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Tech associate dean, professor invited to White House roundtable

Dec 5, 2011 | Engineering and Science

Dr. Jenna Carpenter, associate dean for the College of Engineering and Science and the Wayne and Juanita Spinks Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Louisiana Tech University, recently participated in a roundtable discussion at the White House as part of her ongong work with and contributions to advancing women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The leadership of Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) invited Carpenter to participate in the event as their representative due to her work in advancing women in the STEM fields.  WEPAN is a national organization that works to transform culture in engineering education to attract, retain, and graduate women.

Dr. Jenna Carpenter


Each week, the Obama Administration highlights a group of Americans, businesses or organizations who embody the concept of “Innovate, Educate, and Build.”  On Friday, the White House Office of Public Engagement will host an event to honor those who are “Winning the Future” by helping to recruit girls and retain women in the STEM disciplines.
“I am so pleased that President Obama is highlighting the importance of changing stereotypes and sharing best practices on recruiting and retaining more women in the engineering and science workforce,” said Carpenter.  “Resolving these issues is central to our nation’s ability to meet future workforce demands in these fields, as well as maintain our edge in innovation.”
Given that these topics represent a significant focus of my own work, I am honored to represent WEPAN and Louisiana Tech at this event.”
In addition to her roles with WEPAN, Carpenter is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), serving as the Governor of the Louisiana-Mississippi Section.  She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and sits on the Board of Directors for WEPAN.
Dr. Stan Napper, dean of Tech’s College of Engineering and Science, believes this latest honor complements Carpenter’s work at the university.
“Dr. Carpenter is a campus leader, a friend and mentor to many of our students and faculty, and a national leader in engineering and science education.  We are very pleased that President Obama has recognized her work and the work of her colleagues in encouraging young women in engineering careers.”
Carpenter is the director of the Office for Women in Science and Engineering at Louisiana Tech, directs the College of Engineering and Science’s Faculty Mentoring Program, and is the advisor for the College’s Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.
 
Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science is a nationally recognized leader in educational innovation whose goal is to become “the best college in the world at integrating engineering and science in education and research.”  Louisiana Tech is one of 14 universities nation-wide to become affiliated with the Center for the Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education (CASEE), a unit of the National Academy of Engineering.
Written by Catherine Fraser – cfraser@latech.edu