Stephanie E. Turner, vice president of inclusion, diversity, and social innovation at The MITRE Corporation, was presenter of the Professional Achievement in Industry Award during the 2020 Women of Color STEM Conference.
"Jenine Patterson has spent the last two decades solving problems for a safer world," said Turner in her introduction.
"Jenine seeks out the thorniest, most pressing large-scale challenges—from national security threats arising from globalization to innovative data management in federal law enforcement to, most recently, applying analytic best practices to help communities tackle entrenched poverty and racial inequities," Turner said, adding that the principal systems engineer motivates others to collaborate and be the change they want to see.
Accepting the award, Mrs. Patterson said she was honored to serve in this capacity and have some exceptional people ask her opinion.
Patterson said she also remembers being told that she didn’t fit in or hadn't earned her spot. She remained undeterred in the face of challenges because of her moral compass and determination to do right.
"You see, I grew up with exceptional women of color as role models," she explained. "Aunts, cousins, grandmothers, and especially my mother. Women who know the value of hard work. Of being smart and being heard. I’m deeply grateful for standing in their light, and hope I’ve made them proud," she said.
