On behalf of the Women in Engineering Division (WIED) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), it is with great pleasure that we announce the winner of the 2022 Mara H. Wasburn Early Engineering Educator Grant. All applicants had impressive contributions to engineering education, a demonstrated commitment to increasing access, retention and/or advancement of women in engineering, and a strong overall record of achievement. The ASEE WIED review committee commends each applicant for dedication to engineering education and to the advancement of women in engineering and technology.
In the category of Faculty, the Mara H. Wasburn Early Engineering Educator Grant goes to Dr. Holly Golecki, Teaching Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Dr. Golecki was nominated by Dr. Karin Jensen. She believes that “…supporting students’ technical skills development as well as their mental health and wellness is a responsibility we hold as faculty. I find that my students are eager to put engineering within a social justice context.” Her research is focused around the question: How do projects with embedded agency beliefs provide opportunities for students to develop STEM identities?
From Dr. Golecki’s teaching statement, “I have built my career to date on my mission of inspiring the next generation of innovators, engineers, and roboticists, and I look forward to broadening my teaching impact as my career develops. I also see my teaching as an opportunity to create inclusive spaces on campus to create a positive impact that spreads beyond my classroom walls. I aim to train engineers to design solutions for our biggest challenges with empathy and inclusivity.”