Students University of Oklahoma – Tulsa Graduate Engineering Student Wins Honor From Society of Women Engineers The Society of Women Engineers has named OU-Tulsa graduate student Christella Chavez one of its 2013 Outstanding Collegiate Members. The award recognizes students’ significant contributions to SWE, the engineering community and their universities. “I am surprised and honored to be chosen for this award from SWE, an organization I respect so much,” Chavez said. “I volunteer as a SWE member because I believe in its mission and wholeheartedly support the programs it offers for women and girls in engineering. It’s a real bonus when you receive recognition for doing something you truly love.” Chavez is a Ph.D. (Engineering) candidate at OU-Tulsa, where her focus of study is mathematical modeling and policy recommendations for addressing telecommunications disruptions during disasters. She returned to graduate school after more than 20 years in the military and corporate America. She earned her bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, and an MBA from the University of Tulsa, where she specialized in management systems and international business. The mother of two college-age sons, Chavez jointed SWE more than ten years ago and has served in several capacities, including most recently a two-year term as regional governor. Chavez is a member of numerous other engineering organizations, and serves on the board of the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She also was coach and mentor for the first robotics program at Tulsa’s Cascia Hall High School and was a 2012 Fellow of the University of Oklahoma’s Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth. Pramode Verma, professor of engineering and director of the Telecommunications Engineering Program at OU-Tulsa, said he is delighted that the Society of Women Engineers granted this recognition to Chavez. “Christella actively supports several professional engineering programs in Tulsa, including the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering. Her concern and support for the community at large are well known.” The SWE encourages women to achieve full potential in careers as leaders and engineers and expand the image of engineering. Chavez will receive her award at the Society of Women Engineers' annual conference this October in Baltimore.
The University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center is home to all OU programs in Tulsa. Located on a 60-acre campus at 41st and Yale, it strengthens OU’s presence in northeast Oklahoma and expands educational, research and patient care programs in the Tulsa area. OU-Tulsa offers six bachelor’s degree completion programs; 14 master’s degree programs, including the physician assistant program, nurse practitioner program, doctoral programs in medicine, physical therapy, education, early childhood education, engineering, pharmacy and nursing, as well as nine residency programs in medicine. It is also home to the OU School of Community Medicine, the first of its kind in the nation, created with the explicit purpose of improving the health of all Oklahoma communities. For more information about OU-Tulsa, call (918) 660-3318 or visit tulsa.ou.edu.
34 Evolve