The Philadelphia region is rich in history, especially when it comes to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
On May 31, the local SWE sections gathered at Drexel University to celebrate the 75th anniversary of SWE. The Philadelphia SWE Section teamed up with one of its daughter sections, the Lehigh Valley SWE Section, and the newest neighboring section, Southern New Jersey, for an afternoon of history, empowerment, and inspiration with nearly 70 in attendance.
Heartfelt recorded messages from Karen Roth (FY25 SWE president), Colleen Scholl (FY16 SWE president), and Alexis McKittrick (FY24 SWE president) guided the event. Founding member Alma Forman was not able to make the drive to Drexel, but she was still a key part through a video of her sharing the story of the origins of SWE from the 60th anniversary celebration.
Ana Kraft, founder and CEO of Xena Footwear, inspired members with a fireside chat. An amazing panel shared stories of how SWE has been part of their lives, featuring longtime Philadelphia SWE member Susan Best, FY18 SWE President Jonna Gerken, Lehigh University Deputy Provost Sabrina Jedlicka, Ph.D., and Villanova University Associate Dean Noelle Comolli, Ph.D.
Special guests Naomi McAfee (FY73 and FY74 SWE president), SWE Fellow and Life Members Susan Parsons and Sandra Hyland, and Michelle Tortolani (FY08 SWE president) also made the drive from Baltimore-Washington to celebrate!
The event included two special celebrations as well. Barb Faust and Heather Bernardin inducted event planning committee lead Jen Casta into the Philadelphia Section Hall of Fame, and we concluded with everyone wishing longtime member and SWE Fellow Barb Faust a happy birthday.
On behalf of the Philadelphia-area sections, we hope to see you back here in five years to celebrate 80 years of SWE!
Special thanks to the planning committee members: Jen Casta (lead, Philadelphia Section), Julianne Kerwood (Philadelphia Section), Hanh Schnell (Southern New Jersey Section), Lyla Cookson (Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley Section), Danielle Schroeder, PE (Philadelphia Section), and Jenn Winikus, Ph.D. (Lehigh Valley Section).
