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The WEPAN Awards Committee is pleased to announce the 2008 winners!
WEPAN Communications Advisory CommitteeReceives Distinguished Service Award
WEPAN’s Communications Committee Members include: Sheila Edwards Lange, Director of Communications (University of Washington); Carlie Bower, Committee Chair (IBM); Leigh Abts (University of Maryland); Janel Barfield (IBM); Cathy Pieronek (University of Notre Dame); Kristina Kennedy (The Ohio State University); Serita Acker (Clemson University).
These committee members worked tirelessly over two years to develop and implement a new branding strategy for WEPAN. The result of the work is a dynamic new face for the organization that portrays its progressive nature.
Bevlee WatfordReceives WEPAN Founders Award
Dr. Bevlee Watford is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and the Director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity. As an advocate for students and a leader for women and minorities in engineering, she has worked closely with educators nationally and locally to promote professional development and activities that respond to the particular student needs.
In the words of one of the nominators, Bevlee Watford exemplifies the WEPAN mission; she is a catalyst, an advocate, and a leading resource for institutional and national change that enables the success of all women in engineering.
University of Maryland Honored with National Engineers Week “Girl Day” Award for “Girl Scout Engineering Saturday”
Directed by Dr. Paige Smith, Women in Engineering Program Director for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland’s Women in Engineering Program has a variety of pre-college outreach programs. Girl Scout Engineering Saturday (GSES) is tied to “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” and Engineers Week.
GSES reaches out to an audience that may not self-identify with STEM. Additionally, the participating undergraduates who develop and implement GSES activities improve their leadership and communication skills while serving as role models. Role models are critical to engaging pre-college interest in engineering. Since GSES began in February 2003, it has doubled in size.
WEPAN Committee Chairs Honored with President’s Award
The 2008 President's Award was made to the chairs of WEPAN committees, in recognition of their dedicated leadership and work advancing WEPAN’s mission. The 2008 WEPAN Committee Chairs are:
Awards Committee
Sara Hernandez, Cornell University
Communications Committee
Carlie Bower, IBM
Conference Committee
Susan Arnold Christian, Kansas State University
Corporate Relations Committee
Sherry Woods, University of Texas at Austin
Diversity Advancement Committee Suzie Laurich-McIntyre (Co-Chair),
Carnegie Mellon University
Sylvanus Wosu (Co-Chair),
University of Pittsburgh
Finance Committee
Chris S. Anderson, Michigan Technological University
Leadership Committee
Beth Holloway, Purdue University
Membership Committee
Donna Reese, Mississippi State University
Research Committee
Janet Malley (co-chair),
University of Michigan
Jennifer Sheridan (co-chair),
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Nancy Steffen-Fluhr Receives WEPAN University Change Agent Award
Nancy Steffen-Fluhr is Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Director of the Murray Center for Women in Technology the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
In the words of one of her nominators, Dr. Nancy Steffen-Fluhr has been a determined, energetic, and effective catalyst for change throughout her 37-year career at NJIT, creating a powerful network for the advancement of women faculty and students in science, technology, engineering and math.
University of Houston “WELCOME” Program Honored with WEPAN Women in Engineering Initiative Award
The University of Houston Women in Engineering Learning Community for Maximizing Excellence Program (The WELCOME Program) is directed by Dr.Julie Trenor, Director of Undergraduate Student Recruitment and Retention for the Cullen College of Engineering.The WELCOME Program was established in fall 2005 and offers an alternative model for "non-traditional" institutions or those striving to maintain relevance with shifting population demographics.
This program cultivates a sense of community on a commuter campus, with particular emphasis on easing the transition for first year students (when enrollment data show that female students are at particular risk for dropping out of engineering). It fosters a culture of mentoring among students who generally had no prior experience as mentor or mentee.
Women in Engineering Program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Receives WEPAN Women in Engineering Program Award, Margaret Bailey, Executive Director.
The Women in Engineering Program at RIT is a model for other WIE organizations demonstrating best practices in comprehensive pre-college outreach, recruitment, and community building initiatives. Presently, this program reaches over 1,500 engineering students, K-12 students, and educators through outreach and community building programs.
The increased participation and enthusiasm over the past five years regarding all of WE@RIT’s offerings, strongly attests to its highly perceived value by K-12 and RIT students and demonstrates the program’s ability to improve the educational environment for women in engineering at RIT.
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