2022 Women of Color | CONFERENCE - VOL. 22, NO. 2

Congratulations to the 15 members of the Walmart Global Tech InfoSec team being recognized for STEM achievement. They represent the phenomenal talent powering the next retail disruption. Our inclusive culture sparks the ingenuity that helps our customers live better.

Join us at careers.walmart.com

30| The 2022 Technologist of the Year

Meet Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

Passing the Torch 2021 Technologist of the Year Dr. Mei Cai shares her experience as a top award winner.

Take Five The climate crisis is real! Learn how Sunita Satyapal is using hydrogen and fuel cells to make an impact on global well-being.

She Thrives Success doesn’t come easy, but women like Amanda Goodson are blazing new trails. Read all about her intrepid career journey here.

By the Numbers This is Women of Color By the Numbers. Get to know the WOC STEM community better with these quick stats.

Sisters in Innovation Cameroon-born Otily Toutsop has found success in her STEM career abroad. But she hasn’t stopped trying to reach back and pull through.

Top Women

in

Healthcare These women are making a big name for themselves in the healthcare arena.

Women of Walmart

The Women of Walmart are taking the company to new heights. Get to know these superstars.

50 Years of Title IX: Breaking down Barriers in STEM

June 23 marked the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a federal law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. “It is one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in America’s history,” wrote Peg Pennepacker, who worked in public education for over 36 years.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, authors and sponsors of Title IX include Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first AsianAmerican woman elected to Congress; Edith Green, whose drive and commitment earned her the nickname “Mrs. Education” in Oregon; Birch Bayh, who is known as the “father” of Title IX because of his role in crafting the legislation, and Bernice R. Sandler, known as the “Godmother of Title IX” for her role in the implementation of the law.

In her op-ed, Pennepacker noted that while Title IX is one of the most important laws passed for women and girls, it may be the most misunderstood. “Title IX is often identified with promoting opportunities for sports participation for females in athletics, yet neither the word ‘sports’ nor the word ‘athletics’ are mentioned in the original 37-word statute,” she wrote. Congress passed Title IX in response to sex-based discrimination in education.

There have been several challenges to the legislation, including Cohen v. Brown University, the first Title IX case to examine how a federal court would review the three-part test. Donna Lopiano, a Softball Hall of Fame athlete, has been an expert witness in 28 court cases.

But during Women’s History Month 2022, the U.S. Education Department and NASA marked the role of Title IX in exposing girls and women to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy used the anniversary of Title IX to spotlight opportunities for women to enter STEM fields and how Title IX has helped women succeed.

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Monica

Climate change isn’t going anywhere

Sunita Satyapal believes awareness is key to combating it

Sunita Satyapal

Director, Fuel Cell Technologies Office Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy U. S. Department of Energy

hydrogen activities across DOE offices.

She is also responsible for the overall strategy and execution of hydrogen and fuel cell programs, including oversight of more than $1.6 billion in research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities, as well as staff. In total, she coordinates more than $9.5 billion in hydrogen activities in partnership across DOE offices. Her office has been leading the interagency working group on hydrogen for nearly two decades.

“I’ve been interested in hydrogen because there’s just been so much interest partly because of the versatility,” Satyapal said. “Most people don’t know hydrogen, but it’s the most abundant element in the universe.”

Satyapal coordinates international hydrogen activities as vice chair of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy, a partnership among over 20 countries to accelerate progress in hydrogen, and serves as the U.S. co-lead for hydrogen efforts within the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation.

CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE CRISIS

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations are expected to experience rapid growth in the coming decade, according to Catalyst, which was founded 60 years ago. But a gender gap in STEM persists, and representation is still a prominent issue.

Entering and sustaining a STEM career is a challenge for many women, but Sunita Satyapal has defied the odds and is leaving her mark at the U.S. Department of Energy. Satyapal has more than two and a half decades of experience in her field and is making significant strides in STEM.

Currently, Satyapal is director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She is responsible for coordinating

Satyapal believes that hydrogen is a key tool in decarbonizing and addressing the climate crisis, a task that President Joe Biden has brought to the forefront of his agenda.

Climate change isn’t going anywhere, and Satyapal believes awareness is key when combating it. She says people don’t talk about the climate crisis enough because it seems so far into the future, but time goes by very quickly.

“That’s why I’m really grateful to my whole team and my colleagues here in the office I work with,” she said. “Everyone is so passionate about spreading the word.”

One of the projects that really stand out for Satyapal is developing material that could absorb carbon dioxide so astronauts could go on missions longer. She has also

helped on a project developing a way to dispose of chemical warfare agents, but her focus was always on the environment.

Diversity is an important aspect of meeting climate goals, according to Satyapal. She said having people with different perspectives and from different backgrounds

brings a lot of value to projects such as those dealing with climate change.

“We just need so many different perspectives. The whole globe is so interconnected, so it’s really critical,” Satyapal said.

ROLE MODELS, MENTORS, SETBACKS, AND INSPIRATION

Satyapal has had many different mentors throughout her career, but her biggest mentors were her parents. Her father came to the U.S. on a cargo ship with no money and received his Ph.D. and became a director for the United Nations. She said her mother got her Ph.D. at a time when it was very difficult for women to move up educationally and professionally.

“They went through so much, and they gave me and my sisters so much of an opportunity,” Satyapal said. “We ended up being able to live and grow up in the U.S., so I think that gratitude and that recognition of what people have gone through before us is just really inspiring.”

Being a DOE scientist wasn’t always Satyapal’s goal. She wanted to be a university professor when she began her education—a dream she hasn’t given up, partly because her mother and her sister are both professors now.

In her field, Satyapal has had to overcome many obstacles that come with biases some people have when they first see her. She said she has been in situations where someone refused to shake her hand.

“How the brain works is when you see another human being, your brain immediately classifies. You don’t even know it,” Satyapal said. “I think one way to overcome these challenges is to realize that that is how the human brain is working, so it’s not necessarily the fault of the person.”

She believes that biases are natural because everyone has them. She said one way to overcome these challenges is realizing that they are often ingrained in a person, and they may not be offending you on purpose.

She advises young people who want to start a career in STEM to focus on their foundation because that will allow them to grow and become more knowledgeable in their field. 

“We just need so many different perspectives. The whole globe is so interconnected, so it’s really critical.”

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Gaby

Paving a road to success

Women have made many positive contributions in the world of STEM but remain underrepresented in those fields. According to the Census Bureau, women only held 7 percent of STEM jobs in 1970. That number doubled to 14 percent in 1980. According to the National Science Board, women make up 47 percent of the current workforce but only 28 percent of the current science and engineering workforce. Of this percentage, women of color make up about 5 percent.

“The representation of women varies widely across STEM occupations. Women make up a large majority of all workers in health-related jobs, but remain underrepresented in other job clusters, such as the physical sciences, computing, and engineering,” the Pew Research Center reports.

Black workers make up 11 percent of all employed adults, compared with 9 percent of those in STEM occupations. Their share is lower in some STEM job clusters, including just 5 percent in engineering and architecture jobs. There has been no change in the share of Black workers in STEM jobs since 2016. Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to earn degrees in STEM than in other degree fields, and they continue to make up a lower share of STEM graduates relative to their share of the adult population.

According to the Educational Research Center of America, male and female students in K-12 education share the same ability to excel in STEM classes, but female students demonstrate less confidence in those subjects.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2015, 5 percent of women of color attending higher education institutions who earned STEM degrees were Asian, almost 3 percent were Black, and almost 4 percent were Latina. The lack of representation may present some very difficult challenges for women of color pursuing STEM careers.

Scientific American discovered that 45 percent of women in STEM leave their jobs because they feel underpaid and underrepresented. This statistic indicates that it is difficult for women to pursue leadership positions in their fields. That’s why young people need role models like Dr. Amanda Goodson in order to be successful in STEM. Representation is at the core of providing confidence to

pursue careers in STEM where men may dominate.

Goodson’s trailblazing success is encouraging upwardly mobile women to aspire to positions of leadership. During her career, she has overcome racism and sexism to become the successful professional she is today and continues to inspire women in STEM and non-STEM professions alike.

Goodson is an energetic and in-demand public speaker. She has also authored 16 career books where she talks about her struggles and successes as a woman of color in STEM.

Currently, Goodson is a senior leader in program management excellence at Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS). She is responsible for driving strategy in select program activities and deploying an executable and sustainable model for business growth.

Before this, she was a leader in information technology customer engagement at RMS. Goodson was also the director for IT process integration. As a quality and mission assurance lead for two product lines, she ensured that products and services were equally distributed to a diverse group of customers.

Diversity has always been an important aspect of Goodson’s career. She has served as a chairperson for AMIE (a leading organization that develops industry, government, and university partnerships to achieve diversity in the engineering workforce), and represented Raytheon on the AMIE board of directors.

Prior to joining Raytheon in 2003, Goodson spent 15 years as a NASA aerospace engineer before being appointed as a senior executive at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. She was the first female senior executive in Safety & Mission Assurance for Propulsion Systems. She was also the first Black woman appointed as director of safety and mission assurance with over 35 successful

“The success we experience depends on the mental image we hold onto in our thoughts. What we focus on continuously, we will experience,” says Goodson.

launches during her leadership at the Kennedy Space Center Launch Facility. Goodson was named the federal government’s “Supervisor of the Year” and earned the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. She also received the Southwest Alliance leadership award and was selected as a Tucson Woman on the Move.

For over 25 years, she has held certifications as a Raytheon Six Sigma expert. In addition, Goodson is a certified John Maxwell speaker, trainer, and coach, and has been a keynote speaker for clients such as NASA, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineers, YWCA, and major Department of Defense contractors.

Her latest books include Astronomical Leadership, as well as Authority of a Leader and How to Unlock Your Full Potential: 11 Keys to Leader Success. 

Senior Leader in Program Management Excellence

Dr. Amanda Goodson

Raytheon Missile Systems

“The representation of women varies widely across STEM occupations. Women make up a large majority of all workers in health-related jobs, but remain underrepresented in other job clusters, such as the physical sciences, computing, and engineering.”

Source: Pew Research

A Snapshot of Attendees at the 2021 WOC STEM Conference (and WOC STEM DTX)

The results are in! And respondents to the 2021 Women of Color (WOC) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Post-Conference Survey had much to say.

Over half (54.17 percent) of the students and professionals who attended the 26th annual WOC STEM Conference said personal commitments and scheduling availability were highly considered before registering for the event. That feeling of responsibility to the goals, mission, and vision of what an individual is associated with ranked even higher than the availability of a budget or funding (22.92 percent).

Nonetheless, more than 93 percent of survey respondents said their organization sponsored their attendance. Only 6.25 percent reported that they had come on their own.

Judging by the survey response, we’re in a postpandemic world. Attendees surveyed said they were as comfortable attending in person as they were taking part remotely. More than 45 percent said they would participate in hybrid events (a mix of in-person and virtual) in the future, and a slightly higher number (47 percent) said they planned to attend in-person conferences.

More than half of the attendees who responded to the survey said the speakers at the event were a big hit. Over 53 percent said they were “delighted” with what they had

heard. More than 40 percent were “very satisfied” with the discussions in the breakout sessions and the ease of accessibility, and 52 percent said they would recommend the digital event to a friend or colleague.

Although not all jobs require a security clearance—more than 57 percent of survey respondents said they did not have one—42.22 percent said they had some security clearance, whether it was for a public trust position or a job with secret or top-secret compartments.

Survey respondents also said professional development opportunities were the most important reasons for attending the WOC STEM Conference. Other reasons listed were inspiration (61 percent), award recognition (59 percent), and networking (40 percent).

Most of the attendees were from Avery Dennison, AWS, Ansys Corporation, Florida A&M University, Health Catalyst, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Amazon, Corteva Agriscience, Hewlett Packard, Rocket Mortgage, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Stellantis, Seagate Technology, Amazon, ACTALENT, U.S. Marine Corps, Northrop Grumman, NASA Langley Research Center, TKS Security Consultant, HP Inc, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Alliance Leadership Group, Health New England, The Boeing Company, AT&T, LG Energy Solutions, and Huntington Ingalls Industries. 

Over

Judging by the survey response, we’re in aworld.post-pandemic Attendees surveyed said they were as comfortable attending in person as they were taking part remotely.

Innovation Driven by Inclusion

Creating the world’s most innovative aerospace products and services requires a diverse and inclusive global team. Join us.

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LORENA ENGINEERING SPECIALIST EMPLOYEESINCE2010

At FM Global, we help clients identify the risks their businesses face and help them safeguard by building resilience to those risks — hence protecting their assets. I started nearly six years ago as a Field Engineer I. Due to the complexity of the visits I performed and the amount of work in my area, I’ve already moved to Field Engineer II, then Senior Engineer and now Engineering Specialist. Currently I am in the Earthquake and Chemical Risk Specialist program. The level of challenges and responsibilities that I face today is exponentially bigger than when I began. I feel like I’ve experienced so much in a relatively short time. There aren’t too many places this level of growth and exposure is possible.

4ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

What you are exposed to at FM Global is incredibly diverse, from the industries you engage with, to the people you meet, to the types of challenges you face and the opportunities for growth and ongoing success. I can’t think of anywhere else that can offer this range of experience.

I’VE BEEN ABLE TO EMBRACE GREATER COMPLEXITY IN MY WORK AND GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR MY CAREER

Hot jobs in Secure Embedded Systems

Otily Toutsop, Ph.D., was featured on Twitter this summer by Words That Count (@WordsAfrica).

Based in Kampala, Uganda, WTC documents diverse stories of African women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Originally from Cameroon in central Africa, Toutsop now works as an engineer/researcher at the National Institute of Standards (NIST). The physical sciences laboratory of the United States Department of Commerce

helps promote American innovation and industrial competitiveness. At NIST, Toutsop is focused on secure embedded systems, Internet of Things (IoT) security, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Before coming to America, Toutsop earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and telecom systems at the National Advanced School of Post and Telecommunications in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, in 2015.

Otily Toutsop, Ph.D. Black Hat & CAP Scholar | GREPSEC Scholar ML/AI/ IoT Security PREP Researcher National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

After a short stint at Notre Dame of Maryland University (2016–2017), she began a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at Morgan State University, about 2 miles away. One of her first projects piqued her interest, and she “applied to change to the cybersecurity program, where courses like secure embedded systems are taught,” she told WTC.

Toutsop went on to earn a Ph.D. in secure embedded systems in the spring of 2022. She is the first Cameroonian to earn a doctorate at Morgan State University’s Center for Reverse Engineering and Assured Microelectronics (CREAM).

But Toutsop was destined to be a teacher like most people in her family—that is until a friend of her mother’s shared her daughter’s success in the computer science field abroad. Toutsop’s mom was so inspired by what she heard that she enrolled her in an information technology prep school.

“Because of my desire to make my mom proud, I learned faster than anyone else in that place,” Toutsop told WTC. “I was able to teach people and helped them open up computer shops of their own. That’s when my relatives started believing in me.”

In high school, Toutsop gravitated toward coding and computer programming. “It was tough but fun, so I stuck to the challenge,” she said.

After high school, she applied for a coveted space at Cameroon’s leading institution for engineering subjects, such as telecommunications, electronics, and cybersecurity. Entry is so competitive that Toutsop recalled about 10,000 people took the exams. But her prepping paid off. She ranked among the top 100. As in many STEM fields worldwide, there were very few women in Toutsop’s class.

“When I joined the school, there were only nine females with 91 males,” she told WTC. Still, that didn’t stop her from excelling. After graduating at the top of her class, she came to the U.S. for graduate studies. Now that she’s earned a Ph.D., Toutsop said it is one step closer to achieving the dream of running her own research lab or consulting company.

“I am looking more at recruiting women because they are more vulnerable when securing futures,” Toutsop confessed to WTC. “With my experience in the industry, I am planning to broaden my knowledge about proposal writing, requesting grants, and all those skills that come into play when setting up a big research lab.”

Toutsop also wants to keep growing the pipeline with global internship pathways and networking events. “I want them to experience the exposure and opportunities I have been lucky to experience.”

Some of her achievements include developing an app to translate words from local African languages to French and English. Toutsop and the team came in third place at the innovation conference sponsored by the government of Cameroon. “At the end of that conference, I looked back and realized how good I was at technology,” she said.

When she’s not in the laboratory, she loves running, playing soccer, dancing, cooking, watching documentaries, and reading stories about successful people. Her favorite quote? “If you can dream it, you can do it” by Walt Disney—good advice for any girl who dreams of a career in secure embedded systems.

Follow Otily Toutsop, Ph.D. on LinkedIn at https://www. linkedin.com/in/otilytoutsop or Facebook at https://m. facebook.com/otily.toutsop 

“When I joined the school there were only nine females with 91 males.”

to be part of these projects that will improve the quality of life of many residents living in areas

I am very grateful for the opportunity impacted by Hurricane Maria.

– Jorge Ayala, Civil Engineer

DIVERSE IDEAS INSPIRE INNOVATION

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Learn more at: abbott.com/careers

Deborah (pictured) is a senior director for our Toxicology business. Read more about her journey to a career in STEM: https://abbo.tt/37Q9tXi

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Volunteering is not an option for many accomplished women; it’s part of their DNA. They view helping others as an extension of their work and often consider it a privilege and not an obligation. Their actions often serve more than the individuals and causes they commit to as they become an inspiration to many others.

Two such women are Daniel “Dani” Chambers and Treva Brown.

“I truly believe that every single person is born with a special gift that will positively impact the community,” said

always wanting to find ways to uplift others,” she said.

Chambers found a way by volunteering through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Lockheed Martin Professional Chapter.

“I primarily mentor and coach college students in the Region VI area through resume building, mock interviews, and recruiting for Lockheed Martin,” Chambers said. “It is a passion of mine to help prepare college students for the workforce. It can be overwhelming and intimidating, and I want students to feel supported and that they’re not alone.”

At Lockheed, Chambers is a multi-functional engineering and science manager who leads 40 engineering personnel including associate managers, team leads, and chief system engineers, responsible for 24/7 operations of critical military systems.

Daniel “Dani” Chambers engineering and science manager Lockheed Martin

She got involved with the Lockheed Martin NSBE Professional Chapter in 2018. “The Region VI chapter asked me to join the board to help start the chapter and plan outreach activities,” she said. “I was excited to join this great opportunity, and I continue to enjoy being a part of this great chapter and their vision to support people in their professional development.”

Asked why giving back is important to her, Chambers said she strives to support and encourage the growth and development of others.

Chambers encourages other engineering professionals as well as students to participate in helping others by joining NSBE’s professional and student chapters in their region. More information is available at nsbe.org.

“While it’s great to be a part of an organization to give back, remember that giving back can mean all types of things—encouraging your younger sibling, being kind to a stranger by just saying hi. You can give back to your community,” advises Chambers.

NSBE isn’t the only effort that she volunteers with. “The pandemic has slowed me down, but I also volunteer with the Soldiers’ Angels organization.” (https://soldiersangels. org/)

“I grew up

You don’t have to be part of a large organization to be a volunteer. Treva Brown, Ph.D., a physical scientist at

Daniel (Dani) Chambers. She credits her parents for instilling this message in her at a young age.

Volunteering is not an option for many accomplished women; it’s part of their DNA

the U.S. Naval Research Lab at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, independently hosts STEM activities for school-age students. This is something she’s been doing since before 2017 when she was a graduate student.

“I have been doing outreach on my own in STEM,” said Brown, adding that she considers it her “passion project.”

Brown said her goal is to make science “relatable, relevant, and fun,” which she does through talks and a miniseries of virtual interactive gatherings she started during the pandemic when she was working from home.

“Science Adventures with Dr. B” was the title of a mini-series that began online for her friends’ children and eventually grew to an audience of about 50 to 100 viewers from across the country. “I wanted something to do and the kids wanted something to do,” she said.

However, Brown is not averse to working with others. She has partnered with the Junior Auxiliary of Slidell’s STEM Festival, where she had a STEM tent and provided materials to do different hands-on projects, many of them sensory projects. One popular activity that she has guided youngsters through is called “Elephant Toothpaste,” which combines dish soap, yeast, and hydrogen peroxide to make a messy “huge foam eruption.”

In addition to exposing young people to a scientist “who looks like them,” Brown said she also tries to convey the importance of pushing toward one’s goals, regardless of challenges such as a lack of role models who look like them or discouragement from others.

She shares that she was once told by a university advisor that she would never graduate from the chemistry department. Despite that harsh view, she completed her undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University and doctoral degree in chemistry as a Board of Regents fellow at the University of New Orleans.

“You can be literally whatever you want to be, even if it seems unobtainable,” she said

At the U.S. Naval Research Lab, Brown helps the Department of Defense gain a better understanding of organisms that cause corrosion on metal materials. Her work ranges from basic corrosion research to

Treva Brown, Ph.D. physical scientist

U.S. Naval Research Lab

external research focused on microbial populations, electrochemical data, electrochemical sensors, corrosion mechanisms, and biodegradation.

A self-described “girlie girl” who often attends events in a pink lab coat, pink goggles, and pink loafers, Brown said she also wants to demonstrate that everyone should be their unique selves. 

“I have been doing outreach on my own in STEM,” said Brown, adding that she considers it her “passion project.”

INNOVATION AND PROGRESS, DIVERSITY-DRIVEN.

HII is proud to present our 2022 Women of Color STEM Award winners. These 11 outstanding professionals are part of our global team of 44,000 people, who believe diversity drives creativity, innovation and the way forward.

Find out how you can join us at HII.com/careers.

Jasmine Adams

Rising Star

Kelly Doebler

Shemara Guzman

Jhadia Harris

Rising Star

Victoria Godbold

Candace Kenner

Recognition

Vanessa Phillips

Rising Star

Porsha Wilkerson

Rising Star

Tanika Vasquez

All Star

Dana Williams

All Star

Janet Wang MISSION TECHNOLOGIES

Rising Star

Passing the Torch

The past year has been a busy one for Mei Cai, Ph.D., who heads General Motors’ Battery Cell Systems Research and has served as Women of Color magazine’s 2021 Technologist of the Year. In addition to taking on new responsibilities at the auto giant, Cai has participated in numerous online gatherings as Technologist of the Year, sharing her insights and experiences.

“It was truly an amazing experience,” said Cai. “The title carries a lot of responsibility.”

She takes such responsibility seriously. “I believe our responsibility is to help educate the younger generation,” she said, adding it’s important to guide them in “better planning their future careers.”

As director of Battery Cell Systems Research at General Motors Global Research and Development Center, Cai is responsible for innovations in advanced battery technologies for future electric vehicles. She has more than 25 years of industrial research and development (R&D) experience including extensive experience in novel materials processing for automotive applications. She has managed multimillion-dollar R&D projects in the development of low-cost and durable vehicular energy storage materials and systems. Her new responsibilities also include multiscale modeling and virtual design.

“This is a new role with a lot of responsibility as well as a lot of excitement because the work we’re doing has the potential to impact the future of electric vehicles,” she said. “I feel very fortunate to be part of GM’s all-electric journey, practicing the full gamut of innovation: from idea generation to technology development, to product implementation. How we remove barriers to success and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry will make the world more accessible to all.”

One of the experiences from this past year that was most meaningful for Cai was when a group of elementary school girls who had just finished a show asked if they could take a photo with her.

“You could see their eyes light up. I remember when I was at

that age,” she said, adding the importance of role models and recalling who inspired her when she was young—physicist Marie Curie, who was awarded the Nobel Prize twice.

“She made me believe women could do anything,” Cai said of Marie Curie.

While Cai’s term as Technologist of the Year was affected by an inability to travel due to the pandemic, she encourages the next Technologist of the Year to use all available platforms—inperson meetings, teleconferences, and virtual meetings—to communicate and connect with audiences.

“We do need to influence the younger generation and partner with teachers about careers and discuss opportunities for young girls in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math],” she said.

Believing in oneself is one of the characteristics Cai finds lacking in many young people today.

“Generally, a lot of students—they don’t fully realize their power, what they are capable of doing. They lack confidence… They need somebody to give them some coaching.”

“It’s very important for us as professionals or employers to give those young students opportunities to demonstrate what they can do,” she said.

Cai, who has worked at GM for 27 years, earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in China. She also earned a master’s degree and doctor of philosophy degree in chemical engineering from Wayne State

PROFESSIONALS SHOULD LEAD AS ROLE MODELS, STRESSES 2021 TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR

“It was truly an amazing experience,” said Cai. “The title carries a lot of responsibility.”

by Gale Horton Gay editors@ccgmag.com

University in Detroit, MI. She is the author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications and holds 125 U.S. patents. Some of her patents have been licensed and commercialized by industry. 

Asked for advice for young people hoping to follow in her footsteps, Cai offered the following:

• Be bold, dream big, and aim high.

• Follow your heart.

• Work hard.

• Do not be afraid to make mistakes or be judged.

• Focus on what you can control. Don’t expend energy on things you cannot control.

• Find yourself a mentor and a sponsor.

• Establish balance in one’s professional and personal life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Dr. Mei Cai Director of Battery Cell Systems Research General Motors Global Research and Development Center

Angela Williams-Terrell, Sr. Project Coordinator

by Lango Deen editors@ccgmag.com

2022 of the Year Technologist

Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, Valerie Sheares Ashby’s fondest memories include road-trip games with her father, a high school math and science teacher; her sister, seven years her senior, who majored in biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC); and constant inspiration from their mother, who was an English teacher..

Ashby also recalls the lack of school laboratories and science fairs in Clayton, NC. But one high school teacher made classroom content so engaging that Ashby tuned in even more to math and chemistry. Sadly, Ashby’s firsthand experiences exploring chemical reactions did not go well at UNC.

“I told my friends this was going to be the worst class ever,” Ashby told Women of Color magazine over Zoom this summer. “It felt to me like a cookbook. We were doing experiments that rarely worked. It felt rote, doing the same experiments people had done for years—it would change from red to blue. It did not gel what creative chemistry was.”

Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

‘WHERE GIFTS AND TALENTS MEET THE GREATEST NEED’

After a few sessions, Ashby declared labs were “defeating and boring” to her best friend, a chem major struggling with biology. But by 1988, Ashby had graduated from UNC with a degree in chemistry. She first worked as an agricultural and organic chemist at Rhône-Poulenc and then earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at UNC. Her best friend, who had said she would never attend medical school, became a doctor.

“So much for two 18 to 20-year-olds making decisions with little to no information,” Ashby said wryly during the call with Women of Color magazine.

Creating knowledge as a scholar

One of the best pieces of advice that Ashby got during her first year at UNC was from a faculty mentor, a chemistry department chair at the time.

“Your lab experience is no reflection on research,” he told a skeptical Ashby. “You should work in the Research Triangle Park in a real lab.”

During her internship, Ashby’s first real lab experience blew her away. The agrochemical company, which was later bought by a chemical corporation that Dow Chemical Company now owns, was making nontoxic fertilizers for large-scale agricultural ventures. Ashby’s role was to take one process from paper to a molecule component in a larger compound.

“I made a compound that nobody else had made before,” Ashby gushed. “I thought, ‘My God, I could do this for the rest of my life.’ It was extraordinary that words I had drawn on paper were in the glassware!”

A Chemist is Born

Ashby not only saw a pathway in organic chemistry, but she became a believer in good mentoring. Some of her longestlasting mentors include Henry “Hank” Frierson, an educational psychology

professor from Michigan State University who spent 33 years on UNC’s faculty and administrative leadership.

Ashby met Frierson as a first-year student through his highly respected activities as the program director to support research for minority undergraduate and graduate students to complete research for their Ph.D.s.

“Hank was the first person who told me to get a Ph.D.,” recalled Ashby. “He prepped us for GREs [Graduate Record Examinations], and I met students from all over the country who had come to do the program.”

As luck would have it, Ashby would run the same Ph.D. pipeline program as a faculty member when she returned to UNC many years later.

“I was in the first cohort,” Ashby recalled. “We celebrated 20 years while I was leading the program,” which steered many students of color into doctoral paths and to become faculty members. “If I have to call out my first mentor, it’s Hank,” she said. In 1989, Ashby returned to UNC as a research assistant in the laboratory of Prof. Joseph DeSimone and completed her thesis, Synthesis, and Characterization of Thiophene-Based Poly (Arylene Ether Ketones) and Poly (Arylene Ether Sulfones), in 1994.

As a Ph.D. supervisor, DeSimone proved an influential figure. He was an “extraordinary mentor,” Ashby said, the kind she wishes for all her students. Ashby added that mentoring others is a gift, an ability to care about other people.

“Joe was the person who told me that I could be a faculty member, “she recalled. “Not just a scientist, but a faculty member. Joe trained me to be a faculty member from day one. He was a newly appointed tenure-track faculty member who took me on that ride and is still my chief scholarly mentor. I met him when I was 23 and he was 25. He’d just had his first grant and was unpacking boxes when I walked into his office for the first time. Ph.D. students are usually reluctant to have new faculty as supervisors, but I knew he was someone who cared.”

Labs, research, and diversity

During her graduate studies, Ashby worked as a visiting scientist at IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, CA, in the summer of 1992. She also spent the summer of 1993 as a visiting scientist at the Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, TN.

After graduating with her Ph.D., Ashby considered applying for a National Science Foundation and NATO postdoctoral fellowship. One Saturday, Ashby recalled, she was in the lab doing research, and DeSimone had to take his young son to a ballgame. So, he asked Ashby to host a meet and greet with Reimund Stadler, a visiting professor from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz’s Institute for Organic Chemistry in Germany. Stadler was an up-and-coming polymer chemist in Germany, Ashby said.

“Being the 26th Women of Color Technologist of the Year is overwhelming. Because the path all those preceding women walked was harder than the one I’m on. They opened the doors so I could have some of these amazing opportunities.”

“He was a rockstar, just like my Ph.D. supervisor,” Ashby added. After a two-hour presentation on what the DeSimone Group did and what her specific role was, Stadler invited Ashby to do a postdoc in his lab in Germany.

Unconscious bias

Academic life was no fairytale. There were moments when Ashby felt people responded to her in a certain way because she was a woman and a woman of color. She wouldn’t say the person’s name during the Zoom interview with Women of Color magazine, but she recalled meeting a leading polymer chemist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The distinguished academic had come to visit DeSimone’s research group. When it was her turn, Ashby stood up to do a presentation, and as she started talking, the MIT icon stopped her in her tracks to say he’d thought Ashby was a French man.

“No,” Ashby replied calmly. “I’m a Black girl from North Carolina.”

as chairperson of the chemistry department (2012–15). As a leader, one of the changes Ashby recommended was more creative laboratory work for undergraduates. But her motivation was not just her “uninspiring” experience as a first-year student.

Ashby’s third mentor, Holden Thorp, served as provost and chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She credits Thorp with showing her the ropes on the transition from faculty to administrator. As chemistry department chair, Thorp appointed Ashby to her first administrative role.

Later in her career, Ashby met Freeman A. Hrabowski, Ph.D., as UNC sought to replicate the Meyerhoff Scholar program, founded at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1988 under Hrabowski. Many Meyerhoff Scholar program alumni are leading innovative programs offering solutions in scientific and technical fields. For example, Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett, the immunologist who led efforts to develop the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, has become a household name.

Success vs. Imposter Syndrome

During her first meetings with Hrabowski, Ashby recalls him predicting that she would be a university president.

“I thought that was the craziest thing I ever heard,” Ashby said with a smile. “I was a department chair enjoying it and thought, ‘That’s a sweet thing to say.’”

Although Ashby’s mentors saw things in her that she didn’t see in herself and took the time to invest in her career promotion and progress, Ashby confessed that she struggled with self-doubt and lack of confidence in her impact as a successful scholar for years.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve given workshops on impostor syndrome, because I had it until I was 40,” she said. “That was a struggle, a pure struggle. To internally not believe you are good enough to be where you are, and people keep promoting you. It gets worse as you achieve more.”

Today, Ashby has made the “mindset shifts” by sharing stories of her struggle through the first year and constant fear of failing. She believes being open has helped make her a better teacher, mentor, and

“If you struggle and use it to help other people who are struggling in the same way or similarly, that’s your superpower because there’s nothing like authenticity.”

Following in the footsteps of the president’s president

In April 2022, the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents announced the

President Ashby poses with the True Grit statue in a nod to tradition to show UMBC pride..

10 Things to Know about the 2022 Technologist of the Year

1. Valerie Sheares Ashby received her B.A. and her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Ashby began her tenure as president of The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) on Aug. 1, 2022.

2. She completed her postdoctoral research at the Universitat Mainz, Germany, in 1994 as a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow and NATO postdoctoral fellow.

3. As a researcher, Ashby’s work focused on synthetic polymer chemistry with a present focus on designing and synthesizing materials for biomedical applications such as X-ray contrast agents and drug delivery materials.

4. She is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Career Development Award, the DuPont Young Faculty, and 3M Young Faculty award.

5. As a faculty member at UNC, she held numerous leadership positions. She served on the UNC Arts & Sciences Foundation Board of Directors and the UNC Research Advisory Council, tasked with strategic planning on interdisciplinary research development.

6. She chaired the university’s Institutional Conflict of Interest Committee and the UNC College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Diversity Task Force. She served on the Executive Committee and advised the administration on aligning university priorities with the university mission. As the Chemistry Department’s director of undergraduate studies, she engaged in all aspects of the undergraduate educational experience, including curriculum and advising.

7. She directed the UNC National Science Foundation Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, which aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented students completing doctoral degrees and continuing into the professoriate in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and social, behavioral, and economics (SBE) fields.

8. Ashby came to Duke from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she chaired the Department of Chemistry from 2012–2015.

9. As an educator, she was recognized with the UNC Chapel Hill General Alumni Association Faculty Service Award, the Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professorship for excellence in undergraduate teaching and research, the J. Carlyle Sitterson Freshman Teaching Award, the UNC Student Undergraduate Teaching Award, and the Johnston Teaching Award for Undergraduate Teaching.

10. She helped raise a capital campaign with the help of Duke donors, alumni, family, and friends from $435 million to $480 million. The goal of financial aid was $150 million, and they raised close to $180 million.

appointment of Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby as the next president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Prior, Ashby served as dean of Duke University’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and began her tenure as UMBC president on Aug. 1. While Ashby would not comment on strategic plans, this is what she had to say:

“We’re going to live in the now. There’s no change of vision needed,” Ashby said. “The question is, what does that look like in the next decade? As an institution of higher education that sits in a world so complex. This university has put a stake in the ground with one of the highest callings, I think, in higher education. It says in the vision that we will redefine excellence in higher education. And they’re going to do it through an inclusive culture, innovative teaching, research across the disciplines, civic engagement, and a focus on social justice and economic prosperity. Who says that and means it? To create a welcoming environment for inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. That is a showstopper to me and why I’m in higher education. For an institution to own that, live in that for 30 years, and achieve what they have in this space of excellence through diversity, there is nothing like it in the country.”

The 26th Technologist of the Year

During her career, Ashby has been involved in every aspect of research, teaching, and management. She has engaged with many people in academia and helped hundreds of students find their paths. 2022 is a watershed in the life of this trailblazing academic and the top award winner at the Women of Color STEM Conference.

“Being the 26th Women of Color Technologist of the Year is overwhelming,” Ashby said. “Because the path all those preceding women walked was harder than the one I’m on. They opened the doors so I could have some of these amazing opportunities; no matter what my mentors did, it wouldn’t have made a difference if other women and women of color hadn’t walked through them. I feel humbled that I wouldn’t have been here for people who had been a different kind of first. They were smart, savvy, and had courage.” 

Ashby (standing fifth from left) at the 20 year celebration of SPRGE.

BRING YOUR ENERGY

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Only here can I work on Marine One on Day One.

My first project at Lockheed Martin was managing the cabin modernization of the presidential helicopter, Marine One. This was a no-fail mission: safely transport the President of the United States. To this day, as I reflect on the magnitude of that responsibility, I’m still humbled by leadership’s trust in me. Explore careers at https://www.lockheedmartinjobs.com/national-diversity-events

Archana Senior Manager International Programs

2022 Women of Color

Women of color in STEM fields have been breaking barriers and reshaping landscapes for far longer than the 27 years CCG has been fortunate enough to honor them. These accomplished women hail from myriad public and private sectors and work in dozens of STEM occupations, including science, information technology, engineering, and healthcare. The 2022 awardees have successfully navigated pandemic disruptions, whether it was transitioning from in-person work or school to fully remote or making tentative attempts at hybrid re-openings amid a nervous acknowledgment of our human co-existence with viruses.

From creating the COVID-19 dashboard utilized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to addressing sizing inequities in women’s firefighter uniforms, or ensuring artifacts found on the grounds of a NASA educational center are properly preserved and returned to their Indigenous owners, this year’s awardees weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into their daily existence while strengthening bonds with the past and helping us envision a future that incorporates the wonders of STEM into our daily lives. At Career Communications Group (CCG), it’s our mission to make sure everyone knows it. CCG is proud to present the 2022 Women of Color in STEM Awardees.

TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR

Valerie Sheares Ashby, Ph.D. President

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT –GOVERNMENT

Andra Homer

Chief, Resource Management U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District Phi-Anh “Ann” Lutz Systems Security Engineer U.S. Air Force

Donna Merriman Deputy Commander Defense Contract Management Agency

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT – INDUSTRY

Sharon Jean-Baptiste

Vice President, Midwest Operations Jacobs

Sadiqa Mahmood Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences Business Health Catalyst

D Sangeeta CEO and Founder Gotara

COMMUNITY SERVICE Karriema Calhoun Manager, Indirect Supply Chain The Boeing Company

Cesanee Johnson Program Manager and Business Operations Lead Raytheon Technologies Adrienne M. Somerville

LEADERSHIP

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Andra Homer

Chief, Resource Management

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Sacramento District

Andra Homer has received the Commander Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, among her myriad achievements. She “personifies Army values through her professionalism, commitment to the mission, respect for all, and selfless services,” wrote Colonel James J. Hanudra, commander of the Sacramento District, in his nomination letter. Utilizing 20-plus years of accounting expertise, Homer streamlined procedures for support agreements and project orders, including the development of an automated tool to better manage department workload. She maintains affordability for the largest district in the region and oversees the execution of the $76.8 million annual operating budget. Homer served as the first appointed chair of the Sacramento District Diversity and Inclusion Council, which was developed to recognize, maximize, and promote diversity in the district. She tirelessly supports her team while balancing a significant workload for USACE. She maintains membership in Delta Mu Delta, the National Business Honor Society.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Phi-Anh “Ann” Lutz

Systems Security Engineer

U.S.

Air Force

As an engineering cadet, Phi-Anh “Ann” Lutz sailed 300 days on diesel- and steam-powered U.S.-flagged ships to nine countries before beginning her career as a flight test engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory. Lutz also earned U.S. Patent 6,109,564 for her team’s electromagnetic, sliding space environment protection satellite door design. Currently, she supports 13 programs at the Nuclear Weapons Center. As flight commander, her 117-member team achieved a 95.8 percent quality assurance pass rate for 500 aircraft maintenance inspections. “Her proven leadership and technical achievements make her a very valued addition to the Engineering Directorate,” noted Debra D. Bednorz, deputy director, engineering and technical management, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. During deployments, Lutz resolved 65,299 defective security measures in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, and conducted missions “outside the wire” training and advising Afghan National Security Forces. Lutz managed $144 million in systems on an $800 million White House-directed program, ensuring 100 percent warfighter capability. Now, she leads a $1 million artificial intelligence project identifying hazardous materials in Air Force weapons systems, significantly reducing processing time from years to minutes. Lutz mentored high school students and volunteers with elementary school students, showing them the wonders of STEM.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Donna Merriman

Deputy Commander Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

Donna Merriman’s career spans nearly 30 years, specializing in supporting the Department of Defense, other federal organizations, and international partners. Her wisdom and experience are in high demand, and she has been nominated to serve on multiple boards of directors. Recently, she joined the Federal Executive Board of Metropolitan New Jersey to engage leaders across New Jersey in the process of improving emergency preparedness, security and employee safety, human capital readiness, and community relations. According to Mark L’Ecuyer, DCMA Eastern Regional Command deputy commander, Merriman “excels at developing people, building coalitions, and solving complicated problems under the most difficult conditions.” As a young engineer, Merriman provided technical support on major weapon systems. After earning degrees from Lafayette College, Long Island University, and New York Institute of Technology, her experience and education propelled her to top positions within the agency. Currently, she is responsible for providing total contract oversight of approximately $75 billion in government acquisitions. Some of the programs she manages include aircraft defensive electronic countermeasure and command, control, and communication systems, and key defense and NASA systems and components.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Sharon Jean-Baptiste

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Sadiqa Mahmood

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY AWARD

D Sangeeta

Vice

President,

Midwest Operations Jacobs

Sharon Jean-Baptiste is an accomplished professional engineer with over 23 years of expertise in the water, transportation, and environmental fields. She embarked on an engineering career prioritizing clean water for all. Early on, JeanBaptiste specialized in water resources engineering, steering others toward responsible stewardship of Earth’s natural resources. Now working across sectors, she has supported multimilliondollar programs for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Philadelphia International Airport, and Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. Jean-Baptiste is a dynamic force for corporate giving, volunteer programs, and DEI strategies. “Her presence in the C-Suite was a beacon to others in the company and in the industry, and Sharon consistently leveraged her position to pay it forward,” says Elisa M. Speranza, president of Seventh Ward Strategies, LLC. As Jacobs’ vice president of operations for the Midwest, Jean-Baptiste leads a $150 million revenue operation, a talent force of 550, more than 15 offices and major program client sites, and serves over 70 public- and private-sector clients. A fierce advocate for equitable access to clean water and robust community infrastructure, Jean-Baptiste promotes meaningful participation. She helped launch Jacobs’ Black employee network, Harambee, and holds leadership roles in multiple prestigious engineering and transportation societies.

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences Business Health Catalyst

Dr. Sadiqa Mahmood stands at the intersection of medicine, policy, technology, and analytics. A dental surgeon with a master’s from Harvard School of Public Health, her distinguished career includes work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Partners HealthCare System, and Boston Medical Center. Mahmood advises several healthcare organizations and global policymakers. Health Catalyst has seen her spearhead tremendous organic growth in 18 months, with a customer base including regulators, top five contract research organizations, and top 40 biopharma groups. “Dr. Mahmood lifts up our team members and leads by example. She is brilliant, bold, and a trailblazer,” remarked Trudy M. Sullivan, chief DEI officer at Health Catalyst. Mahmood’s past achievements include overseeing the $104.5 million acquisition of patient engagement platform Twistle. At Dana Farber, she expanded the analytics program to executive leadership and front-line staff in 11 departments. Her help in developing an immunotherapy safety tool identifying patients on immunotherapy drugs with a high risk of toxicities led to the prevention of three hospital admissions per week. At Partners, she expanded a clinical collaboration program from five departments to 21 departments, tangibly improving clinical care.

CEO and Founder Gotara

D Sangeeta envisions Gotara as a path to close the gender gap in STEM. She’s woven “diversity and inclusion in every thought, equity in every action.” Creating a career growth platform powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, she’s combined coaching, mentoring, and upskilling into nano learning for millions of women. At Amazon, Nielsen, and General Electric, she started organizations from scratch, turned around underperforming organizations, and oversaw research, technology, product, and business deployment. This sustains Sangeeta’s current mission of serving Gotara’s 14,000 women from 162 countries who come to the site 24/7 seeking career advice to accelerate their growth on this free platform. In employer-sponsored Gotara programs, women see an impact in eight weeks. Furthermore, 100-plus senior STEM leaders from around the world volunteer to provide advice to Gotara members. Ninety percent of the women seeking advice rated the quality of the advice a 4 or 5 out of 5. Ninety-six percent of women from employer-sponsored programs say their skills improved by 20–60 percent. One hundred percent of women in employersponsored programs and their managers recommend Gotara to others. Sangeeta’s impact on Gotara’s platform has been extraordinary. “She has established Gotara as a thought leader in gender parity, creating a pipeline of women leaders,” wrote Dan Heintzelman, a retired vice chair at GE.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Karriema Calhoun

Manager, Indirect Supply Chain

The Boeing Company

Karriema Calhoun’s talent as a manager earns the highest accolades. Her outstanding record of converting data into decisions, communicating with stakeholders, and mentoring fellow professionals makes her a standout in her field. After graduating high school at 16 and college at 20, she completed one of two master’s degrees while recovering from brain surgery. Incredibly, she also prioritizes time for volunteering. At a local elementary school, Calhoun’s STEM outreach with “Boys With A Purpose” led to the launching of its sister program, “Girls With Dreams.” A YMCA board member, she also volunteers to support YWCA’s annual MLK program. Calhoun works with local organizations to address food insecurities and remains active with Twenty Pearls Foundation and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. She’s chair of the Boeing Black Employee Association South Carolina and participates in Boeing DreamLearners events. When COVID hit, Calhoun played a key role in planning a drivethru vaccine clinic, partnering with the Medical University of South Carolina, SC Manufacturers Alliance, and Boeing Global Engagement. Her community impact is immeasurable. “Her efforts in the community are changing lives and inspiring young children of color to realize they too can work at a company like Boeing just like Karriema,” extolled Tommy Preston, Jr., Vice President, Ethics, The Boeing Company

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Cesanee Johnson

Program Manager and Business Operations Lead Raytheon Technologies

Cesanee Johnson is program manager for Tomahawk Engineering Supportive Services and business operations lead for the Naval Air Missiles mission area, managing contracts valued at over $7 million. Johnson’s had a “heart for service” since high school, and at 26 she became a mentor with Atlanta’s Big Brother/Big Sister program. She’s hosted a senior citizen prom and helped teen girls select prom attire at the “Glass Slipper Project.” She’s logged over 1,000 hours with Chicago Urban League’s Metropolitan Board and co-chartered a National Society of Black Engineers Jr. chapter. Johnson runs STEM sessions at camps for children and teens. She participates in community service projects with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Leading Raytheon’s Black Employee Network Employee Resource Group (RAYBEN ERG), Johnson co-created the RAYBEN Mentor Circle, connecting underrepresented employees with executive leaders across Raytheon and strengthening community partnerships within the ERG. She volunteers with The Links, Inc., a service organization for professional women who work to enrich lives in the Black community. Johnson is the community partnership lead for Raytheon Technologies Global Black/African American ERG Board. “The value of her community contributions on the overarching culture will be realized for generations to come,” insisted Alexandria (Lexi) Hernandez, Ph.D., Sr. Director, Talent Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Raytheon Technologies

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Adrienne Somerville

CEO

Talent & Technical Solutions Corporation

Adrienne Somerville, founder and CEO of Talent and Technical Solutions Corporation, has built a company with nationwide impact, developing career roadmaps for approximately 36,000 technical workers across eight states. Her expertise benefits the U.S. Navy, as Commander Fleet Readiness Centers’ (COMFRC) director of aviation support equipment—the latest step in a 14year career supporting COMFRC in its business operations strategies and managing maintenance programs for massive, state-of-the-art naval fleets. Educated at Harvard and Georgetown, Somerville’s impact and service don’t end when her workday does. Motivated by lasting lessons her grandmother imparted, Somerville created The Carolyn E. Parker Foundation. Her organization’s goals include supporting the elderly, educating youth, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and restoring the impoverished. Logging nearly 6,000 community hours herself, her foundation’s accomplishments include the ongoing Project Cinderella, training on overcoming cyberbullying, financial management, self-defense, and Project Warm. She counts the Maryland Governor’s Outstanding Award for Community Service, Heroines of Washington, DC Award, and George Bush Foundation’s Point of Day Award among her many honors. “As a pastor, I can testify that the results of the foundation’s hard work is visible within the community and touching many lives,” praised Michael G. Taylor, COO, Talent & Technical Solutions Corporation

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Bernice Billups

Director, Boeing Global Engagement The Boeing Company

Bernice Billups joined Boeing as an office administrator in 2001, becoming the first woman of color to manage the Office of the Chairman in 2008. As senior manager of Global Corporate Citizenship in 2015, she increased support for communities of color by 85 percent and doubled the number of grant partners led by people of color. Appointed director of company contributions and Boeing Global Engagement Central Region in 2020, she oversaw six states and an $8.5 million budget, helping Boeing increase opportunity for students of color in STEM. Her department hosts a yearly STEM Signing Day for Chicago Public Schools, honoring 50 graduating seniors committing to postsecondary STEM studies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Billups led a Boeing/United Airlines partnership to renovate the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Take Flight Exhibit. She helped develop resources that took students on a digital tour of the exhibit. Billups led Boeing’s participation in Northwestern University’s FUSE program that challenged more than 22,000 students in 187 schools in the United States, Finland, and Israel. “Her leadership in the community has enabled Boeing to move the needle and leverage our resources in the most vulnerable communities in the city of Chicago…and around the world,” touted Cheri M. Carter, Vice President, Boeing Global Engagement

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Judy Johnson

Vice President Jacobs

A client account manager at Jacobs in Los Angeles, CA, Judy Johnson was an early champion of the firm’s Global Action Plan for Advancing Justice and Equality. Johnson is also an active member of the Black employee network group, Harambee, and mentors Women of Color in Jacobs’ Mentor/ Protégé program. Johnson prioritizes connecting Jacobs with the community in myriad ways. She organized a DIY Girls’ Dream Big Engineering Movie Event and discussion for more than 100 underprivileged elementary and high school female students to foster their interest in STEAM careers. She advocated early and fiercely for Jacobs to become a benefactor to the SEED-LA boarding school, a joint effort of LA Metro and the County of Los Angeles. The school will provide a 24-hour STEAM-based education for 400 students in grades 9 to 12. When the school opens, Johnson will lead the firm’s engagement in educational and learning opportunities for the students. The development will also provide 180 units of affordable housing, communityserving retail, a transportation-focused job training center, and a mobility hub. “Judy truly embodies the values of Jacobs—to do things right, to challenge the accepted, to aim higher, and to live inclusion,” said Yassaman Sarvian, Jacobs

DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Ruthie Barnes

Branch Chief/Program Manager

United States Air Force Materiel Command, BOMC Development Support Branch

Ruthie Barnes masterfully executes her role as a branch chief for the Base Operational Medicine Clinic at the U.S. School of Aerospace Medicine, in addition to acting as civilian acquisition program manager, where she leads a diverse team of civilian, contractor, and active-duty employees. Barnes truly distinguishes herself as co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Civility Working Group at USAFSAM as Federal Voting Assistance Program representative, and with her leadership in the Team Wright-Patterson Mentoring Program. Barnes helped create and direct a podcast for Pride Month, specifically targeted toward addressing LGBTQ issues for service members. Her presentation on women’s equity celebrating women’s suffrage was shared across all of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. During Black History Month, she held a book drive to benefit literacy. Barnes collected and donated 225 books to the Brunner Literacy Center in Dayton, OH, and Clark County Literacy Coalition in Springfield, OH. Barnes also created groundbreaking training for service members spreading awareness of the prevalence of the Sickle Cell trait in the African-American community. “Ms. Barnes’ distinctive accomplishments and leadership reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine,” noted Ryan S. Mayes DR-IV, USAF, Deputy Chair, Department of Aerospace Medicine

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Reliability Engineer

Technology All Stars

Technology Rising Stars

Shaneka Lewis Cyber Software Engineer

Proposal Bid Director Kendra McFarlane Cyber Operations Manager Lead Web Designer

Performance Management Manager

Sr Software Developer

Zlavia Anna Johnston Program Manager

Tam N. Nguyen Sr SharePoint Developer Administrator

Robin M. Phillips DHMSM Sustainment Lead

Principal Systems Engineer

DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Denise LaMaison-Bell Senior Program Coordinator Jacobs

Denise LaMaison-Bell brilliantly juggles a variety of key roles at Jacobs as senior project coordinator. Her fierce advocacy for diversity and inclusion cements her exemplary leadership status. LaMaison-Bell helped Jacobs develop corporate diversity awards. She’s extensively involved in Harambee, Jacobs’ Black employee network group. Thanks to her efforts, the company has a constant rotation of top talent from HBCUs and NSBE for recruitment. She organized “Boss Up,” a virtual session showcasing very real race- and gender-based challenges to career advancements. LaMaison-Bell works with INROADS College Links, whose goals include exposing urban students to the architecture/engineering professions and building Jacobs’ pipeline of diverse interns and full-time candidates. After George Floyd’s murder, LaMaison-Bell moderated hundreds of Courageous Conversations sessions across the globe. The series served as a cultural watershed moment for Jacobs, as more than 5,000 employees participated in the raw, honest, and emotional virtual sessions. These conversations were also foundational for AAPI communities at Jacobs, providing them a platform to express impacts from increased violence against AAPI peoples during the pandemic. “Denise … foster[s] an ‘all in this together’ mindset that has truly bolstered our culture of belonging,” praised Robbie Edmonstone, M.A., Ph.D., Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity Communications, Jacobs

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP — CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION AWARD

Molly Mo

Global Engineering Learning and Development Manager

Ford Motor Company

Molly Mo manages Ford’s Engineering Learning and Development (EL&D) team, helping to upskill/reskill Ford’s engineering workforce, especially during rapid transformational times. Mo and her team manage annual nominationbased university partnership programs that offer master’s degree programs to Ford’s engineers, and she focuses on selecting women and minorities for these partnerships. She sponsored a learning cohort encouraging women engineers to participate in Udacity learning programs, upskilling them in emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software development fields. Her team’s STEM/STEAM outreach initiatives invest a $63 million corporate fund in education-related programs, including Blue Oval STEM scholarships, Ford’s High School Science and Technology Program, FIRST Robotics, and the World Solar Car Challenge. Mo ensures that underserved minority students are included in Blue Oval Scholarship applications. In 2021, Mo connected the Detroit nonprofit Downtown Boxing Gym with 15 academically outstanding secondary school students to provide them with after-school academic tutoring. “She promotes ongoing learning and development for herself and her team and seeks to support the individual career aspirations of her team members,” noted Hau Thai-Tang, Chief Industrial Platform Officer, Ford Motor Company

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP — CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION AWARD

Briana Pompilus

Executive Advisor, Project Manager of Operations for Global Digital Center of Excellence Jacobs

Briana Pompilus creates standout educational platforms as executive advisor to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bruce Crawford, senior vice president of Jacobs. She mentors college students in personal growth, professional etiquette, resumewriting, and academics. Leveraging Jacobs community outreach, she played a key role in their donations of laptops to children during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating their at-home learning. As project manager, Pompilus manages the stand-up of the Global Digital Center of Excellence, leading the enterprise-wide digital transformation for Jacobs. Pompilus helped create academic scholarships for minority students majoring in STEM to attend HBCUs. She’s a Jacobs Global Future Talent Tier 1 school relationship manager for multiple universities. Her myriad projects promoting education include project and relationship manager with BEYA and WOC in STEM Awards, mentorship with NSBE, project manager for Jacobs’ partnership with Girl Scouts (resulting in the creation of a Jacobs Girl Scouts patch!), and creator of Quantum Venture—a year-round relationship/ partnership between HCBUs and Jacobs. “[T]he ethical fortitude, and the integrity with which she demonstrates our Jacobs values in all things is among the most inspiring that I have witnessed,” lauded Bruce T. Crawford, Lieutenant General (Retired), Senior Vice President, Jacobs

FINTECH LEADERSHIP AWARD Josnelly Aponte

Director Consumers Energy

Josnelly Aponte is director of revenue requirements and analysis at Consumers Energy, representing the company as a rates expert before the Michigan Public Service Commission in electric and gas regulatory proceedings. An early adopter of data analytics and technology, she remains a strong advocate for using technology to provide high-quality rate case submissions to the MPSC. Eager to advance her considerable knowledge, Aponte independently learns about new technologies, such as the robotic process automation, through the company’s Analytics University and Digital Academy. She was the first and only Rates and Regulations member to complete the Analytics University program in 2020. Additionally, Aponte completed the Adult Mental Health First Aid USA Certification in December 2021. She’s demonstrated remarkable leadership with key contributions to the organization’s diversity and inclusion summits addressing unconscious bias, and by being an active mentor for CE’s Minority Advisory Panel members. Outside the company, Aponte is a member of Jackson’s Junior Welfare League, chief administrative officer in the Jackson Preparatory & Early College Board of Governors, and a member of the Jackson Community Foundation Financial Committee. “Josnelly is a visionary, not afraid to try new approaches to deliver on breakthrough outcomes,” praised Michael A. Torrey, Vice President of Rates and Regulations, Consumers Energy

FINTECH LEADERSHIP AWARD

JeanMarie Lei Anuenue Priola

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Modernization, Automation and Development (IMAD) Portfolio Manager HQ ACC A2 US Air Force

JeanMarie Lei Anuenue Priola joined the Directorate of Intelligence in January 2020, quickly transforming a failing program of investments and operations into an industry example for proper management. She oversees $40 to $50 million in innovation funding, filling technical gaps in current USAF intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Priola manages 31 projects across five major commands, totaling approximately $70 million. IMAD is of interest to Congress and the Office of Secretary of Defense. As a direct result of Priola’s exceptional collaborative work, IMAD morphed from a difficult-to-defend program into one of record, strongly positioned for increased funding and increased operational impacts. These IMAD investments provide new military capabilities in support of NATO and U.S. activities in Ukraine by incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into ISR processes. Priola also provided leadership in implementation and use of the COVID-19 health surveillance dashboard for the Air Combat Command Pandemic Working Group. “With practiced organizational skills and a ‘collaborate first’ mentality, she is very successful in a multitude of tasks thrown her way,” extolled Shawna R. Wimpy, GG-14, Chief, Data Analytics Branch, Department of the Air Force

GEM STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Samantha Mendez

Research Assistant (Ph.D. Student)

The Ohio State University

Samantha Mendez is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Doan-Nguyen group at Ohio State University working on the synthesis and testing of nanomaterial additives for batteries. The project is sponsored by Honda R&D and the NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center. As a young child, Mendez worked alongside her grandfather patching broken pipes and old air conditioners, and finding ways to retain heat during cold winters, inspiring Mendez’s love for engineering.

She majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, then switched to materials science and engineering at Ohio State for her Ph.D., requiring her to overcome a significant learning curve. She’s now capable of using myriad electron imaging techniques at the Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis. Mendez is a College of Engineering discovery scholar, a member of the Black and Brown Women in Engineering Science Technology Sisterhood, and volunteers at a local fresh food market. Through CEMAS Graduate Wellness Committee and BBWESTS, she continues to participate in outreach events in her community and encourages minority students to pursue STEM careers. “Ms. Mendez is an outstanding and engaging member in our lab. … Samantha is devoted to support and advance her community however possible,” touted Vicky Doan-Nguyen, Ph.D, The Ohio State University

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Amanda Goodson, Ph.D. Senior Director Raytheon Technologies

Dr. Amanda Goodson grew up in Decatur, AL, near the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. At Tuskegee University, she earned her degree in electrical engineering. Joining NASA in 1983, she quickly became the first woman of color responsible for directing the NASA/MSFC Space Shuttle Propulsion program for Safety and Mission Assurance. Goodson oversaw more than 33 shuttle launches at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Her many honors include NASA Exceptional Service Medal and Federal Employee Supervisor of the Year Award. She’s earned an M.S. in management and a Doctor of Ministry in church leadership. Goodson completed the NASA Senior Executive Service Development Program, NASA Management Education Program, and Penn State University Program for Strategic Leadership. At Raytheon, she served on the Board of Directors for Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) as the chair. Goodson has helped train college students to prepare them for the workforce. She also created a Women in Technology consortium to advance women in STEM, showcasing her deep devotion to diversity, equity, and inclusion. “She possesses an extraordinary inner drive which is a significant motivating force to those around her,” touted Kristy Tanner, Executive Director, Raytheon

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Jennifer Mills, Ph.D.

Supervisory Computer Engineer (CECOM) — US Army Information Systems Engineering Command

Dr. Jennifer Mills has served nearly 17 years as a federal civilian in the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy as computer scientist, electronics engineer, and computer engineer. Her mission requires managing 80-plus direct reports, both civilian and military personnel, refocusing the USAISEC mission, and maneuvering the Army’s Digital Transformation away from cumbersome legacy industrialaged IT systems. Mills has worked closely with industry leaders, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, and VMWare, as well as other government agencies to create transformational solutions that could be adapted to reduce the overall cost and schedule, accelerating much-needed true modernization. Mills’ systems engineering effort aligns with the Army’s network modernization, including cybersecurity initiatives, while enabling the delivery of information to decision-makers at the speed of relevance to meet warfighter needs. Mills has proposed transitions to new technologies to create an environment that is agile and adaptable. She proposed new technology insertion solutions as an option to increase capability and capacity to conduct business in a new and enhanced working environment, such as an artificial intelligence (AI)based software defined network, virtual desktop infrastructure, and cloud-based hybrid datacenter modernizations. “Dr. Mills’ competence, dedication, and leadership enhance our reputation and relationships worldwide,” remarked Daniel C. Wood II, Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Jilma Jiménez

Vice

President Jacobs

Jilma Jiménez has held multiple senior leadership and corporate positions throughout her 30-plus-year engineering career. Four weeks after Jiménez joined Jacobs, she was tasked with transitioning her 400-plus-member team to remote working due to COVID-19. Her engagement and expertise steadied the $120 million operation at a time of deep uncertainty. Weeks later George Floyd was murdered. Jiménez guided multiple groups helping colleagues process their pain. She championed establishing an inclusion and diversity program for a vastly diverse geographic division spanning eight states, five time zones, and myriad social and political persuasions. Within seven months of hire, Jiménez ascended to lead a $235 million, 800-staff team. Her team increased revenues and profits while maintaining the lowest staff attrition in the region. She’s led large multidisciplinary teams in the design of more than $1 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Washington State alone. Now VP market strategist for People and Places Solutions, Jiménez assesses organizational performance to build sustainable competitive advantage and supports senior executive decisionmaking. Jiménez is an adjunct professor at Seattle University’s Graduate Engineering Program and mentors several early career professionals. “Admired by both peers and industry competitors, Jilma has distinguished herself as a thinker, excellent communicator, and inspirational leader,” noted Ruba Zumut, PE, Senior VP, WSP USA, Inc.

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Hue Robinson

Microchip Implementation Program Manager

Ford Motor Company

Hue Robinson leads a cross-functional team at Ford to develop near- and longterm plans to mitigate shortages. She’s currently tasked with easing the global microchip shortage’s impact. Robinson directly contributes to Ford’s financial earnings and leads teams implementing CN95 filters in vehicle HVAC systems. She’s delivered innovative features in the F-150 console’s work surface and was issued a patent for its hidden item/card holder. Robinson executed F-150’s milestones on time, improving its cost with design efficiencies and negotiations, and implementing 100 percent production-tooled parts for the Development Completion Vehicle build. Ford chose Robinson to represent them at the inForum Genuine Leadership forum. She participated in and co-led Ford’s Women of Climate Control group and received numerous awards and certificates for her innovative designs. Robinson has also mentored Ford College Graduates, guiding them in business and decision-making skills. She was a judge in the Certified Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association, and she volunteers for Hope Closet, a nonprofit that outfits young women for their special high school events. “Her tireless dedication, combined with her knowledge of our process, and her ability to bring the team together to deliver the best outcome for the corporation, has been inspiring,” said Michael A. Ford, Chief Program Manager, Ford Motor Company

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Chrissy Thom

Senior Vice President, Global Growth, Strategy & Solutions Jacobs

Chrissy Thom joined Jacobs’ predecessor company CH2M as a junior field scientist in 2005 with a background in ecology and biology. She’s now an executive leader overseeing technology and innovation investments across Jacobs’ People & Places Solutions Line of Business, where systems thinking and integrated analysis are still foundational to her approach. Thom’s areas of expertise include leading across global markets, managing technology transfer and industry/academic partnerships, and overseeing research and development investments. Thom leads a cross-functional global team, known as Growth, Strategy & Solutions, which positions Jacobs to unlock true global intelligence. She oversees $35 million in annual investments, shaping business growth across Jacobs’ multibillion-dollar portfolio. Appointed one of the top 40 leaders at Jacobs, she is dedicated to developing and advocating for employees from all backgrounds, especially those from marginalized populations. Jacobs’ Harambee Black employee network named Thom Inclusive Leader of the Year (2021), a tremendous honor for her. She continues to strive for allyship to support and advocate for Harambee’s members and mission both within Jacobs and outside the company. “[H] er actions also confirm her commitment to yield greater diversity throughout all levels and disciplines within our firm,” stated Johnny Jackson, P.E., Manager of Projects, Aviation Division, Jacobs

NEW MEDIA/IT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Petronella Chola Sims

Vice President, Enterprise Technology ICF

Petronella Chola Sims boasts over 25 years of experience delivering technology solutions in support of business transformation initiatives in both the public and private sectors. As ICF’s enterprise technology leader, she focuses on client-facing technology solutions and is responsible for developing the enterprise technology strategy to transform ICF’s technology services and solutions into a core feature of the company that is both modernized and well-governed. Sims has developed the Enterprise Technology Management and Governance (ETMG) Framework to drive the technology process maturity across ICF. As enterprise/solution architect, she has delivered public-sector technology solutions with values ranging from $100 million to $3.3 billion. ICF’s highest-ranking woman in technology, Sims leads the Technology Leadership Council, Women in STEM, and advocates for the professional development of 1,700 technologists. Sims is a founding co-chair of ICF’s Women Employee Community Network that has built a safe place where employees can access needed support and openly discuss the challenges they face daily. The ECN has contributed to the reduction of the unconscious biases employees face in the workplace. “Chola’s work has contributed to a major reduction in development timelines, as well as consistency of technology solutions,” remarked Demola Sholagbade, VP of Diversity and Inclusion, ICF

NEW MEDIA/IT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Ebony Rose Smith

Cybersecurity Technical Program Manager

Walmart Inc.

Ebony Smith is a cybersecurity technical program manager for the InfoSec Strategy & Architecture team, helping information security leaders protect and defend Walmart associates and customers from global cyber threats. Smith has led cross-functional business tech teams in developing and deploying customer experience products. This includes product deployment to 4,700 stores, driving a 55 percent increase in app logins, 15 percent increase in app downloads, and 8x increased utilization. A gifted communicator, Smith refined her impressive data storytelling skills at Carnegie Mellon, harnessing her talent for relaying technical information in a clear, actionable way. Passionate about DEI in leadership, Smith is a founding member and vice president of operations for the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of National Black MBA. She mentors early-career talent in technology, volunteers with Dress for Success, and was a board member of Walmart’s Black employee resource group. Smith is an alum of Management Leadership for Tomorrow and a management fellow with the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. “Her work and contributions across these various programs and events have left an impact and legacy that many will remember not only today but far-reaching into the future,” observed Gary Simms Sr., senior director, Security Strategy & Architecture Walmart Information Security.

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Tamara Goyea, Ph.D.

Section Supervisor

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Tamara Goyea transformed the public understanding of and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic through her innovative work on the JHU COVID-19 Data Repository, commonly referred to as the COVID-19 dashboard. Her critical contributions to the globally recognized Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center helped the world understand and respond to the pandemic. Goyea’s dedicated crossuniversity team stabilized and automated the ongoing creation of one of the world’s most recognized and relied-on COVID-19 datasets: the JHU CRC case and death data. She was a driving force for data quality and assurance across the effort. At the pandemic’s peak, this dataset was being requested more than 4.5 billion times daily, and has been requested more than 280 billion times to date. News organizations like CNN have relied upon it, and its data has been republished by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the official CDC COVID Data Tracker. Time magazine named the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center one of the “Best Inventions of 2020.” Goyea gives back to her community, encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers. “Her contributions and leadership skills have undoubtedly improved the quality of the dashboard and helped make it as successful as it is,” said Lauren Gardner Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, JHU.

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Ruchi Mahindru

Senior

Technical Staff Member IBM Research

Ruchi Mahindru rose quickly through the ranks of IBM from software engineer, co-leading one of its first cloud offerings, to senior software engineer within two years of her hiring. Her critical contributions to one of IBM’s largest cloud offerings, Cloud Managed Services (CMS), led to her position of lead architect for several key features required for cloud enablement of 430-plus enterprise clients. Since 2017, as a senior technical staff member, Mahindru led the end-to-end solutions and delivery of AI-infused scalable and knowledge-driven problem diagnosis and remediation. The cloud and AI are pivotal technology in our industry, supporting nearly all forms of modern computing. Mahindru plays a vital role in this strategy through her research, architecture, and development. She has been honored with several IBM internal and external awards for her technical contributions and business impact. She is an IBM Master Inventor. Mahindru was also showcased in the IBM Corporate Technical Recognition Honor book, highlighting her technical prowess. “She is a well-recognized thought leader in the IBM technical community, often celebrated for her creativity and her novel approach to problem-solving, which is also evident from her 20plus publications in top AI venues,” said Sinem Guven, Ph.D., research engineering manager, Meta Platforms Inc.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

LaTara Harris

Director External Affairs AT&T

LaTara Harris is director of external and legislative affairs for AT&T for the Mid-Atlantic region, focusing on local legislative and regulatory affairs in Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Northern Virginia; and Southeastern Pennsylvania. She joined AT&T after more than 10 years with the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, where she held a variety of senior roles, including director of partnerships and outreach. Active in her community, she served on AT&T’s Global Equity & Inclusion Taskforce for External Affairs in 2021. She’s also on the board of the Digital Literacy Alliance in Philadelphia, PA, the District of Columbia’s Workforce Investment Council as mayoral appointee, the Faunteroy Community Enrichment Center, Youth Leaders In Training, and is the chairman of the board of Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. Founder and CEO of WeEmpowerWomen Enterprises, Harris spearheads this global women’s empowerment organization that aims to uplift, motivate, and empower women to reach their full potential. She has been recognized for her community contributions and professional success with a multitude of awards, a sampling of which includes the National Congress of Black Women–Sisters Empowering Sisters Award, the Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award, the Maryland Daily Record Maryland Top 100 Women Award, and she’s a two-time U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award winner.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Vanessa Espinoza

Deputy Fire Chief, Hill AFB, UTAH United States Air Force Materiel Command, 775th Civil Engineering Squadron/Fire Department

Vanessa Espinoza is the only senior master sergeant within the Air Force’s Fire and Emergency Services. She’s trained 995 warrior airmen, became a master military training instructor, and deputy fire chief at Hill Air Force Base. She leads 144 military and civilian airmen, overseeing a $1.4 million budget. Espinoza is responsible for protecting the base, comprised of 28,700 personnel, 1,420 facilities, and $9.1 billion in assets. “[Vanessa is] consistently actively involved with improving operations, processes, and overall life in general for every member of our community,” said Phillip G. Winkelmann, CMSgt., USAF fire and emergency services career field manager. Espinoza’s transformational leadership is also reflected in the myriad ways she’s helped women in her field find tangible solutions to quality of life issues. She wrote a health guide on pre- and post-pregnancy work issues adopted by the Department of Defense. She’s created Facebook pages focused on women firefighters and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Espinoza solved personal protective equipment sizing issues for 11,000 firefighters. She’s hosted gender-focused symposiums and written influential equality briefs. She volunteers with military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, Hispanic nursing home residents, and hosts fitness retreats. Channeling lessons from childhood, she mentors children in foster care, teaching them financial and life skills, preparing them for a bright future and success she herself embodies.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Shawanta Leary

Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Group Plans 90th Security Forces Group United States Air Force

Shawanta Leary is a security forces defender at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. She manages plans, security instructions, and checklists in support of $2.7 billion in Protection Level 1 nuclear resources. She coordinates support agreements with state, federal, and civilian agencies. Leary maintains a comprehensive library, reviewing, coordinating, and publishing unit instructions, supplements, and contingency plans. She’s the unit representative for civil engineer requirements for force protection matters. Leary supports 25 squadrons. Assisting with the wing’s Physical Security Program, she secured $1.6 billion in arms, ammunition, and explosives and is responsible for 51 alarmed areas. She’s enabled her team to give 854 volunteer hours during Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. Leary taught three First-Term Airman Courses, mentoring 16 airmen on vital resiliency and coping skills. Leary has deployed four times, supporting Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, New Dawn, and Olympic Rampart. “In this day and age where our Air Force is dealing with a global pandemic that has not been seen in quite some time, TSgt. Leary is doing everything in her power to take care of our airmen and our community,” said Col. Robert M. Ford Jr. of the 90th Security Forces Group at Warren AFB.

Grow Your Career in the Life Science Industry

Hiring for Engineers Across the U.S. As one of the fastest growing global life science companies, Sartorius is part of the solution in the fight against Covid-19, cancer, dementia and many other diseases. This offers numerous opportunities for our people. With ~200 open positions across the U.S., which one is your opportunity to grow with us and become part of the solution?

Apply today at www.sartorius.com/jobs

Sartorius is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AWARD

Seana McNeal

Senior General Engineer, Aerospace Systems Directorate

United States Air Force Materiel Command

Seana McNeal is a researcher, program manager, and mentor at the Air Force Research Lab. Her expertise in the area of power electronics enabled major advances in power generation technology. As a project engineer, McNeal managed over $20 million in external contracts with defense contractors. She was the aircraft lead for the Hybrid Energy Storage Module, which improved electrical power systems in aircraft. McNeal acts as a bridge between the Department of the Air Force Headquarters and the AFRL, and conveys technical information to senior leaders and Congress, defending the Aerospace Systems Directorate’s $500 million portfolio. She’s active in numerous professional societies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where she’s the current president. McNeal serves on the industry session planning committee for the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference, one of the largest IEEE conferences, and the premier event in power electronics. She’s organized a tutoring program for middle and high school students and kept members engaged in a virtual environment by providing professional development, technical talks, and mental health conversations. “Seana’s contributions to the Power and Control division have enabled major technology advances in power generation technology,” noted Russell L. Spyker, DR04, USAF, Deputy for Research Facilities.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Joy Johnson

Senior Financial Control Analyst

The Boeing Company

Joy Johnson combines her passion for improving existing processes with her love of numbers to benefit multiple departments at Boeing. In Accounts Receivable, she collected audit samples and documentation for internal and external governmental audit requests. Other departments she’s graced include Engineering, Operations, and Technology (EO&T); Global Integrated Development Environment IT; and Cost Accounting Services, making process improvements in each that saved the company time and money. Johnson became financial control analyst for Boeing Defense, Space & Security Sensors, and Special Programs in 2021. She manages finances for defense programs with total contract values of more than $200 million. Johnson participated in Boeing’s Diversity Trailblazers program as a Steering Committee advisor and member. She’s a member of the Boeing Black Employees Association resource group, received the Boeing St. Louis Valuing Diversity and Inclusion Influencing Winner Award, and led communications for the St. Louis Voice of the Employee Team. She’s been active in the National Association of Black Accountants, serving on their board, and as NABA chair of the Accounting Career Awareness Program Awards and Banquet Committee. “Joy’s ability to simplify, persuade, and gain consensus among her peers, management chain, and direct reports is phenomenal,” touted Tiffany Harrison, CFO & Vice President of Finance, The Boeing Company

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN INDUSTRY AWARD

Da’Shaun Joseph

Program Manager

Google

Da’Shaun Joseph has held several roles in the Critical Missions Solutions business handling client account management, program management, and business development. Her focus on client expectations ensured their needs were not only met but exceeded. She’s a 2021 graduate of the McKinsey Black Accelerator Program and was team lead with Jacobs’ Engineering Leadership Development Program. Joseph supported Jacobs’ Action Plan for Justice and Equality within the CMS business, developing Black talent and contributing to the communities where Jacobs works. An energetic advocate for women in STEM, she mentors with Women in Technology, Society of Women Engineers, and the Emerge Academy of IT Senior Management Forum. Joseph further serves her community with membership in the National Society of Black Engineers, Norfolk State University Alumni Association, Northern Virginia Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and as education equity chair for the Virginia Council on Women. Joseph was recently hired as program manager by Google. “Da’Shaun speaks truth to power, is a versatile professional, which makes her a sought out trusted advisor,” said Joseph Patrick, II, Department Manager, Foundational Cybersecurity and Research, The MITRE Corporation

STUDENT LEADERSHIP — UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL AWARD Cierra Williams

Target Digital Network Analyst National Security Agency Georgia

Cierra Williams’ experience betrays her youth, as she’s already a seasoned National Security Agency employee before she even graduates from Augusta University. She won a highly coveted spot in NSA’s High School Work Study Program, and upon graduation from high school, became a vetted participant in NSA’s K-12 Program. She’s impacted nearly 1,400 students under NSA K-12 learning programs since Fall 2020. As target digital network analyst, Williams produces multi-source intelligence products derived from data collection, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation. She exploits foreign communications and systems to identify, collect, analyze, process, and disseminate information to intelligence community members. Williams continues STEM outreach to schools and played a pivotal role helping NSA Georgia employees build a gamified learning competition. What became the NSA K-12 Challenge gained popularity as one of the most innovative crypto-cyber learning opportunities for middle and high school students in Georgia and South Carolina. This now permanent project will reach out to other new hires at the agency, fueling the interests of new generations of NSA talent. “Her dedication to improving the mission resulted in an improvement in the support to military operation. Cierra is a truly focused individual, and she is dedicated to completing the task that she starts,” said Julina Edwards, NSA

TECHNICAL INNOVATION AWARD

Carissa Pajel

MP&P Engineer (Chemical Technology)

The Boeing Company

Carissa Pajel is a designated expert in sealants material technology and the technical lead engineer of Boeing’s Seattle Sealants Group. “Her expertise, innovation, and teaming across disciplines enabled her achievements, and her reputation within my team is one of technical expertise and integrity,” wrote Tia Benson Tolle, Ph.D., director, Advanced Materials and Sustainability, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Pajel’s work ensures the safety of the flying public and those protecting our nation. Aircraft parts are protected from corrosion and electromagnetic effect thanks to her. She qualified fast cure sealants reducing the cure time by 82 percent, delivering savings of $1.5 million, and providing a cost reduction of $346,000 for each 787 airplane. She reduced the time taken for sealant qualification from 18-24 months to five months, saving approximately $3 million. She retains membership in the Boeing Asian and Pacific Association, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE), SAE G9 Sealing Committee, and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Pajel’s overcome social explicit bias, not letting these barriers and challenges weigh her down. She won Boeing Performance and Innovation awards in 2014, 2018, and 2021. She was nominated for the Corporate Engineering Organizations Team of the Year Award in 2022. She holds 19 patents in her field.

TECHNICAL INNOVATION AWARD

Hui-ping Wang, Ph.D.

Technical

Fellow

General Motors LLC

Hui-ping Wang has distinguished herself as a technical fellow in manufacturing systems research at General Motors. She’s invented 66 intellectual properties with 32 being implemented into production. She was GM’s lead in the Automotive Composite Consortium Crashworthiness Team from 2004-2007, technical chair for the 2014 American Welding Society Sheet Metal Welding Conference, and an associate editor for the Journal of Materials Processing Technology. Wang is the technical lead of a team of 20 professional researchers and manufacturing engineers who have transformed the laser welding process. Her invention of the spatterfree laser spot welding process was the 2016 R&D 100 award winner and was first implemented on the 2018 Buick Enclave and 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. This technology saved GM $24 million in addition to an $819 million profit improvement opportunity. Wang won GM’s highest R&D innovation award, the McCuen Award, in 2007, and GM’s highest innovation award, the Boss Kettering, twice—in 2017, and again in 2019. She has authored 98 peer-reviewed scientific publications with over 2,500 citations. “Hui-Ping has distinguished herself not only as a technical fellow, but also as a prolific thinker and driver of innovation… displaying the spirit, determination, and commitment needed to lead GM in the 21st century,” said Kent Helfrich, vice president of Global R&D and chief technology officer (CTO).

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Angela Butler Capture Director

GDIT

Angela Butler is a results-driven leader bringing over 20 years of federal IT experience to General Dynamics. As a capture director in the Defense Division, she builds, leads, and mentors crossfunctional teams to effect capture wins. In 2021, Butler was named co-lead of GDIT’s Black Employee Network Employee Resource Group (ERG), the largest of nine ERGs. Butler’s advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion is instrumental in corporate initiatives and ERG membership growth. She regularly partners with GDIT’s Early Talent and Diversity Programs team to increase diversity within GDIT’s collegiate pipeline. Eager to promote STEM education, she lends her expertise to Black Girls Code and the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program. In the community, Butler serves as vice chair of the Loudoun YMCA Board and a member of the American Cancer Society Northeast Region Board, Epsilon Zeta Boule Foundation, and The Links, Incorporated. She champions mentoring programs for high school students offering them insight into working and navigating the technical field, navigating the workplace, and discovering the future of STEM. “Community service has played an essential role in Angela’s life. She has a passion for helping individuals tap into their talent and optimize all areas of their lives,” said Scott Nycum, vice president of diversity and inclusion at GDIT.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Aida Gonzalez-Lopez

Director, International Programs Products Division

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems

Division

Aida Gonzalez-Lopez boasts 33 years of engineering and acquisition experience in support of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). As program director for International Training Products at NAWCTSD, GonzalezLopez directs the management of training programs, systems, services, and products in support of U.S. security cooperation. Holding an executive leadership position within the Command, she distributes policy guidance while executing foreign military sales cases for training systems and equipment sold to U.S. partner nations and oversees the execution of these programs valued at over $1.1 billion for over 40 countries. “This is a very high-visibility position that requires a great deal of equanimity and poise. Aida handles all of the challenges of this position with ease and aplomb,” said Capt. J. T. James, acting commanding officer, NAWCTSD. Having earned engineering degrees from Boston University and the University of Denver, Gonzalez-Lopez advanced her career by graduating from the Navy Senior Executive Management Development Program. In addition to her myriad professional accomplishments, she’s prioritized mentoring others in her field. Gonzalez-Lopez is the lead executive champion for the Hispanic Engagement Action Team, helping foster and maintain a supportive, inclusive, and welcoming work culture for all.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Candace Kenner

Manager, Talent Acquisition Huntington Ingalls Industries

Candace Kenner quickly rose from recruiter to senior talent and acquisition manager for HII Mission Technologies, leading a team of 11 recruiters for a nearly $1 billion organization. Responsible for the hiring strategy across this national and global organization, she collaborates with executive management and human resources to find remarkable success in a notoriously demanding and competitive environment. Kenner quadrupled HII’s Hawaii workforce during the height of the COVID pandemic. She keeps her own requisition load, remaining one of their strongest recruiters. Kenner prioritizes diverse recruiting practices and combating internal biases, creating manager training on DEI and expanding diverse candidate pipeline opportunities. Kenner is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, through which she mentors other women in business. She helps Union Mission Ministries and Samaritan House, feeding the homeless and helping survivors of domestic violence. In addition to clothing, food, and blood drives, she volunteers with Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, and Dress for Success. “She is one of my most trusted advisors and is respected by my entire team. She is easily one of the most professional, dedicated, and capable individuals I have met in HII,” said Todd M. Gentry, vice president, ISR & Intelligence Operations, C5ISR Group, Mission Technologies Division.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Ashley McQueen

Business Manager for the NASA SBIR/ STTR Program Management Office NASA Ames Research Center

Ashley McQueen fulfills dual roles at NASA Ames Research Center. As business manager she oversees acquisition strategy and diversity and inclusion activities. She prepares reports for the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program, analyzes legal, contractual, and programmatic issues, and provides recommendations to senior leadership. As special emphasis program manager for Native Americans, McQueen partners with the Native American Advisory Council, advocating for a stronger relationship with indigenous leaders and the preservation of indigenous artifacts found on the land where the Ames research center is located. McQueen champions diversity, equity, and accessibility initiatives. She ensured diverse representation of all communities from Ames were showcased in Ames new Visitor Center. McQueen prioritized focusing on the dedicated people behind the Center’s projects and success whose ancestries are African/African American, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian. Veterans, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with disabilities are highlighted with respect and appreciation. “As policy advisor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ashley helped lead the development of a vision and effective strategy that champions the importance and value of a diverse and inclusive community and environment,” said Karen C. Bradford, director of strategic partnerships for the NASA Ames Research Center.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Mai-Chi Nguyen

Engineering Specialist Bell

Mai-Chi Nguyen is a standout developmental leader, project manager, and analytical aerospace engineer at Bell, providing expertise to our aircraft programs for 24 years. She’s a project engineer on the V-22 Osprey aircraft program team and a subject matter expert (SME) for the Active Vibration Suppression System. Her heart for service and love for Vietnam motivated her and her coworkers at Bell to create Agape Love for Vietnam, a non profit organization helping the poor in Vietnam. Agape has helped thousands by digging wells, buying sewing machines, oxen, and tricycles, and building shops for those starting in business. Agape feeds the elderly and the poor, pays tuition, and buys school supplies to give to children. Nguyen has made 24 trips to Vietnam fulfilling Agape’s mission, making generous, real, and tangible improvements to at least 33 villages per year. “Her life is dedicated to hard work and to service, whether building homes, feeding the poor, buying a farmer an ox, building a business stand for a woman with a skill, or giving food and toys to children in a village,” said John E. Moss, HR business partner leader at Bell.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Vernessa Noye

Computer Scientist

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Vernessa Noye has spent her remarkable 22-year career with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Beginning as a software developer, she’s held positions as a database administrator, test engineer lead, software architect, and program manager. Now chief of the Software Engineering and Evaluation Branch, Noye provides technical and administrative oversight to approximately 50 federal and contract employees working on more than 20 projects while managing a $10 million budget. Noye recently completed two separate division chief assignments, challenging special assignments she specifically sought out. In these roles, she provided support to 100 and 150 employees at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory and the Information Technology Laboratory, respectively. As human capital liaison, Noye ran the STEM outreach during which she managed mentoring activities for elementary and high school students, judging at science fairs and promoting STEM careers to high school students, contributing directly to increased recruitment from the local community. Noye also served as an ITL liaison between ERDC and historically Black colleges and universities and Minority Serving Institutes. She’s an inspiration for the youth in her community. “Ms. Noye has worked to posture the branch as the recognized leader in developing software tools to support the USACE,” said senior executive service (SES) member David W. Pittman, Ph.D., who also serves as a professional engineer and directior.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Agnes Ortega

DVP Global Compliance and Quality Operations Abbott

Agnes Ortega personifies grace under pressure. After earning a degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, she entered the predominantly male field of pharmaceuticals in 1985 and immediately made her mark. Shaving a three-day lab test down to 45 minutes was just the beginning of her life as a young scientist. Ortega’s consistent ability to accomplish seemingly impossible compliance and quality assurance tasks at companies like Wyeth, Warner-Lambert, Astra Zeneca, and now Abbott, cemented her reputation as a human trifecta of scientist, leader, and manager. She spearheaded successful completions of FDA Consent Decree obligations for two sites, took a small site global, and remediated a medical device in 45 days to ensure continued production. Her ease of interaction with co-workers, clients, and government agencies adds depth to her stellar reputation as a leader. Additionally, she’s carving out time to mentor nearly a dozen protégés, all of whom consider themselves fortunate to be in her orbit. “Agnes has broken barriers as a woman and a person of color. She’s amassed a portfolio of experiences in premier organizations…And while the road across these years has not been easy, she’s stayed true to her values, maintained a spirit of humility, service, and generosity,” said Sabina Ewing, CIO, Abbott.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Tuyet-Hanh Schnell

Lead Member Engineering Staff

Lockheed Martin

Tuyet-Hanh Schnell has held multiple technical leadership roles at Lockheed Martin, including technical director, integrated product team lead, responsible engineer, scrum master, and subject matter expert. As systems engineering lead for an Aegis Japanese Program, she oversees technical, cost, and scheduling aspects of the design, development, integration, and test of software products for the Japanese Navy. She travels internationally to install, integrate, and test software while training Japanese Naval personnel. Integrating her expertise with a desire to give back, Schnell mentors and trains junior engineers as an instructor for the LM Systems Engineering 101 curriculum and teaches Agile workshops throughout the U.S. Schnell retains membership in the Society of Women Engineers, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and the National Management Association. She serves on the South Jersey Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of NJ conducting STEM outreach in her community. In her 30-year career, she’s designed and developed hardware, firmware, and software while leading diverse and inclusive teams, creating a culture of empowerment, and gaining the respect and trust of her colleagues. “Hanh is a role model within our organization, mentoring and sponsoring other women, as well as educating senior leaders on the importance of diversity and inclusion,” wrote Kelly Buckingham, senior director for enterprise communications at Lockheed Martin.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Antoinette Ward

Networking Performance & Reliability Engineer Leidos

Antoinette Ward is considered a pioneer in data collection and analysis. As AI/ ML operators service delivery manager for Leidos supporting the Defense Information Systems Agency, she created many of the skills and methods used to provide critical global communications capabilities across the Department of Defense. She developed two key tools to provide network event and impact correlation for call center personnel, allowing the center to deliver maximum first call resolution, reducing overall ticket generation volume by 5 percent. Ward has become a subject matter expert on the program for data mining and analysis to solve complex problems. Her work is instrumental to the success the program provides to the Warfighter, paving the way for Leidos securing a 10-year, multibillion-dollar contract reaward with DISA. Program management, the chief technology officer, and multiple service delivery managers depend on her research and analysis. Ward’s recommendations are regularly utilized in executive-level briefings. Ward facilitates group discussions, trains new employees, and mentors newly hired analysts, helping Leidos continue to expand the Network Performance and Reliability Team. “Antoinette’s innovative spirit, exceptional work ethic, and natural ability to lead by example provide her unlimited opportunities to grow and thrive in the information technology industry,” said Jason Schneider, GSMO Ops engineering deputy manager at Leidos.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Whitni Wilson-Wertz

Associate Director, High Rise Group, High Rise Contract Logistics Center (HRCLC)

Otis Elevator

Whitni Wilson-Wertz made an early impression as a sales associate for Otis Elevator, immediately re-establishing terminated client relationships, generating $1.5 million in annual revenue. Now she leads a team based in North America and Shanghai, China that coordinates factory fulfillment for high-rise new construction. She supervises the execution of engineering, estimating, and quality solutions for the North America high-rise team. This portfolio is valued at more than $90 million. Wilson-Wertz’s projects include JP Morgan Chase 270 Park—New York’s tallest skyscraper. She’s handled marquee projects in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (world’s tallest tower), City Center Las Vegas (largest construction site in North America), New York City (Empire State Building), and Seattle, WA (Amazon). She’s served on MWBE United Technologies President’s Council to increase participation of women-, minority-, veteran-, and differently abled-owned businesses, and serves as vice chair for the Otis Employee Resource Group—Women’s Initiative Network. Wilson-Wertz received the Otis Outstanding Contribution Award and won the Otis Elevator-United Technologies Outstanding Achievements Presidential Award. “In addition to performing her job at an exemplary level, Whitni demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to our organization, as well as the community in which we live and serve,” said Mark A. Townshend, director, North America New Equipment CLC.

Women of Color in STEM

THE TECHNOLOGISTS OF THE YEAR TIMELINE

1997 - Sherry F. Bellamy, vice president, Verizon

1998 - Stephanie Manuel Bailey, vice president, Fannie Mae 1999 - Chon-Yin Tsai, Ph.D., principal mechanical engineer, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space

2000 - Margarita Dominguez, vice president, Tampa Electric

2001 - Sherita T. Ceasar, vice president, Scientific Atlanta, Inc.

2002 - Duy-Loan T. Le, senior fellow, Texas Instruments

2003 - Vallerie Parrish-Porter, CIO, Embarq Corporation

2004 - Asha Goyal, Ph.D., vice president, IBM Global Services

2005 - Nancy Stewart, senior vice president and CTO, Walmart

2006 - Lina Echeverria, Ph.D., vice president, Corning Incorporated

2007 - Chineta K. Davis, vice president, Northrop Grumman

2008 - Irene Hernandez Roberts, program director, IBM Software 2009 - Norma Clayton, vice president, The Boeing Company 2010 - RADM Eleanor Valentin, director of the Military Health System, United States Navy

2011 - Sarita Rao, vice president, AT&T Business

2012 - Sonya Sepahban, senior vice president, General Dynamics Land Systems

2013 - Camille D’Annunzio, manager, Automated Sensor Exploitation Technology Center, Northrop Grumman

2014 - Alicia Boler-Davis, senior vice president, General Motors

2015 - Delia Grenville, research scientist, Intel Corporation

2016 - Aleksandra Boskovic, Ph.D., research director, Corning Incorporated

2017 - Denise Gray, CEO, LG Chem Power Inc.

2018 - Donna L. Bell, director of research operations, Ford Motor Company

2019 - Pamela McCauley, Ph.D., professor & laboratory director, University of Central Florida

2020 - RADM Sylvia Trent-Adams, (ret.) Ph.D., principal deputy assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services

2021 - Mei Cai, Ph.D., director of battery cell systems research, GM Chemical & Materials System Lab

2022 - Valerie Sheares Ashby, Ph.D., president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Technology All-Stars, Rising Stars & Top Women in Finance

by

CCG Editors | editors@ccgmag.com

THE TECHNOLOGY ALL-STAR, RISING STAR, AND TOP WOMAN IN FINANCE AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL WOMEN OF COLOR STEM CONFERENCE ARE PART OF THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (OAA) CATEGORY. THE AWARDS HONOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FIELDS

You want an ALL-STAR on your team when there is a complex problem to tackle or play to make. The Women of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference honors the best collaborators in STEM. These women are standouts and have gained recognition for their accomplishments from their peers and employers. The list of All-stars was created to spotlight highly deserving workers in American enterprise. But it is also important to look below the names and find out what these women do and where they do it. Think of the job titles on these pages as a catalog of dreams, an expanding list of career options for women with must-have skills, and the will to overcome long-established but slowly diminishing gender barriers. And remember the names of the organizations they work for. These are the landmarks on the best path to fulfillment of these dreams.

A rising star gains its first recognition as it appears above the horizon, and the women being honored here as RISING STARS are now coming into view as the leaders of the future. They are starting to demonstrate their potential for perseverance and innovation, proving they have what it takes to create America’s future technology. Here we salute young professionals whose work is making a difference, not only to the bottom line but also to the perceptions of what those of their gender, race, or ethnicity can do in the workforce. These Rising Stars are creating opportunities for even greater career success.

Financial technology has come a long way from the buzzword used to describe technology employed at the backend systems of financial institutions. Over the past decade, Women of Color magazine has featured trailblazing women in payments, banking, fintech, and financial services, highlighting their many educational qualifications, professional associations, community relationships, and career experiences. The women named to the TOP WOMEN IN FINANCE list are focused on transforming the landscape and taking practical steps to keep women moving forward in the industry. As populations become more mobile and services more independent, fintech disruption will evolve rapidly. This is especially true for one of the fastest-growing industries presenting new opportunities for graduates. Meet the 2022 award winners:

TECHNOLOGY ALL-STARS

Kristin Brown

Senior Director Lake County Site Operation

Abbott Laboratories

Yen Ling Low

Divisional Vice President, Scientific & Medical Affairs

Abbott Laboratories

Kiké

Maung

R&D Configuration Engineering Manager

Abbott Laboratories

Rupal O’Reilley

Senior Business Relationship Manager

Abbott Laboratories

Teresa “Teri” Pacion

Group Lead – Data Sourcing and Training

Abbott Laboratories

Annabelle Tinoco

Quality Systems Manager

Abbott Laboratories

Eugina Hibbs

Project Controls Supervisor

Actalent, Inc.

Arminda Palacio

Engineering Project Controls Analyst Actalent, Inc.

Jacqueline Bell Technical Consultant

AT&T

Isabel Moreno

Lead Sales Systems Engineer 4

AT&T

Stephanie Jenkins

Chief Technologist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Annette Pohlman

Global Director Customer Center

Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.

Lingyan Wang, Ph.D.

Research Associate

Corning Research and Development Corporation

LaRon Brown

Technical Specialist

Ford Motor Company

Asha Carvalho

Senior Technical Product Manager – Cycle Planning & Resource Management

Ford Motor Company

Lucy Dougherty

Product Manager

Ford Motor Company

Gail Echols Manager, NA Plant IT Operations Ford Motor Company

Yan Fu, Ph.D.

Senior Manager, Strategy and Enterprise Analytics Ford Motor Company

Cynthia Goldsberry

Regional Cultural and Diversity Manager

Ford Motor Company

Lara Lane

Advanced Infrastructure Technology and Security Services Manager Ford Motor Company

Vijayalakshmi M

India PD Director Ford Motor Company

Sasikala Rajasekaran

Senior Enterprise Architect Ford Motor Company

Cari-Lynn Ristic

Program Launch Manager – New Model Programs Ford Motor Company

Leena Shah

Global EDS Component and Application Ford Motor Company

Simone Yuki Manager – Network Dev OPs Ford Motor Company

Michelle Zhang

Product Group Manager Ford Motor Company

Lan Wang, Ph.D. Manager, Risk Analytics

Ford Motor Credit Company

Nicole Bickley

Engineering Group Manager, Thermal Engineering General Motors

Tammy Derusha

Lead Creative Sculptor General Motors

Runjun Gandhi

Industrial Engineering Supervisor General Motors

Bindhu Rajen

Senior Software Development Manager General Motors

Ajla Wilhelmi

Body Shop Area Manager General Motors

Nancy Zeng, Ph.D.

Staff Materials Engineer General Motors

Qun “Maxine” Liu

Senior Vice President, Partner Programs and M&A Integration Health Catalyst

Kelly Doebler

Manager Subcontracts Admin II Huntington Ingalls Industries

Shemara Guzman

Training Representative II Huntington Ingalls Industries

Patience Lowery

Program Manager, Business Operations Huntington Ingalls Industries

Tanika Vasquez

Project Management Analyst Huntington Ingalls Industries

Dana Williams Subcontracts Manager II Huntington Ingalls Industries

Mingming Cao Senior Software Engineer IBM

Maribel Beckwith

Senior Consultant Infosys Limited

Amy Dixon

Associate Vice President, Client Services Infosys Limited

Stephanie Gearheard Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Lisa Guerra Senior Consultant Infosys Limited

Niti Gupta Program Manager Infosys Limited

Dorra Johnson

Lead Consultant Infosys Limited

Richa Thompson Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Joelle Francois Manager of Projects Jacobs

Deja Spigner

Lead Client Account Partner, Sales Operations Jacobs

Kimberly Watkins

Global Solutions Director for EHS Operational Excellence Jacobs

Danielle Hilliard

Assistant Branch Supervisor Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Ardis Carlos-Alim Vice President – CTC Community Engagement Manager JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Janilla Azarian

Senior Specialist Project Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Roshana Nikjou

Associate Manager, Electrical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Melissa Stanley Manager, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Crystal Woods Lead, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Zlavia Johnston Senior Program Manager Leidos

Kjersten Kipp Systems Engineer Leidos

Helena Lee Senior Software Developer Leidos

Minghua Lu

Principal Systems Engineer Leidos

Robin Phillips

Sustainment Lead Leidos

Alexis Seth

Project & Program Manager, Innovation Lab Leidos

Cassandra Bolden

IT Manager

Lockheed Martin

Raelyna Catalon

Associate Manager, DMSMS Systems Engineering Core Team

Lockheed Martin

Ratnanjali Khandwal

Senior Staff Optical Engineer Lockheed Martin

Jin Huang, Ph.D.

NOAA Climate Program Office, Division Chief, Earth System Science and Modeling National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Norma Rivera

Administrative/Technical Specialist

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Angie Soliz

IT Specialist

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Kimberly Erin Scott

Senior Regional Field Operations Manager Otis Elevator

Cheryl Dou

Structures Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Linda Castaneda

Planning Manager – RAM ProMaster Electric Vehicle Stellantis

Anu Cheema

Business Process Manager – Warranty Systems Stellantis

Lei Chen

Business Process Manager Stellantis

Sharon Doss

Project Manager – Mopar Vehicle Protection Stellantis

Bhargavi Krishnaprasad

Fleet Leader and Project Manager Stellantis

Rashmi Persaud

Senior Engineer – Electrical Advanced Stellantis

Karthy Unnikrishnan

Manager – Customer Care, Buyback & Regulatory Compliance Operations Stellantis

Khensani Carter

Director, Business Process Improvement Tenable

Karen Sharp

Senior Project Leader The Aerospace Corporation

Mary Ann Boyd Procurement Agent The Boeing Company

Vernalynn Chun

Mechanical System Design and Analysis Engineer The Boeing Company

Tiffany Griffin-Jefferson

Senior Manager, Electronic & Electrical Engineering Capability The Boeing Company

Mylene Novelo

Business Operations Senior Manager

The Boeing Company

Julie Rueter

Research & Technology – Information Technology & Data Analytics The Boeing Company

Major Temesha

Christensen

Director of Operations, 690th Cyberspace Control Squadron & Chief, AFIN Mission Assurance Center (AMAC) U.S. Air Force

COL Kecia Troy

Deputy Director, Investments Directorate U.S. Army

Lakeeta Lucas

Executive Officer of Civil Works U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Tracye Thrash

Supervisory Budget Officer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Adonnica Roberts

Information Technology Specialist U.S. Army G-8 Program Analysis & Evaluation

Patricia Johnson

IT Specialist/Project Lead U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command

Supriya Deshmukh

General Director IT Union Pacific Railroad

Laura-Lee Davidson Director of Sponsored Programs University of the District of Columbia

Jenifer Guillory

Enterprise Risk Expert – Cybersecurity Walmart, Inc.

Momilani Sabol Sourcing Manager World Wide Technology

TECHNOLOGY RISING

STARS

Pratibha Ashok Kumar

Senior Systems Engineer Abbott Laboratories

Victoria Bournea Compliance Manager Abbott Laboratories

Ashna Iyer IT Program Manager Abbott Laboratories

Gatha Kothari

Manager, Supplier Quality Abbott Laboratories

Ngan Le

Senior Technologies 1 Abbott Laboratories

Sarah Li Intermediate Engineer Abbott Laboratories

Wenwen Li, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist Abbott Laboratories

Jeine Parson Senior Program Manager Abbott Laboratories

Ariel Reid

Manufacturing Process Engineer Abbott Laboratories

Daniella Rojas

Manufacturing Engineer Abbott Laboratories

Wai-Fung Cheong, Ph.D. Director, Medical Affairs Abbott Labratories

Simran Chandan

Software Test Engineer Actalent, Inc.

Utkarsha Chaudhari Control Systems Engineer Actalent, Inc.

Nancy Eslava Alanis Warranty Analyst – Chassis and Thermal Systems Actalent, Inc.

Hana Gebrie Telecom Planning Engineer Actalent, Inc.

Catherine Heindel GIS Specialist Actalent, Inc.

Blanca Hernandez Supply Quality Engineer Actalent, Inc.

Chantel Jackson Electrical Engineer Actalent, Inc.

Berenice Lopez Sanchez

UX Interaction Designer Actalent, Inc.

Lisa Hartman B-2 Special Programs IPT Lead Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Caroline King Senior General Engineer Air Force Research Laboratory

Camille Williams Customer Support Engineer Ansys

Angel Benally Tribal Affairs Specialist AT&T

Portland Lindsey

Principal Software Engineer Ball Aerospace

Kristine Lazo Principle Engineer Bell

Janet Sancen Principle Engineer Bell

Nadirah Abdus-Sabur

Senior Data Scientist Booz Allen Hamilton

Rachelle Bayan

Senior Lead Technologist Booz Allen Hamilton

Sal Brugman

Lead Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Tiffany Butler

Lead

Technologist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Rebecca Cunningham

Chief Technologist Booz Allen Hamilton

Abigail

Giron

Senior Consultant Booz Allen Hamilton

Zoha Imam

Senior Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Chioma “Chichi” Isiugo

Senior Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Devika Kedia

Senior Consultant, Data Scientist Booz Allen Hamilton

Nida Krailas

Lead Technologist Booz Allen Hamilton

Camelia Lai Staff Scientist Booz Allen Hamilton

Christina Leggett, Ph.D. Lead Engineer Booz Allen Hamilton

Delie Minaie

Vice President Booz Allen Hamilton

Lianna Newman

Senior Consultant, Web Developer Booz Allen Hamilton

Prima Ohene-Asante

Lead Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

Chandan

Panguluri

Senior Consultant Booz Allen Hamilton

Faiqa Rahi

Lead Data Scientist Booz Allen Hamilton

Vinodini Sundaram

Senior Lead Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton

Kristen Wang

Senior Consultant

Booz Allen Hamilton

Vickie Shen

Lead Technologist Booz Allen Hamlton

Geetha Eappen

Software Location Head

Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.

Radhika Iyer

Solutions Manager

Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.

Lilian Souza Account Manager

Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.

Kristin Mott

Process Engineering Manager Corning Incorporated

Venus Saatchi

Process Development Scientist Corning Research and Development Corporation

Nicole Dobson

IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC) Defense Contract Management Agency

Jyotsna Gopinath

R&D Technologist

Elevate Textiles/Burlington Labs Shani Allison

Feature Delivery Leader, Super Duty F-Series Ford Motor Company

Karina Alva Metallurgist Engineer Ford Motor Company

Natalie Arguello

Research Engineer

Ford Motor Company

Susmita Deshpande

Software Engineering Lead Ford Motor Company

Marissa Habermel

Industrial Engineer Ford Motor Company

LaRhonda Hunter

Body Shop Maintenance Process Coach

Ford Motor Company

Nimisha Shah

Manager ITO Database Services Ford Motor Company

Jie Yan, Ph.D. Technical Leader and Manager Ford Motor Company

Himaja Yedidi

Industrial Engineer Ford Motor Company

Annie Zeng, Ph.D. Digital Innovation Specialist Ford Motor Company

Alice Chen Zhang, Ph.D. Technical Specialist Ford Motor Company

Uma Arjunan

Technology Product and Cybersecurity Leader Ford Motor Credit Company

Bruna Giudilli Cordioli

Creative Sculptor General Motors

Su Jung Han, Ph.D. Senior Materials Engineer General Motors

Sandya Jackson Assistant Vehicle Architecture Manager General Motors

Jacquie Richards Quality Launch Manager General Motors

Chaitanya Sankavaram, Ph.D.

Staff Researcher General Motors

Cassie Eddy User Experience Designer Health Catalyst

Rashida Toliver Software Engineer Health Catalyst

Ihuoma Nwaogwugwu Research Engineer HP Inc.

Jasmine Adams

Administration Generalist III Huntington Ingalls Industries

Victoria Godbold

Project Management III

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Jhadia Harris

Electrical Engineer I

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Vanessa Phillips Engineering Technician 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Tiffany Titus

Industrial Engineer II

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Janet Wang Engineer Systems Test 2 Huntington Ingalls Industries

Porsha Wilkerson Engineering Manager

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Cynthia Manya Senior Engineer IBM

Prerna Agarwal

Advisory Research Engineer

IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Shivali Agarwal, Ph.D.

Senior Researcher

IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Seep Goel

Senior Research Engineer IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Ranjini Guruprasad

Senior Research Staff Member

IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Seema Nagar Staff Research Scientist IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Hima Patel

Senior Technical Staff Member (STSM) & Research Manager

IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Anupama Ray, Ph.D.

Staff Research Scientist

IBM Research India Pvt Ltd

Omoposola Adesegha

Project Manager Infosys Limited

Aashi Asif Project Manager Infosys Limited

Anagha Bhide

Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Ursula Cantor

Client Partner Infosys Limited

Lindsey Dillon Business Development Executive Infosys Limited

Bontu Edjeta Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Emnet Gebre

Consultant – US – Specialist Infosys Limited

Gayatri Katkar Project Manager Infosys Limited Shilpa Mistry Technology Architect Infosys Limited

Poornima Muthu Krishnan Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Sreeja Nalinakumari Project Manager Infosys Limited

Neetha Pai Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Saritha Poola Project Manager Infosys Limited

Ragendhu Rajeswari Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Prathiba Sampangi Reddy

Project Manager/Relationship Manger Infosys Limited

Nelly Reguera

Senior Consultant Infosys Limited

Dixzil Selces Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Manjula Sethumadhavan

Associate Engagement Manager Infosys Limited

Thushaja Thulaseedharan

Sheela

Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Ashwini Venugopal

Associate Manager – Client Services Infosys Limited

Mintwab Workneh Consultant Infosys Limited

Zeba Yasmin Technology Lead Infosys Limited

Ifeyinwa

Arinze

Senior Land Quality/Geo-environmental Professional Jacobs

T’ommi Burns

Environmental Engineer Jacobs

Olivia Monforton Proposal Manager Jacobs

Juliet OhemengNtiamoah, Ph.D. Wastewater Technology Professional Jacobs

Sidney Saunders

Associate Water Resources Engineer Jacobs Uma Srikonda

Deputy Program Manager/Project Manager Jacobs

Soha St. Juste

Architectural Design Principal Jacobs

Shraddha Patel

Senior Professional Staff II Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Pankhuri Anand

Manager, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Wilketa Cherry

Supervisor, Systems Integration and Test Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Jessica Coots

Senior Director, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Julia Doan

Associate, Mechanical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Rebecca Finney

Senior Associate, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Marissa Fox

Associate Manager, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Krissa Huang

Associate, Electrical Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Elizabeth Josaphat

Systems Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Julietta Lifka

Specialist, Integration & Test Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Hong Liu

Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Carlie Lo

Senior Associate, Electrical Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Maider Marin-McGee, Ph.D.

Senior Specialist Image Science Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Olivia Nguyen

Senior Associate, Integration and Test Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Pauline Nguyen

Senior Specialist Project Engineer L3Harris Technologies

Mary Prasad

Manager, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Sridevi Ramasamy

Lead, Software Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Samony

Riyaz

PLM Systems Analyst, SpE Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Carmen Rodriguez

Scientist, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Ami Soni

Senior Specialist, Systems Engineering L3Harris Technologies

Danica Venosa

Image Science Engineer

L3Harris Technologies

Zemma Chachu

Transformation Projects Portfolio Manager Leidos

Kerryann Hamm

Senior Security Systems Engineer Leidos

Sourichanh Huynh Product Lead Leidos

Shaneka Lewis

Cyber Operations Engineer Leidos

Anatalia Macik

Director, Bids and Proposals Leidos

Kendra McFarlane

Cyber Security Systems Manager Leidos

Linda Nguyen

Lead Web Designer/Human Factor Specialist Leidos

Tam Nguyen

Senior SharePoint Developer/Administrator Leidos

Padmaja Sidhatham Product Lead Leidos

Tuanh Tran

Senior Information Systems Architect Leidos

Lisa Tyo

ITSM Performance Management Manager Leidos

Kendra Woodbridge

Senior Programmer Leidos

Jamechia Hoyle

Public Health Epidemiology Specialist

LMI

Michelle Cruz

Software Engineering LDP Lockheed Martin

Alexis Drayton

Embedded Software Engineer Lead Lockheed Martin

Kelley Touvell

F-35 Test Systems Technical Lead Lockheed Martin

Brigit Salgado

General Engineer, System Safety and Mission Assurance

NASA Ames Research Center

Artara Johnson

Lead Physical Scientist

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Qujuanetta Ellis

Information Technology Specialist

Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific

Elaine Stowell

Engineer

Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific

Courtney Kawazoe

Operations Research Analyst

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme DIvision

Jing Li-Kole

Operation Research Analyst

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Jennifer Caldwell

Network Development Branch Head Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Adilah Khan

Mechanical Engineer

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Kathleen “Nikki” Moore

Chief of Staff Otis Elevator

Candice Canteen Systems Development Manager Peraton

Mary Calacal

Electrical Engineer II Raytheon Technologies

ShanShan Conway Principal Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Daniela Delgado Process Engineer

Raytheon Technologies

Simone

Fermin

Principal Systems Engineer/Cross Product Team

Lead Raytheon Technologies

Maritza Garcia

Senior Systems Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Tamara Gonzalez-Torres

Principal Project Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Farzeen Harunani

Senior Software Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Nichole McCown

Senior Engineering Manager Raytheon Technologies

Nicoya Nobles Boleware

Senior Electrical Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Premia Sahanam

Principal Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Richa Verma

Senior Lead Engineer Raytheon Technologies

Sara Elkhatib

Senior Engineer – Cloud Storage Systems and Solutions

Seagate Technology

Adrienne Hester

Technology Analyst

Seagate Technology

Arati Kulkarni

Professional Services Engineer/Storage Solutions Architect Seagate Technology

Danielle McPherson

Exterior Studio Engineer

Stellantis

Lydia Carter

Software Engineer

Textron Aviation | TRU Simulation and Training

Nyssa Abner

Programmer Analyst

The Boeing Company

Diana Allen

BGS Business Operations, Project Management

The Boeing Company

Liliana Arevalo

San Antonio Retrofit Kitting Proposal Integrator

The Boeing Company

Nanditha Aroor

Senior Manager – Product Systems – IT & DA

The Boeing Company

Taupule Atafua

Indirect Supply Chain Strategy and Functional Excellence Integrator

The Boeing Company

Mounia Belmouss

Propulsion

Engineer

The Boeing Company

Indica Bennett

Systems Engineer – F15 – Advance Technologies and Concepts Team

The Boeing Company

Algelia Burton

Multi-Skill Rotational Engineer

The Boeing Company

Rich Camposano

User Experience Specialist

The Boeing Company

Zulaideth Casanova

Pabon

Structural and Payloads Design Engineer

The Boeing Company

Elizabeth Castro

Material & Process Engineer

The Boeing Company

Angela Chen

Supply Chain Management Procurement Analysis

The Boeing Company

Sinamon Consego

Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Karla Cruz-Lee

BDS Advanced Manufacturing Manager

The Boeing Company

Dima David

Flight Test Engineer

The Boeing Company

Alison Dillihay-James

Supply Chain Analyst/Project Manager

The Boeing Company

Tiffany Duncan

Senior Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Jewel Elegino

Operations Senior Manager

The Boeing Company

Nawal Elnour

Senior Procurement Agent – Systems

The Boeing Company

Susan Feser

Systems Engineering Support Analyst

The Boeing Company

Micah Hall

Integration and Test Engineer

The Boeing Company

Brianne Hebert

Sustainability Analyst

The Boeing Company

Lea Hendrix

User Experience Specialist – Workplace Solutions

The Boeing Company

Natalia Isaza

Senior Manager, Distribution Integration and Execution – BDSI

The Boeing Company

Jumana Jalmiran

Production Engineer

The Boeing Company

Larissa Kaze

Business Operations Specialist

The Boeing Company

Priyanka Lahiri

Senior System Design and Integration Specialist

The Boeing Company

Arlene Lewis

Senior Contracts Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Tiffany Mapp Franklin F-15 Project Manager

The Boeing Company

Lorraine Melendez

Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Katherine Meza, Ph.D.

Product Data Management Engineer

The Boeing Company

Jordon Miller

Cybersecurity – Supply Chain Risk Management

Specialist

The Boeing Company

Alexia Mincitar

Supply Chain Specialist

The Boeing Company

Kathryn Moore

Structural Analyst

The Boeing Company

Rosseana Morales

Sourcing Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Atraiyee Mukherjee

Product Manager

The Boeing Company

Paru Nambiar

Senior Environmental Engineer/Scientist

The Boeing Company

Alexsandra Olaya-Garcia

Space Launch System (SLS) Launch Integration

Manager The Boeing Company

Neha Passi

Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Shakira PastranaNaumann

Senior Director, Supply Chain Planning, Boeing Global Services

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Laura Porres

Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA)

Environmental Control Systems (ECS) Engineer

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Stacy Postema-Callahan

Executive Operations for Security Governance, Risk & Integration

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Nathalie Quintero

Systems Engineer

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Krithika Rajagopalan

Mechanical System Design & Analysis Engineer

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Cynthia

Design Engineer

Ramirez Baez

The Boeing Company

Victoria Reed Project Manager

The Boeing Company

Pauldalyn “Roshanda”

Ronco

Flight Test Quality Manager

The Boeing Company

Francis Samalot, Ph.D.

Associate Technical Fellow

The Boeing Company

Coraly Segarra

Project Manager – Enterprise Intern Experience

The Boeing Company

Teaira Spencer

University Relations Lead, Global Talent Acquisitions

The Boeing Company

Kristyna Teav

Flight Line Operations Team Lead The Boeing Company

Stephanie Tieu Test Equipment Overhaul Engineer The Boeing Company

Saranya Udayakumar

Senior Program Management Operations Specialist

The Boeing Company

Melanie Weber

Structural and Mechanical Design Engineer The Boeing Company

Riya Zachariah Software Engineer

The Boeing Company

Antonette Ho Outreach and Event Lead U.S. Air Force

A1C Melissa Lopez Weapons Load Crew Member U.S. Air Force

Francesca Love-Watkins Command Programmer U.S. Air Force

Captain Felecia Staggers

Joint Program Manager, AF CBRN Protection Systems U.S. Air Force

Capt Alexa Thomsen Operations Officer U.S. Air Force

Lt. Marisa Trainor

Mission Element Lead U.S. Air Force

1st Lt Jamir Walton

E-8 Engineering Requirements Manager U.S. Air Force

Erin Cumbo Project Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Narissia Skinner

Executive Assistant to the Commander U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Nicole Walls

Equal Employment Opportunity Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Brenna Bennett

Computer Scientist

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development (ERDC)

Afrachanna Butler, Ph.D.

Research Physical Scientist

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Soniael Duncan

Computer Scientist

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Jlaja “Pandora” Podier Division Chief

U.S. Army, CECOM Software Engineering Command

Shanda Robinson

Chief, Financial Management U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Jean Lim, Ph.D.

Post Doctoral Associate University of Miami

Anshu Arora, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of the District of Columbia

Stacy Pagán IT Project Manager UPMC

Shaneka Lawson, Ph.D. Research Plant Physiologist USDA Forest Service

Dami Bolofinde

Senior Incident Response Specialist Walmart, Inc.

Sabine Dukuze

Senior Network Engineer Walmart, Inc.

Tyra Harrison Systems Engineer 1 Walmart, Inc.

Sha Herr

Analyst II, Technical Project Management Walmart, Inc.

Annabell Lee

Analyst II, Technical Project Management Walmart, Inc.

Latrice Lee

Senior Technical Project Manager Walmart, Inc.

Kimmie Roberts Systems Engineer Walmart, Inc.

Harshini Sarvotham

Senior Risk Specialist, Cybersecurity Walmart, Inc.

Sonika Taran

Senior Systems Engineer Walmart, Inc.

Arlette Umuhire Sangwa

Senior Incident Response Specialist Walmart, Inc.

Jamie-Christie Garrett

Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Operations World Wide Technology

Shay Gillespie

Central Division Business Development Manager World Wide Technology

Ashley Harris Manager, Community Outreach and Employee Engagement World Wide Technology

Melinda Hines

Strategic Engagement Manager World Wide Technology

Karishma Varshani Strategic Engagement Manager World Wide Technology

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Carla Prieto

Senior Manager Business Operations, AVLS –FARA CP Bell

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Head of Finance

Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.

Felicia Murrill

DEI Program Manager, Optical Communications Corning Incorporated

Mae Smitherman-Smith

Controller, Global Manufacturing, MP&L, and Warranty Ford Motor Company

Olga Marruffo

Head of Financial Planning and Analysis HP Inc.

Nicole Purnell-Davis Division Vice President, Finance & Business Ops Jacobs

Melony Belfiore Program Manager LMI

Akoss Schuppius

Project Manager LMI

Marie Levada

Undersea Warfare Combat Systems Department Business Office Lead Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport

Lucy Yi

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TOP Women Healthcare IN

by Lango Deen | editors@ccgmag.com

According to a recent report, women have a leading role in health care in the United States. Women of Color magazine recently researched the biographies of female executives and professionals at various healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance, and healthcare-related companies.

The 2022 Women in Healthcare honorees have blazed a trail in healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology industry, medical device industry, and other life sciences industries in the healthcare sector. The list represents an outstanding sample of movers and shakers recognized for their significant contributions to efforts that help provide women with knowledge to satisfy their multiple roles as decision makers and consumers of healthcare.

Nurse Politician

The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam is a retired member of the Maryland State Senate. She is the first person of Caribbean descent elected to the Maryland General Assembly and the first U.S. registered nurse of Black Caribbean origin. Nathan-Pulliam served 20 years in the Maryland House of Delegates. Before being elected in 1994, she worked as a registered nurse. During her career, she was active with Planned Parenthood of Maryland and is co-founder of the Black Mental Health Alliance and the Baltimore City Community College Nursing Alumni Association. In 1997, she received a community service award from the National Association of Health Service Executives and the Maryland Nursing Association’s legislator of the year award. She was presented with a similar award by the Maryland Public Health Association. In 2011, the Maryland Hepatitis Coalition honored her as a Hepatitis Hero. NathanPulliam retired in 2019 after being elected over two terms in the Maryland State Senate representing District 44. She previously represented District 10 as a Maryland House of Delegates member from 1994–2024.

Health Advocate

The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam

A health advocate, Denise Pines is the founder of a wellness platform for menopausal women and a femtech project that provides health and tech industry leaders and investors with reports and research, which helps drive global innovation focused on the health and wellness needs of women ages 40-plus. Pines serves on the Board of Directors for the Federation of State Medical Boards, Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and is the immediate past president of the Medical Board of California. She also serves on the Martin Luther King Community Hospital Foundation board and the board of the National Minority Health Association.

Abbott

Sabina Ewing is the global chief information officer (CIO) and vice president of business and technology services at Abbott, a medical devices and global health care company. She oversees the enterprise’s technology strategy, policy, and capabilities in this role. Ewing joined Abbott in 2020 after serving in IT leadership roles at Pfizer. Before joining Pfizer, Ewing held management roles at Arthur Andersen Business Consulting, BearingPoint, and American Express. She is a former New York City teaching fellow and served as a fifth-grade teacher in the South Bronx. She is an advocate for the transformative role technology plays in the 21st century.

AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division – North Region

Audrey Gregory, Ph.D., RN, serves as president and CEO for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division – North Region, which includes hospitals in Flagler, Lake, and Volusia counties. Gregory oversees the strategic direction, development, and execution of key strategies that support the total care network and helps build influential relationships with key constituents, community partners, and consumers. Before joining AdventHealth, Gregory served as the group CEO for Detroit Medical Center. She served on the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s board of trustees and was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities.

Denise Pines

Sabina Ewing

Audrey Gregory, Ph.D., RN

Alto Pharmacy

Alicia Boler Davis is CEO of Alto Pharmacy, a tech startup working to improve health care by building a better pharmacy. Before this role, she was senior vice president for global customer fulfillment at Amazon. As part of Amazon’s senior executive team, she was a critical leader in Amazon’s efforts to ensure the safety of its employees in worldwide operations. At the same time, it continued to deliver to customers and communities during a global pandemic. Before Amazon, Boler Davis had a nearly 25-year career at General Motors, where she progressed from intern to executive vice president of global manufacturing, labor relations, and sustainability.

Amazon Web Services, Healthcare

Phoebe L. Yang is the general manager of Amazon Web Services, Healthcare, and board director at CommonSpirit Health. She leads the world’s most comprehensive cloud platform to drive high-growth business enabling health care companies as they transform to better meet the needs of their patients, members, consumers, and communities. As C-suite or executive leader in four publicly traded companies, an appointee in two presidential administrations, and a board member for companies ranging from $5 billion to $35 billion-plus revenue, she has extensive experience in digital transformation, global expansion, technology, media, entertainment, consumer, and mergers and acquisitions at some of the world’s most admired companies.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Denise Fleming is chief information officer (CIO) and executive vice president, technology and global services for Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a leading global medical technology company headquartered in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Fleming is responsible for leading all aspects of BD’s information technology (IT) systems and processes, the enterprise program management office, and global shared service centers. She is also a member of the BD Executive Leadership Team. Fleming joined BD from Boeing, where she was the vice president of IT and CIO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Prior, Fleming held several positions at Sprint before joining BAE Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Camille Chang Gilmore is vice president of human resources (HR) and global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officer for medical device and health care firm Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC). In this role, she helps support 40,000 employees in 130 countries. Since joining BSC in 2004, she has been instrumental in building a culture prioritizing DEI. This includes spearheading the Close the Gap health equity initiative and U.S. diversity recruiting programs. A highly

regarded executive, Chang Gilmore has 25-plus years of leadership experience. Before BSC, Chang Gilmore held HR roles at FedEx, the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, IBM, and the State of Oregon.

Alicia Boler Davis

Phoebe L. Yang

Denise Fleming

Camille Chang Gilmore

Federal Health Division, General Dynamics Information Technology

Jacklyn Mitchell Wynn is vice president of strategic programs for the federal health division at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). In this role, she helps to build GDIT’s capabilities focused on innovative and agile mission delivery across federal health agencies. Previously, she served as a vice president of a federally funded research and development center that the MITRE Corporation operates, leading healthcare initiatives in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Military Health. She is a committed advocate with a strong track record for diversity, equity, and access. She is also a recent member of the NASA Board, the National Advisory Committee appointed by senator Bill Nelson.

Pfizer

Niesha Foster is vice president of product access, global health, and social impact, where her team is focused on eliminating the patient affordability challenge, creating lastmile access solutions and driving colleague and community engagement. She is also accountable for Pfizer’s U.S. Patient Assistance Program; Pfizer’s product donation programs, including the Trachoma Initiative; engagement with communitybased organizations, and co-leading Pfizer’s Multicultural Health Equity Collective. The collective focuses on achieving health equity across groups and other underrepresented communities facing significant health disparities. During her 19-plus-year Pfizer career, Foster has also led strategic and operational programs across commercial and platform functions. 

Niesha Foster

Jacklyn Mitchell Wynn

Secretary of the Army swears in first female inspector general

The taunts and bullying still remain fresh in her mind 37 years later.

As a teen, Donna Martin earned a selection as a saxophone player in her high school’s marching band in 1984, becoming one of only three minority students at her school chosen for the 200-member ensemble.

Several of her peers weren’t happy with the decision, she said. “They made my life a living hell,” said the now-Lt. Gen. Martin, the Army’s newest inspector general. “They tortured me every single day and their antics made me want to quit.”

Martin began playing the saxophone in her junior high school years and spent hours practicing until she became good enough to carry a tune. After initially not making the band, she later earned a blind audition in high school with the help of her mother’s petitioning.

Following her selection, Martin became the victim of verbal torment from her classmates. She said even the school’s band director encouraged her to change instruments. Distraught over the behavior of fellow students, she turned to her mother for advice.

“I wanted to quit,” she said. “But my mother would not let me.”

Life isn’t fair, her mother would tell her, but that shouldn’t let others dictate her life’s direction.

Martin followed her mother’s advice as she continued to perform with the band. And she has remembered those words throughout her 33-year Army career. On Thursday,

By Joseph Lacdan,

Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth, left, swears in Lt. Gen. Donna Martin as the Army’s inspector general during a ceremony Sept. 2, 2021. Martin previously spent a year as the Army’s provost marshal general. (Courtesy photo)

that perseverance led her to be sworn in as the Army’s 67th inspector general, becoming the first female to hold the position.

Martin’s mother passed away in January 2019.

“My mother taught me life lessons that made me the person that I am today,” Martin said during the ceremony, in which she was also promoted.

Martin’s nomination comes at a pivotal time for the Army, as it combats against racial discrimination while pushing for more inclusivity within its ranks. Following the deaths and disappearances of Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, Martin took on the challenge of serving as the Army’s provost marshal general and commander of the Army Criminal Investigation Command, or CID.

Working with recommendations from the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee, Martin oversaw a five-month structural redesign of CID to better inform and protect victims of sexual assault and harassment.

position lightly. She has pioneered several commanding roles, such as becoming the first female to command Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, a training post that hosts the Army Military Police School, Army Engineer School as well as basic combat training. Martin understands the importance of having women nominated to senior Army leadership roles.

“What I think it really means to a lot of females, young women in particular, is that anything is possible,” Martin said during a radio interview with St. Louis Pubic Radio in 2020 following her nomination to provost marshal general. “And … so I hope that I give hope, and that when young women look at my picture in that row of distinguished gentlemen, that they see that there is hope for anyone.”

Martin has also deployed in support of Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. During the ceremony, Martin paid tribute to about 2,500 American troops who died in Afghanistan.

“They paid the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of people and the struggle for freedom ... far from their own homeland,” Martin said. “They leave behind a legacy of honor. We owe them and their loved ones a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.”

Martin’s predecessor as inspector general, Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, lauded Martin’s ability to lead large organizations. He said that as the Army’s top law enforcement officer, Martin pushed for more support to commanders and units in the field.

“Donna Martin has all of the knowledge, skills, and attributes that the Army needs today,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, Army inspector general, hands out bouquets of flowers to female family members who had an impact in her life during her swearing in and promotion ceremony on Sept. 2, 2021. Martin was continuing the tradition of giving flowers to honor her late mother, who passed away in January 2019.

(Courtesy photo)

The changes included splitting the provost marshal general’s duties and responsibilities with that position and a civilian director assigned under the Secretary of the Army. The restructure also called for an increase in civilian criminal investigators to diversify investigative experience.

“Donna has been leading CID during some very challenging times, not only under the watchful eye of the Department of Defense, but Congress and the American public as well,” said Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth. “She has been the right leader at the right time, and her character and leadership help the team not just weather the storm, but chart a course so that CID only gets stronger and more capable in the future.”

The Army's newest inspector general, Donna Martin, gets her third star pinned on by her husband, Chris Martin, left. Martin does not take her role as the first female to hold the

Wormuth praised Martin’s ability to inspire and care for others. A large contingent of Martin’s family members attended the ceremony, including her husband of 27 years, Chris, a former Marine, and her siblings and aunts.

Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, Army inspector general, hands out bouquets of flowers to female family members who had an impact in her life during her swearing in and promotion ceremony on Sept. 2, 2021. Martin was continuing the tradition of giving flowers to honor her late mother, who passed away in January 2019.

“We need leaders that look like you and lead like you in our Army’s highest ranks,” Wormuth said. “You show how much is possible to achieve while keeping the well-being of Soldiers and their families front and center.”

In a final gesture to honor her late mother, Martin continued the tradition of giving flowers as she did to her mom every year. Following the ceremony she handed a bouquet to each of the women in her family who had an impact on her life.

.

T o day dna yreve d a y , w e c e lebrate t eh advancement s of w o men

LG Energy Solution congratulates all the women recognized for their achievements in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. LG Energy Solution is a proud supporter of diversity and inclusion.

– Forward Thinker Who’s Bringing the Band Together at Infosys

Working at Infosys means being heard and having the support and opportunities you need to navigate your career toward success. It means having a career that mattersdevoting your energy to something that discernibly improves the world around us and the lives of those living in it. Join us to experience a culture of learning, growth, inclusiveness, and sharing in our mindset of exploration and innovation.

www.infosys.com/careers/americas

“At Infosys, I’m heard and that makes me feel like a rock star.”

WOMEN TO WATCH AT

THE SECRET TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY ENTERPRISE LIES IN ITS WORKFORCE. No doubt, Walmart, one of the largest employers in the United States, has the brightest and best minds at the helm. From cybersecurity resilience to asset management, information security, and beyond, these science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals lead innovative advancements on behalf of Walmart. The 2022 winners of the Women of Color STEM Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) are being honored for their exceptional performance and their contributions to the communities they live and work in. Walmart’s winners include Technology All-Stars, Technology Rising Stars, peer-reviewed, and Publisher’s Choice. All-Stars are mid-level and advanced mid-level executives who have demonstrated excellence in their workplace and communities. Rising Stars are professionals with less than 22 years of experience in the workforce who are helping to shape technology for the future.

Annabell Lee

Technical Project Management Analyst II

Annabell Lee is a technical project management analyst with Walmart’s IT Asset Management Team. In this role, Lee ensures cybersecurity resilience and safety throughout the organization. She manages multi-faceted projects to ensure compliance and minimize risk to security operations. She works across the organization to identify technology assets and ensure vulnerabilities are identified and remediated. A dynamic, innovative, and driven professional, Lee partners with her peers and subordinates to ensure organizational success is achieved inclusively. She is a true diversity and inclusion champion and a voice for the Walmart Women in InfoSec and the InfoSec new hire resource group.

Arlette Umuhire Sangwa

Senior Incident Response Specialist

Arlene Sangwa is a senior incident response specialist for Walmart, Inc., where she spearheads processes to respond to and remediate cyber threats on the organization’s networks. Sangwa plays an instrumental role in shaping the technology path for Walmart in a unique way. Her expertise and ingenuity provide a direct avenue to positively influence technological changes required to meet the cybersecurity requirements and expectations of the Fortune 1 company. Sangwa’s reach and influence extend beyond the boundaries of

the Walmart global ecosystem to include third-party companies and other entities with whom Walmart interacts on a worldwide stage.

Ebony Smith

Principal Technical Project Manager

Ebony Smith is the principal technical project manager for Walmart’s Global Information Security division. She assisted functional areas in building long-term visions and roadmaps aligned with the enterprise information security strategy. Smith is a high-performing, cross-functional team member who leverages her extensive capabilities to enable information security leaders to protect and defend Walmart associates and customers against global cyber threats. With a drive for impact, Smith has achieved success developing and launching digital products and new services that increase sales and improve customer experience. She has a natural aptitude for building relationships, helping others succeed, and producing data-driven results throughout her career.

Erika Roberts

Senior Risk Specialist

Erika Roberts was recently appointed senior risk specialist for the cybersecurity technical controls assessment team at Walmart, Inc. In a brief time, she has become “a critical asset” within the security services team. Roberts is responsible for performing technical assessments and analyses

on innovative solutions to ensure they are securely designed and implemented in a way that meets Walmart’s highest security standards. With proficiencies in security best practices, analyzing and remediating risks and vulnerabilities, and secure coding concepts, Roberts has proven herself a distinguished professional who consistently excels in troubleshooting and evaluating technical alternatives to optimize network performance and efficiency.

Jenifer Guillory Enterprise Risk Expert

Jenifer Guillory is an enterprise risk expert for Walmart’s Security and Compliance division. She handles associate and customer security data protection, security standards enforcement, and payment card industry (PCI) compliance for global branches of the company. A strong advocate for diversity leadership, Guillory created Allyning Matters, a training curriculum that helps teach company leaders the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship in the workplace and beyond. She also leads Walmart’s Black Tech Network (BTN) Women’s Mentoring Circle and continues influencing the next generation of diverse talent.

Kimmie Roberts Systems Engineer

Kimmie Roberts is a systems engineer who works with Walmart’s Open Systems Security Engineering team. A passionate and innovative professional, Roberts has a decade of experience working with the organization. Currently, she administers Walmart’s core multifactor systems, such as RSA cryptographic algorithm, to help solve business problems for Walmart customers. Roberts is responsible for RSA SecurID administration and expanding associates’ knowledge about Linux and data security industry standards. Her peers and leadership highly respect her for her strong engineering and technical agility.

Harshini Sarvotham Software Engineer III

Harshini Sarvotham is a cybersecurity software engineer for the Walmart IT Compliance team. She performs security assessments and remediates the findings to ensure alignment with company standards, and she also leads the automated processes that identify duplicate

applications, reducing the remediation time frame. Sarvotham always seeks out opportunities to drive innovative solutions. Her technical expertise earned her a nomination for the Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award at the 2022 BEYA STEM Conference. She is a true diversity and inclusion champion and a voice for the Walmart Women in InfoSec and the InfoSec new hire resource group.

Latrice Lee

Senior Technical Project Manager

Latrice Lee is a senior technical project manager for security testing and analysis, where she supports the security testing and analysis team of Walmart Information Security. With a 15-year tenure at Walmart, Lee aids in making sure Walmart’s applications and systems are protected from malicious attacks from outside sources. As an essential player in the development of the Women in InfoSec resource group for Walmart, she is a known advocate for change and promoter of inclusion. Currently, Lee assists with diversity and inclusion discussions in the InfoSec area and is co-developing a mentor training program for one of the mentor groups.

Marquita A. Moreland eDiscovery Lead

Marquita A. Moreland is the eDiscovery lead in Walmart’s nationally accredited Forensics and eDiscovery lab. She provides experience in the company’s database management, SQL Server management, application development, and information governance. As a subject matter expert in merchandise data, Moreland also assists colleagues and stakeholders in developing their understanding of technology, business, and performance, helping identify solutions that produce improved services, solutions, and relationships. Passionate about helping others succeed and the next generation of women in STEM, Moreland is highly active in organizations such as Girls Who Code and Little Miss Coder.

Sonika Taran

Senior Systems Engineer

Sonika Taran is a senior systems engineer for security testing and analysis. As a critical member of the “Bug Bounty” team with over 10 years of professional experience in penetration testing, Taran uses her expertise to execute application security and web services testing assessments. Her work includes analyzing and verifying the security vulnerabilities reported by external researchers and

defining the impact and criticality of vulnerabilities. Taran has been directly involved in shaping technology and cybersecurity programs for multiple Fortune 100 companies throughout her career. Her involvement in countless instances has resulted in positive changes in technology solutions.

Sha Herr

Analyst II in Technical Project Management

Sha Herr is an analyst in technical project management for the portfolio project management division of Walmart, In this role, she guides the implementation of new networks and hardware, disaster recovery and business continuity, and data protection. Further, she creates and oversees timelines for major server refreshes and reviews and assesses architectural designs, implementation, testing, and deployments of network projects.

Herr has worked with engineering and leadership teams across multiple Walmart organizations and teachers from local high schools to better understand applying project management and Agile in technology.

Sabine Dukuze

Senior Network Engineer

Sabine Dukuze is a senior network engineer for Walmart. She is a progressive information security professional with over five years of experience and is recognized as one of Walmart’s primary authors of security awareness training materials. She also developed Python scripts to automate next-generation security system capabilities from build to policy configuration, validations, and maintenance. Dukuze continues to make significant technical contributions to the overall success of Walmart by leading Walmart store security stack modernization, the company’s first zero-touch security infrastructure deployment throughout its 3000-plus stores.

Tyra Harrison

Systems Engineer 1

Tyra Harrison is a systems engineer with the open systems security engineering team at Walmart. She has also served as a member of the company’s cryptographic appliances and systems engineering team. Within her first two years, she became certified as a Venafi security administrator and recipient of the CompTIA Security+ and GIAC Information Security Fundamentals certifications. She oversees the Windows Server management for the

enterprise’s internal public key infrastructure (PKI), digital certificate management for company vendors and customers, and two-factor authentication for the Walmart and Sam’s Club enterprises.

Whitney Mcleland

Associate Technical Project Manager

Whitney Mcleland is an associate technical project manager for the InfoSec Awareness Communication and Training (ACT) Team at Walmart. She manages a broad scope of design projects ranging from global information security campaigns to strategic outreach and industry engagement initiatives. Mcleland has played an instrumental role in championing the maturity of the company’s international ACT program and delivering datadriven awareness campaigns and content on cybersecurity best practices and corporate policy for Walmart’s 2.2 million associates. Her monthly metrics reporting has significantly helped team members throughout the enterprise become more engaged and data-driven professionals.

Whitney Davis Systems Engineer 2

Whitney Davis is a systems engineer in the cybersecurity division of Walmart, Inc. She controls the management of identity lifecycles for 2.3 million enterprise associates and contractors, as well as Active Directory groups and service accounts. Davis is also a founding member of the Black Technology Network (BTN), whose mission is to foster and cultivate minority talent in the tech industry. An advocate for community engagement, she started the “WhitAllMyHeart” Foundation to create opportunities for young men and women in science, technology, arts, engineering, and math (STEAM) fields and equip them with the skills to succeed. 

Abir Sassi and Candace Cox-Wimberley on Workplace Well-being

Health and productivity go hand in hand. With a healthy mind and body, you’re able to maintain focus for longer and move swiftly from one task to the next, accomplishing far more than you might otherwise.

At the most recent Women of Color STEM Digital Conference, Abir Sassi of Abir Sustainable Advisory and Candace Cox-Wimberley of I Am a Genius came together to discuss some important points regarding employee wellness. Sassi talked about her work as a safety-focused business consultant, and Cox-Wimberley shared some tips employees can use to stay healthy both inside and outside of the workplace.

client’s facilities and work culture in relation to employee health, safety, and wellness.

“I start with confidential worker interviews to be sure they’re comfortable working with me so I can collect the right information,” she says, speaking about the 100-plus social assessments she’s conducted around the world.

“How do they feel about their workplace? Do they feel secure? Do they feel empowered and happy? We do this to figure out if [people] can sustainably work in that factory or that enterprise.”

She encourages employers to pay the same type of attention to their employees’ health as she herself does, paying special attention to factors like stress and burnout. “Employees live with stress in all industries,” Sassi says, “and that’s normal, but we must find solutions for avoiding it.”

Tips for Protecting Your Health as a Working Person

As her contribution to the conversation, Cox-Wimberley brought with her a list of six things that employees can do to stay healthy both inside and outside of work. Here’s her list and what she had to say about what she calls the “six doctors.”

1. Sunshine

“Sunshine is key for our bodies. Vitamin D can improve your mood and help you stay calm and focused. The sun is like medicine.”

2. Exercise

“Healthy employees represent fewer overhead costs, helping businesses to ensure a smooth cash flow,” Sassi said, speaking about the value of a healthy workforce from a business owner’s perspective. “Unhealthy employees and more sick days mean decreased productivity. Not to mention, your remaining employees have to pick up the slack left by your absent employees.”

Productivity aside, Sassi cares deeply about employee wellness and helps companies make their workplaces safer and healthier for workers. That’s why, in her advisory work, Sassi spends significant time conducting what she calls “social assessments,” which evaluate her

“Try to get at least 15 minutes a day of exercise. Maybe it’s a jog outside, or maybe it’s yoga in your living room. Perhaps it’s going to the gym or lifting weights right in your own basement. There are a variety of options, but the goal is to move your body. (She states here that jogging is one of her preferred forms of exercise because she gets sunshine and a workout.)

3. Water

“Hydration supports the functions of your body parts. It helps your mental health just as much as your physical fitness.”

“Employees live with stress in all industries,” she says, “and that’s normal, but we must find solutions for avoiding it.”

4. Nutrients

“The greens you eat, the fruit you eat, the proteins you eat…all of it plays a part in how you perform at work.”

5. Doctor visits

“Visiting a doctor is an important way to tend to your body. I know we all have busy schedules, but you have to be intentional about making time to visit your doctor.”

6. Sleep

“Just like our phones and computers, our battery dies if it’s not charged. We have to charge up and rejuvenate to help our brain function.”

In regard to sleep, Cox-Wimberley explains that it’s very important for employees to recognize when they are at risk of burnout and to protect themselves from overexhaustion.

“Burnout is real, even if you love what you do,” she says. “It can mess you up, too, because you’re so ambitious. You’re like, ‘I don’t need to sleep. I don’t need to eat.’ That can really affect your well-being.”

Abir Sassi of Abir Sustainable Advisory and Candace CoxWimberley of I Am a Genius

Candace Cox-Wimberley of I Am a Genius

If you could have a conversation with a younger version of yourself, what kind of career advice would you give? Would you tell yourself to work longer hours? Network more? Study a different subject in college or choose a different career path altogether? Here’s what some of NASA’s leading scientists and administrators say they’d tell their younger selves:

Dr. Denise Cervantes Organizational Effectiveness & Workforce Development Manager

“If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I would tell her to take a moment to recognize the power of her voice. Throughout my career working in the STEM industry at NASA, I often found myself occupying spaces where I was the only person of color, the only woman, and often the youngest person in the room. I always struggled with feelings of imposter syndrome. Who was I to tell these senior executives how to run these organizations?

So, I had to develop the confidence that I’d always have a seat at the table. I continued to grow and built a network of mentors that helped me write a new story in my head to help me separate the feelings from the facts, visualize and celebrate my successes.”

Cynthia Simmons

Deputy Director of the Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

“You’re going to work a long time, so do what jazzes you. It might take a minute to figure out what your passion is and what’s most important to you. Every job has some ugly parts, so it’s not what job is all perfect, but what job [lets you do the things that are] most important to you.

Another thing I would tell my younger self is to slow down. When you’re younger, you’re in a hurry to do everything, and you always feel late, especially in regard to your professional life. Now, from this vantage point, I can tell you that it’s never too late and you’re never too old.”

Dr. Clara Orbe

Research physical scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)

“My general advice is that sometimes you need to push aside your personal doubts.

As a research scientist at GISS, I’ve taken a position leading a research group. Prior to this job, I had no experience leading groups, and I really struggled initially because I didn’t have the confidence to assign tasks or demand work from my group, particularly because most of the group were men who were significantly older than me. So I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning. I was too timid, and I’d qualify my requests with apologies or by trying to understate them. I realize now that this was not constructive at all, and it took me a few months, but I’ve learned from those mistakes.”

Jay Bajpayee Director of Programs and Projects at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC)

“The first advice I’d give myself is that life is not a dress rehearsal. We’re going to live this life one time, so find your passion, figure out what’s important to you, and make decisions based on that. When you’re younger, you’ll have a lot of people try to give you advice on how to make certain decisions, and they mean well. However, if you don’t understand what you want and what’s important to you, you’ll make decisions that are important to them, and those decisions may or may not fit with your value system.

The second thing I’d say is to always believe in yourself. There will be enough people around trying to put you down. There will also be some people who try to lift you up, but you must have your own confidence, and you must know that you can do whatever you set out to do.” 

Clockwise from top left: NASA employees Dr. Denise Cervantes, organizational effectiveness & workforce development manager; Cynthia Simmons, deputy director of the Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC); Jay Bajpayee, director of programs and projects at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC); Nithin Abraham, thermal coatings engineer; Dr. Clara Orbe, research physical scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)

“It might take a minute to figure out your passion. Every job has some ugly parts, so it’s not what is perfect, but what is most important to you.”

REAL JOBS. REAL IMPACT.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

All images are USDA Forest Service photos.

Leading Voices: ESTe²M Dreamers

Throughout my engineering career in industry and academia, I’ve experienced firsthand the lasting impact that support and mentorship can have on selfactualization, from an early age. This is why I started ESTe2M Dreamers—to nurture the next generation of leaders through confidence, creativity, and competence development.

My co-founder and I expose students to STEM via handson projects and experiential learning opportunities. We have special programs and activities for young Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and as AfricanAmerican STEM professionals, we believe representation

truly matters. Our girls and boys need to see someone who looks like them to help expand their perimeter of possibility and create an “If they did it, so can I” mentality. That mindset (to dream and wonder “what if?”) is why we call our nonprofit organization ESTe2M Dreamers. Our nonprofit develops a STEM-based curriculum, afterschool programs, and interactive experiment kits that are distributed monthly to customers around the world. Kits are mailed directly to our subscribers and contain all the items students need to complete their very own STEM experiment each week.

Making the connection between African-American and African communities stimulates fellowship among ethnicities, one that focuses on commonalities, not differences.

LaTasha Taylor Starr Founder, ESTe2M Dreamers

With over 25 topics to choose from, each activity is designed to spark wonder and imagination while giving students the encouragement and affirmation that is lacking in many of their school and community environments. For students of color, our STEM programming places a unique emphasis on relatability and provides rare moments to connect with minority STEM leaders who have completed many of the milestones they are currently working toward. Our STEM portfolio includes several projects geared toward increasing STEM exposure throughout underserved communities.

We recently completed our first documentary, giving us yet another tool in our toolbelt for reaching even more students through our practical approach to STEM education. “STEM Roots” follows our quest to guide African-American girls through the genealogy and genetic engineering process, utilizing engineering, chemistry, and biology.

High school girls matriculate through the journey of discovering who they are using DNA analysis and cultural connections. Not only are they learning more about the continent of Africa as a whole, but they learn about the individual countries they come from and their specific tribe. More importantly, they learn about STEM processes related to genetic discoveries that are possible through DNA extraction.

Many African Americans have been denied the privilege of knowing where they come from, leaving them with only an abstract association to the African content. This documentary addresses this disconnect by responding to the desire for increased awareness and cultural gap closure.

Making the connection between African-American and African communities stimulates fellowship among both ethnicities, one that focuses on commonalities, not differences. Through STEM, we build empathy between both communities and give participants the information they need to pay homage to their ancestral roots.

We’re helping them connect the dots and write their own story of who they are and how STEM contributes to their genetic makeup. We show them how STEM can prepare them for successful, lifelong careers through an experience that allows participants to see themselves as actual STEM professionals. They transform into researchers who are leading the charge to better understand their own identity.

How much more confident would you be if you knew more about who you are and where you come from? Can one’s self-esteem be enhanced through STEM experimentation and discovery? STEM Roots explores both those questions, and it’s hard to contain the magic that ensues when students are provided with information that connects them to a history that is vibrant and full of pride. Learning heritage through STEM sets the stage for students to have new conversations they weren’t able to have before due to a lack of knowledge and awareness.

We want them to see themselves in a different light and learn more about the characteristics that make them special. Were their ancestors entrepreneurs? Farmers? Warriors? Could those same character traits be used to describe the participants and their families today?

The film highlights our approach to using students’ natural curiosity about who they are and where they come from to propel them into science and engineering experimentation. Once we have their attention, we show them how STEM provides a window into who they are. By connecting STEM to genealogy and ancestry, we optimize their inquisitive nature to increase their desire for exploration.

It was imperative to connect the minorities featured in this documentary to something greater than the transAtlantic slave trade, poverty, or any of the oppressive methods that have been used to negatively impact members of the African diaspora for generations.

STEM Roots is just one example of how we can positively illuminate their pathways, from both a cultural and scientific perspective. Our next documentary will take African-American boys on a similar scientific cultural journey that uses self esteem-building techniques as a catalyst and a tool for them to achieve their dreams. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency that enriches life through science Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one third of America’s gross domestic product NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting edge research and high tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need NOAA employs some of the world’s top Scientists supported by a vast array of Administrative Support Professionals to accomplish this mission and we welcome you!

Join the NOAA team!

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Tami Hudson

We champion Black talent at every level. And we’re using advocacy, supplier diversity and community efforts to drive a more equitable future for all. Learn more about our diversity and inclusion efforts at rtx.com/diversity