Follow your Passion
Women like you are critical to the future success of the engineering profession.
39
Women in the 2016 Viterbi Incoming Class
19
National Average of Women in Engineering
Supporting Women in Engineering
The Viterbi School offers over 30 unique majors and areas of emphasis. Our women flourish in an environment focused on collaboration and teamwork. Group projects promote communication over competition and prepare our students for engineering in the real world.
Women are also very involved in their organizations on campus. Engineering student organizations leadership finds women leading the pack. Over 70% of executive board positions are held by women, and women engineers are also active in leadership outside of Viterbi as well.
Student Life
Female students in the Viterbi School participate in a number of activities across campus in addition to engineering related organizations. The student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Women in Computing, and the engineering sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon are integral parts of Women in Engineering in addition to numerous undergraduate research opportunities with specific funding available to women.
As a member of these organizations, you will find opportunities to expand your professional and social network, get involved in community outreach programs, gain access to continuing student scholarships, travel to conferences, and have opportunities to develop as a leader.
Corporate Connections
WIE aims to connect our female students with industry through a number of programs. targeted career panels expose our female students to the life of real engineers. Our students learn about the benefits of engineering and discover pathways to prepare them for some of the challenges they may face as female engineers.
Our women also benefit from the corporate involvement within Viterbi Career Connections and the Industry Advisory Board. These organizations help prepares students for the job recruitment process and introduce them to guest speakers and industry representatives.
Focused on Your Success
Women in the Viterbi School are some of the most successful students, and they rise to leadership positions within the school and across the university. We are committed to supporting your success by developing programs based on your interests.
Our women hold a monthly round table lunch series to discuss resources regarding academic, career, and health related topics. Recent sessions have covered undergraduate research, applying to graduate school, women and innovation, and all around wellness and stress management.
Mentoring is a priority and works to strengthen the community of our women by providing the opportunity to participate in different online platforms as well as develop various programs to build mentor-protege relationships among alumni and peers.
Giving Back
WIE Connect is a community outreach program planned and executed by current WIE students. This program brings high school girls from local areas to campus to learn about opportunities and careers in engineering as well as how to prepare for college engineering programs.
This day long program includes lab tours, panel discussions, and the opportunity to interact with female engineering faculty and students.
There are also opportunities to give back to the community through female student organizations.
Female Faculty Accolades
Andrea Armani
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Dr. Armani is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers as well as on of Technology Reviews top 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Armani conducts research with undergraduates involving nanosensors and also teaches an undergraduate course in nanomaterials and nanodevices.
Ellis Meng
Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Meng is a faculty member in the biomedical engineering department, and she is one of Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry's 40 Medtech Innovators Under 40 for her entrepreneurship, leadership, and research to advance medical micro-devices, as well as one of Technology Reviews top 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Meng's research focuses on delivering wireless medication to pediatric patients.
Maja Matarić
Computer Science
Dr. Matarić has received numerous accolades including being named a TR top 35 innovators under 35, one of Business Insiders top 25 Most Powerful Women Engineers in Tech, and the Presidential Award Winner for Excellenece in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring. Dr. Matarić is very involved in STEM outreach programs, and runs the USC Interaction lab, creating robots to help people
Burcin Becerik-Gerber
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Becerik-Gerber has also been named to TR's 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Becerik-Gerber's research focuses on the efficient construction of buildings, and understanding the habits of the buildings occupants to reduce energy consumption in buildings and increase comfort. Her collaborations include social psychology as well as computer science to better understand her users.