The mission of the SWE Women in Government (WIG) Affinity Group (AG) is to support and address career-specific demands of SWE members who work for or are interested in careers in the public sector. The WIG’s mission includes the following goals:
- Work across geographic borders to link experts with similar interests.
- Celebrate the accomplishments and efforts of female engineers who hold public office or participate in public service.
- Highlight SWE advantages to members who are employed in the public sector.
- Provide career information, training, and mentoring for engineers interested in or currently working in the public sector.
- Improve engagement with government agencies to support the hiring of women engineers for public positions.
- Create and publish speaking opportunities for women engineers in government at SWE meetings and conferences.
In the past year, the WIG AG has been working on increasing our global impact. This month, we are excited to spotlight two of our members who have helped with that initiative.
Abosede Adewole – (she/her)
Role in the WIG AG: Member
Geographic Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Introduction & Background: I am Engr Abosede Adewole, a seasoned senior engineer with over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors. My career spans various domains, including business operations, development, office management, finance, training, and technical support. I hold a master’s in technology in telecommunication & electronics engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and a bachelor’s in engineering, electrical & electronics engineering from the University of Ado-Ekiti. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in electronics and communication at the University of Abuja, focusing on the intersection of technology and aviation safety.
Leadership Style: My leadership style is collaborative and inclusive. I believe in the power of teamwork and the importance of empowering others to achieve their best. Leading by example, I demonstrate integrity, dedication, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Open communication is key, and I strive to create an environment where every team member feels valued and heard.
Making an Impact: Throughout my career, I have consistently delivered projects on time and within budget. I have managed and supervised the installation of critical infrastructure, including seven substations, ensuring adherence to electrical codes and standards. My efforts in operational planning, technical support, and administrative management have significantly enhanced organizational efficiency and productivity. As an advocate for women in engineering, I actively contribute to SWE and serve as the national coordinator for APWEN Young Engineers and Collegiate, inspiring and supporting the next generation of engineers.
Vision for the Future: My vision is to drive innovation and sustainability within the engineering field. I am passionate about developing localized solutions for a low-carbon future, particularly in waste-to-energy innovations. I aim to inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers, particularly women, to take on leadership roles and significantly impact their communities.
Words of Wisdom: Never stop learning and always strive to improve. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and never underestimate the power of perseverance and determination.
Favorite Quote: “Everyone can do simple things to make a difference, and every little bit really does count.” – Stella McCartney
Sanethia Thomas – (she/her)
Role in the WIG AG: WIG Global Ambassador
Geographic Location: Gainesville, Florida
Introduction & Background: I am an assistant instructional professor at the University of Florida in the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department. I received my Ph.D. from the University of Florida in human centered computing with a certification in athlete development. I hold a bachelor’s in information technology from the University of Texas El Paso and a master’s in youth development leadership from Clemson University, where Igraduated in the top ten percent and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. I am a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow, and GEM fellow. I was also inducted in the Edward Bouchet Honors Society at Yale University and was the first African American Honor Society Beta Eta Sigma at the University of Florida. My research is interdisciplinary as it includes the fields of human-computer interaction (HCI), athlete development, artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP) and global technology development. Additionally, I also have over 10 years working in industry in both the public and private sectors. In 2024, I was named AI Teacher of the Year at the University of Florida.
Leadership Style: As an educator deeply committed to fostering innovation and experiential learning, my leadership style is empowering students to be global leaders by providing international project-based learning experiences using current real-world scenarios. I maintain relevancy with mainstream topics and current trends. Recently, I have integrated AI into my curriculum, programs, and service projects, encouraging students to use AI in their work.
Making an Impact: I am chartering my sphere of impact in the realm of AI Initiatives and global experiences.I developed UF’s first AI study abroad program with a focus on experiential software engineering and global internship. In the summer of 2023, I led 20 students to Cape Town, South Africa, and established partnerships with three nonprofit organizations to design and development software applications for their needs. One team used AI predictive analysis to build an interactive map for 35,000 residents who were displaced from the District Six community being razed. Two teams used text and image generation to capture 269 acres of a wetland conservation system in the historical site of Princess Vlei. Two teams built an intelligent tutoring system for personalized learning, automated grading, and feedback for Youth In Transformation, who serves over 400 students yearly. I also organized guest speakers from local AI technology companies.
In the summer of 2024, I led 18 students to Ghana, West Africa, where we worked with three organizations and created five software applications that had a significant impact in Ghana. We created two educational based projects — an offline application for test preparations and tracking, impacting over 1,000 teachers and 4,000 students; and a management system to track students performance for over 200 schools in Accra. We created a financial application to help over 2,000 female farmers learn about finances, investing, and accountability of crops and agriculture. We created an attendance tracker for young women in school to systematically monitor and plan resources for menstrual cycles, impacting over 10,000 girls and to help to bridge the gender disparity gap by ensuring equal opportunities to succeed in education. Lastly, we redesigned a domestic abuse shelter website to attract more donors and investors.
Vision for the Future: My vision is to create international experiences in software development for students to have the opportunity to be of service to those in developing countries; expand students’ technology skills by challenging them with current technology trends and topics; and to make a global impact on countries with technology disparities.
Words of Wisdom: Create your own future and inspire others to do the same. Don’t be afraid to learn something new. Always give back and reach back to bring someone with you.
Favorite Quote: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” – President Theodore Roosevelt
Are You Interested in Joining Our Group?
The leaders of the SWE Women in Government AG are Jenna Henderson, PE, PMP (she/her) and Jennifer Dalzell (she/her). If you would like additional information about the WIG AG, please contact them directly via womeningov.ag@swe.org or join our Facebook Group to get involved. Subscribe to our AG’s email updates by logging into your SWE member portal and scrolling to Communication Preferences.
