WEPAN Blog

CoNECD Brings People Together

CoNECD brings together researchers and practitioners in the engineering and computing workforce.

2024-2025 President: Rochelle L. Williams

Rochelle L. Williams, Executive Director of Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity and a Co-Principal Investigator for the ARC Network, is this year’s President of the WEPAN Board of Directors.

ARC Network, a WEPAN Initiative

Advancing STEM equity in academia by sharing the best practices and tools shown to effect change

ACCESS+, a WEPAN Initiative

Preparing and supporting motivated cohorts of STEM professional society DEI change leaders

TIPA Helps Innovators Navigate the Patent Process

TIPA promotes equitable innovation ecosystems by providing open access to patenting information often withheld from marginalized inventors.

2023-2024 President: Jamie Huber Ward

Jamie Huber Ward, social scientist and Associate Director of Higher Education with the National Center for Women & Information Technology at the University of Colorado Boulde, is this year’s President of the WEPAN Board of Directors, who are responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction.

Meet Our WEPAN Presidents

Past WEPAN Presidents share thoughts on their favorite memories, their proudest accomplishments, how they first became interested in creating social change in engineering, and why they wanted to become involved with the organization.

Advice for Creating Systemic Change in Engineering

We asked our past presidents, all of whom have extensive experience in this field, a question: “What advice do you have for those seeking to create systemic change in engineering?”

An Oral History of WEPAN with Liz Litzler

Longtime WEPAN member and collaborator Liz Litzler shares her history with the leading champion in North America for leveraging research and best practices to propel the inclusion of women in the field of engineering.

30 for 30 Profile: Iowa State College of Engineering

To Connie Hargrave, Iowa State College of Engineering's first associate dean for equity and engagement, joining WEPAN was a “no-brainer” type of decision.

30 for 30 Profile: University of Cincinnati Women in Engineering Program

The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement (IECE) is an award-winning department within the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati.

Spotlight on DiscoverE

DiscoverE is a coalition providing every student with a shared STEM experience and the resources, programs, and connections to improve the understanding of engineering through a united voice and a global distribution network.

Spotlight on the Women of Color Engineering Collaborative (WCEC)

The Women of Color Engineering Collaborative (WCEC) is a collective entity of over twenty leading STEM-focused organizations dedicated to providing organizations with resources to create a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive environment for women of color in engineering.

2022-2023 President: Beth Anne Johnson

Beth Anne Johnson, the associate director of Clemson University’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, is this year’s President of the WEPAN Board of Directors, who are responsible for defining WEPAN’s mission and for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the organization.

Spotlight on TIP, the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, TIP, advances use-inspired and translational research in all fields of science and engineering, giving rise to new industries and engaging all Americans — regardless of background or location — in the pursuit of new, high-wage jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

30 for 30 Profile: Texas A&M Women in Engineering Program

The Women in Engineering (WE) program is a collegewide effort to create an inclusive environment at Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering. WE’s goal is to eliminate the underrepresentation of women by engaging students, professionals and advocates who support the advancement of women in engineering majors, the workforce and academic careers.

30 for 30 Profile: UC-Irvine Stacey Nicholas Office of Access & Inclusion

The University of California, Irvine’s Stacey Nicholas Office of Access & Inclusion (OAI) is a joint office between the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, created in 2014 to recruit, retain, and graduate talented students from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented in engineering and information and computer sciences.

30 for 30 Profile: University of Dayton School of Engineering Women Engineering Program

The University of Dayton School of Engineering Women Engineering Program (WEP) is committed to providing women engineering students with opportunities for networking, service and academic growth, as well as social activities to bring them and fellow students closer.

Congrats to ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Bronze-level Institutions

Congratulations to our WEPAN members, the University of Cincinnati and Valparaiso University, for receiving Bronze Level Institutional Recognition for the ASEE Diversity Recognition program.

30 for 30 Profile: The OSU College of Engineering Women in Engineering Program

The Ohio State University College of Engineering Diversity, Outreach & Inclusion Women in Engineering (WiE) program is a comprehensive, multi-faceted program that assists the College with the recruitment, retention, motivation, and graduation of all women engineering students.

30 for 30 Profile: Michigan State University Women in Engineering Program

The Women in Engineering (WIE) program at the Michigan State University College of Engineering provides resources, services, and a positive environment to enable the success of women engineering students in their academic and professional pursuits.

2021-2022 President: Dr. Sonya T. Smith

Dr. Sonya T. Smith is president of the WEPAN Board of Directors, who are responsible for defining WEPAN’s mission and for providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the organization according to its bylaws, policies, and procedures.

WEPAN 30 for 30: University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Engineering, the only engineering college in Nebraska, has a unique role as the singular intellectual and cultural resource for engineering instruction, research, and outreach in the state.

WEPAN 30 for 30: NC State Women and Minority Engineering Program

The Women and Minority Engineering Program (WMEP) at the North Carolina State University (NC State) College of Engineering focuses on ensuring a diverse student body by providing community building and engagement, academic support and professional development through several activities to ensure an inclusive environment for all students.

Congratulations to WEPAN Institutional Members taking part in NSF I-Corps Hubs

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently launched five Hubs across the country as the next stage of the I-Corps program, which trains scientists and engineers to carry their promising ideas and technologies beyond the university and into the marketplace to benefit society.

WEPAN Treasurer Jacqueline El-Sayed is an educator and a builder

Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed is the Chief Academic Officer and Managing Director for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and treasurer for WEPAN.

30 for 30 Profile: Purdue University Women in Engineering Program

The Women in Engineering Program at Purdue University College of Engineering is dedicated to enriching the profession of engineering through the full participation of women, and develops and directs activities that provide encouragement for girls and young women to study engineering, information about careers and companies, and an environment conducive to the successful completion of students' studies.

Looking for reviewers for an $18.4M NSF grant supporting ASEE eFellows

Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed, the Chief Academic Officer and Managing Director for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and WEPAN treasurer, received an $18.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support the ASEE’s eFellows engineering postdoctoral fellowship program.

Sheryl Sorby has dedicated her career to helping students develop spatial skills

Sheryl Sorby is a professor of engineering education at the University of Cincinnati and a Professor Emerita of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University.

ACCESS+ Engagement at the 2021 Aspire Summer Institute

ACCESS+ sent a team to the 2021 Aspire Summer Institute, which was hosted virtually from June 7-11, 2021 by the NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance.

30 for 30 Profile: UT Austin Women in Engineering Program

Established in 1991 by women engineering faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) connects students, educators and professionals to the world of engineering through recruitment initiatives, supportive structures and educational services to promote the success and advancement of women in engineering.

CoNECD 2020

WEPAN Awards 2019

2019 CoNECD (Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computer Diversity) Conference Summary

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Carol Heaverlo

Dr. Carol Heaverlo, 2012 WEPAN Conference Chair, recently spent some time with us sharing her thoughts on outreach programs, what is needed for transformative change in STEM, advice for young women, and the upcoming WEPAN 2012 Conference.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Margaret Bailey

If we could sum up Dr. Margaret Bailey's work in just a few words, it would be "passion driving programs." Passion to improve the environment for women students and faculty in engineering fields has motivated Dr. Margaret Bailey to put action behind her passion.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Nadya Fouad

Ask a vocational psychologist to find out why women are leaving engineering, and the answers may, or may not, surprise you.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Vince Bertram

Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of Project Lead The Way, is a passionate voice for improving education to inspire students in areas that will positively affect their lives, their decisions, and their careers, not to mention our country's workforce and economy as a result.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Norman Fortenberry

"The process is important because it does take a lot of persistence to become an engineer, but we need to let people know why that is important-the great problems of today's world are solved by engineers." Insightful words spoken by a man who was destined to become an engineer, and who is spending his life improving engineering education with the hopes of changing the face of engineering.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Emily Allen

Dr. Emily Allen, the new Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), brings a diverse set of experiences to her leadership role.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Daryl Chubin

Unfortunately, male advocates for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sometimes seem to be a shadowy myth.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Tricia Berry

A conversation with Tricia Berry leaves you with a distinct impression that she is far from done with her work.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Cori Lathan

Take one woman with multiple higher education degrees in difficult and male-dominated fields, add a highly successful and recognized career as an engineer and entrepreneur, top it all off with founding influential programs and serving on boards with life-changing missions, and what do you get?

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Carmen Sidbury

Carmen Sidbury wants you to join her! "To do this work [of encouraging students to take ownership of their STEM learning] you have to engage others and meet people where they are.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Ruta Sevo

We asked Ruta what she would do with two wishes to transform action related to women in STEM. She focused on the two things she believes are currently missing yet necessary for change: political will and resources.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Ilene Busch-Vishniac

Enough studies! Ilene Busch-Vishniac wishes people would stop doing study after study on increasing women in STEM and "simply start moving faster to implement.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Susan Metz

Susan Metz has been instrumental in changing the landscape for women in engineering for over 30 years.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Jane Margolis

Dr. Jane Margolis' personal and research interests focus on the ways in which society produces and then reproduces inequality and why some individuals do not receive the same opportunities as others.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Maria Klawe

When someone is the president of a prestigious science and engineering college, a renowned mathematician, an accomplished artist, and one of only two women on the Microsoft Board, you might assume she may be just a bit difficult to schedule time with or even perhaps a bit aloof.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Belle Wei

"Unfortunately there is somewhat of a culture of exclusivity in engineering, the implication that lesser mortals need not apply," says Dr. Belle Wei, recently named Provost and Academic Vice President of California State University, Chico, and former engineering dean of San Jose State University.

Leading the Way: A Conversation with Karan Watson

Some people are advocates and thought leaders before even realizing it-an apt description of Karan Watson, Texas A & M Provost, ABET President-Elect, and electrical engineer.

STEM Thought Leader Interviews

Showcases for Women in STEM supported initiatives

Tracking Trends in Gender and STEM Publications