International Women in Engineering Day

“Throughout my involvement in WE², I have had the pleasure of mentoring outstanding women students, guiding them through the various stages of their academic and professional journeys. Witnessing their growth and confidence blossom has been incredibly rewarding. Participating in this program has reinforced my commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the engineering field. The camaraderie, mutual support, and shared passion for STEM within the WE² network are truly inspiring. I am thrilled to be part of an initiative that empowers women to achieve their full potential in engineering.”

~ Rania Hussein

“I helped to found the WE² mentorship program back in 2019 when I was working for the Center for Advanced Energy Systems at Rutgers and I have participated in the program as a mentor for the past three years.  I have enjoyed seeing the program evolve and grow as the years go on. The WE² mentorship program gives emerging engineers an invaluable opportunity for guidance and insight as they transition from their academic careers into professional life.  I have helped my mentees prepare for interviews, edit their resumes, and find their next career opportunities.  The network is full of supportive professionals who are always willing to share advice or open positions within their organizations.  I highly recommend participating in the WE² network if you have the capacity!”

~ Emily Sechrist

“Back in 2016, I embarked on a Master's degree in Energy at Texas A&M University, College Station, driven by a deep-seated desire to tackle the challenges of renewable energy integration. It was during this time that I had the privilege of participating in the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) program. Through the IAC, I had the opportunity to provide invaluable energy, productivity, and waste assessments to small and medium-sized industrial facilities across our state. Conducting multiple ASHRAE Level I-II energy audits for manufacturing facilities was both enlightening and rewarding. Witnessing the tangible impact of identifying energy-saving opportunities, which resulted in an average of about $730,000 in recommended savings, solidified my commitment to advancing energy efficiency.

Upon completing my Master's degree, I embarked on a new chapter as a research intern at the Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research and Analysis (MEERA) group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). It was during this time that I came to recognize the significant influence of the hands-on experience provided by the IAC program, particularly in understanding the importance of energy efficiency from a research perspective. At ORNL, I collaborated with diverse, multi-disciplinary teams to enhance the Department of Energy's (DOE) energy systems tools, aiming to drive significant improvements in U.S. industrial energy efficiency. Through my involvement in DOE projects, I gained invaluable insights into the importance of collaboration and independent initiative in research endeavors.

The strong technical skills I acquired through the IAC program were instrumental in paving the way for my journey to Oak Ridge National Lab and ultimately earning a doctoral degree in Energy Science and Engineering in 2022. Today, as a Senior Modeling Analyst at Black and Veatch, I continue to leverage the knowledge, expertise and subsequent experiences acquired through the IAC program to drive meaningful change in the energy sector. My journey underscores the transformative power of programs like IAC in shaping the next generation of energy professionals and advancing sustainability initiatives. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities afforded to me and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.”

~ Asha Anna

“I am Nikita from India; I am pursuing MS in mechanical engineering at Tennessee Technological University. During my graduate studies, I got the wonderful opportunity to work at the University's Industrial Assessment Center (TTU-IAC) with Professor Dr. Ethan Languri and team. IAC work experience is truly unlike that found in most other academic programs.

I got the opportunity to mix my education and research work into engineering fundamentals with real-world energy engineering and consulting experience. Rarely does an academic experience facilitate work at customer facilities, interaction with those customers, solicitation of information from vendors and other engineers, and development of technical business reports that describe your analytical and economic findings. That kind of exposure is invaluable, serving as focused experience for those who want to pursue a career in the energy field, or as basic professional work experience for those whose career paths move away from the energy discipline.

The facility assessment experiences making me uniquely qualified to handle the challenging jobs in the energy field, and to quickly become highly productive professionals.

As an international student's approach my (TTU TAC) entire team has helped me throughout. I'm honored to have been able to work with this impressive team. I learned a great deal from these talented people. They set a high standard of professionalism, dedication, and teamwork. I hope we continue to foster an environment of support and excellent engineering practice.”

~ Nikita Tungar

“I am excited to share my story in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day. My name is Fatemeh Ghafari, and I am a Graduate Research Assistant at Louisiana State University (LSU), working with the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) funded by the US Department of Energy. I have been a proud member of the WE² Programming and Events, which has significantly shaped my professional journey. Through the WE² mentorship program, I had the invaluable opportunity to be mentored by Dr. Crystal Han. Her guidance provided me with both technical knowledge and critical thinking skills, which have been crucial in my professional development.

In the past two years, I have been involved in over 45 industrial energy assessments, leading 22. These experiences have empowered me to apply my knowledge to real-world challenges. One pivotal moment was working with Dr. Chao Wang on a research paper exploring the financial adoption challenges of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in the SME industry. In this research paper, the IAC databases were analyzed and addressed the cost-effectiveness of Industrial IoT adoptions for energy-saving, increasing productivity, and automation.

As a woman in engineering, I am passionate about making a positive impact through my work. I believe that diversity in engineering leads to more innovative solutions. To aspiring women engineers, I encourage you to stay curious, seek mentors, and believe in your potential. I am excited to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day and see more women thrive in this field.”

~ Fatemeh Ghafari