WEPAN Names Dr. Ershela Sims as Executive Director

"I am honored to have been selected as the Executive Director of WEPAN. Their work over the past 30 years as a resource to engineering organizations is inspiring.  I look forward to working with the board of directors and members to further the mission of WEPAN.”

Dr. Ershela Sims

The WEPAN Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Ershela Sims as our new Executive Director. She will begin her role on January 3, 2021. Dr. Sims is currently the Interim President and Sr. Vice President of Virtual and Outreach at the SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. She brings a breadth and depth of experience, with a proven track record in leadership, an established network, and exceptional experience to lead WEPAN. With over 20 years of combined experience in engineering industry, research, and academia, with the most recent focus on K-12 engineering and STEM education, Sims has been a longtime advocate for inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in engineering.

“Dr. Sims has a track record of effective leadership, high-impact outreach, and innovation in both the academic and corporate worlds. We are thrilled to have Dr. Sims on our team as we seek to expand our impact on academic and corporate institutions across the country.” said WEPAN President Dr. Sheila Ross.

We are excited about WEPAN’s future under Ershela’s guidance. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sims to the WEPAN community!

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About Dr. Ershela Sims

Ershela earned her BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. She is a member of several professional associations including the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Dr. Sims is a recipient of the NSBE Dr. Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Golden Torch Award and co-recipient of the National Science Teachers Association Vernier Technology Award. She also serves on multiple boards including the Clemson General Engineering Advisory Board, the Florence-Darlington Technical College Board of Trustees, and NSBE Healthcare Innovation Special Interest Group.