[Ceal Craig]

To answer the question ….
B.S. Mech. Engr.(1974). The Ohio State University
M.S. Engr (Mech.) 1978. Cal State University at Fullerton
Work towards a Dr. in Engr. Management, S. Methodist University
~50% work towards a Single Subject Teaching Credential, National University

The above doesn’t really answer your question though…I began my career as a Quality & Product Engineer at Rockwell Int’l in Anaheim CA. Within six months, I was moved into management and for the next 26 years, I only left management for one year. I grew up to be a Director in Manufacturing and Operations after seven companies, three moves (two states) in Fortune 100 companies, managing from 3-140 people at different times, mostly as a direct manager, sometimes as a project manager. My last gig was with Siemens as Director of Operations responsible for facilities and real estate for one of Siemens’ operating companies.

In early 2000, I decided to change careers (it’s tough closing over five manufacturing plants) and took up teaching high school math full-time for a year. Didn’t want to continue that full time for various reasons unrelated to this thread. Now, I teach math and project management online for the largest online university in the world, tutor locally, and volunteer….

Leading to ….when I graduated in 1974, only about 830 women graduated with a BS in Engineering throughout the US. By 1985, ~15% of the BS-level graduates were women! Cool. But, unfortunately, that percentage has not changed much at all. To help change this record, I do what I can. I teach for Johns Hopkins University in the summers (fifth and sixth grade classes in Science and Engineering) and volunteer my time in many ways, all with the purpose of encouraging more young girls to consider engineering as an educational track and as a career.

Because, I believe, admitting a *strong* bias, engineering is THE EDUCATION to earn. You can do anything (almost) with an engineering degree. I’ve managed groups that were non-technical as well as technical ones; I have over a million miles with American Airlines, primarily on business travel; I teach bird-watching for our local National Wildlife Refuge; I teach math (even though math in college was challenging for me); I’m treasurer for an orchestra; and I coach, with my husband, a FIRST team. **All of these adventures have been and are possible because of those engineering degrees.** Engineering taught me how to solve problems, of almost any kind.

I’ll let my husband describe his own engineering background. We met in college, so given that I told you when I graduated, you know we’ve been together a long time. <G> When I was in school, very few men were comfortable with a woman who was an engineer, who wanted a career, and had some intelligence. He was one of those few good men. Things have changed, hopefully more and more every day. Engineering is a great education and career.

So, to sum up: engineer by education, technology manager by career, engineering educator today. My biggest dream: 30% of graduating engineers being woman by the time I pass on.

It was great to see more girls on the teams this year. I hope to see more every year. If you are at the Las Vegas Regional this coming week, stop by and say hello (though I might be in the stands scouting!).

And, if you ever have a question about life in engineering, then or now, don’t forget to write!

Ceal