​Hi SWEsters! We hope you all had a great start to the semester! We are back this month with our “Female Engineer of the Month” series, where we highlight the life and achievements of inspiring women and engineers in history or currently in industry. With this series, we hope to shed light into different career paths and to inspire you to pursue yours. Our female engineer of the month is Dr. Julie Jackson. Dr. Jackson is an accomplished Electrical Engineering professor at the Air Force Institute of Technology. We got to ask her a few questions about her professional journey and know more about her.

Dr. Jackson received her B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Wright State University in 2002, her M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2004, and then her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering also from The Ohio State University, in 2009. Her graduate studies were funded with fellowships from the National Science foundation, the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute, The Ohio State University, and the Ohio Board of Regents. She had internships with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Alphatech, Inc., Jacobs Sverdrup, and Bell Laboratories.

She joined the faculty of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in 2009, as an associate professor of Electrical Engineering, and is currently working there now. Her favorite part about being a professor is that she holds a great amount of independence.

“I get to define my own research path and pursue interesting scientific and engineering problems with my students.”

We all have a support system that helps us accomplish our goals. Especially for us engineering students, a bit of encouragement and support goes a long way. We asked Dr. Jackson about those in her life that helped and inspired her to achieve her professional success. She shared,

“I have been fortunate to have the support of my family and professors who encouraged me to go to grad school. I got married near the end of grad school, and my husband has been a huge supporter of my professional success. Lastly, my colleagues are a great group of professors and researchers who provide key mentorship. Success comes from hard work and making the right professional connections.”
 
As for hobbies, Dr. Jackson loves cooking, gardening, and sewing. Though, she added,

“Between work and family (I have two little kids), there isn’t much time for hobbies!”
 
We asked if she had any advice to share with our readers, Dr. Jackson offered the following words of wisdom:

“Take every opportunity to learn and improve your skills. Be your own advocate.  Ask lots of questions.  Look for internships that will give you exposure to a variety of career options: big vs. small corporation, manufacturing vs. research and development, commercial vs. government lab, etc. All will have different cultures and career growth opportunities.”
 
Dr. Jackson is an inspiring figure to everyone pursuing engineering. As an engineering student, it is always interesting to learn more about an engineering professor’s journey and perspective. Dr. Jackson encourages making helpful professional connections, exploring our career options, asking lots of questions, improving our skills, and to be our own advocate.  ​

We hope you all enjoyed our blog post and getting to know Dr. Julie Jackson! This week you have the opportunity to earn a SWE point by answering a few questions. For 1 SWE point, please answer the following questions:

1. If you were a professor like Julie, what subject would you be interested in teaching?
2. What are some ways you can be your own advocate?

Email your answers to untswe@gmail.com to earn your point. And if you are not a member, or not looking to earn points, you are welcomed to share your thoughts as well, in the comments below! Thank you. 

​Hello SWEsters! We are back this semester to continue our series: “Female Engineer of the month.” Each month, we will highlight the life and achievements of a female engineer in history or currently in the industry. The goal is for these stories to serve as a source of inspiration in your career path. That being said, our female engineer of the month is Sammy Zellner.” Sammy was the president of the UNT SWE section for the 2016/2017 school year. She graduated with a bachelors and masters in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas.
Currently, she works as a FAB Engineer for Texas Instruments (TI). As you will learn from her story and career path, Sammy is a hard worker. She holds nothing back and never takes any opportunity for granted. 

I’ll begin with a little bit of her background. Sammy is from Frisco, Texas. From an early age, she performed excellently in her math and science classes. It was a computer science project in high school that directed her towards her degree in Material Science and Engineering. One of the projects she had to do for that class, was to select a job she wanted in the future. In addition to that, she had to list 3 companies she could work for in that position and 3 schools that she could get training for that position. At first, Sammy wanted to be an aerospace engineer because she had an interest in planes. While looking at the job requirements for an aerospace engineer, she noticed that a degree in materials science and engineering was one of the main requirements. She had never heard of this type of engineering. So, she decided to look into it. This field immediately caught her interest when she found out that they were involved in making the materials that go into the production of basically every engineering product. Coincidentally, the University of North Texas which offers an excellent degree in Material Science and engineering was very close to where she lived. Everything seemed to be falling right into place and directed her towards pursuing a degree in Materials Science and Engineering at UNT. 

Overall, Sammy enjoyed all of her material science classes in college. She loved learning about the processing of materials. It reminded her a lot about cooking, which she really enjoys. One of her favorite classes was the materials processing class she took in her junior year. The next year, she took an Integrated Circuits fabrication class which is related to the work she does now. Outside of materials science classes, her favorite class was her honors calculus II class. In that class, she would meet her best friend. Her journey to become an engineer consisted of far more than attending classes. She was very involved in the Society of Women Engineers and even held various leadership positions like event coordinator, and SWE section president. Sammy also helped start up a fraternity “ki beta phi.” She was also involved in SWE on a national level as a SWE Future Leader, where she gained a lot of professional development. In general, she had a very positive experience with no regrets.

Sammy is now a fab engineer for Texas Instruments. She is responsible for both the equipment and the process side of projects. There is a machine that does the process. So, she ensures the process is done properly and etching is complete on the wafer. Her main responsibilities include managing any type of tool maintenance that needs to happen. Her job is focused on continuous improvement and improving the process of the machine. Currently, she is working on a number of different projects to help make a second path way on her tool. This would ensure that production continues, and the line is not cut if an issue occurs with the tool. Another important part of her job is supporting the technicians and manufacturing specialists in the fab. 

Sammy Credits the WE conference for all the professional job offers and interviews she ever received in her career path. She attended all of the WE national conferences from WE15 to WE19. Before her current position at TI, she worked as an intern for General Motors (GM). Over a semester before she graduated, she had 3 job offers lined up for her because of the SWE conference and professional development. Speaking with Sammy over the phone, I could tell she really enjoys the work she does and the people she works with. Outside of work, Sammy keeps her self-busy with various activities. She volunteers a lot with SWE. She also likes Netflix and cooking. If Sammy wasn’t an engineer, she would be career coaching and career management. She said SWE really helped her in professional development and in turn, she would like to do the same for others. She is also starting her own business and has her own blog (a link to her blog will be attached below.) 
​

​Sammy has built a brand for herself centered on hard work and professional development. One of the things I learned from the WE19 conference was professional branding. What do people say about you when you are not in the room? Are you the person that puts in a 100% every time or the person that is never on-time? The good thing about a brand is that, you get to decide what you want it to be. The challenge I have for everyone this week is to think about your brand and how you can build it. The ball is in your court!​

​


​Sammy Zellner
Society of Women Engineers
SWE Leadership Coaching Committee, Leadership Coach
Dallas SWE, Secretary
University of North Texas
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, May 2019
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, May 2018
Career Coaching | Speaking | Consulting: SammyZellner.com
https://sammyzellner.com/
Business inquires: sammy.zellner1@gmail.com


​

​The registration deadline for WE Local is just around the corner. So, I thought i'lld give you all 5 reasons you should attend this conference.

• This is an awesome opportunity to connect and build relationships with other collegiate and professionals in STEM through workshops, inspirational talks, volunteering and outreach activities
• A broad selection of companies will be recruiting at the career fair at WE Local. This career fair is not as large as that of the national conference. However, there is a good selection of excellent companies from near-by locations. You don’t have to worry about being too far from home if you get a job or internship!
• Since WE Local is on a smaller scale, it provides a more relaxed professional environment while maintaining the benefits and opportunities available in the national conference.
• If you have never been to a national conference, this is a great opportunity to get your feet wet before WE20!
• A weekend packed with amazing speakers, hundreds of women in STEM, volunteer opportunities, and fun activities in a beautiful city; c’mon, what could be better than that?

 For more questions, visit the link below. Hope to see you all there!

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2020 
https://welocal.swe.org/salt-lake-city/registration-will-open-soon/
https://welocal.swe.org/salt-lake-city/

​Hey SWEsters! WE19 has officially come to an end and it was indeed a success. This is the world’s largest conference for women in engineering. There is nothing more inspiring than thousands of women in STEM, all in one location, sharing ideas, tips, and knowledge. Be sure to keep an eye out on upcoming blog posts for what our members that were able to attend, got out from WE19. That being said, todays blog post was an idea that came to me during the conference.
 
One of the main reasons people attend major conferences like WE19, is for the networking opportunities it provides with various people from the industry. There are multiple ways to build your network. However, a good skill to have when trying to build your network is starting and carrying a conversation. I like to call it “the art of conversation.” Here are some tips on how to master this art. 

Starting the conversation:
There are a lot of ways to effectively start a conversation depending on the scenario. Here are some ideas;

• Compliments. This is always a good way to start a conversation. However, you have to be genuine. People can usually tell when the other person is being dishonest.
• Thinking out loud. Say your thoughts out loud, odds are people are thinking the same thing. Here is an example, imagine you are standing in a line to walk in somewhere or sign up for something. One could easily say out loud “wow this line is longer than I thought it would be.” This would probably get the attention of the people behind and in front of you, and they might respond in agreement or disagreement.
• Next, we have the good old-fashioned way of simply saying “hello”, “how are you?”, “what is your name?”, “how is your day going?” You do this with a smile and high energy, and you are good to go.

Carrying the conversation:
Okay, so you mustered the courage to say hi or make the first move. What do you do next, so you avoid awkward silence?

• Listen. Listen. Listen. I cannot put more emphasis on this. Notice the conversation starters are not yes/no questions. Listen to the response they give and ask follow-up questions from that. When you ask for someone’s name, you listen for the response and remember it. A good way to do this, is to repeat it multiple times. For example

Me: “I don’t think I got your name”
Person: “Oh, my name is Emma what’s yours?”
Me: “My name is Ozi. So how is your day going Emma?”
Person: “It’s going well, I am so excited for this talk.”
Me: “Emma me too! I’m looking forward to how they’re going to address….”

• It’s not about you. Most people love to talk about themselves, let them. You want to leave the conversation knowing more than what the persons LinkedIn profile says. However, don’t be scared to throw in a few of your accomplishments and aspirations. Here’s how it works. If you say a few but meaningful words about yourself, the person will remember those things. If you spent the entire conversation talking about yourself, the chances that person will sieve through all that you said, and actually remember what makes you unique, is very slim.
• It is not about what you can get from the person. As much as you want to work for XYZ company or get an internship or full-time position right now, remember that you are talking to a person. No one likes to feel used. Approach conversations in a kind and simple manner: who is this person? How do I build a professional relationship with this person?
• You can’t carry all the weight. I know it seems like the conversation depends all on you, but it really doesn’t. It takes two to make a conversation flow. Acknowledging this should relieve you of some of the weight.
• Silence does not have to be awkward. When the conversation goes silent, it’s alright; don’t freak out. Use that opportunity to digest all the person has been telling you and ask follow-up questions later on. Also, use that opportunity to actually eat, if food or snacks were available (hopefully you haven’t been talking with food in your mouth). When there is silence, do not pull out your phone in front of the person.

​Ending the conversation:
Just like every good date has to end right, so does your conversation.

• Asking for a Business card or if you can add her on LinkedIn is always a good move.
• Another way is to say a well thought out closing sentence. Here is an example, “Emma, it was so nice to speak to you about… I will….and get back to you on…” There are 4 key things to note here. First, you acknowledged the person by remembering her name. Second, you restated what the entire conversation was about showing that you listened. Third, the use of a future tense “will”, shows you will do something later and not right now in this conversation. Hence, the conversation is coming to an end. Lastly, by stating you will get back to the person on XYZ, you have already provided the conversation starter for the next time you meet the person.

 
 
Like most things in life, this too; “The Art of Conversation” will take practice. You don’t have to wait till another SWE conference to get your conversation game on. Look around you, there are a lot of people who could use a good conversation. Is it the person that sits next you in class, or the cashier at Walmart? Everyone could use a good conversation to lighten up their day. Be kind and simple. It’s not about what you can get out of the conversation, but who the person is. 

​Have you ever felt incapable? Think about that class you are struggling with. Think about that job that you want but the required skill set seem like a faraway dream. Keep all this in mind while you read about our female engineer of the month: Emily Warren Roebling. 

​Emily Roebling was not the typical engineer, but that is exactly the beauty of her story. Emily was born on September 23rd, 1843 to an upper-middle class family of 12. She was the 11th child. At the age of 15, she was enrolled at Georgetown visitation convent in Washington DC. There, she gained knowledge in various topics like history, geography, algebra, grammar, piano and much more. Among all her siblings, she had a unique relationship with her elder brother; Gouverneur Kemble Warren. Gouverneur Kemble was a general in the United States Army. A simple visit to see her brother at the army camp he served at, would begin Emily’s story.

​In 1864, while visiting her brother; General Warren, Emily met Washington Roebling. Washington had served under Kemble during the Civil War. Their relationship took off from there. January 18th, just 11 months later, Emily and Washington were married. 2 years after they said ‘I do’, John Roebling (Emily’s father in-law) sent the both of them to Europe to learn more about caissons disease (also known as the bends). This was a disease popular among bridge builders. John Roebling had begun a monumental project: a bridge over New York’s East River that would connect Brooklyn to New York. John didn’t see this dream of his come to reality. A few years later, John died of tetanus. To continue his father’s legacy, Washington took up the project. However, in January of 1872 Washington fell into “the bends.” His health declined drastically leaving him bed ridden. 

​Confined to his sickroom, Washington lost hope in continuing this project. Little did he know that the woman he married was an epitome of hard work and brilliance. Seeing how poor health had affected her husband’s ability to work as the chief engineer, Emily stood up to the plate. She was a mediator between her husband and the laborers working on the bridge. She took the initiative to learn more about materials, stress analysis, cable construction and calculation of catenary curves. She was on site every day to ensure things were going as planned and relayed the updates back to her husband. Eventually, she became the backbone of the project. In fact, she became so good that people thought she was the intelligence behind the bridge in the first place.
 
In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened, thanks to Emily’s persistence. Well-deserved praise was sung to Emily at the opening ceremony. Abram Hewit called the bridge a “an everlasting monument to the self-sacrificing devotion of a woman and of her capacity for that higher education from which she has been too long disbarred.” Emily Warren will forever be remembered with all that is admired in human nature and the art of construction, Hewit acclaimed.

This is Emily’s story. Her path to greatness was filled with a lot of downs, but that did not quench her fire. When it seemed like things were going downhill, she fought even harder. It’s that time of the semester; Mid-terms are kicking in, the assignments are piling up, registration for classes have begun, the anxiety and fear keeps turning up a notch. Nevertheless, it is time for you to step up to the plate and not crawl under your bed. You are capable.

​This week (Wednesday 2nd), UNT Engineering will be hosting a career fair. Yes, over 50 employers will be at Discovery Park, looking to recruit students/Alumni for internships and full time jobs. Career fairs are good for networking, and getting one’s name out there. Regardless of your classification, we encourage everyone to attend and get an idea about what employers are looking for. However, we understand this experience could be nerve-racking and leave you feeling overwhelmed. We have come up with 3 tips to guide you for this career fair, so you present your best self.

1. Who are you going to speak to?

The first thing you need to do to get ready for this career fair is to research the companies that are coming. Like I mentioned earlier, over 50 employers will be at the career fair. The chances that you will get the time to talk to everyone of them are very slim. A list with all the employers coming will be on Handshake, under events, then career fairs. Look at the description of the companies, what they are looking for, and requirements. If you look like a fit, don’t stop there. Go to the company website and learn more about what they do. The last thing you want to do is to walk up to an employer ask, ‘so what do you guys do?’ After you have done your research, you should have a list of the specific employers from different companies you are going to speak to.

      2.  Who are you?
The first tip was to research the company and find out more about what they do. Now, you have to the same thing, but with yourself. When you go to speak with the employers, they are looking to higher people, not walking wikipedias. Take some time to think about what your interests and skills are. You know what the different companies do and what they are looking for. How do you fit into that role? You will get less than 10mins to speak to each employer. You want to have some sort of ‘sales pitch’ prepared about yourself; why you want to work for that particular company, and what you can bring to the table. 

     3.  What do I do about my nerves?
​A good tip for dealing with nerves at the career fair is to follow this strategy. You have a list of companies you want to speak to. You are definitely more excited to speak to the employers from some companies more than others. Arrange this list from most excited to least excited. When you walk into the career fair, start from the bottom of that list (least excited) and work your way to the top(most excited). At this rate, you get some practice in on your sales pitch. Don’t worry, your nerves will gradually disappear once you get into the rhythm of things. By the time you get to the company you are the most excited about, with probably a few hiccups out of the way, you would have gained confidence.