Women & Engineering Center

WE Day

WE Day is a celebration of Women & Engineering, lovingly known as 'WE' because we come together to develop a sense of belonging for everyone — an equitable community where we are all empowered to overcome challenges and thrive.

Welcome to WE Day — where women, engineering, and community take center stage! The inaugural WE Day took place on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

Women engineers are often the driving force behind fresh perspectives that steer our world onto new and exciting paths, and we need more of them to catch up. Through story and connection, we will spotlight women engineers as they persevere. We hope their journeys inspire you to lean in, ask for help, and offer a hand.

Celebration Agenda: 

  • 2:30–3 p.m.: Check-in, YWCA donation collection 
  • 3–3:05 p.m.: Welcome – Christine Dearmont, Director of Women & Engineering Center
  • 3:05–3:10 p.m.: McKelvey Engineering – Dean Aaron Bobick
  • 3:10–3:15 p.m.: Student storytellers
    • Kara Donovan – PhD candidate, biomedical engineering
    • Izzy Collins – Undergraduate student, electrical engineering
  • 3:15–4 p.m.: Alumnae stories 
    • Libby Allman – Vice President of Logistics Americas at TVH Parts Co
    • Dwana Franklin-Davis – CEO Reboot Representation
    • Stefanie Hill – Technology Futurist
    • Nancy Pendleton – Vice President of BDS Software Engineering at Boeing
  • 4-4:30 p.m. Fireside chat with storytellers 
  • 4:30–6 p.m. WE Day Celebration  

Event Details: 

  • Event Date: February 23, 2024 
  • Location: Whitaker Auditorium and Atrium (Campus Map, 181) 
  • Time: 2:30-6 p.m.
  • Parking: East End Garage (Campus Map, 201)

Resources

Alumnae Storytellers

Libby Allman

Libby Allman

Vice President of Logistics Americas at TVH Parts Co 

Read Libby's bio

Dwana Franklin-Davis

Dwana Franklin-Davis

CEO Reboot Representation 

Read Dwana's bio

Stefanie Hill

Stefanie Hill

Technology Futurist 

Read Stefanie's bio 

Nancy Pendleton

Nancy Pendleton

Vice President of BDS Software Engineering at Boeing 

Read Nancy's bio

Libby Allman

Libby Allman is the Vice President of Logistics Americas for TVH Parts Co, a worldwide distributor of parts for the Material Handling, Industrial, and Light Construction Industries. Prior to TVH, Libby spent 20 years at Hallmark Cards Inc. in several leadership roles including Vice President of Supply Chain where she was responsible for all domestic manufacturing, an overseas supply base and a Hong Kong buying office. Libby also led a 1million ft2 distribution center shipping store-door for 50,000+ rooftops. While at Hallmark, Libby was an early leader in bringing Lean principles to the corporation and she co-founded the Hallmark Women’s Network.

Libby is a dedicated champion of diversity and inclusion, women in STEM and community service through board engagement. She is a recipient of the Central Exchange STEMMy Ground Breaker award. Libby served as chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri where she continues as a board member. 

She earned an MBA from Rockhurst University, a BS Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and BA Physics from William Jewell College where was recognized as a 2018 Alumni Achievement recipient.

Dwana Franklin-Davis

Dwana Franklin-Davis is the CEO of Reboot Representation. She is a collaborative and compelling visionary leading the Tech Coalition’s pooled philanthropic investments that enable Black, Latina, and Native American women to graduate with computing degrees by 2025 and lessens the diversity gap in tech.

A lifelong technologist with a passion for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech sector, Dwana joined Reboot Representation in 2019 after working in IT, software engineering, and leadership positions for Mastercard, May Department Store Companies, and IBM. Based in New York City, Dwana holds a BS in Management from Purdue University, an MS in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Certificate in Project Management from Washington University in St. Louis.

Stefanie Hill

After graduating from WashU in 1997 with a degree in systems science & engineering, Stefanie embarked on a career in consulting. She has spent the last 25 years helping clients transform their businesses, building and leading teams, and managing business units. She spent the last 7 years as Managing Vice President leading Pariveda Solutions’ San Francisco business and led Pariveda’s Futurist team, which was formed to sense and monitor external forces and trends, learn, and help the firm find new ways to plan and adapt despite ongoing uncertainties in a complex emerging future. She has since formed her own firm, Arsana Group, which provides strategic business consulting and coaching services to help organizations and people respond and adapt to our increasingly complex world.

On the personal side, Stefanie is a classical pianist, an avid traveler of the world, a reader, an amateur chef, and an aspiring sommelier. When not at home, she and her husband are out enjoying adventures in their Airstream trailer — hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, and enjoying all the outdoors has to offer.

Nancy Pendleton

Nancy Pendleton is the vice president, BDS Software Engineering reporting to Boeing Software Engineering and dotted lined to the BDS Vice President of Engineering. In this role, Nancy is responsible for guiding the software development activities across BDS and will be an active member of the both the Boeing Software Engineering and BDS Engineering leadership teams. Her responsibilities include productivity improvements, critical resource management, implementation of design practices, software Model Based Engineering, Development Excellence, implementation of software design practices and deployment of software development ecosystems (DSO- development, security and operations) across the BDS portfolio.

Her previous role was vice president, Mission Systems for BDS Engineering, where she was responsible for guiding and supporting mission systems implementations on Boeing platforms, as well as aligning and developing processes, metrics and mission systems development environments. She also served as the Senior Chief Engineer for Mission Systems, Payloads and Sensors and was responsible for the technical integrity of all Boeing Mission Systems.  

Pendleton earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in the Management of Technology and a Master of Engineering Management degree, both from Washington University. 

YWCA boxes

YWCA donation collection

For the second year, we are collecting items to donate to the YWCA of Metro St. Louis. The YWCA operates a 24/7 Crisis Line and Drop-in Center and is the largest provider of housing for women and families fleeing violence, trafficking, and stalking in St. Louis City and County. In fact, they serve almost 11,000 women and families across the agency every year. 

Requested donations

  • Shampoo, conditioner and bodywash 
  • Feminine care products
  • Toilet paper and paper towels
  • Bottled water (for the drop-in center)
  • Snacks (for the drop-in center)
  • Diapers and baby wipes
  • Laundry detergent
  • Household cleaning supplies such as dish detergent, disinfectant, bathroom cleaner, etc.