Women In Engineering

Past Events

2008

Financial Seminar

March 26, 2008

Graduate Students

 

In March, just before tax season, a graduate student workshop was presented by a financial planner and a certified public accountant. Topics covered included assessing job offers and benefit packages, buying homes, saving, investing and planning.

Special Speaker: Susan Lee

January 16, 2008

Graduate Students and Faculty

 

The discussion held with Susan Lee, from the Office of Foreign Students and Scholars, answered most of the confusing problems about visa issues and the U.S. job market for foreign graduate students and post-docs. Nearly 80 graduate students and post-docs attended the discussion this year and found answers to their questions. Since every foreign student will be going through the same steps, it is always helpful to learn and get organized in advance. Therefore, the questions asked in the discussion were found beneficial by all in attendance.

2008

 

Coffee Break

October 5, 2007

Graduate Students and Faculty

 

Everyone needs a break and the WIE Steering Committee thinks about it for you and brings a warm atmosphere to your department with a "Coffee Break." Each department holds a coffee break sequentially. The coffee breaks are held twice per semester. This is a place and an event at which to share ideas, make new friends and discuss problems and concerns.

Pizza Lunch

August 29, 2007

Graduate Students

 

As an annual event, the Women in Engineering Steering Committee once again welcomed the new and exisiting graduate students, faculty and post-docs at a pizza lunch. Dean Michael Chajes joined the lunch and welcomed the new graduate students.

 

2006

Negotiating Skills Workshop

November, 2006

Faculty

 

With the support of the Deans of all UD Colleges involving engineering and science, two half day negotiating skills workshops were run. These workshops were presented by Barbara Butterfield, Higher Education Executive, U. Mich. retired and Principal, HUMANED Consulting, and Jane Tucker, President of Jane W. Tucker & Associates and currently leading the Change Management team for a software system at Duke. The morning workshop was primarily engineering women faculty and physical science women faculty. Comments of participants as to what was most useful about the workshop included:

• "Learning to step outside/think outside my comfort zone."
• "I saw that some of my actions that I have justified in sub-conscious were avoiding/ denial."
• "Initial negotiations that I think I might not need right now - might be important later on."
• "Everything is negotiable!"
• "It is ok to ask and it is okay to be told no."
• "Probably the best, most useful workshop I've EVER attended."
• "Keeping a positive idea of negotiation - think of it as an opportunity."
• "Real strategies"
• "Interactive approach and real life examples."
• "The extent to which women pre-negotiate against themselves or pre- compromised in order to be 'nice.'"
  

When asked if they would attend future workshops of this type the response was a unanimous YES. Materials from the workshop are available on the WIE Faculty web page.

 

Women in Engineering Study Break

Oct. 25, 2006

Graduates

WIE Mentoring Program Kickoff Reception for 2006-2007

September 27, 2006

Undergraduates

 

 

The was first WIE Mentoring Program reception for this academic year, when the students and their mentors had a chance to meet face-to-face and begin the mentoring relationship that has been continuing through e-mails, worksite visits, etc.  As UD's Women in Engineering Mentoring Program entered its fourth year, the WIE Mentoring Program has matched women engineering professionals with our undergraduate women engineering students.  Both mentors and mentees find the experience to be extremely rewarding and have commented that they wished such a program had existed during their own undergraduate experience.  Using engineering discipline as the first matching criterion, 53 mentors have been matched with 96 mentees to date - and those numbers historically grow during the second semester.

 

Special Speaker: Terri Kelly

May 2, 2006

Undergraduates,

 Graduates and Faculty

Terri Kelly, President and CEO of W.L. Gore Associates spoke at the College of Engineering on 5/2/06 on "Making it Work: Balancing Career and Family."  Ms. Kelly, an alum of UD College of Engineering (a Summa cum Laude  BS in mechanical engineering) comes from a family of mechanical engineers including her father and two of her three sisters.  She and her husband, John,  have four children - Bryan (14), Maddie (10), and twin girls Nicole and Alexis (6).

Ms. Kelly spoke frankly and with humor of her career path at Gore and of her family.  Some of her "tips" for success included:

1. You can do both (career and family) but you have to make, and accept that you have made, choices;
2. Don't mix home and work;
3. Marry a supportive spouse;
4. Splurge on help (home help for cleaning, babysitters, extended family support);
5. Take full advantage of employer benefits;
6. Find a hobby to re-charge yourself.

She pointed out that effective leadership will empower others and free up your time.  In particular she pointed out to each person in the audience that you don't want to be the constraint,  and you don't want to self-consume.  Ms. Kelly  emphasized that if you do choose to take time off (employer benefits or some other way) you should stay connected!!

Panel: "Life After Graduate School"

March 24, 2006

Graduates

The panel for this event included two representatives from industry, Dr. Mary Kurian from Air Products and Dr. Deborah Massouda from DuPont Co., and two representatives from academia Dr. Anette Karlsson and Dr. Sue McNeil. Both Dr. Kurian and Dr. Massouda had originally received their Ph.D degrees in engineering from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Massouda shared with the group her unusual career trajectory, one which included dual career difficulties and a move to Oklahoma; in addition, she shared tips from her point of view as a recruiter for DuPont.

Dr. Kurian, a fairly recent graduate, gave a clear and concise power point presentation on interviewing for a job and on investigating job opportunities and training programs (as opposed to just straight salary) in offers. She also indicated pitfalls to avoid including poorly prepared interview talks, which are inexcusable. Practice is important as is your advisor's input! She pointed out the interview talk should concentrate on and highlight your work and skills, and can mention but should not dwell on "the group's" work.

Dr. Karlsson (who had previously worked at Saab Aerospace) and Dr. McNeil (a recent addition to our faculty from UIUC) gave advice on academic jobs, postdoctoral opportunities, and specifically pointed out that for success in an academic job hunt one needs papers! Several speakers mentioned the importance of networking, not only locally and at national meetings, but also by being interested in and knowledgeable about companies at which one interviews, even to the point of contacting someone on site about the opportunity.

The panel discussion was moderated by Pam Cook and a lively question period followed.

WIE Mentoring Program Reception

February 22, 2006

Undergraduates

with guest Sue McNeil, UD professor of Civil and Transportation Engineering

UD's WIE Mentoring Program held its annual National Engineers Week reception for undergraduate women engineering students and the 62 women engineering/science professionals serving as this year's WIE mentors. (Currently, 104 engineering students have requested a mentor through the program this year. These students have been paired and then matched with one or more women engineering professionals.)

The reception provided an opportunity for the students and their mentors to meet again, to network with other mentors, and to plan future interactions they will have. In addition to the great networking that took place, a short program followed Dean Kaler's words of welcome. This included remarks by Sue McNeil, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, specializing in transportation engineering. Professor McNeil pointed out the difference between a mentor and a role model, and shared her own experiences as a mentee at different stages in her life. Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student Jennifer O'Donnell then told the audience about her own deliberations as she nears completion of her doctoral degree and decides how best to use her love of both teaching and research. Knowing that many of the students hope to obtain engineering summer internships, mentor Cindy Dinunno, one of four mentors from Boeing, told the students about Boeing's on-line application for job opportunities throughout their plant sites.

If you would like to be a part of the WIE mentoring program, please contact Kathy Werrell at werrell@udel.edu.

2005

WIE Mentoring Reception

September 25, 2005

Undergraduates

UD's WIE Mentoring Program held its official "kick-off" reception for this year's 51 mentors (female engineering professionals) and 102 undergraduates who have requested a mentor to meet and network. Michael Chajes, Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering addressed the reception. If you would like to be a part of the WIE mentoring program, please contact Kathy Werrell at werrell@udel.edu.

Pizza Lunch

Sept 23, 2005

Graduates

The graduate Women in Engineering held their "pizza lunch" to welcome new students. Le Zhang (Materials Science), current chair of the Graduate Women in Engineering Steering Committee, welcomed the students and introduced her co-chair Ann Kim.

Special Speaker & Luncheon

May 5, 2005

Graduates and Faculty

The event was for all women faculty, post docs, and advanced graduate students in engineering, science and mathematics. It was sponsored by the Commission on the Status of Women and the WISE subcommittee, in cooperation with the Offices of the Deans of the Colleges of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arts & Sciences, and Engineering.

Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Chair, Canon Life Sciences, Inc., Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland College Park and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, focuses her interests on global infectious diseases, water, and health. She is currently developing an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues for both the developed and developing world. During her tenure as the 11th Director of the National Science Foundation (1998-2004), she co-chaired the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. There her major interests included K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education, and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering.

A nationally respected scientist and educator, she has authored/co-authored 16 books and over 700 scientific publications, and has produced the award-winning film "Invisible Seas". Dr. Colwell has been awarded 46 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning, including her alma mater, Purdue University, where she obtained her Ph.D. in Oceanography. She holds memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, among other societies. A geological site in Antarctica, Colwell Massif, has been named in recognition of her work in the polar region.

WIE Mentoring Program Reception

February 23, 2005, 4:30-6:00 p.m

Undergraduates

This program took place in the Center for Composite Materials, at the corner of Delaware Avenue & Academy Street.

The second WIE Mentoring Reception this academic year, this event allowed students and their female engineering mentors from industry to enjoy exchanging stories, learning from each other, sharing needs and concerns, planning worksite visits, and possibly providing leads to future employment. Mary Galvin, UD's Distinguished Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, addressed the students briefly, describing her own journey in engineering and the mentoring she received along the way - while in school, working in industry, and even now as a faculty member. Students who have met with their mentors since the November reception and/or have had winter or summer engineering internships were also invited to describe those experiences for the group.

Undergraduate students who were custom-matched with an engineering professional at the beginning of the academic year have been communicating with those mentors over the past few months. Other students who did not initially request a mentor were invited to join the gathering - and now will also be matched with mentors from the professional community! If you would like to be part of the WIE Mentoring Program, please contact Kathy Werrell in the Dean's Office, werrell@udel.edu.

Panel Discussion: Planning for Success in the Job Hunt

January 19, 2005

Graduates

Moderated by Professors Pam Cook and Anette Karlsson, the panel presented both the industry perspective and the situation as it is likely to be found by those applying for academic positions. Panelists included Deborah Hartman (Director, Lead Discoveries, AstraZeneca), Paul Imhoff (Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering), Eric Kaler (Dean; Elizabeth Inez Kelley Professor, Chemical Engineering), Kristi Kiick (Assistant Professor, Materials Science & Engineering), Anne Robinson (Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering), Michael Santare (Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering), and Lynn Srivastava (Manager, Power Deliver Restructuring, Conectiv).

The panelists provided insightful answers to the following questions:

• What is a search committee looking for – the key things on your resume and cover letter?
• How do you prepare to stand out in the interview process?
• How do you find the right institutional fit?
• How and when do you negotiate a good start-up package?

Key among the words of wisdom was honesty. While the panelists advised using key words that will relate your resume and cover letter to the specific job description, they also emphasized that you must be able to knowledgeably speak to whatever you present in your dossier. For example, if you list a publication on which you were one of the co-authors, you need to understand that entire publication so that you are prepared in the event that the interviewer chooses to question you about it.

Finding the right institutional fit and standing out in the interview process were both topics where preliminary research was advised by the panel. In other words, use the web and any contacts to learn as much about the institution and about the members of the search committee before you ever arrive for the interview. Not only will you feel more comfortable in the interview process, but you will be able to ask appropriate questions of the interviewers and can also re-direct the focus of a question that may be making you somewhat uncomfortable.

Lynn Srivastava provided a hand-out with helpful tips about cover letters and resume packets. For example, she advised not putting your resume in an expensive binder because it will be pulled out and copied for all members of the interview team. She also pointed out that a standard font should be used with few graphics, particularly if submitting your resume electronically.

2004

WIE Mentoring Program Reception

November 14, 2004

Undergraduates

The second year of UD's WIE Mentoring Program was off to a great start, with an opening reception attended by 73 of our undergraduate women engineering students who had requested a mentor - a 12% increase over last year. Each of these young women has been matched with a female engineering professional, most of whom met at this reception while others began their mentoring relationships at some other mutually convenient time or through e-mail. As our students entered the final phase of the fall semester, they appreciated the encouragement from their mentors!

At the reception, Lisa Marvel (UD Electrical Engineering alum and now one of our mentors) shared how she had been mentored by numerous people - both male and female - throughout her school life and professional career. Then, students Courtney White (EE'04), Stacy Huntoon (ChE'05), and Khenya Still (ME'07) shared the wonderful experiences they had had as a result of participating in the WIE Mentoring Program last year.

2nd "Leadership Training for Effective Negotiation" Workshop

March 22, 2004

Graduates

Facilitated by nationally known speakers Lee Warren (Associate Director, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University) and Nancy Houfek (Head of Voice and Speech, Institute for Advanced Theater Training, Harvard University), this extraordinary event offered two sessions. The morning session was best for first-time attendees. The afternoon session was more specifically designed for those who attended last year's workshop. Dr. Warren and Dr. Houfek helped attendees develop strategic behaviors and effective speaking voices, while tuning out stress and tension. The effective communication, presentation and negotiation skills learned are those needed for success in job interviews, in negotiating with colleagues, with supervisors, and thesis advisors, and in being heard in group meetings.

Women in Engineering Mentoring Program Reception

February 25, 2004

Undergraduates

This was the second WIE Mentoring Reception this academic year, attended by more than 60 mentors and mentees who enjoyed exchanging stories, learning from each other, sharing needs and concerns, and hearing words of wisdom from DuPont chemical engineering professional, Deborah Grubbe.

Undergraduate students who had been custom-matched with an engineering professional at the beginning of the academic year had been communicating with those mentors over the past few months. Both students and mentors enjoyed the opportunity to get together. Other students who had not signed up for a mentor at the beginning of the academic year joined the gathering - and now will also be matched with mentors from the professional community!

My mentor [Susan Hennessey, DuPont] has been so helpful. Not only has she set this tour up for us (I share her as a mentor with Carina Platte) but she also has specifically discussed options that a BS ChemE can pursue after graduation. I am so thankful to have her as a mentor. This experience has helped me tremendously. Please feel free to share my experiences so that other people can benefit too.

~Stacy Huntoon