News
and Views ExxonMobil,
SWE and SECME co-host a roundtable
Irving,
TX - This spring, the ExxonMobil Foundation, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
and SECME (formerly the Southeastern Consortium of Minority Engineers) co-hosted
a roundtable discussion. "Advancing women and minorities in science and engineering
- What remains to be done?" was held in Washington, DC.  | | On
the panel, from left, Dr Yvonne Freeman, exec director of SECME, Jacqueline Thomas,
chair of the National Press Foundation (moderator), Betty Shanahan, exec director
and CEO of SWE, and representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas. |
The
forum was moderated by Jacqueline Thomas, chair of the National Press Foundation.
It featured a panel of U.S. government officials and members of organizations
that promote educational excellence for women and minorities in science and engineering.
ExxonMobil also announced its continuing support of SECME and SWE initiatives,
including three-year grants to each. Ed
Ahnert, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation, notes that African Americans,
Hispanics and Native Americans continue to be underrepresented in technical fields.
"As a company dedicated to the advancement of these subjects, ExxonMobil supports
programs that have positively influenced thousands of students and teachers nationwide,"
he says. Panelists
included U. S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ruben Hinojosa
(D-TX); Dr Yvonne Freeman, executive director of SECME; and Betty Shanahan, executive
director and CEO of SWE. At
the roundtable, participants addressed the general ignorance in the U.S. about
what an engineer does; the importance of technical training for teachers; the
need to grow technical talent domestically, particularly among women and minorities;
and the importance of role models for women and minorities. An
NSF representative encouraged women and minorities to apply for special funding;
special interest groups asked their representatives for support; and networking
opportunities abounded at the forum. Many attendees stayed behind to network long
after the roundtable discussion was completed. ExxonMobil
Foundation's three-year grants help underwrite SECME's Summer Institute, Leadership
Academy and state scholarships awarded each year to seventeen graduating seniors.
The latest
grant to SWE will support the society's "Girls Do Science, Engineering and Technology"
program, which involves K-12 teachers, and will help develop female-oriented technical
curricula. The ExxonMobil Foundation is SWE's largest corporate donor for outreach
programs. It has provided more than $1 million in contribution commitments since
1998. top H-1B
training grants available via BDPA
Grants from the Department
of Labor (DOL) are available to fund high skills/high technology training, with
the aim of upgrading the skills of American incumbent or displaced workers. The
grants are funded by sponsors of H-1B visa applications, who pay $1000 per applicant.
No taxpayer dollars are used. Grants
are made to and administered by local Workforce Investment Boards. Corporations
and nonprofit organizations also participate. The DOL will commit approximately
$200 million in funds. Black
Data Processing Associates (BDPA) is working with a corporate supporter to identify
small businesses that want to participate in the process. Contact Wayne Hicks
at whicks@bdpa.org, or set info at www.doleta.gov/h-1b/.
Don't delay, because the target date is September 30. top Tech
students win Ford diversity scholarships  | | Ford
dealer John Shelton, left, gives a big check to Pablo Antonio Rodriguez. |
Detroit,
MI - Ford Motor Co's new "Economic empowerment through entrepreneurship" program
recently awarded twenty scholarships. From
North Carolina A&T State University, recipient Nicolaus Rhenwrick is a junior
in ME and William Johnson is majoring in EE. Pablo Antonio Rodriguez, Jr, from
Texas A&M, is majoring in communications. Ford
has a long history of diversity and helping to develop minority communities. In
the 1920s, Henry Ford recruited Southern blacks to work in his Detroit, MI factory,
and paid them the highest wage in the automotive industry. The company also boasted
the industry's first African American executive, James Charles Price. For
information on Ford minority programs, visit www.dd.ford.com. top NACME
applauds Supreme Court decisions New
York, NY - The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) applauded
the Supreme Court decision to uphold affirmative action as a compelling interest
in higher education. But the organization - the nation's largest private source
of scholarships for minorities in engineering - urged continued vigilance to protect
educational opportunity. While
the court ruled that race could be one of many factors colleges can consider when
admitting students, it also found the University of Michigan's point system to
be unconstitutional.  | | NACME's
John Brooks Slaughter: imperative to think strategically. |
NACME
president and CEO John Brooks Slaughter says, "It is now imperative that
universities think strategically and creatively to ensure that they admit and
graduate a student body reflective of the larger society. "Employers
- the ultimate beneficiaries of the universities' work - can play an important
role in helping institutions produce the diversity of race, gender, socioeconomic
status and global perspective needed in the workforce." Slaughter
also cautioned proponents of affirmative action about viewing the court's decisions
as a complete victory. "The fact that the justices chose to limit the degree
to which race can be a consideration means that opponents will probably be more
challenging of how schools look at race. The debate will continue." In
an amicus brief filed with the court earlier this year, NACME joined IBM, DuPont,
Stanford, MIT, and the National Academies of Engineering and Sciences in addressing
the importance of diversity in critical technology fields. The disproportionately
low representation of African Americans, American Indians, and Latinos in science
and engineering were documented. The
writers note that "Minorities would be even more underrepresented in the
fields of science and engineering if race and national origin were not considered
in the admissions process." Setting
forth NACME's statement of interest, Dr Daryl Chubin, senior VP for research and
policy, says, "It is in America's collective interest to examine candidates
for university admission in such a way as to maximize our ability to identify
these potential participants in the engineering and technology enterprise." To
this, Slaughter adds, "NACME is committed to continuing our work with engineering
institutions to ensure equal educational opportunity. We know that our future
high-tech workforce must draw on the talents of America's pluralism. The demographics
demand it; a merit-based society requires it." top Newest
computer Geek delivers thirty years experience  | | New
Geeks on Call franchise owner Elmer Hill and his shiny new Geekmobile. |
Cary,
NC - Elmer Hill has opened a new Geeks on Call franchise. Serving Cary and its
neighboring cities, Hill's franchise will bring the Geeks' services directly to
the businesses and homes of computer users who need a helping hand. Hill
began his career in 1972 as a customer engineer for IBM, and later worked as a
field manager to develop business apps for the newly released IBM PC. Eventually,
as a senior development manager, he oversaw the creation of software tools used
mostly for internal projects. Hill
has several professional certifications, including A+, Net+ and a "project
management professional" designation. He has taught networking skills at
Duke University. Geeks
on Call franchise holders bring computer support directly to a home or business:
repairs and troubleshooting, hardware and software upgrades, personalized one-on-one
training and more. Founded
in 1999, Geeks on Call initially served Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA. Its first
franchise was launched in April 2001, and there are now nearly 100 Geeks franchises
throughout the U.S. For more information log onto www.geeksoncall.com
or call (888) 667-4577. top Fulbright
grant brings Afghan women teachers to Stevens for training Hoboken,
NJ - Stevens Institute of Technology has received a J. William Fulbright grant
from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchange of the U.S. State Department.
The grant is financing an intensive summer training program for ten women science
and math instructors from universities in Afghanistan. The
program provides professional development in math and science education and the
use of technologies to support classroom learning in Afghanistan's high schools.
Mentoring and leadership skills are also introduced, to help the women to serve
as models and mentors for their young women students. During
the years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women teachers were barred and girls
were denied the opportunity to learn. Women and girls have now returned to classrooms
throughout Afghanistan, eager to make up for lost time. The Stevens program is
intended to jump-start that process with particular focus on preparing teacher-trainers
of science and math at the high school level. The
program is a joint project of two education R&D centers at Stevens, the Center
for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) and the Lore-El Center
for Women in Engineering and Science. Besides academic activities, CIESE and Lore-El
designed a series of discussions, cultural events, and opportunities for the women
to interact with their American counterparts at Stevens and in the larger community.
Two not-for-profit
organizations that are already active in Afghanistan are providing significant
support for this program. Schools Online (Redwood Shores, CA) is donating laptop
computers and software for use by the participants in Afghanistan, and Relief
International (Los Angeles, CA) is collaborating on coordination and implementation
of program activities in Afghanistan. Sponsors
hope this project will be the first stage in an ongoing effort by Stevens Institute
of Technology to support education in Afghanistan. Stevens has a long record of
working to promote education in Afghanistan. For more information about CIESE,
visit www.k12science.org; for more about
the Lore-El center and its program try http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/lore-el. top NASA
Marshall employees to conduct research at minority schools Huntsville,
AL - Several employees of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center have received NASA
administrator's fellowships to conduct research at minority institutions. Among
them, Dr Kenneth Fernandez will conduct his fellowship at Alabama A&M University.
Tony Kim will do his at Texas A&M University. Fernandez
is an engineer at NASA's Marshall Center. He will work with the Alabama A&M
faculty to develop a robotics program within the university's engineering department.
Fernandez has a BSEE from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), an MS in computer
science technology from Alabama A&M and a PhD in electrical engineering from
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN). He has completed post-doctorate studies
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  | | Tony
Kim. |
Kim
is a project manager at the National Space Science and Technology Center. He will
teach and lead two semesters of a senior engineering design class of multiple
engineering disciplines, giving students the chance to design tools for NASA.
Kim has a BS in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University
of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and an MS in material science from Auburn University
(Auburn, AL). He has done summer work at the International Space University hosted
by Rice University (Houston, TX). The
administrator's fellowship was designed to enhance the professional development
of NASA employees, as well as the science, math and engineering faculty of minority-serving
institutions. By leading research, Fellows will also help institutions serving
minorities to participate in NASA's R&D programs. The
National Space Science and Technology Center is a partnership with the Marshall
Center, Alabama universities, industry, research institutes and federal agencies.
The United
Negro College Fund Special Programs Corp administers the NASA fellowship. For
more about the program, visit http://education.nasa.gov. top CPST
IT workforce data project update Washington,
DC - The Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology (CPST) has received
funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (New York, NY) to coordinate the update
of its IT workforce data project. The
original project was designed to collect trustworthy statistics on IT workers
in the U.S. It was supported by the Sloan Foundation and the United Engineering
Foundation. Four
reports were produced during 1999, examining the production of U.S. degrees in
IT disciplines and the employment of foreign-origin persons in U.S. IT, and assessing
the demand for IT workers. All these areas will be updated in the new project
by the original principal investigators, Richard Ellis and B. Lindsay Lowell.
The update will provide a single report addressing all the issues. Conditions
in the IT industry have changed radically since the original reports were completed
four years ago. Some sources feel that more than half a million IT jobs may have
vanished. A new look at key statistics is clearly needed. Areas
being examined include the scale of recession effects; developments in the pipeline
of students being trained for IT; trends in immigration; trends in outsourcing
and changes in demand. The
project will soon be complete and posted on the CPST website. Find copies of the
original four reports at www.cpst.org/itwf_reports.htm.
There is no charge for access to these reports or the update. CPST
is a nonprofit corporation with membership including leading professional societies,
corporations, institutions and individuals. For more information, visit www.cpst.org.
top IBM
and Overbrook host pilot tech camp Philadelphia,
PA - During a three-day summer technology camp underwritten by IBM, high-school
age girls and boys at the Overbrook School for the Blind explored technology and
worked together on math and science projects. The
program is an extension of IBM's Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering
(EXITE) camps, established to encourage girls to learn more about math and science
and to give them an in-depth look at career opportunities in the technology field. Students
at the pilot camp learned to dismantle and rebuild computers and access the Internet
and the printed word using IBM voice-activated technology. They took part in a
videoconference with kids with disabilities at a New Mexico State University camp. They
also met people with disabilities who have established successful careers in technology.
The guests, of course, encouraged the campers to consider technical degrees. The
students will stay in touch with their new friends through an e-mentoring program
(www.mentorplace.org). top Companies
sought for IT study Norfolk,
VA - What characteristics of the IT workplace would help improve retention and
advancement of women and minorities? Four researchers at Old Dominion University
(ODU) are beginning the second year of a National Science Foundation study to
figure that out. It's work well worth doing, because right now, women make up
only 25 percent and minorities only 6 percent of the IT workforce in the U.S. The
professors are looking for more local, regional and national IT organizations
and companies with IT departments to participate in the study. "Organizations
hire consultants for hundreds of thousands of dollars to come in and do what we
are offering for free," says Deborah Major, associate professor of psychology
at ODU. The
project is designed to establish and share best practices. It could have a substantial
impact on the IT workplace and the scientific community, Major believes.
Major
is principal investigator for the three-year project. Also involved are psychology
colleagues Donald Davis and Janis Sanchez-Hucles, and Joan Mann, professor of
MIS/decision sciences. The
first year of the project involved analyzing experiences of women and minorities
in the participating organizations. The second year is using the results of the
first phase to launch specific actions. The third year will focus on evaluating
those activities. Companies
interested in participating in this project should contact Debra Major at (757)
683-4235 or visit her at dmajor@odu.edu. top WEPAN
honors people, schools and DuPont Chicago,
IL - At its 2003 national conference, Women in Engineering Program Advocates Network
(WEPAN) honored two engineering educators, two college programs and DuPont Corp
(Wilmington, DE). The
Founders Award was presented to Dr Cinda-Sue Davis, director of the Women in Science
and Engineering program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. The award, sponsored
by Northrop Grumman Corp (Los Angeles, CA), honors a WEPAN member for "extraordinary
service" to the organization. The
Betty Vetter Award for Research went to Dr Sue Rosser, dean of the Ivan Allen
College and professor of history, technology and science at Georgia Institute
of Technology. The award, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard (Palo Alto, CA), is named
for the late, long-time director of the Commission on Professionals in Science
and Technology, who served as the first treasurer of WEPAN and was a founding
member of its board of directors. Two
universities received Women in Engineering Program (WIEP) Awards: Iowa State University
for its WIEP program, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA) for
its Camp Reach summer program for girls. Both awards were sponsored by Kimberly-Clark
(Neenah, WI). DuPont
Corp received the WEPAN breakthrough award, which honors an employer of women
engineers for creating a work environment that enhances their career success. The
deadline for nominations for the 2004 awards is March 1, 2004. Contact WEPAN at
www.wepan.org. top 2003
Nsoroma Awards honor tech women of color  | | Nsoroma
honorees pose proudly with their trophies. Front row: Dr Deforia Lane (Queen Mother
- University Hospitals), Dr Charity A. Kamkan (Science - Cleveland Renal Associates),
Ynes S. Arocho (Princess - Cuyahoga Community College/West Campus), Terri Rodgers
(NTA Cleveland Chapter President), Rochelle May (Technology - NASA), Dr Tyjaun
A. Lee (Education - CCC/Metro). Back row: Lou Russell and Albert Johns, two founders
of the Cleveland Chapter, and Gail Wright from Battelle-Garrett Morgan, sponsor
of the event. |
Cleveland,
OH - The Cleveland Chapter of the National Technical Association presents its
Nsoroma Awards each year to honor local women of color for their scientific, technological
and educational accomplishments. The event was sponsored by Battelle-Garrett Morgan
Commercialization Initiative (Cleveland, OH). top | 
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