audio by genre speech

Yvonne Young Clark tells her daughter, Carol Yvonne Lawson, about the difficulties she had in finding her first engineering job because of her gender. Clark is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee State University, a Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Engineering Educator Award recipient, and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Clark / Lawson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Yvonne Young Clark tells her daughter, Carol Lawson, how the 1957 Society of Women Engineers national convention in Houston was almost canceled when the hotel was reluctant to let her participate because of her race. Clark is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee State University, a Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Engineering Educator Award recipient, and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Clark / Lawson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Yvonne Clark explains to her daugher, Carol Lawson, how she came to be the first female mechanical engineering faculty member at Tennessee State University. Clark is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at TSU, a Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Engineering Educator Award recipient, and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Clark / Lawson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Yvonne Clark tells her daughter, Carol Lawson, about introducing local elementary school children to engineering. Clark is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee State University, a Society of Women Engineers Distinguished Engineering Educator Award recipient, and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Clark / Lawson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Friends and Society of Women Engineers Fellows Phyllis Gaylard and Pamela Strong discuss how they were introduced to engineering. Gaylard is an aerospace engineer and Strong, a rocket scientist, was the recipient of the 2007 SWE Achievement Award.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Gaylard / Strong Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Friends and Society of Women Engineers Fellows Phyllis Gaylard and Pamela Strong trade stories about male coworkers who didn’t trust their engineering judgment. Gaylard is an aerospace engineer and Strong, a rocket scientist, was the recipient of the 2007 SWE Achievement Award.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Gaylard / Strong Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Phyllis Gaylard asks her friend Pamela Strong how to encourage women to pursue aerospace engineering. Gaylard, aerospace engineer and Strong, a rocket scientist, are both Fellows of the Society of Women Engineers. Strong was the recipient of the 2007 SWE Achievement Award.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Gaylard / Strong Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Pamela Strong tells Phyllis Gaylard about when she was 4 years old and Albert Einstein explained to her the theory of relativity. Gaylard, aerospace engineer, and Strong, a rocket scientist, are both Fellows of the Society of Women Engineers. Strong was the recipient of the 2007 SWE Achievement Award.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Gaylard / Strong Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Katie Peterson asks her mother, Maggie Hickel, who has influenced Hickel's engineering education and career the most. Peterson is an IT Project Lead. Hickel, an industrial engineer, is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 1 of 3. Click on the "Hickel / Peterson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Katie Peterson asks her mother, Maggie Hickel, what the engineering workplace was like when she first began her career. Peterson is an IT Project Lead. Hickel, an industrial engineer, is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers and a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 2 of 3. Click on the "Hickel / Peterson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Christine Law, an engineering student, asks her mother, Patricia Law, whether it is easier for women to enter and advance in the engineering workforce today.

This recording is Clip 1 of 3. Click on the "Law / Law Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Engineer Patricia Law tells Christine Law, her daughter and an engineering student, about a male coworker who has greatly influenced her career.

This recording is Clip 2 of 3. Click on the "Law / Law Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Engineer Patricia Law explains to Christine Law, her daughter and an engineering student, the difficulties of managing and engineering career and family.

This recording is Clip 3 of 3. Click on the "Law / Law Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Gail Mattson asks Peggy Layne how she first became involved in the Society of Women Engineers. Mattson and Layne are both engineers and past presidents of SWE. Layne is also a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 1 of 3. Click on the "Layne / Mattson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Gail Mattson and Peggy Layne agree that meeting students was one of the most memorable parts of their tenures as SWE president. Mattson and Layne are both engineers and past presidents of SWE. Layne is also a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 2 of 3. Click on the "Layne / Mattson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Gail Mattson tells Peggy Layne about the excitement and challenge of working with women engineers globally. Mattson and Layne are both engineers and past presidents of the Society of Women Engineers. Layne is also a SWE Fellow.

This recording is Clip 3 of 3. Click on the "Layne / Mattson Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Mechanical engineers Anne Lucietto and Diane Peters remember taking apart household appliances as children to learn how they worked. Lucietto and Peters have both served as president of the Chicago Regional Section of the Society of Women Engineers and Lucietto continues to chair committees at the national level.

This recording is Clip 1 of 3. Click on the "Lucietto / Peters Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Mechanical engineers Diane Peters and Anne Lucietto compare the different types of engineering careers. Lucietto and Peters have both served as president of the Chicago Regional Section of the Society of Women Engineers and Lucietto continues to chair committees at the national level.

This recording is Clip 2 of 3. Click on the "Lucietto / Peters Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Anne Lucietto and Diane Peters discuss their involvement in the Chicago Regional Section of the Society of Women Engineers and in the national organization. Lucietto and Peters have both served as president of the Chicago Regional Section of the Society of Women Engineers and Lucietto continues to chair committees at the national level.

This recording is Clip 3 of 3. Click on the "Lucietto / Peters Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Chemical engineering executive Deborah Grubbe asks her husband, James Porter, how his early experiences as an engineer at Dupont led him to mentor women colleagues. Porter is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Dupont and 2007 recipient of the Society of Women Engineer's Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Porter / Grubbe Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Chemical engineering executive Deborah Grubbe asks her husband, James Porter, about the impressions of Porter's male colleagues when he hired, promoted, and mentored women engineers. Porter is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Dupont and 2007 recipient of the Society of Women Engineer's Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Porter / Grubbe Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Chemical engineering executive Deborah Grubbe asks her husband, James Porter, what advice he would give men and women mentoring women engineers. Porter is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Dupont and 2007 recipient of the Society of Women Engineer's Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Porter / Grubbe Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

James Porter explains to his wife, chemical engineering executive Deborah Grubbe, his belief that engineers need to introduce girls to math, science, and engineering early in life. Porter is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Dupont and 2007 recipient of the Society of Women Engineer's Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Porter / Grubbe Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Fran Scholl explains to her colleague, Aubree Osborn, how she studied architecture and worked as an engineer despite the objections of her father. Scholl is a mechanical engineering consultant and project manager. Osborn is an organizational development manager.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Scholl / Osborn Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Fran Scholl explains to her colleague, Aubree Osborn, how becoming a mechanical engineer, project manager, and consultant "just happened." Osborn is an organizational development manager.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Scholl / Osborn Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Aubree Osborn asks her colleague, Fran Scholl, who her past and current mentors are. Scholl is a mechanical engineering consultant and project manager. Osborn is an organizational development manager.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Scholl / Osborn Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Fran Scholl explains to her colleague, Aubree Osborn, that the largest challenge in her engineering career has been overcoming stereotypes. Scholl is a mechanical engineering consultant and project manager. Osborn is an organizational development manager.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Scholl / Osborn Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2007 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded October 26, 2007 at the Society of Women Engineers WE07 National Conference in Nashville, TN as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Award Committee Chairman Josephine Troxell introduces Rebecca Hall Sparling, SWE Achievement Award recipient. Sparling begins her acceptance speech, discussing the help she has received in the pursuit of her career, the difficulty she experienced in finding her first engineering positions, and how she, as a woman engineer, was first perceived in a male-dominated field.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 1 of 2. Click on the "Rebecca Sparling" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

SWE Achievement Award recipient Rebecca Hall Sparling concludes her acceptance speech, discussing her work with industry during the Second World War, entering the aerospace industry, and mentoring junior high school students.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 2 of 2. Click on the "Rebecca Sparling" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Fred Mason, Chief Industrial Engineer of Shell Oil Company, introduces keynote speaker Dr. Lillian Gilbreth.

This introduction was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of Gilbreth's speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth begins her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 1, Gilbreth explains that engineers have two resources to rely on, professional ethics and the scientific method, whenever they face new problems in engineering.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 1 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth continues her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 2, Gilbreth argues that engineers should work to add "human resources" to the definition of "automation."

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 2 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth continues her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 3, Gilbreth discusses the ability of automation to remove drudgery from work, but warns that people have different views on what drudgery is.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 3 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth continues her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 4, Gilbreth discusses the impact of automation on skilled and unskilled workers.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 4 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth continues her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 5, Gilbreth discusses the difference between free time and leisure time for workers, especially in times of economic and emotional insecurity.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 5 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Dr. Lillian Gilbreth concludes her keynote speech about the roles and responsibilities of engineers in developing automation technologies. In Part 6, Gilbreth discusses the challenges women engineers face and how they are perceived by others. Note: 51 seconds into this excerpt, 1 minute 12 seconds of inaudible content has been edited out.

This speech was recorded March 16, 1957 in Houston, TX at the Society of Women Engineers National Convention (Conference). This recording is Part 6 of 6. Click on the "Gilbreth Keynote Speech" link above to find all parts of the speech. Click on the "1957 SWE National Convention" link above to find all audio recordings from the convention.

Denise Griffin, an electrical engineer and past president of the Society of Women Engineers Boston Section, discusses her decision to become a stay-at-home mother after her company began downsizing during her maternity leave. She explains the role SWE has played in maintaining her professional identity while being out of the workforce.

This oral history interview was recorded October 16, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 National Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Diana Madden, a member of the Society of Women Engineers Philadelphia Section, discusses being the SWE Counselor for the Drexel University Collegiate Section, and the benefits both she and the Drexel students have received from the relationship.

This oral history interview was recorded October 15, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 National Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jan Williams, a member of the Society of Women Engineers Central New Mexico Section, discusses the difficulties of being the primary caretaker for her children while working as an engineer and manager at Sandia National Laboratories, and how familial responsibilities affected the progress of her career.

This oral history interview was recorded October 14, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sharon Cascadden, a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, talks about her decision to study chemistry and engineering at UCLA despite a high school aptitude test which steered her toward traditional occupations for women. She also explains how raising her family interrupted her pursuit of a bachelor's degree, which she began as a chemistry major in 1956 at UCLA but did not complete until 1980 as an engineering major at California State University in Northridge.

This oral history interview was recorded October 13, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

George Brewster, a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a retired manager of salary recruiting at Corning, Inc., explains how his mother's experience as one of the very few women Postmasters in the 1940s and 1950s made him more sensitive to the discrimination women faced in traditionally male occupations. As an example he describes an incident early in his career as a recruiter for Corning in which male employees played a joke on a new female engineer which bordered on sexual harassment.

This oral history interview was recorded February 7, 2010 as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Jane Daniels. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remains the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Peggy Layne, an environmental engineer and past president of the Society of Women Engineers, discusses what led her to to be a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill in 1998 through a program run by the the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

This oral history interview was recorded November 5, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Society of Women Engineers Archivist Troy Eller asks Mary Anderson-Rowland what obstacles and barriers still prevent women from pursuing engineering. Anderson-Rowland explains that it is still not “cool” for young girls to be smart, and proposes that a television show like LA Engineer might help to change young girls’ perceptions. Anderson-Rowland is an Associate Professor in Arizona State University’s Industrial Engineering Department. While serving as the first female Associate Dean in the ASU Fulton School of Engineering, Anderson-Rowland developed the Women in Engineering and Minority Engineering programs to help increase the number of underrepresented minorities in ASU’s engineering programs. Active in numerous professional organizations, she is a SWE Fellow and the recipient of SWE’s Distinguished Engineering Educator Award.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Anderson-Rowland / Eller Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Mary Anderson-Rowland explains to Society of Women Engineers Archivist Troy Eller how she became an engineering faculty member at Arizona State University after being forced out of her position in the Mathematics Department. While happy with her career in the ASU Industrial Engineering Department, she reflects on the chilly reception she first received as the department’s first woman faculty member. Active in numerous professional organizations, Anderson-Rowland is a SWE Fellow and the recipient of SWE’s Distinguished Engineering Educator Award.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Anderson-Rowland / Eller Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Mary Anderson-Rowland recalls how she used her promotion to Associate Dean in the Arizona State University Fulton School of Engineering to develop the Women in Engineering and Minority Engineering programs to help increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities studying engineering at ASU. Active in numerous professional organizations, she is a Society of Women Engineers Fellow and the recipient of SWE’s Distinguished Engineering Educator Award.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Anderson-Rowland / Eller Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Mary Anderson-Rowland explains how strong leaders have made the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Arizona State University Collegiate Section thrive and describes the section’s activities. Anderson-Rowland became the section’s faculty advisor after she joined the ASU Industrial Engineering Department in 1974. She is a SWE Fellow and the recipient of SWE’s Distinguished Engineering Educator Award.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Anderson-Rowland / Eller Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Elizabeth Bierman asks Allison Pedersen why she became an engineer, and then explains that she became an engineer because of her 4th grade lunch box. They discuss how their parents and teachers encouraged them to pursue their interests. Bierman is a product support manager at Honeywell Aerospace. Pedersen is a project manager at Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Bierman / Pedersen Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Allison Pedersen discusses her role as the chair of the Society of Women Engineers Outreach Committee. She and Elizabeth Bierman share stories about how they present engineering to students, parents, and school counselors. Bierman is a product support manager at Honeywell Aerospace. Pedersen is a project manager at Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Bierman / Pedersen Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Elizabeth Bierman and Allison Pederson discuss the challenges of balancing their career with their personal lives. Bierman is a product support manager at Honeywell Aerospace. Pedersen is a project manager at Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Bierman / Pedersen Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Allison Pedersen and Elizabeth Bierman discuss the Over the Hill Suite at the Society of Women Engineers National Conference, where they can talk to and learn about the experiences of some of the more “seasoned” women of SWE. Bierman is a product support manager at Honeywell Aerospace. Pedersen is a project manager at Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Bierman / Pedersen Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Margo Bubb explains to Stacey DelVecchio what events led her to become an engineer instead of a hairdresser. Bubb and DelVecchio are both engineers at Caterpillar Inc. and active members of the Society of Women Engineers.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Bubb / DelVecchio Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio explains to Margo Bubb that, because of her parents’ strong support, she didn’t realize until she entered the workforce that it was unusual for women to become engineers. Bubb and DelVecchio are both engineers at Caterpillar Inc. and active members of the Society of Women Engineers.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Bubb / DelVecchio Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio explains to Margo Bubb that she better understood the purpose of the Society of Women Engineers after she received her first promotion at Caterpillar and no one, except a few friends from SWE, congratulated her because there was a perception that she was promoted because she was a woman. They discuss how things have changed at the company since then, and DelVecchio tells how she got the CEO of the company write a handwritten card congratulating another staff member who won a national award from SWE. Bubb and DelVecchio are both engineers at Caterpillar Inc. and active members of the Society of Women Engineers.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Bubb / DelVecchio Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Margo Bubb and Stacey DelVecchio discuss the chartering of the Society of Women Engineers Central Illinois section, and how their employer, Caterpillar Inc., has increased its support of SWE during that time. DelVecchio suggests that it is difficult for women to get company support to attend SWE conference because there isn’t a comparable professional development conference specifically for male engineers. Bubb and DelVecchio are both engineers at Caterpillar Inc. and active members of the Society of Women Engineers.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Bubb / DelVecchio Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Ledo Lucietto tells his daughter Anne Lucietto that she started asking about engineering at a young age. She would take apart her toys and other household objects to learn how they worked. Ledo and his family owned a machine shop. Anne is an engineer at Caterpillar Inc.

This recording is Clip 1 of 2. Click on the "Lucietto / Lucietto Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Ledo Lucietto and his daughter Anne Lucietto remember that she used to follow him around in the family’s machine shop when she was little. Anne is now an engineer at Caterpillar Inc.

This recording is Clip 2 of 2. Click on the "Lucietto / Lucietto Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jill Tietjen asks Sandra Scanlon how she has balanced her engineering career with her family. Scanlon explains that after realizing that she didn’t want to juggle it all, she started her own company in order to be in charge of her own destiny and have the ability to control how she spends her time. Kristy Schloss notes that the three of them are bound by their unique decisions to leave large corporations and start their own engineering firms. Tietjen and Scanlon explain that by owning their own companies they have more flexibility to volunteer for the causes that are important to them.

Tietjen is the president and CEO an electrical engineering consulting company. She is a Fellow and past president of the Society of Women Engineers and has received the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. Scanlon is the president of an engineering consulting firm. She is a Fellow of SWE and has received the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards. Kristy Schloss is the president and CEO of an environmental equipment design and manufacturing company. She is also SWE Fellow and a recipient of the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards.

This recording is Clip 1 of 4. Click on the "Tietjen / Scanlon / Schloss Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sandra Scanlon explains why it’s important to host career guidance events for young girls and women to introduce them to opportunities that engineering offers. Jill Tietjen explains that more work needs to be done to help the public understand what engineering encompasses and describes a poll in the early 2000s that found that two-thirds of women and one half of men did not know what engineers did. Kristy Schloss discusses the varied industries that engineering touches.

Tietjen is the president and CEO an electrical engineering consulting company. She is a Fellow and past president of the Society of Women Engineers and has received the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. Scanlon is the president of an engineering consulting firm. She is a Fellow of SWE and has received the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards. Kristy Schloss is the president and CEO of an environmental equipment design and manufacturing company. She is also SWE Fellow and a recipient of the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards.

This recording is Clip 2 of 4. Click on the "Tietjen / Scanlon / Schloss Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jill Tietjen, Sandra Scanlon, and Kristy Schloss discuss the aspects of their careers that they are proudest of. Tietjen explains the satisfaction she feels when prospective power plants that she has provided consultation services for are certified by regulatory agencies. Scanlon recalls a time when she received letters from a third grade class after she designed the electrical system for a computer lab in a poor school. Schloss describes how she feels after hearing from women who succeeded after taking her advice.

Tietjen is the president and CEO an electrical engineering consulting company. She is a Fellow and past president of the Society of Women Engineers and has received the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. Scanlon is the president of an engineering consulting firm. She is a Fellow of SWE and has received the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards. Kristy Schloss is the president and CEO of an environmental equipment design and manufacturing company. She is also SWE Fellow and a recipient of the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards.

This recording is Clip 3 of 4. Click on the "Tietjen / Scanlon / Schloss Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sandra Scanlon recalls that early in her career she was frequently mistaken for being an administrative assistant instead of an engineer and felt that her knowledge was tested more because she was a woman. She explains how she overcame those perceptions by ignoring these pressures and doing her job well. Jill Tietjen explains that during her first job at a power company she had to walk through a men’s locker room to get to the control room because the building designers had not considered that a woman would need access to the room. Kristy Schloss explains that women engineers earn their stripes by surviving these encounters and working to change negative perceptions of women engineers.

Tietjen is the president and CEO an electrical engineering consulting company. She is a Fellow and past president of the Society of Women Engineers and has received the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. Scanlon is the president of an engineering consulting firm. She is a Fellow of SWE and has received the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards. Kristy Schloss is the president and CEO of an environmental equipment design and manufacturing company. She is also SWE Fellow and a recipient of the Society’s Distinguished New Engineer and Entrepreneur awards.

This recording is Clip 4 of 4. Click on the "Tietjen / Scanlon / Schloss Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Renee Weisman, Marge Inden, and Bernice Brody discuss the difficult first days they each had as women engineers in a male-dominated profession in the late 1960s and 1970s, and how they succeeded despite rocky starts. Weisman describes how rooms would suddenly become quiet when she walked in, and how women engineers posed a change for industry. Inden recalls that she was given a desk but no actual job assignments when she first started, and Brody remembers that her manager would not talk to her. Weisman is envious of Inden's desk, explaining that she originally had to use the desks of whichever colleagues were on vacation. Despite the rough start, she explains how a crisis on her second day of work led her to quickly take on leadership roles. Inden confesses that when male colleagues didn't believe her when she pointed out their mistakes, she quickly learned to pretend to be ignorant to force them to explain something to her and hopefully discover their mistakes in the process. She also recalls how she stunned her male colleagues by cobbling together a needle threader to fish a frayed rope through a plumb-bob.

Weisman, Inden, and Brody all began their engineering careers at IBM. After nearly 40 years with the company, Weisman retired in 2007 as a distinguished engineer and director of engineering and has since started a leadership consulting firm. Inden transitioned from a career in engineering to one in the financial sector and is currently a senior registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brody is currently an executive project manager at IBM Global Services. Inden is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Board of Trustees. Brody has served in numerous positions within SWE and is currently the Speaker of the Senate.

This recording is Clip 1 of 5. Click on the "Weisman / Inden / Brody Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Bernice Brody asks Renee Weisman how her involvement in the Society of Women Engineers has helped her professional life. Weisman describes how she gained a better sense of her strengths and weaknesses and how the Society has provided her with a professional network. Brody explains that her involvement in SWE has strengthened her public speaking skills, provided her with a support network in difficult times, and has helped her to handle large projects. She and Marge Inden recall when SWE members encouraged Brody to pursue a new career opportunity. Weisman explains that women’s professional networks provide women with the support they need to break the glass ceiling. Inden explains how her leadership positions in SWE allowed her to hone her project management skills and reiterates the importance of the professional network that SWE provides.

Weisman, Inden, and Brody all began their engineering careers at IBM. After nearly 40 years with the company, Weisman retired in 2007 as a distinguished engineer and director of engineering and has since started a leadership consulting firm. Inden transitioned from a career in engineering to one in the financial sector and is currently a senior registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brody is currently and executive project manager at IBM Global Services. Inden is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Board of Trustees. Brody has served in numerous positions in SWE, and is currently the Speaker of the Senate.

This recording is Clip 2 of 5. Click on the "Weisman / Inden / Brody Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Renee Weisman, Marge Inden, and Bernice Brody recount the events that led them to charter the Mid Hudson Section of the Society of Women Engineers. Inden recalls that after she presented a speech to a women’s group, several of her colleagues stayed to chat afterward. Among them was Brody, who suggested that while the men at their company could network through their golf league, the women did not have similar networking opportunity. Brody and Inden discuss how SWE allowed the women of their company to network at a time when companies did not have networking or affinity groups. Weisman explains that she originally went to the meetings hoping to provide her younger colleagues with advice but soon found that SWE would benefit her as well.

Weisman, Inden, and Brody all began their engineering careers at IBM. After nearly 40 years with the company, Weisman retired in 2007 as a distinguished engineer and director of engineering and has since started a leadership consulting firm. Inden transitioned from a career in engineering to one in the financial sector and is currently a senior registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brody is currently and executive project manager at IBM Global Services. Inden is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Board of Trustees. Brody has served in numerous positions in SWE, and is currently the Speaker of the Senate.

This recording is Clip 3 of 5. Click on the "Weisman / Inden / Brody Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Bernice Brody asks Renee Weisman and Marge Inden what legacy they hope to leave the Society of Women Engineers. Renee Weisman explains that by talking about her professional experiences she hopes to guide and support the careers of younger generations. Brody explains that she wants to strengthen the Society's diversity and inclusion program so that women from underrepresented groups in SWE can have their voices better heard. Inden argues that while sexual discrimination in the engineering workplace is far more subtle than it used to be, organizations like SWE are still necessary to help women address those subtleties.

Weisman, Inden, and Brody all began their engineering careers at IBM. After nearly 40 years with the company, Weisman retired in 2007 as a distinguished engineer and director of engineering and has since started a leadership consulting firm. Inden transitioned from a career in engineering to one in the financial sector and is currently a senior registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brody is currently and executive project manager at IBM Global Services. Inden is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Board of Trustees. Brody has served in numerous positions in SWE, and is currently the Speaker of the Senate.

This recording is Clip 4 of 5. Click on the "Weisman / Inden / Brody Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Renee Weisman, Bernice Brody, and Marge Inden recall an event held in the early 1990s by the Mid Hudson Section of the Society of Women Engineers. Weisman describes the feedback she received after giving a talk on how to “balance the guilt” of raising a family and holding a professional career at the same time. Brody describes how much she related to a SWE member who announced at the event that her professional career made her a better mother at home. Inden explains that while their event normally would have been covered in the women's section of the local paper, she was able to get it covered in the paper's business section.

Weisman, Inden, and Brody all began their engineering careers at IBM. After nearly 40 years with the company, Weisman retired in 2007 as a distinguished engineer and director of engineering and has since started a leadership consulting firm. Inden transitioned from a career in engineering to one in the financial sector and is currently a senior registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Brody is currently and executive project manager at IBM Global Services. Inden is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a member of the Board of Trustees. Brody has served in numerous positions in SWE, and is currently the Speaker of the Senate.

This recording is Clip 5 of 5. Click on the "Weisman / Inden / Brody Interview" link above to find all clips from the interview. Click on the "2008 StoryCorps Interviews" link above to find all audio recordings from the 2008 SWE StoryCorps interviews.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2008 at the Society of Women Engineers WE08 National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland as part of StoryCorps (www.storycorps.net), a nationwide initiative of Sound Portraits Productions to record and collect oral history interviews. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length and clarity. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jill Tietjen, a past president and Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, discusses the road that led her to successfully nominate SWE Fellow and Achievement Award recipient Yvonne Brill for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for her invention of the hydrazine resistojet propulsion system, which became the standard in the satellite industry. Tietjen explains that that women have to nominate other women for awards because female award recipients become role models for young women, and they generally won’t be nominated for those awards by men. She also explained that she’s nominated Brill for so many awards not only because of her technical achievements, but also because Brill herself has put tremendous effort into nominating other women for awards.

This oral history interview was recorded October 14, 2011 at the Society of Women Engineers WE11 National Conference in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Allison Machtemes Lunde discusses her job search following the completion of her master's degree in structural engineering in 2011. She describes the anxiety she felt after turning down a few career opportunities, why she ultimately accepted a position at Barr Engineering, and what qualities attracted her to the company. Machtemes Lunde is the FY12 Collegiate Director for the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 12, 2011 at the Society of Women Engineers WE11 National Conference in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Prinda Wanakule discusses her experience as a woman engineering student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, including a male student who insisted in 2004 that women could not perform A-level work in engineering or math courses. Wanakule joined the Society of Women Engineers in 2004, and has held numerous leadership and committee positions at the local, regional, and national level. She received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2012 from the University of Texas at Austin.

This oral history interview was recorded November 7, 2012 at the Society of Women Engineers WE12 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Natalie Givans describes her experiences as an engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1980s, including parting ways with the ROTC when it became clear that she didn't have a future with the U.S. Air Force and working full time to pay tuition. Givans, a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, is a life member of the Society of Women Engineers and recipient of SWE's 2012 Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award.

This oral history interview was recorded November 9, 2012 at the Society of Women Engineers WE12 Annual Conference in Houston, Texas, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sue Parsons explains why she chose to pursue an MBA rather than a Professional Engineer license after working in a technical position for a few years, as well as the challenges of completing the MBA coursework while working full-time as an engineer. She also describes why she decided to follow a career path in engineering management over a technical career. Parsons is the Contracts Director at CGI Federal and is a Fellow Life Member of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 13, 2011 at the Society of Women Engineers WE12 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Denise Griffin describes her experiences as an electrical engineering student at Tufts University, such as joining the Society of Women Engineers to make female friends and learn more about what she could do in her career. Griffin is an electrical engineer and past president of the SWE Boston Section.

This oral history interview was recorded October 16, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Denise Griffin describes how her work with volunteer groups and the Society of Women Engineers have allowed her to take risks and taught her how to motivate people and project teams. Griffin is an electrical engineer and past president of the SWE Boston Section.

This oral history interview was recorded October 16, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Diana Madden explains how her co-op experience with engineering consulting company Schiller and Hersh turned into a full-time position after she graduated with an electrical engineering degree from Drexel University. Madden is a member of the Society of Women Engineers Philadelphia Section, and the SWE Counselor for the Drexel University Collegiate Section.

This oral history interview was recorded October 15, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Diana Madden describes her experiences as a female electrical engineering student at Drexel University in the early 2000s. While there were many female students and professors in her mathematics courses, there were very few in her engineering classes. Madden is a member of the Society of Women Engineers Philadelphia Section, and the SWE Counselor for the Drexel University Collegiate Section.

This oral history interview was recorded October 15, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Diana Madden describes her involvement in the Drexel University Society of Women Engineers collegiate section in the early 2000s, including serving as the section president and starting a controversial Mr. Engineer pageant. Madden, an electrical engineer, is a member of the Society of Women Engineers Philadelphia Section and the SWE Counselor for the Drexel University collegiate section.

This oral history interview was recorded October 15, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

George Brewster recounts how he first became involved in the Society of Women Engineers in 1979 at the urging of colleague and woman engineer Jacqueline LaBarre. He discusses why his company thought it was important to participate in SWE, as well as the differences he noted between male and female engineers. Brewster, a retired manager of salary recruiting at Corning, Inc., is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a recipient of its Rodney Chipp Award.

This oral history interview was recorded February 7, 2010 as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Jane Daniels. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remains the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

George Brewster discusses how some companies changed workplace policies and procedures in the 1980s and 1990s to attract and accommodate women engineers, particularly those who are mothers. He also describes how the local section of the Society of Women Engineers benefited women engineers at his company. Brewster, a retired manager of salary recruiting at Corning, Inc., is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a recipient of its Rodney Chipp Award.

This oral history interview was recorded February 7, 2010 as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Jane Daniels. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remains the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

George Brewster describes how the Society of Women Engineers has changed since he first became involved in 1979, including its rapid growth and the move the annual conference from the summer to the fall to better match employer recruitment periods. He also laments how the number of women in engineering has plateaued over the past decade. Brewster, a retired manager of salary recruiting at Corning, Inc., is a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and a recipient of its Rodney Chipp Award.

This oral history interview was recorded February 7, 2010 as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Jane Daniels. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remains the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sharon Cascadden discusses a reentry program run by SWE member Dr. Bonita Campbell at California State University in Northridge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The program was intended to quickly prepare women engineers who had not worked in the field for a long time to reenter the engineering workforce. In addition to updating their technical skills, the program also featured workshops such as one on assertiveness training, in which Cascadden recalls “One of the things we needed to learn to say was, ‘No, I don’t make the coffee,’ because that was sort of what was expected of any woman in the room at the time.” Cascadden is a retired materials engineer and a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 13, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sharon Cascadden recalls her experiences as a reentering female engineering student at California State University in Northridge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She explains how skills she developed while doing volunteer work as a stay-at-home mother transferred to the classroom and her career. She also recalls that the only female engineering faculty member at the time, Dr. Bonita Campbell, was given an office on a floor that did not have a women’s restroom. Cascadden is a retired materials engineer and a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 13, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Sharon Cascadden explains how contacts in the Society of Women Engineers helped her to find both her materials engineering jobs at Hughes Aircraft. She describes some of the materials testing projects she worked on for the missile and space programs. Cascadden is a retired materials engineer and a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 13, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Peggy Layne describes how her desire to clean up the environment led her to pursue an environmental engineering degree at Vanderbilt University in the late 1970s. Layne is the director of the AdvanceVT program at Virginia Tech and is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 5, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Peggy Layne describes the policies and programs instituted by the AdvanceVT at Virginia Tech in the 2000s to support women science and engineering faculty members, including supporting a childcare center and modifying duties and stopping the tenure clock to accommodate faculty members who use maternity or paternity leave or who need to take time off to care for sick family members. Layne is the director of the AdvanceVT program at Virginia Tech and is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 5, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Peggy Layne recalls that she the Society of Women Engineers as an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University in a show of support and solidarity and attended a few meetings at large SWE sections during her professional career. However, she explains that she did not become deeply involved in the society until she moved to North Carolina and the small section their actively recruited her for leadership positions. Layne is the director of the AdvanceVT program at Virginia Tech and is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 5, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Peggy Layne describes her work on the Society of Women Engineers statistics committee and the Board of Directors in the 1990s, including the financial difficulties SWE faced in the mid-1990s and the long search for an executive director for the society. She explains that her involvement in SWE was important because it developed skills that transferred to her career and because it provided and professional and social network as she moved around the country for her career. Layne is the director of the AdvanceVT program at Virginia Tech and is a past president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 5, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jan Williams talks about the nontraditional route she took to become an engineer, after first receiving a degree in Spanish. She describes her experiences as a reentry engineering student while working and raising a family in the 1980s. Williams is an engineering manager at Sandia National Laboratories and a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 14, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Jan Williams explains that she became so involved in the Society of Women Engineers because she did not have many role models or mentors when she first started her career. She talks about the importance of outreach projects to young women and children to help them understand what engineers do. Williams is an engineering manager at Sandia National Laboratories and a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded October 14, 2009 at the Society of Women Engineers WE09 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio describes how her interest in math as a child led her to pursue mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. She explains how she struggled to find her career path and place in engineering until she went on a plant trip during an interview at Caterpillar, Inc. DelVecchio, a manager at Caterpillar, Inc., is the 2013-2014 president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 3, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio describes her transition into management at Caterpillar, Inc. She explains that she volunteered to be a shop foreman to better understand production processes and gain the respect of the production workers. DelVecchio is the 2013-2014 president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 3, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio explains that she had a supportive family and did not particularly feel gender discrimination as a female engineering student in the 1980s. She started to understand the need for organizations like the Society of Women Engineers after she was passed over for a promotion, received a cold shoulder from coworkers after receiving a promotion, and heard male coworkers say that they didn’t care if their daughters got degrees because they were going to marry wealthy boyfriends. She offers a story about her five-year-old nephew deciding that women could be engineers “as long as the boys get the corner office.” DelVecchio, a manager at Caterpillar, Inc., is the 2013-2014 president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 3, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.

Stacey DelVecchio describes what skills women engineers should develop in order to advance in their careers. She offers the example of the different confidence levels exhibited by a male intern and a female intern reporting on their projects. DelVecchio, a manager at Caterpillar, Inc., is the 2013-2014 president of the Society of Women Engineers.

This oral history interview was recorded November 3, 2010 at the Society of Women Engineers WE10 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, as part of the SWE Grassroots Oral History Project. The interviewer is Troy Eller. This excerpt was selected and produced by the SWE Archivist. The excerpt may have been edited for length, however the intent of the interviewee's words remain the same. Audio excerpts may be used for research and educational purposes only.