Panetta receives MGA Leadership Award

School of Engineering Dean of Graduate Education and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Karen Panetta has received an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Leadership Award for her outstanding service to IEEE. The institute applauded her for “promoting women in engineering and increasing the value of membership by engaging all populations including students, young professionals, and life members.”

Panetta is a leading advocate for women in STEM in higher education. From 2007 to 2009, she was the worldwide director for IEEE Women in Engineering, the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists, and she served as editor-in-chief of IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine. She is faculty adviser to the Tufts student chapters of both the IEEE and the Society of Women Engineers, and is founder of the nationally acclaimed Nerd Girls program, which promotes engineering disciplines to young students.

She is an IEEE Fellow and was awarded the 2013 IEEE Award for Distinguished Ethical Practices for exemplary contributions and leadership in developing ethics and social responsibility in students. She also has received several NASA and National Science Foundation research grants, including the NSF CAREER Award. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Panetta the Presidential Award for Science and Engineering Education and Mentoring.

Panetta currently serves as the President of IEEE Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society of IEEE. The society is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing individual excellence in education, professional practice, and IEEE-designated fields of interest.