for Booz Allen Ham- 100 of the world’s leading experts in energy to Region J. ilton, Salas-Snyder worked on projects prosthetic design, osseointegration, Salas-Snyder tutored reading and for the Air Force Human Systems Inte- socket development, neuroscience and math at the Dayton Leadership Acad- gration Office, the U.S. Army Medical neuroengineering, gait analysis, and ma- emies (DLA), and her efforts have Research and Materiel Command, and terials science. Her work helped identify resulted in better self-esteem and higher the Department of Homeland Security research gaps and find ways for amputee test scores for students. She initiated Science and Technology Directorate. She soldiers to reintegrate into military and/ the “What is Engineering” event at DLA became an IEEE Certified Biometrics or civilian life. Salas-Snyder’s research is for girls in the sixth through the eighth Professional® in 2011, one of only 400 incorporated in two forthcoming books: grades, introducing them to engineer- in the United States. A 2006 graduate Full Stride: The Past, Present and Fu- ing as a career path. She participates in of Wright State University, Salas-Snyder ture of Lower Extremity Prosthetics and several charity events, including Special holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical Full Stride: Next Steps. Olympics, Rebuilding Together, and engineering and a master’s in human A SWE member for nearly 10 years, fundraisers for the American Cancer factors engineering. Salas-Snyder was active in the South Society. For the Air Force, Salas-Snyder Ohio Section from 2009-2014. She held In her free time, Salas-Snyder plays worked with a team of human factors the roles of secretary, vice president, and various sports and helps her husband experts to address the lack of human section representative locally, while also make short films. She is also an avid element considerations in the design being active at the region and Society scrapbooker and card maker.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 153 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

JESSICA TEACHWORTH LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

For technical and programmatic excellence in her profession, for being a role model, and for mentoring SWE’s future leaders.

essica Teachworth always has been promotes cross-industry discussions joined the Santa Clara Valley Section fascinated with rockets and space of technologies for innovative usage. and served as section representative. Jexploration. She essentially “grew The SVA partnerships range from small A mentor at heart, Teachworth then up” at the San Diego Air & Space Mu- start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. became the SWE counselor for both seum and interned during high school on Teachworth champions initiatives such the San Jose State University and Santa the Near-Earth Asteroid Project at the as additive manufacturing, common Clara University collegiate sections. University of California, San Diego. She system architectures, and engineering She was recognized by the Region graduated from the University of Cali- best practices. A council with the 2013 Emerging fornia, Berkeley in 2004, with a B.S. in As a member of Lockheed’s strategic Leader Award for her dedication to the mechanical engineering. In 2005, after missile technologies team, Teachworth mentoring and development of future completing internships with NASA and researched and evaluated advanced SWE leaders. She has volunteered in UPS, Teachworth joined Lockheed Mar- technologies for use in solid rocket mo- the Santa Clara Valley Section’s GetSET tin Corporation as an engineer on the tors. She contributed to the preparation (Get Science, Engineering, and Tech- Fleet Ballistic Missile program. In 2009, and execution of multimillion-dollar nology) summer outreach program for pursuing her interest in the intersection contracts that included full-scale high school girls. She supports the Santa of technology and business, she earned test demonstrations. As a Six Sigma Clara Valley Science and Engineering an M.S. in systems engineering and an Green Belt, Teachworth initiated and Fair and the FIRST® Robotics Silicon MBA from San Jose State University. implemented a continuous improve- Valley Regional events. Teachworth is currently a technical ment program that resulted in millions The mother of two girls, Teachworth assistant to the chief engineer for the of dollars in savings. She has led many volunteers at her daughter’s preschool Lockheed Martin Strategic and Missile studies to evaluate the merits of techni- and encourages the children to ask “why” Defense Systems line of business. She cal capabilities in the context of customer and to discover “how.” She is a member supports executive leadership forums requirements and cost constraints. of Tau Beta Pi, Beta Gamma Sigma, the in areas of strategic planning, proposal Teachworth’s involvement in the So- National Management Association, and evaluation, technical interchanges, and ciety of Women Engineers began when Toastmasters International. critical skills management. Her involve- she joined the University of California, ment with the Silicon Valley Alliance Berkeley Collegiate Section as an un- (SVA) allows companies to partner with dergraduate and held many leadership Lockheed Martin to design and produce positions, including section president the next-generation systems for gov- and collegiate chair of the 2004 Region ernment customers. This partnership A conference. After graduation, she

154 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

ERIN M. WAKEFIELD INTEL CORPORATION

For successfully meeting new challenges in computer engineering and for sharing her technical, management, and people skills with SWE and in the community.

rin M. Wakefield is a senior com- Phi™ supercomputer processor. She president since July 2013. She attended ponent design engineer, validation provided solutions to unprecedented all but one annual conference between Etechnical lead, and second level validation problems, and after one year, 2006 and 2014, and helped plan the manager at Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon. became leader of the Xeon Phi fullchip 2008 and 2014 Region J conferences, She provides crucial, pre and post silicon validation team, responsible for the work which her section hosted. strategic and tactical technical leader- of 17 engineers. Team members were Also active in other women’s affin- ship for the next generation system on spread across many Intel sites, including ity groups, Wakefield serves in three chip products planned for Intel tablets Hillsboro, Oregon; Santa Clara, Cali- different leadership positions with and phones. fornia; Folsom, California; and Penang, Intel’s Women at Intel Network and has Wakefield joined Intel in 2005 as a Malaysia, requiring Wakefield to travel been active in recruiting new engineers component design engineer after gradu- often and use virtual management tools into Intel. She has served as an official ating from the University of Michigan to guide the project. The Xeon Phi now spokesperson for women engineers at in Ann Arbor with a bachelor’s degree powers seven of the top 500 supercom- Intel and is the subject of one of Intel’s in computer engineering. She later puters in the world. “Day in the Life” videos, which has been earned her master’s in engineering and In 2010, Wakefield transitioned from shown on many college campuses and to technology management from Portland super computers to a system on a chip new Intel employees. State University while working full validation team, playing both a technical Wakefield serves in leadership roles time. Her first position with Intel was manager and project management role on the boards of both the Washington in hardware validation of computer for Intel’s Consumer Electronics Divi- County Fair and the Washington County processors for desktops and servers. sion. After three years, she transitioned Fair Educational Fund. In her spare She drove validation of features such into her current role, where she is again time, she enjoys being outdoors and as system management mode, machine simultaneously leading in both a techni- spending time with friends. Wakefield check architecture, and a new security cal and people management capacity. has run three marathons and completed hardware technology for the Intel® Wakefield has been active in SWE her first triathlon in 2012. Pentium®4, Xeon®, Core™ 2 Duo, and since college and has held numerous Core™ i7 processors. leadership roles both as a collegian and After two years, Wakefield moved as a professional. She is currently on into a start-up group within Intel, do- the executive board of the Columbia ing presilicon validation of the Xeon River Section and has served as section

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 155 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

ABIGAIL WENDT, P.E. MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.

For outstanding technical skills and commitment to the development of women engineers through inspired mentoring in the workplace and within SWE, locally and regionally.

bigail Wendt, P.E., is senior project management opportunity with refinery, observing the operation of an project engineer in the Major Magellan. electric car, and making cotton candy. AConstruction group at Magellan Wendt has managed more than 60 Alert to the real needs of section mem- Midstream Partners, L.P. Her current projects at Magellan and has established bers, she organizes events on relevant assignment is a primary project manager herself as an expert on additive, butane, topics, such as work/life balance, which of the BridgeTex project, a $1.1 billion and rail loading rack systems. She takes drew a record number of attendees; joint venture of Magellan and Occidental the initiative to teach other project middle and upper management; and Petroleum Corp. that involves building managers the most effective project finance. 450 miles of pipeline across the state of management models and has been part A firm believer in the importance of Texas, five pumping stations, and two of several teams at Magellan charged mentoring, Wendt guides new mem- storage and pumping facilities. Wendt is with refining the system integrity plan. bers as they plan and execute events, responsible for 95 miles of pipeline con- Despite her relatively short history with encouraging them to step up to leader- struction and is directly involved with the company, Wendt actively partici- ship positions. This year, as regional securing the route; developing, bidding, pates in this effort, challenging accepted mentorship committee chair, she rolled and contracting the work; and ensuring practices, interjecting new ideas, and out Region i’s first formal mentorship safety and regulatory compliance. She focusing on how to produce the best pos- program starting with 32 mentoring is responsible for the schedule and bud- sible product. pairs. On the Society level, Wendt is get of her portion of the project, which She joined the SWE Tulsa-Northeast serving this year as a leadership com- employed more than 500 inspectors and Oklahoma Section in 2005, just three mittee coach. contractors to complete the work. years after it was chartered. An integral Wendt is active in Habitat for Human- Just a few days after graduating part of the section’s growth and im- ity, Rotary International, and United with an engineering degree from Oral proved retention rate, Wendt has served Way. She stays connected with Oral Rob- Roberts University in 2004, Wendt as president, representative, and vice erts University by serving on the alumni started working as an engineering in- president of professional development. board of the engineering department. tern at Syntroleum Corp.’s gas to liquids She leads the SWE-Girl Scout outreach She received her professional engineer- demonstration facility. In less than a program “Journey Day,” and recently ing license in 2011. year, she was promoted to the position created opportunities for girls to learn of process engineer, then moved on to a about air by visiting a scaled-down

156 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 SWE DISTINGUISHED NEW ENGINEER

LAUREN WOLF THE BOEING COMPANY

For accomplishments in human factors and industrial engineering; for tireless support of SWE’s mentoring mission, especially among university students; and for outreach to youth.

auren Wolf is a supplier program ergonomic conditions for mechanics. giate Section as secretary, vice president, manager on the B-1B modification She also supported multiple defense and president, boosting attendance and Lprogram for Boeing Defense, Space programs as an industrial engineer membership by 500 percent. As a profes- and Security in Oklahoma City. She is in the lean operations group for the sional, Wolf was a member of the Central responsible for the build-to-print parts modification and mission integration Florida Section before moving to the as The Boeing Company modernizes the center at Boeing Field. Upon open- Lowcountry Section in South Carolina, front and aft cockpits. Wolf works closely ing the new 787 Final Assembly and where she was section representative with suppliers, providing technical and Delivery Center in Charleston, South and president for two terms. business support and helping them meet Carolina, Wolf accepted an assignment Serving as Region D lieutenant gover- performance targets. as an industrial engineer, where she nor in FY13, Wolf focused on supporting Wolf earned her bachelor’s degree co-led a cross-functional engineering collegiate sections, helping delinquent in industrial engineering and manage- team that generated sitewide metrics sections regain good standing, and on ment from Oklahoma State University in safety, quality, performance-to-plan, setting a new Region D mentorship pro- and a master’s degree in human fac- schedule, and cost. A key member of the gram in motion. Program participants tors and systems from Embry-Riddle industrial engineering team, she merged took online surveys that match mentors Aeronautical University. She also holds traditional bar chart scheduling and with mentees, completed a mentor/ a certificate in lean manufacturing from work assignment tools with advanced, mentee contract, and had a face-to-face the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufactur- constraint-based electronic tools. Wolf’s meeting at the regional conference. ing Excellence and a master’s certificate skills helped the team achieve several Active in several professional, techni- in project management from Stevens significant firsts, including successfully cal, and community organizations, Wolf Institute of Technology. seeing the first three aircraft through is a member of the Institute of Industrial Following graduation, Wolf accepted the production line. After her success in Engineers and the American Indian a position with Lockheed Martin as a industrial engineering, Wolf became a Science and Engineering Society. She quality engineer. She contributed her tool design engineer for the 787 Dream- serves on the national advisory board engineering expertise to two missile liner midbody facilities at Boeing South for the National Association of Engi- programs, doing material strength tests Carolina. She was responsible for de- neering Student Councils, as well as on and statistical analysis. She also worked signing and modifying manufacturing Boeing’s REACH leadership team and with suppliers on a helicopter program tools to incorporate safety, ergonomics, Boeing’s Volunteer Council. Wolf also to ensure that fire control systems met and regulatory requirements for three, was a founding member of the Women regulatory requirements. novel parallel production lines for the in Aviation chapter in Charleston, South In 2008, Wolf joined The Boeing Com- 787-8 and the new 787-9 airplanes. Carolina. Wolf’s contributions to pro- pany to work on 747 and 767 airplanes Wolf became active in the Society of grams that encourage girls to explore in the Seal, Test, Paint, and Decal group Women Engineers as a collegian, serving science and engineering have helped to in Everett, Washington, improving the Oklahoma State University Colle- reach more than 1,000 Girl Scouts.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 157 FELLOW GRADE

ALMA MARTINEZ FALLON NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING, A DIVISION OF HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES

For excellent engineering leadership, for opening the way for SWE to have a stronger voice in public policy, and for honoring the lives and careers of women and minorities.

s director of supply chain pro- and led the advanced planning, project and chaired Bridges to Tomorrow (BTT), curement at Newport News management, design/build, and steel a math and science conference that of- AShipbuilding, a Division of construction and assembly for the Ford fers girls in sixth through 12th grades a Huntington Ingalls Industries, Alma class. chance to meet professional women in Martinez Fallon is responsible for the Named a SWE Distinguished New science, technology, engineering, and material acquisition, subcontracting, Engineer in 1997, Fallon, now a senior mathematics fields. Since it was first held and service requirements for subma- life member of the Society, has more in 1990, the BTT conference attendance rines, aircraft carriers, fleet support, than fulfilled the promise of that honor. has grown from 55 to 230 participants and in-service carriers at Newport News As 2004 SWE president, she engaged and is a model for other programs in Shipbuilding and for joint procurement ASME as a partner to help implement a Virginia. with General Dynamics Electric Boat. new public policy strategy that paved the The recipient of many honors and This includes oversight management of way for SWE to enter the public policy awards, Fallon received the 1999 Pen- more than 4,000 suppliers. arena. As vice president, she established insula Engineers Council Doug Ensor In 1985, Fallon was a co-op stu- SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council Award for Young Engineer of the Year. dent at Newport News before joining and supported development of SWE’s In 2002, she was selected for the ASME the company full time in 1988 as an diversity leadership statements. From Dedicated Service Award, and was engineer in the Seawolf submarine en- 1997 to 1998, she was deputy director named one of America’s leading minor- gineering division. She progressed to of Region E and helped develop region ity women in technology by Hispanic senior engineer, engineering supervisor, strategic plans and conducted leader- Engineer and Information Technology working on many auxiliary piping and ship development training. Bringing magazine. Fallon also was the recipient machinery systems design projects in her strategic planning expertise to her of the Society of Hispanic Professional the commercial ship and aircraft carrier section, Fallon created a five-year plan Engineers 2004 Junipero Serra Award. programs. She also managed planning and developed section training modules. In 2012, she received the Inside Business and manufacturing engineering for the Highly visible in the engineering pro- Women in Business Achievement Award. Structural Fabrication and Assembly fession, Fallon is an ASME Fellow. She Fallon earned a B.S. in mechanical en- Division. She was responsible for the was a governor on the ASME board of gineering from Old Dominion University planning for the USS George H.W. Bush governors, the first Hispanic so elected and an M.S. in engineering management aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford in ASME’s history. She is currently a from The George Washington University. aircraft carrier, the Virginia class con- member of the ASME committee on She lives in Gloucester County, Virginia, struction programs, and SAP/ERP3 for finance and investment. with her husband, Bob Fallon. She loves steel fabrication and assembly. Prior to A longtime, active member of the gardening, wellness activities, and her current appointment, Fallon was hull American Association of University boating. structure construction superintendent Women, Fallon conceived, developed,

158 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 FELLOW GRADE

BETTY IRISH COMFORT SYSTEMS USA SOUTHWEST

For an exemplary and versatile technical career, for significant contributions to the mission and goals of SWE, and for increasing public awareness of engineering.

n active member of the Soci- Phoenix Section to host the 1999 annual manufacturing facilities. ety of Women Engineers since convention, which netted substantial Since 2007, Irish has been project A1983, Betty Irish has vigor- scholarship and operational funds for manager, in-plant services for Comfort ously supported SWE’s mission in her the section. The convention, held in the Systems USA Southwest, a provider of professional and personal lives. Over downtown Phoenix convention center, HVAC piping, plumbing, process piping, the course of 30 years, she has taken showcased SWE and women engineers and medical gas construction services. on many projects and leadership po- in a highly visible public venue. She She works with colleagues, contractors, sitions in SWE and made important also served on the strategic planning and customers in health care, aerospace, contributions as member and chair of committee and the Society nominating energy research, and avionics. She is various committees and councils. In committee. Irish is currently chair of the responsible for all facets of construction, two technical careers — engineering government relations and public policy including scope, report writing, procure- and construction — and through SWE, committee, where she promotes SWE ment, field personnel supervision, and Irish has tirelessly promoted diversity policy objectives in science, technology, finances. and inclusion of women in science and engineering, and mathematics educa- She volunteers for two construction- engineering. tion; Title IX; and affirmative action to related professional organizations: the She has served as an officer, leader, the public and to Arizona congressional National Association for Women in and committee member in the Arizona representatives. Construction and Advancing Women in State University Collegiate Section and She has 27 years of professional Construction at Arizona State Univer- the Phoenix Section, for Region B, and mechanical design, management, and sity. She also participates in her local on the Society level. She served on the leadership experience. More often than downtown redevelopment commission Council of Section Representatives not, Irish was the only technical woman and has volunteered for Rep. Matt (CSR) and the Council of Representa- in her company or department, but skills Salmon’s reelection campaign. tives (COR) and was a member of the learned and honed in SWE helped her Irish holds two bachelor’s degrees: one CSR-COR transition team during a advance. She began in the aerospace in mechanical engineering from Arizona critical period of reorganization for the industry, then moved to facility design, State University and one in history from Society. and now works in the construction in- Indiana University. She is an avid scuba Irish was a key member of the annual dustry. She spent most of her career as diver, seasoned world traveler, and en- convention planning committee in 1991, a mechanical-design engineer working joys spending time with her husband and worked closely with members of the on design and construction of industrial and her two cats.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 159 FELLOW GRADE

DIANA LYN JOCH NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

For high-impact contributions to SWE, and for sharing her outstanding work ethic, team-building skills, and IT expertise with her profession and her community.

iana Joch has been a member of membership initiatives. Integrated Database (MIDB) program. the Society of Women Engineers Joch was Region E treasurer from She works in the government program Dsince 1991, when she joined the 2011 to 2012 and served several times office and is the program liaison to more Boston University Collegiate Section as on the region’s financial assessment than 160 agencies and organizations an undergraduate. An expert in Society committee. Her accounting skills have that use the MIDB system. Her work bylaws, procedures, membership, and been a great asset to SWE, and she often as release manager has resulted in the finance, Joch has played a key role in helps other sections in the region with only program at the Defense Intelligence building SWE’s organizational frame- finance and bylaw questions. She was Agency with a 100 percent, first-time work, particularly with her work on the a member of SWE’s board of directors success rate through system certification Council of Representatives transition in 2008-2009, and in 2013 was elected testing. The system documentation Joch team that led to the formation of the to the board of trustees, becoming the developed is being used as a template by SWE senate. trustee’s treasurer in FY15. other programs. A member of the Baltimore-Washing- For many years, Joch worked in IT, Joch is a member of IEEE, IEEE ton Section since 1992, Joch has served designing, building, and maintaining Women in Engineering, and the IEEE the section in many capacities, includ- distributed systems for various divi- Computer Society. Active in the District ing programs chair, vice president for sions and agencies of the Department of Columbia Council of Engineering and continuing development, and president. of Defense, including the Defense In- Architectural Societies (DCCEAS), a In 2003, she created a community rela- telligence Agency, the U.S. Air Force, consortium of organizations, of which tions/outreach program with funding and the U.S. Navy. She understands the SWE is a member, Joch takes part in from Raytheon and rolled out novel intelligence community and has broad DiscoverE: Engineers Week outreach ways to boost SWE’s visibility, such as experience in system architecture, events, and in 2006 was named DCCEAS encouraging members to volunteer for software development, requirements, Young Engineer of the Year. a televised PBS fund drive. She created and business process reengineering. She holds a B.S. in computer engineer- a member recruitment program with In 2004, she joined Northrop Grum- ing from Boston University and an M.S. “bring a friend” campaigns and post- man Information Systems Division in in information systems from American event follow-ups for nonmembers. The Chantilly, Virginia. She is currently University. Joch makes her home in Baltimore-Washington Section remains a senior systems engineer, managing Centreville, Virginia, with her husband, the largest in SWE, thanks in large part major software interoperability and Charles, and their three children. to Joch’s leadership and commitment to certification testing for the Modernized

160 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 FELLOW GRADE

SILVIA KARLSSON, P.E. GENERAL MOTORS

For career-long dedication to SWE, for technical leadership that promotes diversity and inclusion, and for reaching out to the next generation of women engineers.

ilvia Karlsson, P.E., has been an as Region H director and most recently, than 1,000 engineers across the world. active member of the Society of conference programming board chair. She has recently moved into a new as- SWomen Engineers since she was Since 2006, she has been a member of signment as a lead advanced thermal an undergraduate at California State the Corporate Partnership Council and engineer for airflow where she provides University, Northridge. Her history leads the SWE-GM recruiting team. leadership and project direction for front of service to SWE comprises spirited Expertise in fluid dynamics and heat compartment airflow management for a involvement in outreach, professional transfer are the common threads that physics based airflow and heat exchange development, diversity and inclusion, run through Karlsson’s diverse work strategy. corporate partnership, and finance work assignments. Over the course of her Karlsson has taught college-level at all levels of the Society. Karlsson has career, she has gained experience in the physics and often volunteers at local a B.S. in mechanical engineering from aerospace and automotive industries, schools to help teachers with science cur- California State University; an M.S. as well as in business and management ricula. She is a life member of the Society in mechanical/aerospace engineering areas including quality and warranty of Hispanic Professional Engineers and from the University of California, Los reduction. Her engineering career began an active member of HIT — GM’s His- Angeles; and an M.S. in management of at Rocketdyne (now a division of United panic Initiative Team — concentrating technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Technologies), first as a co-op student, on recruitment and retention for both Institute. then as a full-time member of the techni- organizations. She mentors Hispanic Shortly after receiving her undergrad- cal staff, working on the space shuttle students and new professionals at GM uate degree, Karlsson joined the SWE main engine in the system dynamics in the United States and in Mexico. Los Angeles Section, leading a number group. Karlsson is also active in Girl Scouts of outreach initiatives. In 1994, she re- Joining General Motors (GM) as of the USA and SAE International’s “A located to Detroit, where she co-founded a computational fluid dynamics ana- World in Motion®” program, she co- the Coalition of Minority Professional lyst, Karlsson advanced steadily. One leads the parent teacher organization Engineering Societies and shared her challenging assignment found her (PTO) at her daughter’s school, and is global experiences via newsletter ar- facilitating a global agreement on a leader in the adult faith committee at ticles and conference programming. thermal, HVAC, and powertrain issues; her church. While maintaining active involvement, developing training; and mentoring GM Holding dual, U.S.-Mexican citizen- Karlsson completed her master’s de- of Mexico engineers. As the engineer- ship, Karlsson speaks English and gree in management of technology ing business manager for the Global Spanish. She lives in Troy, Michigan, and earned professional engineering Thermal Engineering Organization and with her husband, Ronny, and their license certifications for California and GM’s Technical Regional Engineering daughter, Diana. Karlsson enjoys Michigan. Her contributions to SWE on Center in Toluca, Mexico, she provided cooking, travel, and always learning the region and Society levels include a executive and functional support in day- new things. term on the Society board of directors to-day business operations, for more

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 161 FELLOW GRADE

HELEN O. PATRICIA KENNAMETAL INC.

For enduring service to SWE, for applying sound engineering principles to manufacturing and quality operations, and for being an outstanding role model for women in STEM professions.

elen O. Patricia excels at lead- with customers. Patricia has extensive section running with monthly meetings ing manufacturing operations experience managing plant quality lead- and outreach events. Hand bringing technology-based ership across multiple sites in North and Patricia is currently Region G improvements into mature, well- South America and has led many global nominating chair. In this role, she has established processes. Her talent for teams throughout the supply chain. Her successfully integrated the collegiate coordinating manufacturing goals with inclusive and collaborative leadership election process into the region com- engineering and her acute understand- style has resulted in double-digit reduc- mittee responsibilities and has folded ing of customer needs has earned her the tion of customer returns and improved the SWE competency model into the respect of professional colleagues and customer satisfaction. application process. She bridged one of SWE associates alike. In SWE, Patricia has applied this SWE’s major organizational transitions, Patricia’s first engineering job was collaborative leadership style, as well serving as Region G director in 2003- with Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. as an as her business acumen, to the many 2004, then as governor in 2004-2005. ordnance engineer in the steel products positions she has held at the section, Her Society-level service has included division. She played a key role in the region, and Society levels. She has been being the first deputy speaker of the development of a shaped-charge war- a member of the Pittsburgh Section for senate, followed by a term as speaker of head and did planning, testing, and data more than 20 years, devoting much of the senate. As a member of the board of analysis. Patricia joined Kennametal her energy to membership, fundrais- directors, Patricia led many initiatives Inc. in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1982 ing, and fostering camaraderie. During supporting SWE’s goals of promoting as an ordnance engineer in the defense her tenure as section president (1993- women for their achievements and rec- products group, but soon after became 1994), the last time host sections were ognizing the value of diversity. involved in tungsten powder manu- primarily responsible for planning the Community is important to Patricia; facturing. She is currently manager SWE annual conference, Patricia was she serves on the executive committee of quality assurance for the Americas the Pittsburgh conference committee of the women’s leadership council for region. Responsible for improvements secretary and volunteer coordinator, United Way in Westmoreland County, in quality performance and customer reporting on committee meetings (with- which supports Faith in Action pro- satisfaction for more than 25 U.S. manu- out Internet or email), coordinating grams that help senior citizens. A facturing facilities, she directs plant volunteers, tracking tasks, and working graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, quality leadership, drives Six-Sigma and with the new professional conference Patricia holds a B.S. degree in chemical problem-solving teams, and interacts management team, all while keeping the engineering.

162 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 FELLOW GRADE

CATHERINE PIERONEK UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

For dedication to the SWE mission, for a lasting and positive impact on engineering education, and for illuminating public discourse on gender equity in STEM fields.

atherine Pieronek is associ- Ray Observatory spacecraft. Pieronek’s Pieronek’s dedication to SWE has ate dean in the College of professional accomplishments while in not wavered since she joined the Notre CEngineering at the University the aerospace industry garnered her Dame Collegiate Section in 1982. She of Notre Dame and director of the the Gamma Ray Observatory Technical was president and treasurer at Notre women’s engineering program there. She Achievement Award in 1986, the TRW Dame, and then served as the commit- has established a successful career in Women of Achievement Award in 1989, tee chair of the 1990 Florida Women in aerospace engineering and law and has and the NASA Program of Excellence Engineering and Sciences Conference consistently contributed her talents and Award in 1991. for the Space Coast Section. Her Society- expertise to help women in the science, Many would consider the successful level service has included membership technology, engineering, and mathemat- design, development, and launch of a on the government relations and public ics (STEM) fields. She has improved the spacecraft to be a career pinnacle, but policy committee and strategic planning experience of women engineers at the for Pieronek, it was just the beginning. committee, and current service on the University of Notre Dame and, through In 1992, she returned to the University senate. her speaking, writing, and public policy of Notre Dame to study law. She gradu- She has been a senior member since work on retention and Title IX, she has ated magna cum laude in 1995 and then 2003, and since 2002 has served as created greater awareness of these is- worked at the law school in a variety of faculty advisor and section counselor sues and contributed to the national external and alumni relations positions for the Notre Dame section. In 2007, she discourse. from 1996 to 2002. was honored with the SWE Outstanding Pieronek graduated from the Uni- Her next move was back to the College Faculty Advisor Award. versity of Notre Dame in 1984 with a of Engineering to direct the Women’s A tireless advocate for the advance- bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineer- Engineering Program. Under Pieronek’s ment of women in engineering, Pieronek ing. She began her career at TRW, in the leadership, the percentage of female en- has written many articles about Title IX space and defense sector, soon advancing gineering graduates rose from 21 percent as it applies to gender equity in STEM to senior staff engineer in the spacecraft in 2002 to 33 percent in 2014. She played fields, and also about engineering educa- systems engineering division. While a key role in implementing programs to tion, student recruitment and retention, working full time, she earned her M.S. in recruit and retain women in engineer- and women in engineering. aerospace engineering, with a concentra- ing, including an active SWE section and She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with tion in applied dynamic systems control, peer mentoring, and has successfully her husband, Charles R. Shedlak, and from the University of California, Los changed the culture of the engineering their two bunnies, Hopper and Min- Angeles. Pieronek was the sole systems program at Notre Dame to enable all nie. In her spare time, Pieronek enjoys engineer responsible for system-level students to enjoy academic success. Her putting her engineering skills to work design verification, development, and work there earned her the University’s creating custom needlecrafts. analysis for the communications sub- inaugural award for advising excellence system of NASA’s Compton Gamma in 2008.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 163 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

NAOMI BRILL, F.SWE

For dedicated service to SWE over time, for a deep commitment to encouraging women to be engineers, and for ensuring that women in the profession excel and are recognized.

aomi Brill, F.SWE, traces her She became involved in Region H Minnesota Center for Engineering and involvement with the Society of in FY01 and served as region director Manufacturing Excellence and Project NWomen Engineers back to her from FY03-04, strengthening region Lead the Way, Brill has brought recog- high school days, some 40 years ago, operations and creating region-level nition of SWE’s mission and her local when she helped her mother, Yvonne leadership awards. Brill joined the So- section to all corners of Minnesota. Brill, send out the New Jersey Section ciety board during FY05-06, serving She holds a B.A. from Carleton Col- newsletter. Over the years, Brill has as the inaugural director of regions. lege, and a BME and MBA from the consistently established outreach, schol- Following her term, she has served on University of Minnesota. Her career in arship, and award programs; worked at numerous committees and task forces, the instrumentation and medical device the section, regional, and Society levels including SWE’s leadership pipeline and industries spanned more than 25 years. of SWE; and championed women in leadership election task forces. She has Her second career in engineering and science, technology, engineering, and also served as nominating committee technology education directly influenced mathematics (STEM) careers. representative and chair, and has judged the lives of Minnesota’s future technical Brill formally joined SWE as a col- and coordinated the Distinguished New work force. Brill is an active member legiate member at the University of Engineer and Entrepreneur awards. She of both the Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota, where she served as a section established the Region Programming chapters of SME (Society of Manufac- officer and career fair chair. Following Excellence Award. Brill is also a charter turing Engineers). Her hobbies include graduation, she became a member of member of the ethics committee, where assisting with production and operation the Minnesota Section, serving in many she currently serves. of her husband’s woodworking busi- roles, including section president from Two themes dominate Brill’s SWE ness, gardening, landscaping, and hand 1991-1993. She institutionalized strate- career: outreach to students to ensure weaving. gic planning and operational excellence, their entry into engineering careers; and Brill has left an indelible legacy as a created section leadership awards, and promoting awards and recognition for role model who leads by example. She has fostered creation of the annual pro- women who are advancing through their influenced innumerable young women fessional development seminar. She technical careers. She takes great pride over decades of service to SWE through launched and remains the driving force in having influenced countless young the programs she founded and the inau- behind her section’s scholarship pro- women pursuing STEM careers, and the gural programs she implemented, all the gram, and she implemented a statewide section and region leadership awards she while steadfastly promoting recognition certificate of merit program. Brill is the has created have brought recognition to of leadership and scholarship in others. founding counselor for two outstanding many aspiring SWE leaders. Through new collegiate sections. these efforts, plus her work with the

164 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

STACEY BRIGHT CULVER THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY

For living her commitment to women engineers through countless volunteer activities and for contributions to SWE that have become an indelible part of its framework.

tacey Bright Culver is a 37-year, life at conferences. Culver also recognized of engineering as a career. In keeping member of the Society of Women the need for standardizing SWE’s pro- with her strong belief that women en- SEngineers and has held a variety cesses and procedures. The results of gineers should be recognized for their of positions at the section, region, and her work brought clarity, consistency, accomplishments, in a single year she Society levels. She served on the board and continuity to Society operations, nominated six Babcock & Wilcox female of directors for four years, as a member providing a stronger framework that is employees for both SWE and other na- of the Council of Section Representatives still in use today. tional awards. for eight years, chaired four Society-level As a career coach and STEM (science, Culver earned her B.S. degree in civil committees, and was a section president. technology, engineering, and math- engineering from Texas A&M University, She has focused her efforts on student ematics) mentor, Culver has mentored her B.A. in mathematics and physics engagement, broadening the appeal of young women from her extended family, from Baylor University, and her MBA engineering as a profession, member graduating collegians entering the work in finance from Southern Methodist recognition, and improving the pro- force, and co-workers in various stages University. Currently, she is corporate cesses and procedures used to manage of their careers. She also introduced manager of group insurance for the the Society. She continues her active and continues to refine many of SWE’s Babcock & Wilcox Company, where she participation in and support of SWE by programs in the classroom environment manages vendor relations, billing, and serving as the audit committee chair and for use as teaching aids to guide students system and program design for the com- as a Region C senator for a second term. toward STEM careers. pany’s health, life, personal accident, During her tenure as Region C di- She secured annual corporate fund- and disability benefit programs. She is rector, Culver identified geographical ing from 1984 to 2005 for the Greater an active member of her community, challenges and implemented section New Orleans Section’s “Day in the Life” especially as a religious leader, where vitality coaching as a means for in- program, which put teams of young she has served in positions guiding stu- traregional networking, sharing best women together to prepare bid propos- dents and young adults, and in positions practices, and strengthening overall als for building a bridge. Culver has also driving the operations of the church, as participation. In addition, she led initia- co-authored and presented countless well as organizations supporting the tives to increase the region’s visibility by seminars on the collegiate level, and underserved. bringing board of directors meetings to talks for high school math students — all the region and increasing participation designed to encourage consideration

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 165 OUTSTANDING FACULTY ADVISOR

KRISTINE K. CRAVEN, PH.D. TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

For cultivating young engineers from grade school through university, raising the profile of SWE on campus and off, and modeling the meaning of community service.

ristine K. Craven, Ph.D., is the arrival at TTU, Dr. Craven became in- as one of the event organizers. interim director of the basic volved with the Science Bowl and local Dr. Craven is currently involved in a Kengineering department and a science and engineering events, among number of outreach activities with sev- tenured assistant professor at Tennessee them the Cumberland Plateau Regional eral other organizations. She serves as Technological University (TTU). Em- Science and Engineering Fair. In 2003, the Tennessee East partner and tourna- ployed by TTU since 2000, she serves on she worked with a dedicated group of ment co-director for the FIRST® LEGO committees, maintains the curriculum, faculty and local engineers to organize League Tennessee State Championship and manages budgets, as well as super- and host the first Engineering a Future Tournament, having worked her way vises faculty, staff, and student workers. outreach event at TTU. From this ex- up from a position as a local coach. She She also teaches junior-level courses for perience, she helped charter the Upper also serves as the registrar for the TTU the mechanical engineering department. Cumberland Section of SWE. At that Merit Badge University, a Boy Scouts of In addition to SWE, she is a member of time, Dr. Craven was one of the founding America program where scouts come ASME, Sigma Xi, Pi Tau Sigma, and the members and the only member to have to campus and spend a day earning a American Society for Engineering Edu- joined SWE prior to the formation of the merit badge. Dr. Craven also served cation, where she has served as a paper section. The section has since received as volunteer coordinator for the Baja reviewer, session moderator, secretary/ a program development grant and an SAE® Collegiate Design Series Com- treasurer, program chair, division chair, outreach award for this program. petition that was held at TTU in 2013. and division past chair for the first-year The Engineering a Future program The university is scheduled to host the programs division. One of her passions continues to this day and has been ex- competition again in April 2016. is teaching and working with first-year panded to include a summer edition. At home, Dr. Craven recently cel- engineering students. The main program is a one-day activ- ebrated her 25th wedding anniversary She is equally dedicated to outreach ity for up to 120 fifth- and sixth-grade and is the proud mother of two sons, activities. Dr. Craven began her outreach girls. Originally, it included seventh- and both of whom are enrolled at TTU. She work while still a graduate student at eighth-graders, but when the event grew enjoys watching football and lacrosse, West Virginia University. There, she too large for local volunteers, it was split going to the movies with her family, and helped to run a summer program that to allow older participants to attend a crocheting afghans and baby blankets led female high school students through four-day summer camp on the TTU for family and friends. hands-on engineering activities. Upon campus. Dr. Craven continues to serve

166 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING SWE COUNSELOR

JENNIFER MAY VILBIG VILBIG & ASSOCIATES

For outstanding performance as a SWE counselor, raising her section’s profile with multiple awards, and for going the extra mile to interest young women in STEM.

ennifer May Vilbig is the SWE awareness of SWE and promoted in- projects in Qatar, Guam, and throughout counselor for the Southern Meth- volvement at the region level. Two SMU the U.S. She is currently an engineer Jodist University Collegiate Section SWE members have been selected as in training (EIT) working toward her in Dallas. She has been an invaluable Future Leaders. One has served as the professional engineer license. Her expe- resource to the students since 2008, region collegiate senator alternate, and rience includes the design of horizontal guiding her section to be recognized the other as region collegiate communi- directional drills, site development for with the Outstanding Collegiate Sec- cations editor. Last year, an SMU student retail, multifamily and federal projects, tion Award, Silver Level, for the past was recognized with the Outstanding gas well drilling permit applications, two years. Collegiate Member Award. piping and instrumentation diagrams, Vilbig graduated from the Georgia With Vilbig’s guidance in planning and stream assessments. Institute of Technology in 2007 with a and logistics, SMU SWE hosted the 2013 Vilbig founded both the Jacobs Activi- B.S. in civil engineering. As an active Region C conference in Dallas, coordi- ties Group and the Jacobs Professional member and officer of the Georgia Tech nating 300 professionals and students Women’s Collaborative in the Fort Worth SWE section, she was recognized for her and 20 corporate sponsors. Vilbig con- office of Jacobs Engineering, while volunteer efforts with the Georgette P. nected students to local resources for employed there. She was also selected Burdell Award. In addition to working tours and recruited professionals for to attend the Jacobs Future Weekend, with the students at SMU, Vilbig has the program committee that developed a training program for young profes- served in leadership positions for the sessions for the professional track. She sionals, where she met senior leadership Dallas Section over the last six years. She managed all aspects of the Design Your and networked with employees from is completing her second term as presi- World – STEM Career Conference, across the globe. She is active in the dent and was recognized with the FY13 which hosted 50 high school girls during American Society of Civil Engineers, Dallas SWE Emerging Leader Award. the region conference. The event was North Texas Georgia Tech Alumni As- She actively mentors students, sharing recognized with the Outstanding Event/ sociation, and the Dallas County Pioneer best practices from Georgia Tech SWE Series Award for a large section. Association, and is a lifetime member of in membership recruitment, corporate Currently a design engineer with the Girl Scouts. sponsor solicitation, fundraising, and Vilbig & Associates in Dallas, Vilbig’s outreach. She has increased student professional design resume includes

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 167 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

KAITLYN J. BUNKER, PH.D. MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

For superior academic achievement while advancing SWE’s mission with forward-thinking leadership and enthusiastic engagement.

aitlyn J. Bunker, Ph.D., is an as- and WE13 and presented a poster at the and methods, directly impacting the sociate with the Rocky Mountain SWE “Women Engineers Leading Global Society’s strategic goals. Dr. Bunker also KInstitute. She received a B.S., Innovation” symposium in Bangalore, served as the corporate relations chair M.S., and, in 2014, her Ph.D. in electrical India. She has also been a guest speaker for the 2014 Region H conference, which engineering from Michigan Techno- for the Iowa State Program for Women was hosted by Michigan Tech. In this logical University. Her work focuses on in Science and Engineering (PWiSE) role, she worked to build partnerships microgrids, and how renewable energy Leadership Conference and the Michi- between SWE and the conference’s 49 technologies can be applied in alterna- gan Tech Women’s Leadership Institute. corporate sponsors. She is currently an tive energy system structures. After joining the Society of Women active member of the curriculum com- As an undergraduate, Dr. Bunker Engineers in 2006 as an undergradu- mittee and the government relations and received the electrical engineering ate, Dr. Bunker held many roles within public policy committee. department’s Power Engineering Under- the Michigan Tech section, including In addition to SWE, Dr. Bunker was graduate Research Fellowship in 2009, webmaster, communications director, involved with the IEEE Power and and was named department scholar that Evening with Industry chair, and section Energy Society and the Full Throttle same year. In 2010, she was recognized president in FY10 and FY11, seeing its Motorcycle Club at Michigan Tech, as a Michigan Tech Woman of Promise, membership triple in just a few years. and has served as treasurer for both received the university’s Carl Schjonberg She has also been a member of the col- organizations. Outstanding ECE Undergraduate Stu- legiate leadership coaching committee, After eight years of collegiate member- dent award, and was granted a National providing coaching and support for col- ship, Dr. Bunker is excited to continue Science Foundation Graduate Research legiate SWE sections. her SWE involvement as a professional Fellowship. In 2013, she was awarded In FY13, Dr. Bunker served the Society member starting in FY15. She recently the ASEE/NSF Engineering Innovations as collegiate director, working closely relocated with her husband, Kris, and Fellowship, which enabled her to spend with the region collegiate team task force their dog, Winston, to Boulder, Colorado, the summer as a researcher in a corpo- as the liaison to SWE’s board of directors home of her new employer, the Rocky rate setting. and helping write SWE’s new strategic Mountain Institute. In her spare time, Dr. Bunker has published and pre- plan. She was the FY14 chair of the cur- Dr. Bunker enjoys being active in the sented eight peer-reviewed conference riculum committee, leading an analysis outdoors during all seasons and playing papers. She was a finalist in the SWE of SWE’s professional excellence port- the piano at church. Technical Poster Competition at WE12 folio and prioritizing gaps in content

168 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

SAMANTHA KNOLL UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

For outstanding contributions to the growth of GradSWE and excellence in building networks between graduate and undergraduate women.

amantha Knoll is a graduate stu- reach programs, such as “For Kids Only,” SWE at Illinois in 2013-2014, during dent and Linda Su-Nan Chang Sah the development of SWE exhibits for which time she aimed to grow and SDoctoral Fellow in the mechani- Engineering Open House, and a math- diversify its membership base. Knoll’s cal science and engineering (MechSE) ematics tutoring program for special committee expanded GradSWE mem- department at the University of Illinois needs children. bership to more than 250 members — a at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Having As a graduate student, Knoll became 25 percent increase since the start of the earned her B.S. in engineering mechanics increasingly active in SWE and led 2013-2014 academic year. Knoll also led there, Knoll joined a cellular biomechan- outreach initiatives to mentor under- the coordination of the 2014 weSTEM ics research group led by Taher Saif, graduates. She has spoken on panels conference at Illinois, and doubled its Ph.D., in 2011. She completed her M.S. in such as “How to Find an Undergraduate size since the 2013 event, opening at- 2013, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Research Position,” “Undergraduate De- tendance to all SWE members. Knoll was a National Science Foundation cision Making,” and “Why Grad School?” As an undergraduate, Knoll was a Cellular and Molecular Mechanics and She also led graduate involvement in the member of the Hoeft Technology and Bionanotechnology IGERT fellow from graduate-undergraduate SWE mentor Management Program, through which 2011-2013. program in 2011-2012. She has attended she led a team at an international Upon entering graduate school, Knoll three SWE annual conferences, and has business competition in London. As observed an absence of community presented at sessions: “International a graduate student, Knoll was invited among graduate students in science, Opportunities in Research” and “Rapid to serve as a member of the provost’s technology, engineering, and math- Fire Research.” tuition policy advisory committee. ematics (STEM) programs, and devoted In 2012, Knoll co-founded GradSWE Originally from the Chicago area herself to developing graduate support at Illinois, an official SWE committee and a fervent advocate for community networks. She co-founded Graduate and registered student organization at outreach, Knoll regularly participates Students in MechSE, a departmental UIUC. As a member, Knoll served as in charity fun runs and various Chicago graduate student organization at UIUC. speaker coordinator for the inaugural Cares Serve-a-thon events. At home, she In 2012-2013, Knoll served as president Women Empowered in STEM (weSTEM) enjoys spending time with friends and of MechSE Graduate Women. Conference at UIUC in 2013. She identi- family, endurance running, and playing Knoll has been an active member of fied and invited women from diverse piano. SWE since her first year at UIUC. She backgrounds with advanced degrees in served as chairperson for the Girl Scout STEM to share their personal career Workshop and “Take Your Kids to Work paths. Day,” and was active in a number of out- Knoll served as the director of Grad-

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 169 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

RITU RAMAN UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

For early, innovative contributions to her field and for exemplifying resourcefulness and entrepreneurship for the next generation of women engineers.

itu Raman is a graduate student interests of graduate students, such as Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and National Science Founda- how to write a curriculum vitae, finding and the Cornell Engineering Learning Rtion Graduate Research Fellow and receiving graduate research fellow- Initiatives program. She served as a (2014-2017) and National Science Foun- ships, applying for an academic faculty teaching assistant for three core me- dation IGERT Fellow (2012-2014) in the job, and finding sponsored corporate chanical engineering courses at Cornell. mechanical science and engineering and entrepreneurial research intern- At UIUC, Raman is president of the Me- department at the University of Illinois ships during graduate school. chanical Engineering Graduate Women at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She As publicity chair for GradSWE 2013- organization and an elected member graduated magna cum laude from Cor- 2015, Raman supervises a committee of of two National Science Foundation nell University in May 2012 with a B.S. in women graduate students involved in Student Leadership Councils: CMMB mechanical engineering and a minor in creating an organization Web presence, IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education biomedical engineering. She completed social media marketing and branding, and Research Traineeship on Cellular her M.S. in mechanical engineering and enhancing member recruitment and and Molecular Mechanics and BioNano- in December 2013 and is continuing retention. technology) and EBICS STC (Emergent her Ph.D. research in high-resolution Raman’s commitment to expanding Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems 3-D printing and bio-integrated robot- graduate SWE membership built a com- Science and Technology Center). ics, where she has already developed munity of more than 300 students from a Raman’s early years were spent in multiple specific designs of miniature diverse array of engineering and science, more than 10 schools in Asia, Africa, biomimetic biological machines that technology, engineering, and mathemat- and America, and her diverse life ex- mimic the locomotive behavior of inch- ics (STEM) disciplines. She helped found periences motivated her to promote worms and spiders. and launch Women Empowered in STEM, engineering education at all levels. As an undergraduate at Cornell, the inaugural conference for GradSWE, Keenly sympathetic to young people in- Raman served as section professional providing a forum in which women terested in STEM, Raman helped found development chair and corporate rela- engineers and scientists with advanced the nanoSTRUCT outreach organization tions liaison, coordinating academic/ degrees share insights and career paths at UIUC, serving as activity coordinator professional development and recruit- with current graduate students at UIUC for engineering girls camps at Cornell ment events targeted at enhancing the and universities across the U.S. Raman — the CURIE Academy — and GAMES success of female undergraduate engi- has spoken at one SWE conference about Camp at UIUC. neering students. At UIUC, she focused her bionanotechnology research. Raman is currently writing a children’s on building a supportive community for As an undergraduate, Raman also book on 3-D printing and bionanotech- women pursuing graduate degrees in en- helped found the Society of Asian Sci- nology. In her free time, she enjoys gineering. As professional development entists and Engineers at Cornell, wrote reading, writing, playing the piano and chair for GradSWE 2012-2013, she de- for the Cornell ASME newsletter, and violin, and attending concerts and the- veloped events targeted at the needs and volunteered as a peer tutor through Tau atrical events with friends and family.

170 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

TABITHA VOYTEK CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

For being a role model for women in science and engineering and inspiring graduate student involvement in SWE through creative new initiatives.

abitha Voytek is a Ph.D. candidate At Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), in different universities. She carried her in physics at Carnegie Mellon Uni- where she received her M.S. in phys- efforts to each of the regions, where she Tversity (CMU), with an emphasis ics in 2011, Voytek became involved organized the pilot program for the first in observational 21-cm cosmology using with the SWE graduate community. unified graduate student professional radio telescopes. Currently, her research She currently serves on the CMU Grad development session at each conference. involves studying the early history and Greets committee, where she helps plan Throughout, she remained active in the large-scale structure of the universe graduate-specific events. Voytek was graduate student community, posting through the neutral hydrogen (21-cm) also on the planning committee for the regularly in the SWE graduate student signal. An article she co-authored on the 2013 Region G conference, hosted at blog and the SWE All Together newslet- subject was published this year in The CMU. Her role on the committee was ter. Highly regarded for her accessibility Astrophysical Journal Letters. sessions and workshops chair, working to undergraduate and graduate students Voytek has been active in the Society with a team to plan a slate of workshops alike, Voytek enjoys bridging the previ- of Women Engineers since 2004. As an for the event. She currently serves on the ously separate groups and feels amply undergraduate in the University of the region collegiate team for Region G, both rewarded by the friendships and con- Pacific Collegiate Section, she served as collegiate leadership coach and region nections she fosters. as section president/vice president and graduate representative. At the Society Voytek is an inductee of the engineer- began working with the collegiate lead- level, Voytek continues her work with ing honors society Tau Beta Pi, and an ership coaching committee (CLCC). In the CLCC, serving as regional team lead active member of the American Astro- addition, Voytek competed in the Boeing in Region G. She has also helped plan nomical Society. In her community, Team Tech program, a competition that sessions in the academia track at the an- Voytek volunteers at a local observatory requires teams representing at least nual conference. In FY13, Voytek served and other public outreach programs, three engineering disciplines to work as the graduate member coordinator, including a viewing of Venus’ 2012 with an industry sponsor on a project brainstorming and launching programs transit of the sun. She is producing an for one year. Voytek was a team member that inspired graduate students to re- outreach project titled “The Hydrogen in 2005 and team leader in 2006. Both main involved in SWE. She organized Sky,” designing a planetarium show years, the Pacific team placed third. She the first graduate-student-geared webi- that will educate people about radio as- graduated summa cum laude in 2009 nar to discuss ways in which graduate tronomy and observations using neutral with a B.S. in engineering physics. student sections could be implemented hydrogen gas.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 171 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

GRACE GUIN THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

For stellar academic performance, for dedicated service that ensures the Society of Women Engineers’ future growth, and for community volunteerism.

race Guin is a graduate of The she led a “Wow! That’s Engineering!®” She is a member of several honor so- University of Alabama with a event that brought more than 160 mid- cieties, including Tau Beta Pi, Cardinal Gdegree in chemical engineer- dle-school girls and their parents and Key, and Golden Key. Guin has also ing and a minor in computer-based teachers, primarily from rural Alabama, been recognized as one of the 31 most sciences. As an undergraduate student, to spend a day at the university. For this influential women on the University she was a member of the Computer- event, Guin enlisted and coordinated 50 of Alabama campus. She has received Based Honors Program and participated volunteers at the section level. In 2014, numerous section awards, including the in research ranging from psychiatric she helped develop a young officer corps, Regional Diamond Award. Throughout recovery communities to the application ensuring that the section will continue her undergraduate career, she main- of isotope probing in the Cahaba River to strengthen in the coming years. She tained academic excellence, consistently — a way of exploring her twin interests, also actively participated in regional and ranking in the top eighth percentile of water quality, and community health. Society-level conferences throughout her class. Another of Guin’s research projects her undergraduate career. Her passion for serving those in need involved chemometric analysis of the Under Guin’s leadership, the UA SWE goes beyond the field of engineering. fluorescence of stream-dissolved organic section flourished, maintaining 10 per- Guin is always eager to provide math matter, studying the way carbon moves cent growth while holding major events tutoring or to help with an after-school through cave ecosystems in northern for the community and the region. literacy program. She spent the sum- Alabama. Guin has completed co-op assign- mer of 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa, Guin has been actively involved in the ments in the pharmaceutical industry, working with AIDS patients, as well as Society of Women Engineers since she working on validation protocols, in- working in a soup kitchen. At home, she entered college. She served the collegiate cluding installation, operation, and is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters section at The University of Alabama as performance qualifications for manu- of West Alabama. secretary, vice president of outreach, facturing equipment and processes for Originally from Dallas, Guin gradu- vice president of membership, and Evonik Industries. In addition to her ated in May 2014 with a B.S. in chemical president. While she has been passionate industrial work, Guin has done research engineering. She plans to settle in the about all of her positions, vice president projects related to water quality and the Southeast. of outreach best met her desire to serve environment, as well as for the College others and the community. In that role, of Community Health Sciences.

172 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

MARY ASHLEY LIU THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

FPO

For consistent academic excellence in engineering and premedical studies and actively nurturing the potential of students, youth, and the community.

hile pursuing her B.S. in with leadership of three research proj- and leadership chair, FY12 vice president electrical engineering at The ects at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. external, FY13 vice president corpo- WUniversity of Texas at Austin, Contributing by executing projects, ana- rate, and FY14 president. She helped Mary Ashley Liu balanced academics lyzing data, and drafting papers, she was members bond and develop teamwork with first-year leadership positions in listed as an author on three publications and leadership skills by leading officers student organizations. Each year, she and four conference presentations. Her in creating new social and leadership used her creativity and interpersonal technical achievements culminated in activities and initiating professional skills to positively influence others in her acceptance to medical school for fall development events for members. Liu SWE, engineering, and the commu- 2014 matriculation. While Liu aspires was also engaged in SWE outreach, from nity. By her senior year, Liu had grown to be a physician, she aims to use her introducing young girls to engineering tremendously as a leader. While she engineering background to also become to helping start an outreach committee. continuously strived to excel, she also a creator of medical technology. To facilitate students’ abilities to break helped others develop their leadership In addition to providing service boundaries and seize opportunities, skills, making her an invaluable part of through the university’s Kinsolving she restructured the leadership team, SWE and the UT community. Residence Hall Council, where she incorporated a mentorship program, and As an engineering student pursuing created programs for residents to encouraged members to visit the SWE a medical career, Liu simultaneously help them adjust to college, and Best office to build relationships with officers tackled challenging engineering and Buddies, where she offered support to and one another. premedical courses, maintaining honors community members with disabilities, She has been a role model to her peers status and a high GPA throughout. She Liu volunteered weekly at St. David’s in SWE and beyond by demonstrating led her senior design group in produc- Medical Center, providing wheelchair that being a leader means helping others ing exemplary technical papers and assistance to patients. She proposed and succeed. Liu strives to make SWE and ensuring delivery of a vehicle damage implemented new ideas at St. David’s, other organizations welcoming environ- detection prototype. As a summer 2013 including greeting patients at hospital ments for students, and she continues to Citigroup technology intern, she con- entrances, which have improved how empower SWE members and others to solidated 6,000+ business schedules volunteers serve the hospital and achieve full potential in their academic for Citi’s clients, thus helping increase patients. and professional pursuits. efficiency of the company’s data centers. Liu was consistently involved in the From 2009-2012, Liu was entrusted SWE section at UT, serving as FY11 social

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 173 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

ALEXANDRA ROMINE THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

For maturity, integrity, and leadership that forge successful initiatives and for exemplifying a well- rounded approach to life that benefits others.

lexandra “Lexi” Romine gradu- of roles, first as treasurer and then as Birmingham Laboratories, she man- ated in August with a B.S. in materials coordinator for Alabama’s aged the procurement of more than 200 Achemical engineering from the 2012 “Wow! That’s Engineering!®” event, pieces of equipment and systemized University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. which hosted more than 200 girls with a 15,000-square-foot pilot plant used She is a recipient of the university’s Pres- activities spread throughout three build- for scaling up batch and semibatch idential Scholarship and is now working ings. Most recently, she served Region pharmaceutical production lines. Last at Georgia-Pacific LLC in Pennington, D as chair of the host committee for its summer was spent at Genentech, where Alabama, as a process engineer. As an 2014 conference, which drew some 200 she designed and performed a study of undergraduate student, she maintained collegiate and professional SWE mem- dividers in bulk vial shipping systems a record of academic excellence, and bers to a weekend full of professional and a method for determining the open- served in 2012 as a teaching assistant for development workshops, regional meet- ing force of cartons to characterize their an introductory chemical engineering ings, sightseeing, and informal time for tamper-evident features. class. This year, she was awarded the networking over meals. She has actively In addition to her engineering experi- distinction of serving as ambassador participated in regional and Society ence, Romine seeks out opportunities for the College of Engineering and was conferences for several years. to benefit the lives of others. A resident inducted into The XXXI, an all-women As ambassador for UA’s College of of Collierville, Tennessee, she has spent campus honorary at the University of Engineering, Romine meets with pro- summers working at the theme park Dol- Alabama. spective students and their parents, lywood and participated in the Mountain Active in the Society of Women En- gives tours, and works with alumni at Tennessee Outreach Project, coordinat- gineers since 2009, Romine has been recruiting events. Within the University ing aid to people in Appalachia. In 2011, acknowledged as a section leader since of Alabama section of SWE, she has been she trained 150 volunteers who assisted her sophomore year. She is particularly awarded Distinguished Member, Out- poor families in the region with home interested in serving other people and standing Sophomore, and Outstanding repairs. While in school, she was actively found SWE outreach to be a great way to Junior honors. involved in the Navigators Ministry bring engineering to a variety of women. Romine sought and gained a high Group and served for two years as a tutor In addition to serving as vice president level of industry experience throughout for Literacy is the Edge, a program for of outreach, she has also enthusiastically her collegiate career. As a co-op stu- adults pursuing a G.E.D. served her collegiate section in a number dent for three semesters with Evonik

174 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

SAMANTHA SCHARLES MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

For increased member engagement and exponential growth in section membership, and for consistent, inspired outreach to young people through STEM initiatives.

amantha Scharles is a senior at the during her first year of college. She im- and honor societies and in service to her Milwaukee School of Engineering mediately joined, participating in events community. Since 2012, she has been S(MSOE), pursuing a B.S. in electri- such as Hands On Future and helping both a peer tutor and a peer assistant cal engineering. She is a member and plan and coordinate the 2012 MSOE and is currently the event coordinator officer of the Eta Kappa Nu IEEE Honors SWE professional dinner. In spring for Campus Volunteer Services. Scharles’ Society and a member of Tau Beta Pi. 2012, Scharles was elected section sec- favorite contribution has been working Scharles has been an active member of retary. In 2013, she led the committee with the FIRST® Robotics Competition, SWE since 2011. During her junior year, responsible for organizing the 2013 din- where she has been involved for 11 years, 2013-2014, she served as president of the ner, involving members from the SWE and acting as a mentor for the past three collegiate section. She has played a lead- Wisconsin Section. years. At local FIRST LEGO® League ership role in organizing many events, In the 2013-14 academic year, Scharles competitions, she can be spotted in such as the section’s professional dinner, served as section president. Over the roles ranging from volunteer and judge for which she researched, secured, and summer, she spent her free time sending to referee. scheduled speakers during her sopho- out postcards and letters to incoming Scharles has maintained a consistent more year. Under her leadership, the MSOE female students to promote SWE. record of academic excellence through- section consistently conducts successful This strategy played a large role in the out her collegiate career and has been events and initiatives. Younger members increase of section membership from named to the dean’s list seven times are actively involved and engaged, en- fewer than 10 members her first year to since 2011. At WE13, she was awarded suring strong leadership for the section’s more than 50 members at the beginning the Cisco’s Futures Scholarship. In 2014, future. Membership in the section has of her year as president. In March 2014, she was given the honor of presenting increased from fewer than 30 members she helped organize section members to her undergraduate research at the 2014 to more than 50. This accomplishment compete in a campuswide St. Patrick’s National Conference on Undergraduate was recognized with Collegiate Member- Day competition. For the first time in Research. Scharles will graduate in 2015. ship Growth and Net Growth awards its history, the MSOE SWE section won In her free time, she enjoys photography, at WE13. the competition, which includes a host of yoga, dogs, and spending time with her After hearing about SWE through engineering-related contests. friends and family. MSOE and FIRST® promotions, Scharles In addition to SWE, Scharles is in- sought out a local collegiate section volved in various other organizations

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 175 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

ERIN WESTERBY BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

For modeling the core values of a civil engineer, and for extraordinary leadership in her SWE section, on her campus, and in the community.

rin Westerby graduated with a B.S. Award, The Boeing Company Multi- at UTC Aerospace Systems, where she in civil engineering from Bradley cultural Award, and the Professional worked on a variety of environmen- EUniversity in Peoria, Illinois. She Development Program Award. tal health and safety and electrical has been a member of the Society of In addition to her SWE activities, engineering projects, including using Women Engineers for more than five Westerby has traveled internationally, AutoCAD® software to create a reflec- years and is currently serving as vice once volunteering a summer to teach tive ceiling plan for the lighting in a president for the Western Michigan English in Lima, Peru. She also reacti- 750,000-square-foot building. Section. Previously she served as presi- vated the Bradley chapter of Engineers Westerby is passionate about work- dent, vice president, and secretary of the Without Borders and has visited Guate- ing in civil engineering because of the Bradley University Collegiate Section mala to collect data for a potable water opportunity to improve a company’s and regional collegiate representative project. After returning, she helped raise environmental footprint and ensure that for Region H. funds for that project by soliciting grants all employees are able to do their jobs Westerby joined SWE after finding from local businesses and the university. safely. In this way, she plans to have a herself surrounded by male colleagues, Westerby is a recipient of the positive impact on both people’s daily finding that participation in SWE helped Presidential and Provost-Garrett schol- lives and the overall impact of busi- her connect with other women in en- arships and a member of Tau Beta Pi. She nesses on the community. gineering and develop her leadership was also actively engaged in research She has begun her career at Eaton skills. During her year as section presi- at the university on the diffusivity of Corp. as an environmental, health, and dent, she quickly launched programs and heavy metals suspended in concrete. safety engineer. After completing Eaton’s outreach efforts that grew membership She earned third place in the Caterpillar leadership program, she will be placed by 40 percent. She instituted bimonthly and Bradley Case Competition, which in a management position at one of the activities to further the professional included Six Sigma training and, for her company’s many locations. development of students as well as to senior design project, Westerby worked Westerby currently lives in Grand provide fun social opportunities. One with a local business to improve its com- Rapids, Michigan, and looks forward of her priorities as president was to raise posting processes. to lots of snow. She enjoys cooking, the organization’s profile by searching As an intern at Case New Holland, traveling, and doing crossfit during her out and submitting applications for Westerby optimized an industrial waste- free time. section awards. As a result, the section water treatment system; assisted with received four awards at WE13, includ- an internal OSHA audit; and identified ing the Outstanding Collegiate Section high-energy processes within the facil- Silver Award, the Outreach Event/Series ity. She also completed two internships

176 SWE • CONFERENCE 2014 OUTSTANDING COLLEGIATE MEMBER

NICOLE WOON THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

For launching vibrant initiatives with lasting impact on both her alma mater and her city, and for devoted mentoring of girls and young women through SWE.

icole Woon is a student at The K-12 girls through outreach programs, Penn’s first sustainability solution com- University of Pennsylvania including High School Shadowing Day, petition intended to use engineering to Nenrolled in the School of En- GUTS (Girls Understanding Technol- create a more sustainable campus and gineering and Applied Science (SEAS) ogy and Science), and GEARS (Girls in make Philadelphia a more sustainable and The Wharton School. She earned a Engineering and Related Sciences). Pre- city. As lead director, she formed a plan- B.S.E. in bioengineering and a B.S.E. in viously, Woon served as vice president of ning committee composed of members management (entrepreneurship and in- development and as activities and com- from Penn SWE, Engineers Without novation) in May 2014, and will receive munications co-chair. Her contributions Borders, SEAS Green, and the Penn In- an M.S.E. in mechanical engineering included pioneering a summer mentor- ternational Sustainability Association, and applied mechanics in December ing program for incoming first-year launching the competition in only six 2014. students and partnering with Bloomberg months. PennSustains’ first year saw 29 A member of SWE since 2010, Woon and the National Center for Women and participants across nine teams submit is currently the FY15 collegiate director Information Technology for the “Sit With business plans and present pitches. The on the Society’s board of directors. She Me” red chair campaign. In recognition planning committee raised over $7,000 serves as a liaison between collegiate of the section’s achievements, Penn SWE to help winning teams further their stakeholders and the board, contribut- earned accolades including Region E’s ventures. ing collegiate knowledge and interests first place award for Outstanding Col- Woon completed a technology intern- to shape the strategic direction of the legiate Section and Penn Engineering ship at Goldman Sachs in summer 2014, Society. Club of the Year. a career opportunity made possible at She was recently the 2013-2014 presi- At the regional level, Woon was the WE13. She previously interned at Bar- dent of the Penn SWE section, where she FY14 collegiate communications editor clays and S&P Capital IQ. led the organization to break multiple and the FY13 collegiate representative Passionate about mentoring, Woon is a section records. Penn SWE competed for Region E. In both roles, she coordi- SEAS orientation peer advisor, Wharton against 35 colleges in Schlumberger’s nated and shared best practices with 58 peer advising fellow, and mentor for the annual Stilettos to Steel Toes essay collegiate sections, the highest number SWE/AWE and Biomedical Engineering competition, submitting 102 essays — a of any region. She was an integral part Society mentoring programs. She also 24 percent increase from the previous of the FY14 regional team that created enjoys exercising her creative side as an year — earning $10,200 and placing the Collegiate Welcome Packet, shar- editor for Penn Appétit and Stamped, fourth overall. The section hosted its ing valuable resources with collegiate Penn’s food and travel magazines. She 17th Annual Corporate Dinner during presidents to improve section leadership. is an Elks National Foundation scholar DiscoverE: Engineers Week, securing She also helped to increase readership in and recipient of two SWE Philadelphia sponsorships from nine companies. the Region E blog. scholarships. Woon was born and raised The section also hosted hundreds of In 2013, Woon founded PennSustains, in Santa Monica, California.

CONFERENCE 2014 • SWE 177