Women of Color magazine's 2023 WOC STEM Conference issue cover has been revealed!
Published Oct 14, 2023
The Fall issue of Women of Color magazine was introduced at the Women of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference in Detroit.
The conference began on Thursday and marked its 28th annual celebration with the theme "Oceans of Change, Waves of Opportunities," with a focus on the advancements and role of women in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The event featured interactive workshops, seminars, and keynote speeches from some of the most influential women in the AI realm.
The conference also offered networking events, mentorship opportunities, and a career fair showcasing leading STEM employers.
The Women of Color STEM Conference award recognition provides employers with a unique opportunity to celebrate top talent and achievements, improve retention, and strengthen their commitment to diversity in the workplace.
This year's conference issue of Women of Color magazine features Mary Hor-Lao, the director of software engineering neuromodulation and the 2023 Technologist of the Year.
Mary is an executive at Abbott and leads groundbreaking developments in implantable pulse generators and virtual clinics that help patients with chronic pain and movement disorders.
She advocates for women of color in STEM and philanthropic efforts to support children in Cambodia. Women of Color magazine readers can gain exclusive insight into Mary's work.
Apart from Mary's cover story, the 2023 Women of Color STEM Award Winners edition features over 100 stories of leadership and commitment.
The annual Women of Color in STEM Awards Gala, one of the conference's highlights, recognizes women's significant contributions to STEM and AI. Click here to watch.
2023 STEM Award Winners
Technologist of the Year: Mary Hor-Lao, director, software engineering, neuromodulation, Abbott
Career Achievement in Government: Patricia Sullivan, deputy director, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Career Achievement in Industry: Kathleen Jolivette, vice president and general manager Vertical Lift Division, The Boeing Company
Dr. Melissa Welch, chief medical officer, Health Catalyst
Community Service: Shaneka Starr Lawson, research plant physiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Maria Thorpe, director, systems acquisitions group, human systems engineering department, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)/Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
Corporate Responsibility: Teresa Blanco, vice president – supply chain global field operations and structures, The Boeing Company
Toyin Ogunfolaju, director, social value & equity, Jacobs
Diversity Leadership in Government: Karen H. Hudson, chief, Avionics Engineering Division, Department of the Air Force, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Lyndsey McMillon-Brown, Ph.D., research electrical engineer, NASA Glenn Research Center
Diversity Leadership in Industry: LaDavia Drane, global head of inclusion, diversity, and equity, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Deepa Shankar, director, partnerships, UL Research Institutes
Educational Leadership –College-Level Promotion of Education: Whitney Gaskins, Ph.D., associate dean, University of Cincinnati
Anne-Marie Kosi-Kupe, lecturer, University of Detroit Mercy
Educational Leadership –Corporate Promotion of Education: Kelly Keena, senior director, UL Research Institutes
Kadidia Thiero, principal investigator/program lead for the Significant Opportunties in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS), University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
FinTech Leadership: Madhura Damle, business intelligence specialist, Lordstown Motors Corporation
Christina Upah, vice president, helicopter attack programs, The Boeing Company
Dakeesha Wright, operations & site leader, Collins Aerospace, an RTX Company
New Media/IT Leadership: Amanda Hundt, vice president, corporate communications, Health Catalyst
Outstanding Technical Contribution: Michelle Chen, software systems engineer, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Yagna Pathak, manager, medical affairs, Abbott
Ning Yu, Ph.D., chief natural language processing research scientist, Leidos
Pioneer Award: Jessica R. Jones, staff aeroelastician, Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company
Professional Achievement in Government: Ariel Ash-Shakoor, Ph.D., biomedical engineer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Natasha D. White, Ph.D., program manager, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Professional Achievement in Industry: Ashley Johnson-Long, Ph.D., chief of staff, president & COO, Corning Incorporated
Laura Imelda Luengo Herrero, voice of the customer supervisor, vehicle integration, Lordstown Motors Corporation
Student Leadership –Graduate Level: Tracy Edwards, Ph.D. student, Michigan State University
Technical Innovation in Government: Chenelle Renee' Covin, technical writer/editor
U.S. Department of Defense
Patricia McDaniel, Ph.D., Army's senior executive research scientist for chemistry, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Chemical - Biological Center
Technical Innovation in Industry: Clara Rivero-Baleine, Lockheed Martin Fellow, Lockheed Martin
Rashmi Prasad, staff researcher, General Motors LLC
Visionary Award: Anike Sakariyawo, founding executive director, S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc.
Special Recognition: Sabrina H. Bailey, vice president of operations, HII Mission Technologies
Diedra Hollins, deputy CIO, Idaho National Laboratory
Qiana Jackson, engineering program manager, Applied Research Lab at Penn State
Judith Jeevarajan, vice president & executive director, UL Research Institutes
Yoko Kawai Parker, Ph.D., scientist, systems engineering, L3Harris Technologies
Autumn Leake, chief engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
Melody Catherine Martinez, chief, Prototypes and Flight Experiments Branch, Section B
Air Force Research Laboratory
Gitanjli McRoy, chief engineer, EV energy management systems, Ford Motor Co.
Ana Lucia Ochoa Lorenzini, global supply chain director, American Axle & Manufacturing
(AAM)
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