Society of Women Engineers to Host Talk by Pioneer in Engineering Education

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Bevlee Watford

The Society of Women Engineers proudly hosts Bevlee Watford, a recent presidential appointee to the National Science Board, for Women's History Month. Her seminar "Finding the Way: The Career Path of Women in Engineering," will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in Bell 2282. All are welcome to attend.

Watford is associate dean for equity and engagement and founding executive director of the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity at the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. In January, she was appointed to the National Science Board, which helps oversee the National Science Foundation and advises federal officials on policy related to science, engineering and education.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering and Master of Science and Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from Virginia Tech's College of Engineering.

She has secured more than $17 million in funding and support for the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity and other undergraduate initiatives. Her research activities have focused on the recruitment and retention of students in engineering, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented students. The center has implemented nationally recognized programs that have enhanced the success of all students. These include freshmen peer mentoring, a summer bridge for incoming freshman and residential living-learning communities that house nearly 600 freshman engineering students.

In 2008, Watford received the Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network Founders Award in recognition of her service to the organization and her efforts to increase the participation of women in the engineering profession. The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity received the 2010 Claire Felbinger Diversity Award from ABET and the 2011 NSBE-ExxonMobil Impact award for implementing successful research-based efforts to improve retention. In 2014, Watford was one of three finalists for the Global Engineering Deans Council Airbus Diversity Award, selected "for her wide-ranging programs aimed at building an inclusive and diverse engineering student body at Virginia Tech." In 2019, Virginia Tech's College of Engineering was recognized as a Bronze Exemplar institution in the ASEE Dean's Diversity Recognition program, based mainly on the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity's activities.

About Society of Women Engineers: Founded in 1950, the Society of Women Engineers is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career for women through an exciting array of training and development programs, networking opportunities, scholarships, outreach and advocacy activities, and much more. The University of Arkansas chapter is active and gladly welcomes new members. The president is Devon Roberts-drr012@uark.edu and the advisors are Wen Zhang and Patrice Storey.