ASM Online Member Community

We are marking Women's History Month and International Women's Day (March 8) by celebrating pioneering women in materials science and engineering.

Dianne Chong was ASM's first woman president. Read her presidential biography from 2008 here: https://www.asminternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chong2Bio_proof-3-4.pdf

Join us by sharing your stories and celebrating the groundbreaking women who have influenced your career.

Let's flood ASM Connect with women who are leading members of the community, industry, and academia and are paving the way for the next generation of women in STEM!

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Vicki Burt
Managing Editor
ASM International
Materials Park OH
(440) 338-5467
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Mea Fiedler was responsible for me becoming a materials engineer and an ASM member.  She worked in the Engineering Research Services Department at NCSU and hired me to work in the lab.  She was an excellent metallographer, teacher and mentor.  She was an advocate for women in the engineering department when women were about 2% of the engineering students.  She was a strong ASM supporter during her long, successful life as a materials engineer.  I am forever indebted to her for the help and inspiration she provided.

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Beth Snipes Chapter Council Chair 2020-2021
Sr. Materials Engineer, FASM
TEC Materials Testing
Loudon TN
(865) 458-1991
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There are and have been many great women to recognize, but I would like to expand from STEM to STEAM as the art aspect is also important.  I would like to recognize Professor Susan Van Geest who was my drawing professor in 2004 and invited me as a freshman to take the Junior/Senior only sculpture class with her instructor approval.  That was the pivotal moment I decided to pursue both a B.S. Engineering & B.F.A in Studio art.  That helped me find the balance of theory and application of art and engineering.

Another woman that had a pivotal point in my career was finding out about the course taught by Dr. Laura Moyer on Metallography.  I was in a different class at the Dome when her class was being taught and our class got to see a presentation by her, I believe about grain growth, and I wanted to learn more about metallography after that.  I took that class the following year.  Along with that I need to give a shout-out to all the amazing support staff at ASM including Andrea Currington, who helped me figure out a plan to earn my Certificate in General Applied Metallurgy, Weld Metallurgy, & Non-Ferrous Metallurgy.

One person who I have admired the blending of knowledge, skill, and persistence is Kelly Franko who is pioneering in making FR clothing(base layers).  I have the men's base layers, but I am  glad that someone is making safety equipment fit for women as many people in the art metal casting community(specifically) can think of someone who has had a burn from either grinder sparks, splattered metal, or being to close to something hot (who has had conventional bra material melt to their skin).  So I think it is great that someone saw the need(originally designed for race car drives to wear under their fires suits), had the skills, researched/developed solutions and is actively selling a product to fill a reel need that the big companies are not.  

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David Lammers
Engineer
Total Component Solutions
Sioux Center IA
(712) 451-6646
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I would like to recognize Professor Hazel Marie, Youngstown State University Mechanical Engineering Program. She was the first STEM mentor that I had in my academic career. My MS thesis work with her, Biomechanical Evaluation of Composite Bone Following Removal of Proximal Femoral Fixation Hardware, really propelled my desire to pursue research as a career. She had the perfect balance of mentorship and enthusiasm - yes, enthusiasm which showed that this was not just another grant project but an exciting area to explore. Professor Marie supported my desire to create my own research group for the project including undergraduate and graduate students from electrical engineering and mechanical engineering to support the work and I collaborated with Dr. James Shaer, M.D. and his residents to prepare the specimens and understand the clinical aspects of the project. She provided a framework for me to become successful and move forward into my Ph.D. work at Case Western Reserve University and even now as a Research Assistant Professor at CWRU. Professor Marie is indeed a 'rockstar' in the world of STEM mentorship and for that I am grateful to have worked with her.

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Janet Gbur
Research Assistant Professor
Case Western Reserve University
Canfield OH
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While I was finishing my PhD at Penn State, Professor Elizabeth Dickey (then at Penn State, now at Carnegie Mellon) was a GREAT help in figuring out my career options and my future, generally. She wasn't on my committee, I don't think I ever had a class from her, and I can't really recall how we even met, haha. But she was so generous with her time and became an essential mentor at a critical time in my life. She has since become a long time friend that I've relied on for advice through numerous difficult times in my life and she has always been there for me. 

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James Saal
Director - External Research Programs
Citrine Informatics
Kapolei HI
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Many Thanks Vicky for sharing this biography!

And Happy Women Day to all the STEM Women!!

Kind Regards

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[Patricia Silvana] [Carrizo]
[Ms.]
[Chemical Engineer]
[Archaeometallurgy Area - UTN FRM]
[Mendoza] [Argentina]
[+542615577229]
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