As an instrumental part of the staff team at Mechanical Engineering, Jen is a cornerstone of the department providing strategic leadership across finance, operations, human resources, facilities, technical services and safety. Her dedication to implementing strategic priorities that move the mechanical engineering department forward is well-known, and she champions initiatives that make the unit a rewarding and welcoming place to study, research, and work. As lead facilitator of the Mech 2050 Strategic Visioning process, guiding the 2022 External Review process, and authoring the strategic plan, Jen has been instrumental in envisioning the future of the department.
Her dedication to the engineering community at large is demonstrated through her contributions to the student experience at UBC and beyond campus. Taking student feedback and driving improvements to our curriculum, spaces, and collaboration with industry, Jen has created new opportunities for students to experience research and make industry connections, developing innovative programs like CREATE-U, awards for Black and Indigenous graduate students, and the UBC Women in Aerospace Networking Night. Contributing to the future of engineering and education outside of work, Jen was a founding member of the UBC Geering Up Board of Advisors and is currently a Director of the BC Prior Learning Action Network.
Committed to advancing a department culture where all community members feel supported to succeed, Jen serves on both the Applied Science and departmental committees for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and Indigeneity. Among many contributions in this area, she has designed and facilitated EDI-focused workshops for faculty and staff and was a longstanding contributor to Women in Engineering (WiE). She is also a founding member of Creating Connections, a biennial conference advancing dialogue on gender diversity in STEM.
Congratulations, Jen, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your many contributions to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the University of British Columbia!