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Podcast: Amy Freeman and the Changing Face of STEM

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Episode 160: Amy Freeman and the Changing Face of STEM

In this SWE Diverse episode, Rachel Morford, President of the Society of Women Engineers, sits down with Amy L. Freeman, the Assistant Dean of Engineering Outreach and Inclusion at Penn State and Presidential Awardee for the 2017 PAESMEM Award. Listen as Amy talks about what inspired her to become a mentor, the importance of support during transitions, and a few of her proudest moments as a mentor.


Auto Draft -Amy L. Freeman, Ph.D.
Director, Millennium Scholars Program
Associate Research Professor of Engineering (SEDTAPP)
The Pennsylvania State University

Amy L. Freeman holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering and a Ph.D. in Workforce Education. This unusual combination has provided her with a professional skill set that includes both the technical and social sciences. Dr. Freeman has spoken in numerous business and professional venues as well as schools, churches and government institutions.
Topics include lowering the stress level of working professionals, work-life balance, women in non-traditional fields, student empowerment, and diversity in science and engineering professions. She is author of the book, Stress Less: 10 Balancing Insights on Work and Life, a companion to the DVD presentation, Finding your Balance: Truths and Myths about Having It All.

She has written and presented several papers on the importance of diversity and technical skills in the US.  She has been an executive officer and president of the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA), a collaborative organization focusing on increasing diverse technical talent in the US, and president of the Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network (WEPAN).

During the Obama White House, she was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), which was awarded to her in 2019.   The PAESMEM Awards are the Nation’s highest honors for STEM mentors. Mentors receive a certificate signed by the President of the U.S., a $10,000 award from The National Science Foundation, a paid trip to Washington D.C., and join a cohort of exceptional mentors.

As an educator, Dr. Freeman is currently the Director of the Penn State Millennium Scholars Program, sponsored through the Office of the President. Prior appointments include Associate Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at Tufts University and Assistant Dean in the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, providing administrative direction for the Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion through cultivation of partnerships with corporations, alumni, university constituents and organizational alliances.

Freeman has written, published and presented research findings at national conferences and is a member of several organizations. She has spoken and studied internationally across five continents. As an advocate of education and professional development, she emphasizes the need to share ideas, collaborate and learn as much as possible about others and the world around us.

Nominate a STEM mentor for this award at PAESMEM.net.


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