September 14, 2020

Katie Schwertz (upper left), Sharon Weiss (upper right), and, left to right at bottom, Theresa Tuthill, Alexis Vogt, and Michele Weslander Quaid are among the women alumnae we recognize as part of our Celebration 2020 observance this year.

Dear members of the Hajim community,

I am delighted to introduce our next group of alumnae in engineering and computer science, who we are highlighting this year in conjunction with the University’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony’s birth, and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

By celebrating the achievements of notable University of Rochester women students, staff, faculty, and alumnae in engineering and computer science, we also hope to reinforce why it is so important to do all we can to address the under-representation of women and minorities in STEM fields.

Consider what these alumnae have achieved:

“Tireless advocate.” “Superb networking and public speaking skills.” “Excellent grasp of the field of optics.” These terms, used to describe Katie Schwertz ’08 as an undergraduate at the University of Rochester’s Institute for Optics, continue to apply. The senior design engineer at Edmund Optics is making her mark as a leader, a role model for women, and an advocate for gender equity in her field. This year Katie began a three-year term as a director of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. She also was one of 20 “inspiring engineers” profiled in a video collection produced by NBC News Learn for use as education material for teachers, students, and parents. Katie has also served on an SPIE Gender Equity Task Force to identify ways to enable equal opportunities, rewards, and recognition for its members, independent of gender.
As an electrical engineering undergraduate, Theresa Tuthill ’84 ’87MS ’91PhD exemplified the opportunities for students at the University of Rochester to excel both as scholars and athletes. She was a Hall of Fame varsity lacrosse and field hockey player who graduated summa cum laude and received the Daniel Ward Healy Jr. Prize for demonstrating the greatest interest and potential for a career in biomedical engineering. Her doctoral research with Kevin J. Parker advanced our understanding of ultrasonic properties of the liver. She was the first full time woman faculty member in the engineering college at University of Dayton, then joined the faculty at University of Michigan, making more advances in ultrasound imaging. Now, she is a senior director in the imaging group at Pfizer Inc., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
In a field in which 20 percent of experienced technicians and engineers are approaching retirement, 75 percent of Upstate NY optics technician job openings go unfilled each year. Alexis Vogt ’00 ’08PhD, the endowed chair and associate professor of optics at Monroe Community College, is in the right place, at the right time, to help address this problem. She has re-invigorated MCC’s Optical Systems Technology Program to address an acute shortage in the technical workforce of an industry vital to Rochester and the nation. This has included creating a pipeline to attract the students to optics programs at MCC for two-year degrees, then on to the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) if they want to pursue a BS.
Sharon Weiss ’99 ’01MS ’05PhD excelled as an undergraduate and graduate student and researcher at The Institute of Optics, earning a Goldwater Scholarship. Now she is continuing to excel at Vanderbilt University, where she is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering and director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Sharon received the Vanderbilt School of Engineering’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2016. Three years later, she received the University’s Chancellor’s Award for Research. A pioneer in studying the interaction of light with nanomaterials, Sharon has earned an international reputation for expanding the use of silicon in photonics and optoelectronics. She also is recognized as the leading expert in designing and demonstrating highly sensitive porous silicon guided-wave optical biosensors for applications including medical diagnostics.
“I thrive on tackling big problems and challenging the status quo,” says Institute of Optics alumna Michele R. Weslander Quaid ‘94MS. She has done so at the nexus of national security, domestic and foreign policy, and technology during a nearly 30-year career in industry and government that included stints with Google and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Entrepreneur magazine listed Michele among the 7 most powerful women to watch in 2014. The magazine cited her work after the 9/11 terrorist attacks at various national security agencies, “shaking things up by dropping archaic software and hardware and convincing teams to collaborate via web tools.” Now, Michele places “special emphasis on mentoring and sharing insights to encourage and inspire current and future leaders to explore their talents, follow their passion and find their purpose.”

Each year, chemical engineering alumnus Ed Hajim ’58, former Chair of our University’s Board of Trustees and our school’s chief benefactor, has shared the inspiring story of his rise from humble beginnings to corporate success at our diploma ceremonies. He stresses the “four P’s” — passions, principles, partners and plans — that will help guide students along their future path. Now a much wider audience will be able to benefit from Ed’s life story and insights. His biography, On the Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom, due out in January, can be pre-ordered now. Ed’s story is a powerful testament to how young people can overcome the harshest disadvantages — and a reminder of why we must make every effort to welcome students of diverse backgrounds to our campus.

Congratulations to two of our PhD candidates, Gary Ge of optics and Adwityeea Misra of biomedical engineering, who have received prestigious $202,080 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards as part of the National Institutes of Health F30 Fellowships program. Gary, working with Jannick Rolland and Kevin J. Parker, will pursue his “Investigation of Brain Elasticity in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Enabled by Optical Coherence Elastography.” Adwityeea, working with Eric Small at the Medical Center, is investigating the “Influence of Cytokines on the Regenerative Potential of the Epicardium.”

Students, still undecided about which Hajim School major is best for you? Faculty from each of our majors will be giving presentations to help you decide, starting this week. You can participate in as many as you like.

Mechanical engineering, by John Lambropoulos, professor and former department chair. This Wednesday, September 16, 1-2 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/96245328742 Meeting ID: 962 4532 8742

Audio and music engineering, by Sarah Smith, assistant professor. This Friday, September 18, 2-3 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/98121900962 Meeting ID: 981 2190 0962

Computer science, by Adam Purtee, assistant professor. Wednesday September 23, 1-2 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/97789106437 Meeting ID: 977 8910 6437

Chemical engineering, by Marc Porosoff, assistant professor. September 25, 2-3 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/97499822506 Meeting ID: 974 9982 2506

Biomedical engineering, by Edward Brown, associate professor. September 30, 1-2 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95358544278 Meeting ID: 953 5854 4278

Institute of Optics, by Thomas Brown, professor. October 2, 2-3 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/99960694651 Meeting ID: 999 6069 4651

Electrical and computer engineering, by Marvin Doyley, professor and department chair. October 7, 1-2 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/93064329950 Meeting ID: 930 6432 9950

Engineering science, by Lisa Norwood, assistant dean of undergraduate studies. October 14, 1-2 p.m. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/92648826996 Meeting ID: 926 4882 6996

The presentations will describe the type of work people do in these fields and provide an overview of the curriculum in each major. You’ll also have a chance to ask Hajim faculty members about their program, their research, and the types of challenges that engineers in their field work to solve. Even if you’ve already picked a major, switching to another Hajim major is possible in the first year, especially in the second semester. Thanks to our faculty presenters, and to Paul Funkenbusch, our associate dean for education and new initiatives, and academic counselor Nick Valentino for organizing this series.

Our student professional chapters and design teams are a great way to connect with other students, learn more about your chosen field, and participate in projects. Our AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) student chapter, for example, will hold a virtual Meet and Greet for first year students at 4 p.m. this Saturday, September 19. Chapter president Joseph Frye ’22 says this is an opportunity for newcomers to engage in fun virtual activities along with current AIChE members. Join in at https://rochester.zoom.us/j/99311602834 Meeting ID: 993 1160 2834.

And CSUG, the Computer Science Undergraduate Council, is organizing a weekly workshop that focuses on coding challenges. For almost every technical internship or full-time position, the candidates are asked to complete coding challenges. “We plan to use this workshop to help people prepare better for their applications,” says CSUG President Aman Shrestha ’21. The event aligns with the mission of CSUG by creating an active Computer Science community and preparing CSUG members for their future. For more information, follow the CSUG facebook page and join the council from CCC to get the latest updates. Feel free to contact csug@googlegroups.com if you have any questions.

New undergraduate and graduate students on our campus this fall can participate in virtual support group sessions, hosted by the University Counseling Center, on adjusting to life in Rochester; sharing good experiences and struggles; creative plans, coping, and work-arounds; finding friends, and other topics of concern during this challenging time. Upcoming virtual sessions will be at 4 p.m. this Thursday, September 17 and on September 24, Zoom ID: 920 4867 2117.

Students, here’s a chance to conduct a mock interview with one of our engineering alumni, and get some great feedback and advice. The Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections is hosting a virtual Engineering Mock Interview Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. this Thursday, September 17. Check out the associated Handshake posting, apply to the job posting with your current resume and sign up for an interview slot with a chosen alum from the list below. Students are limited to one interview slot. Interview spots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and all interviews will be through Zoom.

Thanks so much to these participating alumni:

Robert Cuffney ’86MS of optics, a research engineer at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Jessica DeMarte ’09MS of biomedical engineering, a quality and regulatory manager at Respicardia, Inc.
David Duryea ’83 of geomechanics, director of naval initiatives at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.
Johanna Miller ’11 of biomedical engineering, a data scientist and systems engineer at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Keith Savino ’14PhD of chemical engineering, a senior process engineer at Zymtronix

Have a great week! And please remember to wear those masks, keep a safe distance, and use that hand sanitizer. We’re doing great so far!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman