UA Engineering Professor Named Society of Women Engineers Outstanding Faculty Advisor

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Beth Todd, associate professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama, was recently named the Society of Women Engineers 2008 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recipient.

The award was presented at the annual national conference Nov. 8 in Baltimore, Md.

The award honors a SWE member who demonstrates outstanding leadership as an adviser, particularly in creating enthusiasm and professionalism among section members, while participating in other campus activities, professional and educational societies and SWE at the local, regional and national levels.

Martha Addison, president of UA’s Society of Women Engineers chapter, said in her nomination letter that she finds it hard to define Todd’s role because she is always adapting to meet the section’s needs and her commitment to success never changes.

Todd began working at The University of Alabama in 1992 as an assistant professor of engineering mechanics. She moved to mechanical engineering in 1996 and was promoted to associate professor in 2001.

She has served as the mechanical engineering’s undergraduate program coordinator since 1998 and as the faculty adviser for UA’s student sections of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and SWE. She has previously been named the national outstanding section faculty advisor in the ASME. In addition, Todd was named a SWE Fellow in 2004, and she served as the SWE National Conference co-chair in 2003.

In 1981, Todd received her bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Pennsylvania State University. She received her master’s degree in applied mechanics and doctoral degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia in 1986 and 1992, respectively.

The Society of Women Engineers, founded in 1950, is an educational and service organization that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career for women.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 2,300 students and more than 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.