Women's Advisory Committee

Ashley Bey

IT Associate
Avient Corporation
Avon Lake, OH

Ashley graduated from Miami University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Minor in Computer Science. She is currently in the Leadership Development Program (LDP) at Avient Corporation in Avon Lake, OH. 

Amy Buck

Senior Director
Global IT Risk and Audit
Cincinnati, OH

Amy graduated from Miami with a degree in Systems Analysis in 1989 and currently works for Procter and Gamble in Global Internal Audit, managing IT Audit and Risk globally for P&G.

Marie Campagna

Partner/Sr. Executive, Retired
Accenture
San Diego, CA

Marie graduated from Miami in 1974 with a degree Systems Analysis. Marie started her career with Arthur Andersen, which became Andersen Consulting and is now Accenture. She was one of the first female Partners with Andersen Consulting and retired from Accenture after 28 years. She managed large, complex projects and served as the Global Partner for Quality prior to her retirement. Marie is the founder of the CEC Women's Advisory Committee. Marie currently lives in the San Diego area.

Disha Patel

Digital Technology and Innovation Site Lead
Amgen
New Albany, OH

Disha graduated with honors from Miami in 2002 with a B.S. in Systems Analysis and Computer Science and completed her Masters in Business at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Amanda Ryerse

Project Engineer
In-Q-Tel
Washington, DC

Nicole Smith

Deputy Director, Technology Demonstrations
NASA Headquarters
Rocky River, OH

Nicole Smith is the Chair of the CEC Women's Advisory Committee. She graduated from Miami with a BA in Mathematics & Statistics and a BS in Aeronautics, and has her MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. She currently works for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C. as the Deputy Director of Technology Missions.

Denise Taylor

Entrepreneur, Podcast Host, and Mentor for Women Leaders
Charlotte, NC

Denise graduated from Miami in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Analysis and in 2012 earned her Master of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Jessica Sparks

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Technology, and Innovation

Professor, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering

Jessica received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Ohio State University. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Notre Dame in Pre-Medical Studies and Philosophy, and she earned a Master’s degree in Anatomy from the Ohio State University. Her current areas of research encompass medical simulation, 3D printing for biomedical applications, and compliant substrates for flexible bio-electronics.

Janie Hunt

Administrative Support
CEC Dean's Office, Miami University
Oxford, OH

Janie has worked at Miami University since 2006 and has been providing administrative support to the College of Engineering and Computing since February 2022. Janie earned her Associate's in Business Management Technology in 2017 from Miami Hamilton as a nontraditional student. 

Brianne Pirkins

Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering Major
Minor: Humanitarian Engineering & Computing

During Brianne's time at Miami, she has been involved with Theta Tau and acted as the Corresponding Secretary. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and planned the 2022 Girl Scout STEM exposure event as Vice President. She played on the Women's Club Volleyball Team and Beach Club Volleyball Team. Brianne is also involved with undergraduate research on the Spine Simulator project, with Dr. Jessica Sparks, in which her focus is on 3-D modeling, 3-D printing, and molding. 

Zainab Soumahoro

Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering Major
Minors: Paper Science and Humanitarian Engineering & Computing

Zainab's campus involvement includes working as a Career Assistant at the Career Center and Lead Building Manager at the Armstrong Student Center. She has served as the General Body Manager of National Society of Black Engineers. Zainab is a member of Cohort 10 of the Lilly Leadership Institute.

Jenifer Blacklock

Dean, Rady Engineering Partnership Program
Western-CU Boulder, School of Engineering and Computer Science

Jeni graduated from Miami with degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management in 2004. She currently serves as the Dean of the Rady Engineering Partnership Program at the Western Colorado University/ Colorado University Boulder School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Katherine Bruce

Product Line Leader
The Shepherd Color Company
West Chester, OH

Katherine graduated from Miami in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and in 2020 earned her Master of Science in Materials Engineering from the University of Dayton.

Dianne Driessen

Retired Vice President of Instructional Services for McGraw-Hill Education, International Education Services

Dianne graduated from Miami with a degree in Systems Analysis in 1974. Her career included management of business solutions, proposals, systems development, and education service teams for U.S. and International customers. 

Jessica Geurts

Department Leader
Proctor & Gamble
Howard, WI

Jacquie Smith

IT Business Systems Project Manager
Trimble Navigation
Beavercreek, OH

Jacquie graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in Systems Analysis and completed her MBA from the University of Dayton.  Jacquie is currently working at Trimble as an IT Project Manager, where she manages business system integration projects.

Committee Mission

To provide leadership in a collaborative environment with faculty, staff, students, alumni and others to improve recruitment, retention and graduation support for women in engineering and computing at Miami University.

Purpose

The primary function of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Women's Advisory Committee is to fill an advisory role to the CEC Dean. WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE shall identify, cultivate, and support activities that ultimately increase the number of women majoring in engineering and computing at Miami University (the "University").

Composition

The CEC Dean will appoint WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE committee members. The WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE shall consist of at least five (5) and no more than fifteen (15) members serving staggered terms of three (3) years. A member may serve an additional three years with the approval of the Dean. Members serve voluntarily and will constitute a cross-section of alumni, faculty, staff and students, local industry, and university representatives. Membership will be reaffirmed at the annual fall meeting. The WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE will elect a Chair through majority vote.

Members are volunteers who share an expert knowledge of educational requirements and career opportunities for women in engineering and computing. Positions and vacancies are filled as WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE requires with approval of the Dean, specifically if there are particular areas of expertise required to meet the needs of the committee's mission.

Student Liaisons (2 students) — As many as two students shall be selected as non-voting student representatives. A call for student liaisons shall be put forward in the second half of the second semester for a position during the subsequent academic year. Student liaisons shall be in a degree program in CEC, and have completed, at a minimum, their first year. Liaisons are expected to attend the majority of WOMEN'S ADVISORY COUNCIL meetings. In the event that a student cannot meet their obligation, a new liaison may be selected to serve out the rest of the term.

Responsibilities and Duties

The specific purposes of the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE includes the following responsibilities:

• Advise, assist and support CEC on matters related to the recruitment, retention and support of women in engineering and computing.
• Facilitate cooperation and communication between CEC, alumni and industry to increase female educational and employment opportunities.
• Offer recommendations for program improvement.
• Annually evaluate the execution of its responsibilities and duties.
• Subcommittees will be created as needed.
  
  • Membership to the subcommittees will consist of a volunteer subgroup of at least three (3) members, with a minimum of one (1) WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE member and other volunteers who have special expertise or interest in the subcommittee purpose.

Authority

The WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE serves at the behest of the Dean of CEC. The Dean may initiate the dissolution of the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE through written communication with WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chair.

Accountability

The WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE shall be accountable to the Dean of CEC for its activities and shall report such activities to the Dean quarterly and as the Dean may request.

Meetings

The WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE shall meet at least one (1) time each year in the fall. Meetings at other times and places, including virtual meetings will be proposed by the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chair and agreed to by 2/3s of the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE members.

Minutes

At each meeting, the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chair shall select one person to act as recording secretary to prepare the minutes of the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE's deliberations. The minutes shall include (a) the date, time and place of the meetings; (b) the members of the committee recorded as either present or absent; and (c) a summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated or decided, and a record of any votes taken. Actions of the WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE will be reported to the Dean of CEC. Minutes of each meeting will be posted on the Google Doc site designated by WOMEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE.