Smela Named ADVANCE Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Elisabeth Smela has been appointed a University of Maryland (UMD) ADVANCE Professor. She holds a joint appointment with the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) and is the first faculty member in Mechanical Engineering to serve as an ADVANCE Professor.

Supported through a National Science Foundation grant, the UMD ADVANCE Program is focused on improving work environments, retention, and advancement of tenured and tenure-track women faculty in ways that improve the culture for all faculty. To help accomplish this, ADVANCE appoints faculty representatives from across campus and colleges to help build a network of faculty who can serve as networkers and conveners for ADVANCE initiatives.

ADVANCE Professors support strategic networks across disciplines, facilitate opportunities for learning and leadership, enhance agency through knowledge and planning for career advancement and by recognizing faculty contributions and accomplishments. In addition, they serve as role models and catalysts within their colleges.

Smela is an enthusiastic advocate for issues facing both women and under-represented minorities in STEM fields. As an ADVANCE Professor, she will be a faculty resource and share knowledge.

Previous ADVANCE Professors in the Clark School of Engineering have included Professor Allison Flatau (Aerospace Engineering), Carol Espy-Wilson (Electrical and Computer Engineering/ISR) and Min Wu (Electrical and Computer Engineering).

Published September 3, 2015