September 7, 2000

NC State's College of Engineering Receives NSF Presidential Award for Mentoring

From left to right: Dr. Sarah A. Rajala, associate dean of engineering for academic affairs, Dr. Tony L. Mitchell, assistant dean of engineering and director of Minority Engineering Programs and Dr. Laura J. Bottomley, director of the Women in Engineering Program, represented the College of Engineering at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The College of Engineering at North Carolina State University has been selected as one of the institutional recipients of the 2000 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) to be presented at an awards ceremony Thursday, September 7, in Washington, D.C., by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This prestigious award honors outstanding achievements in and contributions to mentoring in the science, mathematics and engineering fields.

The PAESMEM program, administered by the NSF for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is designed to demonstrate the Administration's recognition that mentoring and role modeling are important to the development of talent among groups underrepresented in the science, mathematics and engineering fields; namely, minorities, women and people with disabilities. As part of the award, the college will receive a grant of $10,000 for enhancing its mentoring activities.

The ceremonies are held in conjunction with a symposium entitled, "Broadening Participation in the Scientific and Technological Workforce through Mentoring," held at the Westin Fairfax Hotel, Washington, D.C. Symposium attendees include invited leaders of national scientific associations and educational institutions, practioners and policymakers, and government officials. Invited speakers include Dr. Duncan Moore, associate director for technology of the White House OSTP, and Dr. Joseph Bordogna, deputy director of the NSF. Award recipients will participate in special panel sessions to offer their insights about effective mentoring practices.

Representing NC State University's College of Engineering at the events are Dr. Sarah A. Rajala, associate dean of academic affairs, which oversees the college's programs for minorities and women; Dr. Tony L. Mitchell, assistant dean of engineering and director of Minority Engineering Programs; and Dr. Laura J. Bottomley, director of the Women in Engineering program.

Dr. Nino A. Masnari, dean of the College of Engineering, states, "The College of Engineering has, for several decades, kept as one of its top priorities the goal of increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities and implementing programs that nurture and guide them toward success. We are extremely pleased to receive this prestigious award recognizing these efforts."

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Technical contact: Dr. Sarah A. Rajala, sar@eos.ncsu.edu

The NSF news release is on http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/press/00/pr0059.htm.

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