Join us on campus as we honor the incredible achievements of women engineers at Cornell University. This two-day symposium will bring together alumni, faculty, and students for powerful conversations, dynamic networking, and a chance to connect with a community of trailblazers who are shaping the future of engineering.
140 years ago, Kate Gleason made history as the first woman to study engineering at Cornell. This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on our history, celebrate our alumnae’s achievements, and ignite essential conversations about the future of STEM.
We hope you can join us!
March 21 & 22, 2025Engineering Quad, Ithaca Campus
Faculty HostsLara EstroffHerbert Fisk Johnson Professor of Industrial Chemistry, andDirector of Materials Science and Engineering
Marjolein van der MeulenSwanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering,and Associate Vice Provost for Research and Innovation
Keynote SpeakerJill Tarter ’65Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI at the SETI Institute in Mountain View
Friday, March 21Sessions will take place in Phillips Hall 101
1:30 – 2:00 p.m.Welcome and Opening RemarksKrystyn Van Vliet, Vice President for Innovation and External Engagement Strategy, Cornell UniversityLois Pollack, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Cornell Engineering
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.Engineering Excellence: Balancing the Professional and the Personal
Theme: Panelists will share their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and discuss the importance of representation in breaking down stereotypes within the industry. Panelists will also explore effective strategies for managing work-life balance, advocating for flexible workplace policies, and prioritizing personal well-being in demanding engineering roles.
Panelists:Andrea Ippolito ’06, M.Eng. ’07, CEO and Founder of SimpliFed; Sr. Lecturer, Cornell Engineering and SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell UniversityElaine Tam ’98, Sr. Product Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific – Genetic SciencesKathy Wilcox ’90, Senior Fellow, Advanced Micro Devices, CPU Core TeamEva Saftler-Wong ’04, M.Eng. ’05, Associate Director, Aerospace Engineering
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.Break
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.Keynote AddressJill Tarter ’65, Dr. Tarter co-founded and led NASA’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Program
4:45 – 5:00 p.m.Closing Remarks
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.Reception in Duffield Hall, Atrium
***This symposium was made possible by the generous grant awarded by the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW)***