Women in Engineering

Peace Students Hear from Women in Engineering

Peace students explore circuits and the interior of cellular phones during Peace’s Women in Engineering Day, held at the school on Nov. 15.

Electrical engineer Susan Brauer, a 1966 Peace alumna, explains to students the power she has gained through her work in engineering and the opportunities available to young women in engineering. Brauer and four other engineers from various fields spoke to Peace students on Nov. 15 at the school’s Women in Engineering panel presentation.

Burbank, IL – November 19, 2007 – In conjunction with the launch of the nationally recognized pre-engineering program this school year – The Infinity Project – Peace welcomed a panel of women engineers to speak to Physics, Digital Engineering, and Advanced Placement Calculus students on Nov. 15.

During the Women in Engineering forum, engineers from varying fields shared their stories, showing students the diverse life paths that can lead to careers in engineering. Guest speakers included electrical engineer Susan Brauer, a 1966 Peace alumna; electrical and computer engineer Kelly McCann, a 1983 Peace alumna; chemical engineer Marlene Lojas, a 1986 Peace alumna; test engineer Donna Gailus, a 1977 Peace alumna; and industrial engineer Beth Johnson.

Peace physics teacher Karen Amador, who also holds an industrial engineering degree, began the panel discussion with eye-opening statistics. According to the Engineering Workforce Commission, only 5% of the engineering students at Purdue University in the 1970’s were women. Nearly 40 years later, that number has only risen to 19%. According to Amador, the purpose of the presentations was for students to hear first hand the opportunities available to women in engineering.

One of the most inspirational stories came from electrical engineer Susan Brauer. After high school graduation, Brauer chose marriage and children over any career aspirations.

“After that didn’t work out so great, I knew I had to head back to school. At 33 years old and with six kids, I went to Moraine Valley Community College where I studied math. From there, I went to the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was the discipline that I learned in my classes at Peace that allowed me to pursue this undertaking,” Brauer noted.

Her career counselor in junior college was the one who encouraged her to go into a field not traditionally for women at the time. Because of this counselor, Brauer makes it a priority to speak to young women, encouraging them to pursue engineering as she did.

Many of the presenters, including Brauer, touched on similar points. Kelly McCann, a computer engineer who worked on one of the first robotic manufacturing lines, pointed out that panels such as these are great resources for guidance – something most of these presenters did not have when they decided to pursue engineering.

“You are all in a great position here. With a wireless building, laptops, and engineering course options, you are able to find and develop your passions and even hear first hand about jobs in engineering,” McCann said.

Lojas, Brauer and Gailus also encouraged students who seemed hesitant about entering such a male dominated field. “Although you might find it scary to be only one of a few girls in a classroom, you adjust and can find it empowering.”

“Though the work and study can be daunting, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. That’s how you approach studying to become an engineer – one class at a time,” Brauer comically noted. Brauer also spoke to the students about the power she has gained from her work in engineering.

“As an engineer, you will learn how everyday devices like your cell phone actually work. You will use this knowledge for practical application. As an engineer at Motorola, I make a positive impact on other human beings’ lives every single day. With the lifesaving devices, tools, and equipment that my team has designed, we save cancer patients and accident victims daily. That’s why I’m an engineer,” Brauer said.

The presentation showed students that the amount of and demand for women in engineering roles is growing. This discussion forum works in conjunction with Peace’s efforts to expand its engineering program. With a newly formed Alum Engineering Association at Peace –spearheaded by Brauer – and The Infinity Program in its pilot year, the school looks to expand the opportunities it offers students in science and math through guest presentations, scholarship, and the expansion of The Infinity Project for next year.

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