The BEWEL Leadership in Innovation Award
Created in 2019, the BEWEL Leadership in Innovation Award is presented to a junior or mid-career faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in innovation, research and/or scholarship and is committed to the advancement of women in engineering. The recipient of this award is honored at the annual College of Engineering Faculty Awards Banquet.
Studies have shown that one of the leading factors in increasing recruitment, retention and success of female engineers is ensuring uplifting and supportive faculty mentorship. Although much progress has been made for female representation in STEM education, a disparity still exists in the female engineering student experience. Today, engineers are asked to solve increasingly complex problems, and it is evident that a diverse workforce, inclusive of female representation, will be necessary for complex solutions. Lack of female classmates, colleagues and role models in engineering disciplines limits opportunities for peer- and mentor-supported growth. BEWEL promotes cultural and strategic changes and growth strategies to help level the playing field for all.
The BEWEL Leadership in Innovation Award identifies and highlights faculty innovators and leaders who are supportive of women in engineering. Faculty members chosen to receive the BEWEL award are not only provided additional funding to extend and expand their reach and impact, but are also provided the opportunity to leverage the BEWEL network and expertise to further their research agendas and careers, creating a cyclical culture of women helping mentors who support women in engineering.
Award Winners
Katelyn Swindle-Reilly
2023 Leadership in Innovation Award winner
An assistant professor when she received the award, Dr. Katelyn Swindle-Reilly is an associate professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a courtesy appointment in Ophthalmology; she is also a College of Engineering Innovation Scholar. Her innovative research using polymeric biomaterials for drug delivery and medical devices is making an impact in the fields of ophthalmology and will no doubt lead to improvements in outcomes and in the lives of others. Professor Swindle-Reilly’s leadership is reflected in her technological advancements and success in building cross-disciplinary bridges within the university, as well as in her mentoring and coaching of students and peers to advance innovation and commercialization at Ohio State.
Learn more about her research in the Design of Polymeric Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Repair and Drug Delivery.
Hongping Zhao
2022 Leadership in Innovation Award winner
Dr. Hongping Zhao is a professor in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. At the time of the award, she was an associate professor conducting research in wide and ultrawide bandgap semiconductors and making significant contributions to the fields of power electronics and optoelectronics. She supports and engages women in engineering through her teaching, research, and mentoring at Ohio State and more broadly through such work as serving as a special issue editor for the upcoming Photonics journal’s Women’s Special Issue Series: Photonics. She exemplifies leadership in innovation, both in her technological advancements and in her efforts to inspire and advocate for women students and faculty in engineering.
Learn more about her research in Wide Bandgap and Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Materials and Devices.
Asimina Kiourti
2021 Leadership in Innovation Award winner
An assistant professor when she received the award, Dr. Asimina Kiourti is now an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a College of Engineering Innovation Scholar. Her transformational research in wearable and implantable sensor technology will no doubt lead to improvements in health outcomes and the lives of others. Her efforts outside the lab and the classroom are equally impressive, and of special note is her creativity in developing the TechnoFashion workshop, which she successfully grew into a year-long program. Professor Kiourti truly epitomizes leadership in innovation, both in her technological advancements in the field of body-area electromagnetics and in her outreach to inspire and sustain enthusiasm for STEM.
Learn more about her research in Wearable and Implantable Technologies.
Karen Dannemiller
2020 Leadership in Innovation Award winner
An assistant professor when she received the award, Dr. Karen Dannemiller is an associate professor at The Ohio State University with a joint appointment in Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering and Environmental Health Sciences. She is also a College of Engineering Innovation Scholar. Her research of the indoor environment has yielded important innovations in the understanding of the indoor microbiome and development of novel techniques to characterize public health exposure. She demonstrates excellence in leadership and mentorship through her many activities across disciplines at Ohio State and her outreach to the community at large through podcasts, YouTube videos, and even an article in Architectural Digest. Professor Dannemiller clearly exemplifies leadership in research, innovation, and scholarship, as well as a passion for mentoring her students.
Learn more about her research with the Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory.