2009-2010 Provost Lecture Series

Women in STEM: Where We've Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
10:30-noon
Hemisphere Room
Hale Library

Jill Tietjen

Abstract:

Why the admirable goal of gender parity (50/50 by 2020) in STEM still seems a very difficult goal to reach and steps to help us get there.

Biographical Sketch:

Jill S. Tietjen, P.E., is an author, speaker, and electrical engineer. Her published books include the Setting the Record Straight series, which explores the history of women’s accomplishments in accounting, engineering, and professional achievement, and an introduction to engineering textbook (for use by college freshmen), Keys to Engineering Success. She is one of the top historians in the country on scientific and technical women. She is the CEO of Technically Speaking, a national consulting company specializing in improving opportunities for women and girls to have more career options in technology.

Tietjen is also a frequent keynote speaker at engineering, science, and women’s conferences and is often profiled in the media. She serves as an expert witness before public utility commissions and other government agencies. The culmination of Tietjen’s diverse background is the new book Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America (Collins), co-authored with Charlotte S. Waisman.

Tietjen regularly speaks on women in engineering, historical women in engineering and science, and leadership topics. Her positive energy and her ability to relate to the audience result in inspired and energized listeners.

Tietjen has written articles for and been profiled in SWE: Magazine of the Society of Women Engineers, Graduating Engineer, U.S. Woman Engineer, Woman Engineer, and Engineering Horizons. She served as the 1991-1992 National President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). As Jill S. Baylor, she is a contributing author to the 1995 book She Does Math! She serves on a number of non-profit boards. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Transmission Corporation of Tucker, Georgia. She is a Fellow Life Member of SWE and a Senior Member of the IEEE Power Engineering Society. She has been inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Tietjen is listed in Who’s Who in Engineering, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and Who’s Who in Technology.

Tietjen’s previous employers include the University of Colorado at Boulder, Stone & Webster Management Consultants, Hagler Bailly Consulting, Mobil Oil Corporation’s Mining and Coal Division, and Duke Power Company. She graduated from the University of Virginia (Tau Beta Pi, Virginia Alpha) with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics (minor in Electrical Engineering) and received her M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Tietjen is a registered professional engineer in Colorado.