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University of Pittsburgh Society of Women Engineers

FiERCE Committee

Females in Engineering Reaching Career Empowerment

Meet the chairs!

Nicole Lipa Nicole Jackson Kshitija Koli Saipriya Namasivayam Vidhya Thiyagarajan
Committee: Head of FiERCE
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Certificate: Data Analytics
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Activities: SWE, TA, FYEC Co-Chair, ICG, IISE
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because I enjoy learning from professionals and getting to connect with my peers - both help me to figure out how I want to apply my major after undergrad!"
Committee: Speaker Engagement
Year: Junior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Minor: Sociology
Hometown: Bridgeton, NJ
Activities: SWE Professional Development, IISE, Hooligans Field Hockey Team
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because it gives me the opportunity to learn from both my peers and professionals in engineering!"
Committee: Publicity/Design
Year: Sophomore
Major: Bioengineering
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Activities: SWE, Project R.I.S.H.I, Taaza, BMES
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because it emphasizes the importance of female presence in STEM fields. With there being gender disparities in STEM fields, it’s really important that we do what we can to bridge the gap. The program does just that and prepares students for the real world when it comes to their careers!"
Committee: Technology
Year: Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Computer Science
Hometown: Monroeville, PA
Activities: SWE, EWB, ARTificial Art Club, Hard hitters Volleyball Club, ASME
Why they love FiERCE:"I love FiERCE because it is these types of events and programs that inspired me to pursue engineering in the first place, and it's a reminder of all the amazing things women can accomplish when we come together and support one another."
Committee: Becoming FiERCE/SWENext
Year: Senior
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Activities: SWE, AIChE
Why they love FiERCE:"I love FiERCE because I love networking with other women engineers and hearing their inspiring stories!"

Meet the co-chairs!

Hope Blair Kayla Trahey Katelyn Lipa Gabrielle Fernandes
Committee: Speaker Engagement
Year: Junior
Major: Environmental Engineering
Hometown: Ewing, NJ
Activities: SWE member, former ACE Club member
Why they love FiERCE: "I value the many different opportunities FiERCE provides to learn more about becoming a female in the engineering field along with meeting other women with similar life goals to be able to motivate each other along the way."
Committee: Speaker Engagement
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Certificate: Sustainability Certificate
Hometown: Langhorne, PA
Activities: SWE, Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, IISE, Engineering Ambassadors, Choose a Challenge
Why they love FiERCE:"I love connecting with like minded women and hearing from amazing speakers."
Committee: Speaker Engagement
Year: Junior
Major: Bioengineering
Minor: Chemistry
Certificate: Conceptual Foundations of Medicine
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Activities: SWE, BMES, Research
Why they love FiERCE: "It's a great opportunity for students to hear from people in their fields of interest and grow their network!"
Committee: Publicity/Design
Year: Sophomore
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: West Chester, PA
Activities: Society of Women Engineers, Akshaya Patra Pitt, Research Assistant at the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because of its outreach aspect. Connecting with younger girls and encouraging them to pursue STEM related majors is very important for maintaining diversity in STEM fields and showing women that they can do anything they put their mind towards."
Amrutha Selvaraja Sophia Edwards Alison Linares Mendoza Danielle McDonald
Committee: Speaker Engagement
Year: Sophomore
Major: Bioengineering
Minor: Computer Science
Hometown: Robbinsville, NJ
Activities: Nrityamala, SWE, Engineering Studnet Council, Dhirana
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because it connects me with other women who are passionate about advocating for female involvement in the STEM field, as well as motivating each other along the way!"
Committee: Technology
Year: Sophomore
Major: Civil Engineering
Certificate: Sustainability
Hometown: Falls Church, VA
Activities: SWE, Concrete Canoe, Engineering Ambassadors
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because it empowers women in STEM by giving us the tools we need to succeed."
Committee:Becoming FiERCE/SWENext
Year: Junior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Minor: Economics
Hometown: Mexico City
Activities: Advocacy Chair of SWE
Why they love FiERCE: "I love seeing all the energy from young ladies who want to pursue or are interested in a STEM career and academic path. It’s really great to be able to come all together and share from our experiences."
Committee:Becoming FiERCE/SWENext
Year: Sophomore
Major: Bioengineering
Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Bethel Park, PA
Activities: SWE, skiing, study abroad
Why they love FiERCE: "I love FiERCE because it is the perfect event to participate in to get more experience networking without much pressure. It's also a great way to get to know other people in SSOE and make some new friends!"

"Women have an unique power of being able to look at the world's problems and discover solutions that transform lives and make the world a better place." ~ Dr. Ayanna Howard