• The SWE Richmond Section has several programs and activities planned for the upcoming year so check out our schedule. Our section is part of Region E.

Mission

  • Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders.
  • Expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life.
  • Demonstrate the value of diversity.

Objectives

  • Inform young women, their parents, counselors and the public in general of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers open to them.
  • Assist women engineers in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement.
  • Serve as a center of information on women in engineering.
  • Encourage women engineers to attain high levels of educational and professional achievement.

Membership

Major projects for the Richmond Area section include:

  • Virginia Freshman in Engineering Scholarship: Annually, our section offers a minimum $1000 scholarship to an area high school student pursuing engineering at an accredited college.
  • Outreach Program at Science Museum of Virginia: "Girls in Science" activity is offered through an endowment from DuPont. Each year, we present an interactive program at the museum to encourage girls to go in to scientific fields of study. This overnight program for ENGineering And Gender Equity (ENGAGE) involves over 250 members, museum staff and girls from the community!!
  • RJEC Career day at Science Museum of Virginia for Engineer’s Week

History

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) was officially founded in 1950 at a conference of more 60 women at Green Engineering Camp of the Cooper Union University in New Jersey. SWE’s objectives today are almost identical to the initial objectives:

To inform the public of the availability of qualified women for engineering positions; to foster a favorable attitude in industry towards women engineers; and to contribute to their professional advancement.

To encourage young women with suitable aptitudes and interest to enter the engineering profession, and to guide them in their educational programs..

To encourage membership in other technical and professional engineering societies, participation in their activities and adherence to their code of ethics.

The Richmond Area section of SWE was chartered on September 17, 1988. Founding members were:

  • Shannon Killinger, President
  • Sandra Palmer, Vice-President
  • Gwen Newman, Secretary
  • Susan Corey, Treasurer
  • Rosemary Green
  • Carrie Larson
  • Nancy Hunley
  • Lynne Lough-Arsanjan
  • Mary Gordon
  • Kelli Meredith
  • Laura McCoig
  • Teresa Ebbets
  • Jean Reid

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