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Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:17:27 +0000

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/16/2023 - 09:17

Michael Lock Swingen

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering hosted its third-annual ME Fall Festival on Oct. 12. The event, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

ME faculty, staff and students gathered to share their own traditions, learn about their peers’ backgrounds and build community. The event also highlighted the holidays and observances that student groups and faculty recognize during the fall season.

Janet Tsai, associate teaching professor and chair of the DEI Working Group, explained the origins of the ME Fall Festival.

"The ME Fall Festival was inspired by the idea that there are lots of ways our students, staff and faculty mark the Fall season from Diwali and the Mid-Autumn Festival to Día de los Muertos and Halloween," Tsai said. "Timing the Fall Festival close to Indigenous People's Day also offers a chance to discuss �� Boulder's Land Acknowledgment and reconcile our local history with our current campus. The ME DEI Working Group has sponsored the Fall Festival for three years now, and it has become a highlight of our Fall semester here in Mechanical Engineering."

“After the summer of 2020, a lot of members of our department felt like we should be doing more in the area of diversity and inclusion,” said Tsai. “It was just people who wanted to start talking more and really trying to think about how we can make our department more welcoming and hospitable to everybody.”

The event had a land acknowledgment poster placed in the courtyard where the event was held and included a statement from the Center of Native American and Indigenous Studies suggesting action to address continuing inequities.

“These are great conversations for us to be having to make sure that people don't just read the land acknowledgement and feel like they're done, but actually try to engage,” said Tsai.

Event attendees participated in activities and games, including a raffle with a chance to win prizes and a cricket station where you could practice batting, which was hosted by The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO). There was also homemade salsa made by lecturer Carmen Pacheco-Borden’s company Carmen’s Salsa, as well as coffee made from beans from around the world and brewed by students in the Design of Coffee course.

The ME Fall Festival offered student affinity groups an opportunity to increase their visibility across the department. Here’s what students had to say about their experiences in these organizations:

Jerry Nguyen, The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): “Our main goal is to build community with Asian scientists and engineers. But we also offer professional development opportunities. Students get to go to national conferences and meet other people from other chapters and employers from all over the world. We also invite employers to our club meetings to talk to students and do professional development.”

Angelina Miller, Women of Aeronautics & Astronautics (WoAA) : “The club was created in spring of 2019 and was basically designed to help marginalized genders in the aerospace community to find a place where they can help meet other people and bring more of a community to them so that they don't feel alone. And we also try to offer a bunch of professional and technical opportunities for them to grow.”

--Pradyumna Rao, The American Association of Engineers of Indian Origin (AAEIO): “When I arrived in the United States from India, I made some mistakes as an undergraduate that I felt were unnecessary. With a little bit of guidance, with a little bit of support, I felt like I could have made more out of my academic experience. Our organization's aim is quite simple. We want to make sure that our members, when they come here, they can make the most inside the classroom as well as outside.”

--Isaac Chavarria,The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): “We’re trying to help Hispanics have a connection to the professional world through either older students, alumni or professors. It’s proven that having a community helps you do better in school. Being able to offer that to other Hispanics and being the person who guides this society is such a blessing.”

The ME Fall Festival, sponsored by the department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, celebrates the diversity of cultures within the department.

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Area Director of undergraduate advising Debbie Yeh wins chancellor’s Employee of the Year award

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 20:32:29 +0000

Area Director of undergraduate advising Debbie Yeh wins chancellor’s Employee of the Year award Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/16/2022 - 13:32

Michael Lock Swingen

Debbie Yeh, area director of undergraduate advising for the mechanical engineering and electrical, computer and energy engineering departments, has been awarded the 2022 chancellor’s Employee of the Year Award. The award recognizes staff members who have gone above and beyond their job description to make outstanding contributions to the �� Boulder community.

Debbie Yeh is recognized in part for her involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across all levels of the university. She is a member of the college’s Inclusive Culture Council, the �� Boulder DEI+ Network and the Mechanical Engineering Department DEI Working Group.

Through her leadership work on the Student Support & Advising Services (SSAS) team, Yeh has pursued opportunities to effect positive change for her colleagues and engineering students, particularly nontraditional students.

Yeh co-founded and now chairs the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through Student Support (JEDISS) committee. One of the principal initiatives of JEDISS is reviewing and making recommendations to improve policies that affect undergraduate students.

“In academic advising, we often see a student’s academic career severely impacted by written policy,” said Yeh.

Every semester, the JEDISS committee takes a critical look at a different policy or process, which often involves connecting with stakeholders, reviewing literature, and benchmarking against peer institutions. The overall goal is to investigate whether the policy or process is demonstrating the College’s commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive community.

“If the answer is yes, awesome,” said Yeh. “If not, we propose changes to better align with the College’s values.”

An example is the MAPS foreign language requirement for engineering students. Until last year, engineering students were required to complete three units of foreign language, which meant either three years of high school level languages classes or three semesters of college level.

Yeh and her colleagues noticed that the MAPS foreign language requirement was disproportionately affecting nontraditional students, particularly students from rural backgrounds, students whose first language was not English and transfer students.

They dug into the data and verified a discrepancy between different groups of students and how the MAPS language requirement was affecting them.

Yeh and her JEDISS colleagues drafted a proposal to lower the MAPS foreign language requirement to two units, as opposed to three. The college’s Undergraduate Education Council approved the change.

“While acknowledging that there is great value in the study of other languages, it is important that we consider the lived experiences of our students,” said Yeh. “Not everyone has the same equal access to foreign language education before joining our student community, which can result in inequitable experiences once the student is in our college.”

The advocacy to revamp the MAPS foreign language requirement is merely one of the ways that Yeh has driven meaningful change in the �� Engineering community.

Other examples include:

Organizing Mental Health First Aid Training for the SSAS team
Developing an inclusive hiring checklist for SSAS
Creating and coordinating the ME DEI Actions Challeng
Organizing a workshop for teaching assistants to better identify at-risk students during the pandemi
Leading efforts to direct students towards mental health and emergency financial resources during the Marshall Fire

Yeh also routinely hosts team lunches, social hours, and other community-building events to provide a sense of community and cohesion to her SSAS team.

Mechanical engineering student Dario Garcia described how Yeh helped set a flexible path for countless of students, saying, “In the fog that can be the ME degree, Debbie is the strong light that guides students, myself included, from our first day in the �� lecture hall to walking across the stage in our Graduation Regalia.”

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“Invaluable” ME Lab Engineer Shirley Chessman retires from �� Boulder

Anonymous — Thu, 19 May 2022 20:56:53 +0000

“Invaluable” ME Lab Engineer Shirley Chessman retires from �� Boulder Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/19/2022 - 14:56

Rachel Leuthauser

Anyone who has spent time in the Idea Forge has come to know Shirley Chessman. After working as the Idea Forge Mechanical Lab Engineer for the past seven years, Chessman is retiring this summer.

As the ME Lab Engineer, Chessman has not only supported the Department of Mechanical Engineering but has also become a respected and trusted resource for all students, faculty and staff in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

“I love this program and have been a part of it for many years,” said Chessman. “I just feel so blessed to have the reception that I've gotten from faculty and staff members. And then of course I will miss working with the students. It can be so gratifying when you see them out of school, working great jobs and doing great things.”

Chessman’s time with the college began even before she became a full-time employee. Since 2011, she has served as an adjunct professor, advising mechanical engineering students on their Senior Design projects. Shirley sponsored some of those projects and served on the department’s Industry Advisory Council.

“I have greatly valued Shirley’s kindness and wisdom,” said Professor Michael Hannigan, the Mechanical Engineering Department Chair. “She is a key piece of the bedrock that supports our unit. When storms come, Shirley is there providing settling and thoughtful guidance. When the calm arrives, Shirley is there thinking, planning and implementing so we can be better at preparing the next generation of engineering leaders. From the personal side, I feel very fortunate to have gotten to partner with Shirley and know that she has made me a better leader and educator.”

Having served seven years as a lab engineer and a decade as an adjunct professor, Chessman will surely be missed.

Time in Industry

Chessman received her bachelor’s degree in engineering from UCLA. At the time, the university did not offer specific engineering degrees such as mechanical or electrical, but Chessman focused her studies on the mechanical aspects.

She moved to Colorado after accepting a job at StorageTek, a data storage company headquartered in Louisville, right out of college.

“There were a bunch of engineers moving to the area at the time because StorageTek was hiring maybe 50 engineers a week,” said Chessman. “It was amazing. There was all of us young people migrating to the Boulder area.”

StorageTek manufactured computer tape drives and hard drives. Chessman said she concentrated on hard drives and remained in that business her entire industry career.

“The Boulder area was a hotbed for this type of technology,” Chessman explained. “It all started with the IBM facility between Boulder and Longmont. Then came all these startups that many of us hopped around to and worked for.”

Chessman eventually landed at Seagate Technology as a managing principal engineer, where she managed teams, operations and equipment. She was with Seagate for nearly 15 years, sponsoring some Senior Design teams on the side, until joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering full time as the ME Lab Engineer in 2015.

“Shirley’s 30+ years of industry experience proved invaluable in her position as ME Lab Engineer,” said Idea Forge Director Daria Kotys-Schwartz. “She brought practical mechanical design knowledge and testing framed within a professional orientation. Her dedication to preparing students for the practice of mechanical engineering has had a profound impact on thousands of ME students.”

Chessman sits with Senior Design Professors Daria Kotys-Schwartz and Julie Steinbrenner, along with the QL+ student team that she mentored in 2019.

Joining the Idea Forge

Becoming the ME Lab Engineer in the Idea Forge was clearly a perfect fit for Chessman. She had experience with managing labs, supporting engineers and guiding students towards success.

“The checkout office was actually started by a couple of folks that were all graduate students at the time, so I jumped in and kind of became mother hen,” said Chessman with a smile.

She has been running that office ever since. Besides maintaining tools, hardware and testing equipment, Chessman has also assisted mechanical, aerospace, and chembio student design projects, taught workshops, and coordinating the use of lab spaces.

“Shirley’s has had direct positive impact on hundreds of mechanical engineering students and their projects, said Idea Forge Assistant Director Rebecca Komarek. “She is dedicated to each student’s success in the classroom and beyond. Shirley’s contributions have been integral in defining how Design Center Colorado and the Idea Forge support students today.”

Chessman was also one of the few people that returned to campus in summer 2020 during the pandemic. Her support and organization were needed during that time.

She spent that summer helping instructors prepare for remote learning and assisted faculty who still needed to conduct research by providing them the proper equipment.

“I do like to think that I bring an outside industry lens that blends into the department and curriculum,” said Chessman. “I also like working and connecting with external relations, alumni and industry partners.”

Praise for Shirley

Chessman now plans to use her retirement to take some time for herself. She hopes to do some traveling, play more golf and spend more time gardening. She added that she has some home projects to complete, such as digitizing old photographs and videos.

Various colleagues in the Idea Forge and Department of Mechanical Engineering have shared that they will miss her supportive work ethic and personality. Just some of that praise is below.

“It has been a privilege to work with Shirley at Idea Forge. Everyone here, staff and students alike, have benefitted from Shirley’s tireless dedication to students, her meticulous organization, and her wonderful sense of humor. She will be missed!”
-Victora Lanaghan, Idea Forge Event Coordinator

“In every interaction with Shirley, you can see her prowess as a manager and an engineer. Her work is framed by care and concern for others’ success – she is diligent in making sure that every student and every colleague has everything that they need to be successful in what they are doing.”
-Julie Steinbrenner, Associate Teaching Professor

“Shirley’s impact as the Mechanical Lab Engineer has been enormous over the years! She’s interfaced with faculty, students, and staff and she’s shaped our program. Her dedication to the students and their professional development has left truly left a legacy within �� Boulder.”
-Lauren McComb, Finance and Project Manager

Anyone who has spent time in the Idea Forge has come to know Shirley Chessman. After working as the Idea Forge Mechanical Lab Engineer for the past seven years, Chessman is retiring this summer.

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Debbie Yeh earns Marinus Smith Award

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 17:23:35 +0000

Debbie Yeh earns Marinus Smith Award Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/18/2022 - 11:23

The Marinus Smith Award recognizes faculty and staff members who have had a particularly positive impact on our students. Debbie Yeh, the Area Director in Student Support & Advising Services, was nominated for the award by mechanical engineering undergraduate student Dario Garcia.

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Video: Celebrating the strength of our community during Women's History Month

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Video: Celebrating the strength of our community during Women's History Month Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/09/2022 - 00:00

The future of engineering at �� Boulder is one of inclusivity, diversity, and resilience. Since our first female graduate in 1903, our women students and faculty have stood on the cutting edge of research and innovation. We celebrate our past excellence throughout Women's History Month while also striving to build on �� Boulder's legacy and create an equitable future for all.

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Shirley Chessman earns the Employee Recognition Award

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:46:29 +0000

Shirley Chessman earns the Employee Recognition Award Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/03/2022 - 08:46

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes outstanding classified and professional exempt staff. The award is rotated between the various departments and programs of the College on a monthly basis so that each unit has an opportunity to honor a staff member once each academic year.

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The Road Back: �� Boulder's Response to COVID-19

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 20:51:30 +0000

The Road Back: �� Boulder's Response to COVID-19 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/22/2021 - 14:51

The University of Colorado Boulder has debuted a new documentary titled "The Road Back: �� Boulder’s Response to COVID-19." It chronicles how Buffs leaned in and discovered solutions that helped society move forward together, as one resilient community. The documentary features some faculty members from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

State of the Campus | Fall 2021

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrIjH6Wtr1M]

ME faculty members are featured in the University of Colorado Boulder's new documentary titled "The Road Back: �� Boulder’s Response to COVID-19."

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RISE Interdisciplinary Research Theme Workshop

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 16:06:16 +0000

RISE Interdisciplinary Research Theme Workshop Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/08/2021 - 10:06

The Resilient Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RISE) Interdisciplinary Research Theme will host a workshop and networking event from 10:45 a.m. to noon on Sept. 13 via Zoom.

Interdisciplinary Research Themes in the college of engineering are all made up of faculty, staff and students. They help researchers coordinate faculty hires, share facilities and use seed funding to leverage work that could provide transformational societal impact.

The RISE theme specifically converges the world-class expertise in disaster resilience, sustainable design, and social justice that exists across the �� Boulder campus to facilitate a paradigm shift in research and education related to engineering urban resilience.

Attendees will hear about the research initiative and recent seed grant activity. And have a chance to network with peers from a variety of departments and programs.

Registration Questions?

Interdisciplinary Research Themes help researchers coordinate faculty hires, share facilities and use seed funding to leverage work that could provide transformational societal impact.

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Advisor Debbie Yeh named Supportive Staff Member of the Year

Anonymous — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:15:11 +0000

Advisor Debbie Yeh named Supportive Staff Member of the Year Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/13/2021 - 16:15

Debbie Yeh was named Supportive Staff Member of the Year for 2021 at the Center for Student Involvement’s annual Involvement Awards Ceremony. The awards celebrate students, faculty and staff who exemplify leadership and passion across the Boulder community.

Yeh is the Student Support and Advising Services area director for the mechanical engineering neighborhood. In her role, she assists undergraduate students with degree requirements, college and university policies, campus resources and overall academic needs.

She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in counseling from Northern Arizona University before moving to Colorado in 2016.

Congratulations, Debbie!

In her role, she assists undergraduate students with degree requirements, college and university policies, campus resources and overall academic needs.

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Kat McConnell earns Marinus Smith Award

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 14:47:53 +0000

Kat McConnell earns Marinus Smith Award Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/23/2021 - 08:47

The Marinus Smith Awards are presented each spring to faculty and staff members who have been nominated by students. Submitting a nomination provides a meaningful way for students to show appreciation and gratitude to those who have inspired, mentored and supported them.

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Staff

Faculty, staff and students celebrate diversity at the ME Fall Festival

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Area Director of undergraduate advising Debbie Yeh wins chancellor’s Employee of the Year award

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“Invaluable” ME Lab Engineer Shirley Chessman retires from ���������� Boulder

Time in Industry

Joining the Idea Forge

Praise for Shirley

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Debbie Yeh earns Marinus Smith Award

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Video: Celebrating the strength of our community during Women's History Month

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Shirley Chessman earns the Employee Recognition Award

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The Road Back: ���������� Boulder's Response to COVID-19

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RISE Interdisciplinary Research Theme Workshop

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Advisor Debbie Yeh named Supportive Staff Member of the Year

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Kat McConnell earns Marinus Smith Award

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“Invaluable” ME Lab Engineer Shirley Chessman retires from �� Boulder

The Road Back: �� Boulder's Response to COVID-19