IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2011 - 24

nization supporting women in engineerher contributions in both academia and
ing and science.
industry but also as one of the United
She is a professor of electrical and
States' leading experts in innovating succomputer engineering at Tufts University
cessful low-cost methods for disseminatand director of the Simulation Research
ing engineering and science to youth,
Laboratory. Her research focuses on deparents, educators, and the general pubveloping efficient algorithms for simulalic to help recruit young women to the
tion, modeling, and signal and image proSTEM disciplines. Her NerdGirls project
cessing for security and biomedical
has inspired young women by teachapplications. She is also the
ing them that engineers and
cofounder of BA Logix
scientists create innovaInc. and serves as the
tions for the benefit of
The IEEE.tv
company's chief rehumanity.
video, "Nerd Girls,"
search scientist.
Panetta is a
which demonstrates
Before joinFellow of the
Panetta's most successful
ing the faculty
IEEE. She rementoring and recruiting
at Tufts, Panetta
ceived the B.S.
was employed as
in computer enphilosophy, shows that
a computer engineering from
female engineers are
gineer at Digital
Boston Universmart, well-rounded,
Equipment Corposity and the M.S.
talented girls.
ration. Her research
and Ph.D. in electriin simulation and modcal engineering from
eling has won her research
Northeastern University.
team five awards from NASA for
She is the editor-in-chief of IEEE
"Outstanding Contributions to NASA
Women in Engineering Magazine and
Research" and "Excellence in Research."
editor of the IEEE Boston Reflector
She is a NASA Langley Research Sciennewspaper. She serves as the 2011 chair
tist "JOVE" Fellow, is a recipient of the
of the IEEE Boston Section, which has
NSF Career Award, and won the 2003
over 8,500 members. During 2009-2007,
Making an Impact
Madeline and Henry Fischer Best Engishe served as the worldwide director for
Karen Panetta is the Women of Vision
neering Teacher Award. Panetta was also
IEEE Women in Engineering, overseeAward winner in the Social Impact catnamed a Mass High Tech All-Star by Mass
ing the world's largest professional orgaegory. She is recognized not only for
High Tech Magazine. She is the recipient
of the 2006 Boston University Outstanding Alumni Award and was a recipient
of the "Be the Change" award from the
Massachusetts Conference for Women.
She is the 2009 Norm Augustine Award
recipient from the National Academies of
Engineering and Science, American Association of Engineering Societies.
In 2010, the IEEE recognized Panetta
by awarding her the IEEE Educational
Activities Board Major Educational Innovation Award. She also received the 2011
IEEE Education Society Harriet Rigas
Award, which recognizes outstanding faculty women who have made significant
contributions to electrical/computer en(From left to right) Mary Lou Jepson, Brenda Dietrich, ABI President and CEO
gineering education.
Telle Whitney, Chieko Asakawa, and Karen Panetta.

cos While primarcost.
iily an executive,
she has maintained a deep
contributory
role in display
and device architecture inMary Lou Jepsen
ce p tio n . H er
broader strength is in innovative technology management and she also has experience in software, wireless, manufacturing, Asia, the developing world, education,
and open source. Over the last decade she
has spent the majority of her time in Asia,
primarily in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan,
and Mainland China and has developed
deep relationships throughout.
Her executive experience spans big
companies (Intel, Philips), startups (Pixel
Qi Corp and MicroDisplay Corp), as well
as the nonprofit arena (One Laptop per
Child Association and Foundation).
She is well known for her efforts on
high profile programs at Intel, One Laptop per Child, and most recently through
Pixel Qi an organization she founded in
2008.

IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2011

http://www.IEEE.tv

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2011