About

The SWE Mission

The mission of SWE is threefold: to stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, to expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and to demonstrate the value of diversity. SWE aims to be a key to the success of women in engineering and technology.

Members of the organization aspire to the highest level of ethical behavior with honesty and dignity in both their personal and professional relationships and responsibilities. They embrace diversity in its broadest interpretation and commit to creating an inclusive environment for all members. They provide an organization that fosters mentoring, and the development of professional and personal networks. Members also share a common definition of success with open, transparent access to common information, building mutual respect and confidence in the competence of those with whom we lead, serve and partner. For college students in particular, SWE provides the opportunity to inspire future generations and have fun. It also provides students valuable access to a unique set of resources that sets the stage for a successful career.

Faculty Advisor: Karen Panetta

Dr. Karen Panetta is a Fellow of the IEEE. Dr. Panetta received the B.S. in Computer Engineering from Boston University, and the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine. She serves as the 2011 Chair of the IEEE Boston Sec
tion. During 2009-2007, she served as the World Wide Director for IEEE Women in Engineering, which has over 400 chapters in 53 countries.

She is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University and Director of the Simulation Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on developing efficient algorithms for simulation, modeling, signal and image processing for security and biomedical applications. Her projects with her students have helped track and diagnose millions of children in India afflicted with Autism and blindness. Their work has had a profound effect on government policies and has helped bring awareness and provide proper aid to these children. Dr. Panetta is the founder of the award winning Nerd Girls program, which celebrates the individuality and “beauty of brains” all in an effort to inspire young girls to pursue math, science and engineering while breaking stereotypes of smart individuals.

Before joining the faculty at Tufts, Dr. Panetta was employed as a computer engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation. Her research in Simulation and Modeling has won her research team five awards from NASA for “Outstanding Contributions to NASA Research” and “Excellence in Research”. She is a NASA Langley Research Scientist “JOVE” Fellow, is a recipient of the NSF Career Award and won the 2003 Fischer Best Engineering Teacher Award. Dr. Panetta was also awarded a Mass High Tech All-Star by Mass High Tech Magazine. She is a recipient of the “Be The Change” award from the Massachusetts Conference for Women. She is the 2009 Norm Augustine Award recipient from the American Association of Engineering Societies and the 2011 recipient of the Anita Borg Institute, Women of Vision Award and the 2011 IEEE Harriet Rigas Award for Education. In 2010, the IEEE recognized Karen with the IEEE Educational Activities Board, Major Educational Innovation Award. She is a senior member of SWE, ACM, Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. In 2011, United States President Barack Obama awarded Karen the nation’s highest award for engineering education and mentoring, the NSF PAESMEM award.

Faculty Advisor: Ayse Asatekin